Page 13 of Reactant

“I can do it,” Peyton said. He didn’t sound put out, just matter of fact. “You think this is the first injury I’ve ever had?”

“I know you’re a big bad soldier—”

“Ex.”

“Is that a thing?” Sebastian asked. There were some professions that people never truly left, and he had a feeling that this was one of them.

“On paperwork, at least.” Peyton shrugged, then winced.

“Let me do this so we can get you showered and the sling back on. I know you’re a big badex-soldier, but I want to help.”

Peyton’s smile faded, his eyes intent. His nod was slow, unsure. Sebastian understood; letting someone new in, allowing yourself to be vulnerable with them, was difficult. Sebastian had never really learned how to do it after Quinn. This was new for him as well. But for the first time in a long time, he wanted totry. He wanted to let Will and Peyton in, wanted them to settle beside where Quinn rested in his heart. A place that had always belonged to Quinn, even when Sebastian had told himself it was empty.

He peeled a bandage off and painstakingly placed it over Peyton’s stitches, making sure it sat perfectly over it.

He remembered viscerally the moment that Peyton had received the injury. He’d been so fucking terrified, watching the psycho with the blade grappling with Peyton. He’d panicked, fear freezing him. What good was he in that kind of situation? Sebastian attacked people with words, notweapons. He was out of his depth, and Peyton could have died if he hadn’t been so capable. He’d been incredible, taking the two men down with strength and cunning that had left Sebastian in awe. Scared but awed. Dark power wielded for good.

Sebastian smoothed his fingers around the bandage, checking that the clear sections were sticking properly and wouldn’t let any water in.

“Ready?” The question seemed loaded even if he hadn’t meant it that way.Ready. Were they ready for whatever this was? This visceral, live powder keg that the four of them had found themselves in?

“If you are.”

The answer made Sebastian smile.If he was. A good reminder that they were doing this together. They were beside him every step of the way.

He made sure the water was a comfortable heat before he got into the shower, the tiling warm on his feet. Peyton followed and moved into his space immediately, sharing the spray. Sebastian twisted around him, closing the door to keep the cold draft out.

“Going to wash my hair?” Peyton asked.

Sebastian’s heart skipped a beat. He brushed a strand of it out of Peyton’s eyes. He had beautiful hair. A dirty blond that reached for his shoulders, with light waves. He seemed to favour putting it up in a messy bun, but when he let it out, he was gorgeous. It was perfect for running fingers through and holding tight to during sex.

Sebastian had never washed anyone’s hair before. Not like this.

He ran his fingers across Peyton’s collarbone and then up to cup the side of his neck. He used a thumb under Peyton’s chin to tip his head back. Peyton let him lead, going wherever Sebastian wanted.

He took his time getting Peyton’s hair wet, running his fingers through it over and over for longer than was really necessary. Peyton kept his eyes closed, at ease and leaning into Sebastian, resting against him.

Sebastian kissed the curve of his shoulder and then retrieved the shampoo bottle from the shelf. “Tea tree lavender mint,” he read aloud. “What is that?”

“Seems pretty self-explanatory,” Peyton said with a throaty chuckle. He hadn’t opened his eyes, and if he’d been a mythical creature in a past life, it had definitely been a siren. “What do you use?” he asked.

“I have no idea,” Sebastian said truthfully. He poured some of it in his hand and put it back.

“You… have no idea?”

Sebastian gently massaged it into Peyton’s scalp. The tea tree was a pleasant aroma and seemed to be the focus of the scent, surrounding them as Sebastian coated Peyton’s hair with it. Peyton tilted his head back once more, and Sebastian massaged just above his forehead. His skin was tingling as though he were the one being caressed. It was an intimacy he’d never experienced before, not even when he and Quinn had been together once upon a time. Neither of them had ever had hair like this.

“Seb?” Peyton murmured.

What? Oh. “I get it from my hairdresser. She throws a few at me when I go in for a cut.”

“Nice.”

Sebastian could hear his laughter lurking beneath the surface. “It is,” he said defensively. He figured—especially considering what he paid her—that she knew what she was talking about. And it saved him from having to worry about it. The number of products and brands available was overwhelming.

“My mum does my hair,” Peyton confessed. “Just a trim, though. She cut off a bit too much once, and it was an experience neither of us wants to repeat.”

“Was she a hairdresser?” Sebastian had cut his own hair more than a few times growing up. And his youngest brother’s. He’d never been brave enough to touch his sister’s. He’d taken extra shifts at work to put enough away to get hers done professionally. He was relieved they all had hairdressers now, for everyone’s sake.

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