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“Are we getting a room?” His hand slid further up Kass’s leg to the crease of his upper thigh. His fingertips grazed the growing bulge. “We’ve done everything via magic. I need more.”

“So do I, but a few more minutes won’t make a difference.”

Bailey sighed and removed his hand. Kass grabbed it and put it over his dick.

“I didn’t say stop…just that I’m not pulling over the car. I want to do it right.”

* * *

It was a nice hotel,and they’d gotten a room with a view over Circular Quay. Kass meant it when he said he wanted to do this right. He’d had plenty of time to think about it, probably too much time and too much thinking. He’d thought they’d go out, have a meal, see the Coven and sort some stuff out first. He needed things settled before he left.

He couldn’t deploy again like this. It was too dangerous. When he looked at Bailey, he didn’t want to leave at all. And that was dangerous. He’d fallen for a man he’d met in person only a handful of times, and always with a time limit. Even now they were on the clock. He wanted more, and he was scared. That hadn’t been in his plans.

The woman behind the counter gave them a look, and Kass was sure she was making a few assumptions—most of which would be way off the mark.

He wiped his hands on his jeans, and put the room key in his pocket, his nerves growing with every heartbeat. Even though he could feel Bailey’s hunger and excitement, he was worried that he’d be disappointed. What they’d been doing via the bond wasn’t the same as sex—it was intimacy with the same result, but it was different—and that was all Bailey knew.

That was all he knew of Bailey. They were doing this the wrong way around.

“We could grab a bite to eat?”

Bailey stared at him like he’d suggested growing wings and flying. “We can order room service. Why are you so stressed?”

“Because I don’t want to mess this up.” What they had had never existed in the real world. It was a thing made up of letters and email and magic. What if it they didn’t work in person?

The elevator opened, and they stepped in. “I don’t think you could. Do you know how long I’ve been thinking about this?”

“Not helping.” But he reached out and pulled Bailey close, wanting to hold him the way he had when they’d danced and nothing else had mattered.

But they were different now. Bailey was almost unrecognizable without his shoulder-length blond hair. He’d filled out and was old enough to drink. Bailey smiled and slid his arms around Kass’s neck.

“I don’t need a fancy date or meal, just you.” Bailey kissed him.

There was no spark of magic this time; only the need that had been long denied. God, he’d wanted Bailey that night. He’d have booked a room and not worried about the details if Bailey hadn’t run. He gripped Bailey’s hips and ground against him. His tongue found Bailey’s, and he wasn’t sure whose hunger was whose. Where did Bailey’s desire end and his start?

When the doors opened, they tumbled out. Both searching for the room number, then crashing through the door as soon as the light turned green. Bailey pulled off Kass’s long sleeved T-shirt while Kass tried to lock the door. Bailey’s fingers traced over the bullet scar, then his lips kissed the mark.

“I never saw that through the bond.” He flicked open Kass’s jeans and Kass didn’t stop him, but Bailey paused before dragging down the zipper. “Can I?”

Maybe that’s all he needed to do. Let Bailey take what he needed. He drew Bailey up, cupped his face and kissed him hard. “Whatever you want.”

“I want everything.” He said between kisses. “Before you’re gone.”

He couldn’t even give Bailey that because he’d be working his ass off over the next two weeks. They’d have to meet around the edges. He tugged off Bailey’s shirt, but Bailey was one step ahead, pulling down Kass’s jeans and pushing his hand into his jocks to grasp his dick.

Kass gasped at the contact. It really had been too long. He thrust into Bailey’s fist, wanting to be rid of all clothes.

All his doubts melted. This was his familiar, his mate. They were meant to be together. He drew in a breath, and finished undressing Bailey, touching and kissing as he went. The scar on Bailey’s stomach mirrored his own. They were two halves of the same magic.

Bailey glanced at the scars, and his lips parted as though realizing the same thing. Then he was toeing off his shoes and stepping out of his pants. “I know we mucked around with magic, but I actually have no idea what I’m doing.”

The roil of anticipation drowned Kass. “Don’t worry about it.” He kissed him, taking his time to learn the way Bailey’s lips moved against his. The impressions he’d gotten through the bond hadn’t been specific. There’d been no taste. No texture. No sighs and shudders.

He worked his way down Bailey’s neck, tasting his skin, as his hand slid over Bailey’s chest. He pinched a nipple, working it into a hard peak, before moving lower. Over the knotted wound, then following the trail of hair lower. His knuckles grazed Bailey’s dick, then he caressed the length from root to tip. The tip was already slick with pre-cum. He rubbed his thumb over the slit, then brought his thumb to his mouth to taste the fluid.

Bailey watched, his blue eyes wild and dark with lust.

Kass smiled. “Where to start?”