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A few hours later,Asher still hadn’t said much. Bringing up his past mustn’t have been easy. What he’d divulged to Harry was bad enough, but Harry could only imagine how bad the memories were that he didn’t talk about.
They were due down at the seaport docks, to meet Four’s organised transport at nine at night. It was a freighter, apparently. And would take them out of Oman, up the Persian Gulf, to their new destination, somewhere along the Saudi coastline.
“We’ll need food,” Asher said. “I think we can assume the ship we’ll be on isn’t a cruise liner with restaurants.”
Harry checked his watch. It was going on six, so there was plenty of time. “We can get something on the way, but we’ll have your bag full of guns, which probably isn’t a great idea. Or I can go now to the small store we passed on the walk here. It’s just the next block down. I’ll be five minutes.”
Asher considered this. “It would be better if we ate before we go. There’s no saying when we’ll eat again. Get some of those breakfast bars and bottled water.” He got off the bed and walked into the bathroom where the duffle bag was stashed. He came out with Harry’s favourite pistol and handed it to him. “And take this. Just in case.”
“Okay.” He checked the gun, then slid it into the back of his jeans and put his jacket on. Then, with just his finger, he lifted Asher’s chin and kissed him softly. “I’m taking the room key. Keep the door locked. Pull the table across the door. It might not block it, but it can give you an extra second if someone kicks the door in.”
Asher rolled his eyes. “You said you’d be five minutes. And you better not be any longer because I’m going to need you to fuck me again before we go. Probably twice.”
Harry sighed, hating how his body liked the idea of that. Well, maybe he didn’t hate it too much. He went to the door. “I won’t be long.”
The walk to the store was short and pleasant. The sun was setting, the sky was an array of orange and pinks and cloudless. He still kept hyperaware of his surroundings, though he found nothing out of the ordinary.
He bought some granola bars, some dried apricots, some water, and of course, he found Asher’s favourite mints. This time, he smiled as he added two tins to his purchases. He paid in cash and headed back to the motel.
Harry realised, as he rounded the corner, that he was actually happy.
He was happy with Asher.
It was foolish and crazy, and probably stupid...
Most definitely stupid.
But Harry had a sneaking suspicion that the ember of warmth that beat in his chest, that seed which had taken root under his ribs, was love.
He was smiling to himself, like the idiot he was, when he got to the motel door and it pushed open.
Harry dropped his bag of groceries, took out his gun, and kicked the door in. The table was pushed askew, the bedding was half on the floor.
Asher was gone.
