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Awareness sparked between them, and Rayne licked his bottom lip. It was almost like waving a red flag in front of a bull. He was tired of holding himself back. He wanted to finally end this dance that had gone on for too many years.
He wanted Rayne. He’d wanted Rayne from the first moment the advisor had looked down his sharp slender nose at him, those jade-green eyes watching from behind wire-rimmed glasses with an almost calculated coldness. At first, it had been about breaking the man, making him give in to the need and passion that had to burn within his rigid exterior.
But as the years passed and they got to know each other, it became less about breaking him and making him submit and more about offering comfort and relief. Rayne held himself to such a high standard that there was no room for mistakes. He strove for a perfection that was simply exhausting and as far as Eno could see, he didn’t have anyone he felt safe being himself around. No wall of perfection.
He wanted to be Rayne’s safe space.
Rayne broke the standoff first, pulling back an inch. “I think I am managing just fine without additional tutelage. Your efforts would be better spent on Drayce,” Rayne replied tartly.
Eno could only chuckle. It was the kind of response he’d come to expect from Rayne. The man wasn’t going to yield. He wouldn’t deviate from his plan. If something were going to happen between them, Eno would have to take that first step. Not that he minded. He preferred to be in control, and in the middle of the Ordas was probably not the best time to strike at Rayne’s defenses.
With a weary groan, Eno pushed up to his feet and stretched his arms above his head. He felt gritty from the sweat dried on his skin and dirty from the fight. A shower would have been heaven, but they first needed to reach something that resembled a city in Caspagir. Sleep would have to be the next best thing.
“Go to sleep, Rayne. Tomorrow is going to start way too early.”
“I’ll stay up and watch the fire,” Rayne said stubbornly.
“No need.”
“But if it needs to be fed more wood…”
Eno took a step closer to Rayne and grabbed his arm, gently pulling the tall man to his feet. “The fire isn’t going anywhere.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. The magic will sustain the fire until Caelan extinguishes it.” He tried to lead Rayne over to the empty tent, but the man dug his heels into the dirt, refusing to budge.
“But what if something breaks through the barrier while we’re sleeping?”
Eno stopped trying to force the man forward and stood beside him, his chest brushing along Rayne’s arm. He didn’t release him, preferring to keep a hold on him. “I’ve been with Caelan when he’s used this protection before. The fire won’t go out, even if he’s sleeping. I’ve watched a full-grown bear bash its head against the barrier and it didn’t get through. The poor thing gave itself a headache and wandered into the woods.”
“But this is the Ordas. What if it breaks?”
“The magic snaps back to Caelan. Apparently, it doesn’t feel too great. It will wake him up, and Caelan will sound an alarm.” Rayne seemed to relax, the tension sliding from his shoulders. Eno took it for the small victory that it was and nudged Rayne toward the tent. “Go to bed. I’ll be right behind you. We’re not going to make it through the Ordas if we don’t get at least some sleep.”
An indignant grunt left Rayne, but he still crouched to enter the tent. After he’d returned from fetching the wood, Calean had informed him that both sleeping bags had been unrolled inside. He and Drayce had set up the tents. He might have muttered a prayer to the gods that the tent stayed up all night.
Eno paused outside the tent, trying to give Rayne a moment to get comfortable. He glanced around their small camp, satisfied that all was quiet. It sounded as if Caelan and Drayce were both snoring now. He didn’t look forward to getting those two moving in the morning. Neither would ever be called morning people. But if he could pour some coffee down their throats and entice Rayne into making some sausage sandwiches, it would be enough to get them moving.
When sounds in the tent stopped, Eno crawled inside and zipped up the door to keep the bugs out as they slept. In the darkness, he could barely make out Rayne’s long, stiff form on the far side of the tent. It appeared as if he were lying on top of the sleeping bag. Not that he could blame him. The night air was still warm enough that blankets weren’t necessary.
Eno sat on his sleeping bag, quickly slipped off his shoes, and stretched out. A relieved sigh slipped from him and the last of the tension fell away at last. Sleep was already starting to tease at his mind when he glanced over at Rayne. His eyes had adjusted enough to the darkness that he could more see the man as he lay flat on his back with his arms tightly crossed over his chest. Nothing about him was relaxed.
