“I realize all that in my head. In my heart, I want to whisk you away to Canada and hide.”
Scott smiled. “I wish we could. I thought of that too. But we have powerful allies and a good plan. This is our best shot. Ialso have a feeling there are a lot more people behind the scenes working with Becca and Amy who they aren’t mentioning. Strangely, I’m okay with that.”
Justin stopped pacing. “I’m not letting you face him alone. Gonna be right with you, all the way.”
“Just don’t do anything foolish,” Scott warned. “I want us both to come out of this safe and alive.”
Justin pulled Scott into his arms, trying to say with a kiss what words didn’t completely capture. Scott kissed him back with the same quiet desperation, and soon they were stripping down and landing on the bed, tangled up together.
Last night on earth sex. Scott had heard the phrase before, but never expected to experience it himself. While he hoped with all his heart that it wasn’t their final night together, the impending danger amplified every touch and taste, making every inch of skin exquisitely sensitive.
Claim?his coyote asked.
Not yet. It’s too important to rush.Scott was as torn as his other half and angry at the world for making it more complicated. For now, he needed to let it go and be fully with Justin.
“Make it so I can’t think of anything except us.” Justin kissed Scott’s neck, an unexpected erogenous zone, and despite the fear and tension, Scott felt himself getting hard.
“I can do that.” Scott couldn’t promise safety or that they would succeed. But right here and now, he could show Justin how loved and cherished he was, and how much it meant that Justin would risk his life to protect him.
They took their time, touching and licking. Scott felt himself committing every sound and movement to memory, taking in the scent of his lover. He could feel Justin more than ever and guessed that Scott had a heightened sense of him as well. While it meant he couldn’t hide his feelings or downplay his concern, italso made for total honesty without awkward confessions.How amazing will it be when we’re fully mated?
Justin rolled onto his back, wordlessly asking Scott to top. He was happy to oblige, knowing it would help Justin focus on sensations and not worry about mechanics. He took his time to open Justin up and slick the way.
Scott slid deep inside and let the feelings and passion sweep away any unwelcome thoughts. He went as slowly as he could, trying to make it last, creating a space where they were safe and away from danger and concerns.
“Come with me,” Scott coaxed, working Justin’s cock with his hand in time with his own thrusts. They tumbled over the edge into ecstasy together and lay quietly for several moments just listening to each other’s breaths and heartbeats.
“I love you,” Scott whispered.
“Love you too,” Justin echoed. Their amulets clinked together. In this moment, together in the darkness, Justin prayed to any entity that would listen for safety.
Scott wiped them down with a T-shirt and tossed it onto the floor. They fell asleep naked, lying in each other’s arms, and as he drifted off, Scott hoped that the fates would grant his prayers.
Two days later,Justin and Scott arrived at the warehouse to find Amy and Becca waiting for them. Scott parked next to the building, but the others were leaving their cars in another lot to give the impression that Scott was alone.
“The sheriff will be along shortly,” Amy said as they entered. The lights were already on, illuminating a big open room with a few stacks of packing crates toward the back.
“We got here early and warded the whole place, checked for traps, and did a supernatural sweep,” Amy told them.
“We don’t know that Santoro and his witch will show up,” Justin pointed out. Scott could hear the nervousness in his voice. He put a supporting hand on Justin’s arm and tried to send comforting vibes. It at least earned a wan smile from Justin for the effort, which Scott took as a win.
“He’ll show,” Amy said with confidence. “We did a good job putting the story around that you’d be organizing today for the Fox Hollow Merchants’ Holiday Happiness drive starting at nine, and named the warehouse with the address. It’s on flyers all over town, on the Fox Hollow website, and posted at Lone Coyote, the coffee shop, the restaurants, and the library. Whether Santoro sees it himself or hears from a snitch, he’ll know it’s his best shot.”
Justin flinched at the word “shot,” and Scott sympathized.
“Let’s get the ghosts going.” Becca stepped closer. “Whether you see or feel them depends on your sensitivity, but you’ll both have a cloud of protectors who have even more reasons than you do to want Santoro gone.”
She closed her eyes and raised her hands, palms out, then began to speak so quietly Scott couldn’t pick up the words. He felt the temperature get colder and saw his breath mist. His skin tingled, and he just barely glimpsed translucent shapes that faded as soon as he looked straight at them.
Justin met his gaze and nodded, silently confirming that he also could sense their ghostly protectors. After a moment, the chill lessened, and the revenants vanished.
“They’re still around you, even if you can’t feel them,” Becca assured them. “If they aren’t needed, I’ll dispel them when this is all over. For now, consider them your supernatural security detail.”
Amy went to answer a knock at the door, checking before opening it to admit Sheriff Armel. “I’m here,” he said. “Now what?”
“Now, we wait,” Amy replied. “There are cameras with a good view of the whole area, and they’re active. Scott will be at the table shuffling papers. The rest of us will hide. When Santoro shows up, we witness his threat, and then you arrest him.”
“You seem sure he’ll come,” Armel replied.
