Page 44 of Signs and Wonders

“You won’t.”

“Neither of us can promise that,” Evan pointed out.

“No, but going after the disciples on their territory, on our timing, beats wondering when they’ll come after us,” Seth reminded him. “And when they’re gone, we’re free.”

Evan hugged him tighter, breathing in his scent, and pressed a kiss to Seth’s throat. “I’m beat. Let’s go to bed.”

They stripped and slid beneath the covers, still in their briefs. Evan rested his head on Seth’s chest, and Seth wrapped his arms around him. They didn’t take it further than slow kisses, reminding themselves and each other that they were together. Evan drifted off eventually, safe in Seth’s nearness, but his dreams were filled with everything that might go wrong.

8

EVAN

Evan wokewith Seth sleeping close, a sure sign that his partner was nervous. He rolled over and pushed Seth’s hair back from his eyes, then pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Seth blinked awake and took a few seconds to orient himself.

“Bad dreams?” Seth asked quietly as if their bedroom was a private bubble into which the world outside could not intrude.

“Some,” Evan admitted, stifling a yawn. “I kept seeing our plans in motion, only they all went wrong.” He shifted closer and put a hand on Seth’s hip, drawing him in.

“Pretty normal,” Seth replied. “You don’t get visions, so it’s just your mind running through scenarios, trying them all on to fit. But it probably means they didn’t let you get much rest.”

“It wasn’t all night,” Evan objected. “I think I got some good sleep in between.”

“We’re not alone on this anymore,” Seth told him. “We’ve got Travis and Brent for help, plus Drake and Tyler. And we’ve got our friends and Parker hacking and doing research. We know what we’re up against.”

The coven were formidable opponents, and the task had gotten tougher once the warlocks realized they were being hunted. Swain’s minimal reaction so far worried Evan and made him think the witch was biding his time.

“Thank you for being patient. I’m trying to be brave.”

Seth cupped Evan’s cheek in his palm. “Youarebrave. I’ve seen you be positively fearless. There’s no shame in being afraid of something that’s dangerous. You never trained for battle.”

“I could argue that tending bar on a rough Saturday night ought to qualify me for something,” Evan joked.

“It does. You’ve got better people skills than I do, and you can read a room. You’re great at talking to witnesses because they don’t get a ‘soldier’ vibe from you. And you’re still badass in a fight.” Seth sealed his reassurance with a kiss.

Evan pushed their sleep pants down, letting their morning wood spring free. He and Seth pressed their cocks together in their joined hands, taking their time, bringing them both off slow and easy within seconds of each other.

“Feel better?” Seth asked as he used his T-shirt to clean them up.

Evan nodded, then licked his fingers clean as a naughty promise. While that wasn’t the most intense orgasm of his life, he had learned that taking the edge off and getting an endorphin rush could be the best medicine when tension ran high. “Much. We’d probably better get going. Travis and Brent are expecting us.”

Seth groaned but didn’t disagree.

“Okay, but I want to pick up breakfast biscuit sandwiches and coffee at the drive-through,” Seth stipulated.

Since they had lingered in bed, showers were quick. Evan had set up their coffee pot on a timer, so it was ready by the time they dressed, and they filled travel mugs. Seth double-checked that the files from hacking into the Hub had fully downloaded while Evan made sure he had Parker’s latest uploads. They packed their laptops, grabbed the weapons bag, and headed out.

“Are those breakfast biscuits?” Brent greeted them with a grin when they got to the motel.

“Manners, Brent. Manners,” Travis chided in a teasing tone.

“What? I’m happy to see them—and happier when they bring food,” Brent returned.

“There’s plenty for everyone,” Seth assured them. “Donut shop coffee too, although I figured you already have a pot going.”

“There’s no such thing as too much coffee,” Travis avowed, taking the cups from Evan.

They ate while the food was hot, deliberately not discussing the case. When they finished, Travis and Seth gathered the papers and cups while Evan and Brent set up their laptops.

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