Page 66 of Silver Secrets

“Again? Kimi told us to let them handle the case. You’re just stuck on boring ‘protect Sloane’ duty. You need to go to bed. Have you even slept tonight?” She wrapped her arms around her waist. Shit, she was cold. Here she was worried about him when he needed to get her settled for the night.

“No. I’m fine. We’ve been on missions three times as long as this before.”

“You’re not in the military anymore, handsome.”

“You’re right. This is more important.”

She pulled the chair out next to him at the table and threaded her fingers through his.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m worried about you. You’re not looking so good.”

“Just a headache from staring at my screen longer than I should have.”

Her fingers reached out, touching the edge of his glasses and tugging them free from his face. “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

“Only when I work at the computer for a long time. They block the blue light. Which is good, I guess, but I know I can’t really pull off the look.”

“Are you kidding me? I almost thought Clark Kent was in the kitchen when I walked in.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I mean, I already know you’re Superman when it comes to protecting me out in the world. Should have guessed you’d turn into his alter ego when you protected me from behind your keyboard, too.” She stopped playing with his frames, setting them gently on the table in front of them both.

“Come on.” She stood, still holding his hand, and tugged him towards the living room. But he didn’t move.

“I have to work on this, Red. And you need to go back to sleep.”

“This is more important,” she whispered, using his own words against him.

“Okay.”

She walked him to the sofa, letting go of his hand as she sat in the corner, situating the decorative pillow Lily had insisted on gifting him over her lap.

“Alright, Clark. Head here, please.” She patted the pillow.

He smiled at her teasing, but his mind stopped him from acting on her directions. “You want me to lay my head on your lap?”

“Yes, that’s the idea.”

“That’s not going to… I mean won’t it be too much? I don’t want to trigger you by being too close.”

“I don’t like seeing you in pain. I’ll be fine. I know I’m safe with you.”

“Red…”

“Don’t think too much about it. Just come over here so we can both relax.”

Her fingers felt amazing as they moved through his hair. She stopped, rubbing at his temples, and he felt some of the tension he was carrying melt away.

“Is this helping?” she whispered, so close he couldn’t help but look to see where she was. There, only a few inches away, were the most unique eyes he’d ever seen. Beyond their beauty, they held an ocean of concern and compassion. It had been so long since he’d seen that directed at him. So long since someone’s touch had felt so good, and so right. “Gage, you still with me?”

“Yeah, Red,” he choked out. “Thank you for this.”

She smiled. “It’s nothing. Can’t have my ferocious defender taken out by a little headache.”

Gage chuckled, reaching up to take her hand away from his head. But he didn’t let go once he had it in his grasp. Slowly, he sat up, relieved when the throbbing dulled to a manageable level. “Come on. Time to get you to bed.”

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