Page 16 of Back in the Hunt

“For the love of—!” Bryn groaned as he stepped down and around so he could help Everly up. “Are you okay?” He eased an arm around Everly and did a quick scan of the foyer and the hallway above them. They were alone, curiously enough, but Bryn couldn’t believe that anyone could bethatclumsy.

Everly laughed it off, grabbing hold of the banister. “I’m fine!” he insisted, beaming up at Bryn with his big black eyes.They took some getting used to as well, but the more Bryn looked at them, the more color and life he saw inside of Everly. “I was going to say that I don’t feel like I’m hiding anymore. I’ve never felt this safe and I don’t care if I can’t go anywhere, I have friends now and you all make me feel free.” They reached the gallery and Everly laughed as he went to skip over the top step.

“Careful!” Bryn caught Everly when his foot missed again. “I’d swear someone keeps yanking the rug or kicking your foot, but you’re a walking disaster, Ev.”

“I don’t mean to be, but my limbs don’t always do what I tell them to do,” he complained.

“That just means I need to stick a little closer, is all.” Bryn slid an arm around his waist as they rounded the corner, intending a one-armed hug but Everly stepped into him.

“I don’t care if I get a bloody nose or scrape up my chin or get a black eye, as long as you don’t mind. I like it here and I like it when you’re close.” He braced a hand on Bryn’s chest, over his heart, and rose on his toes.

“Damn it.” Despite his haggard growl, Bryn cradled Everly’s face like it was made of glass. “Why the hell would I mind?” He didn’t give Everly a chance to answer, covering his lips for a tender, yet thorough kiss. The heady bliss of softly sweet lips as crisp as spring rain sealed Bryn’s fate and bonded it to Everly’s. He had a vision of their naked bodies, slick and intertwined, and it was both a promise and a warning. Bryn swore as he set Everly away from him. “Not that close.”

“Wait!” Everly hopped excitedly, tugging at the front Bryn’s shirt. “No one’severdone that!”

Bryn frowned. “Done what? I was going to take a quick shower and run an errand with Fletcher.”

“You turned me down! That’s twice now!” He sounded excited but it still nagged at Bryn’s conscience, becausesomething in his gut roared that he belonged, deep, deep, deep inside of Everly.

“Don’t say it like that,” Bryn begged, pushing his luck and pecking at Everly’s lips. “Fuck, you’re sweet, Ev.” He wasn’t sure how a person could be succulent, but Everly was as sweet as honey, dewy and soft, as Bryn kissed him again. “Okay!” he said when he finally raised his head and set Everly back against the wall. “Remember what Nox said?” he asked, earning a wide-eyed nod from Everly.

“I don’t want to turn into an incubus.”

“That’s right,” Bryn said with a tap of his brow as he turned on a heel and marched to his room.

He didn’t risk looking back, afraid that Everly had just jinxed them. Bryn’s imagination had already supplied the visuals and it was best for both of them if he took his ass straight into a cold shower.

That was exactly his intention as Bryn hurried past the bed and into the bathroom. He tossed his shirt at the hamper before reaching into the shower and cranking the cold faucet all the way around. Bryn turned and shouted, recoiling when he found himself face-to-face with Everly.

“What are you doing?” Bryn grabbed Everly’s elbow and rushed him out of the bathroom.

“I like being close to you and I want to watch.”

“Ev!” Bryn’s hands dragged down his face as he begged for patience. “I’mtryingbut you are not making it easy.”

“But—”

“No.” Bryn shook his head before Everly could say he liked being easy. “Go wait downstairs with Nox or see if Merlin needs help in the kitchen.”

“Okay.”

Everly’s lower lip pushed out as he shuffled off. He was adorable and Bryn was tempted to call him back, smiling ashe closed and locked the bathroom door behind him. “I’ll give Everly one thing: I’m not mad about Nox being a smartass anymore.”

Five

Everly was disappointed that he couldn’t watch Bryn bathing but didn’t mind being sent to the study to wait with Nox. There were so many fascinating books and maps and Nox didn’t mind if Everly touched things. Or occasionally broke them.

“No worries! Merlin can fix it!” Nox said when Everly dropped an astrolabe on his foot. “I try to break a few things a week. Keeps Merlin busy and out of trouble,” Nox whispered as he lowered it into one of his desk’s drawers. “How about a magick trick?” he asked as he came around and sat on the edge, crossing his combat boots.

He looked so cool with all of his tattoos and piercings. Everly had tried piercing his own ears but the holes had closed. He suspected a tattoo would heal overnight as well, but he could wear combat boots and paint his nails like Nox. “Do you really think I could learn magick? I want to be a witch like you and Merlin, but I don’t think I’m smart enough.”

“Why not?” Nox hugged his chest, squinting at Everly. “Merlin has books full of spells and sigils and I fully believe that you could master them all if given enough time.”

Everly’s lips twisted dubiously. “Merlin said I almost poisoned myself with the mushrooms.”

“Been there,” Nox said with a wince. “Had a very strange year one weekend because I’d confused some psilocybin for some enoki mushrooms while I was already under the influence. That’ll teach me for making pasta while I’m stoned, but that’s not the point.”

“Okay…” Everly said slowly. He didn’t know what either of those mushrooms looked like but that sounded ominous.

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