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Wesley came awake to pale light cutting through the gap in the drawn curtains, falling across the bed. The air in the room was cold and the day would be gray. The Wesley of the past would have been unsurprised to wake to yet another miserable late-November morning.

He glanced down at Sebastian, curled so close that he was half on top of him, his skin soft against Wesley’s own. The tropical flower’s extra blankets were still piled on top of them, keeping their bed luxuriously warm.

The tiniest smile curled on Wesley’s lips. November’s weather could do what it liked; there was nothing cold or gray or miserable about this morning.

Sebastian’s head was resting on his shoulder and his arm slung across Wesley’s ribs.

Despite the loss of his magic, he still treated Wesley like a personal teddy bear.

Was it from the risks that sleep brought or did he just like Wesley’s body heat?

It seemed impossible that Sebastian could have no magic but still be at risk for the harrowing blood terrors that used to regularly imprison him in his own body.

But then magic itself was impossible, so who the fuck knew? As long as the uncertainty was there, it was simply good sense for Wesley to share his bed at night.

There were worse fates.

There was a stirring along Wesley’s side as Sebastian shifted, pressing even closer into him. “Buenos días,” he said into Wesley’s skin.

If Wesley had been any good at affection, this would have been a moment for it. Sebastian was right here, where Wesley could have run a hand over his back or shoulder, or stretched down to press lips to his head—

His head ? Christ. Of course Wesley wasn’t going to his kiss his head , that was far too patronizing.

Wasn’t it? Or did lovers ever do that? Normal lovers, at least, not emotionally constipated curmudgeons like Wesley?

Would Sebastian be fine with it, or would he think Wesley was being condescending?

Sebastian’s eyelashes fluttered then, and he glanced up at Wesley with his gold-brown eyes and messy hair and maddeningly perfect ease at interacting with a lover outside of sex. “Come here.”

And Wesley was suddenly pushed over, onto his side, Sebastian curling up behind him with his chest against Wesley’s back.

For fuck’s sake. Wesley had gotten stuck overanalyzing affection and now he was the little spoon. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Sebastian kissed the back of his neck, sending shivers over Wesley. “Sleeping.”

“No, you’re trying to cuddle me.” Wesley was going to sit up and put an end to this outrageousness.

Except his traitorous body wasn’t moving. In fact, his limbs were relaxing into Sebastian’s warmth like he was some kind of hedonist. Why was Sebastian so bloody good at this?

Sebastian pressed his face into Wesley, prickly stubble against his shoulder like tiny fireworks on his skin. “But it’s like you were made to be cuddled.”

“How dare you.”

Wesley was not going to stand for this. In one motion, he rolled over, drawing a noise of surprise from Sebastian as Wesley unceremoniously flipped him onto his other side.

Before Sebastian could move away, Wesley slung an arm over him to pin him down. “ I do the holding,” he said into Sebastian’s ear. “This is the only acceptable position and I’ve got you trapped, so you may as well admit defeat.”

Sebastian stilled.

Shit. Wesley hadn’t been thinking. He needed to be careful, to never manhandle Sebastian in any way—

But then Sebastian was moving into him, pressing even closer and getting comfortable in Wesley’s arms. “Okay,” he said. “You win. Let’s go back to sleep.”

Wesley let out a huffed half-laugh of surprise. “We’re not going back to sleep .” He hesitated for a moment, then moved his hand to rest over Sebastian’s heart. “Do you need me to release you?” he said, more quietly, more seriously.

Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, and their eyes met. “No,” he said softly, with a tiny smile. “I’m good. You’re the one who throws a fit when you’re cuddled.”

“Excuse me? A fit ?”

Sebastian grinned. His eyes were lovely and warm against the gray morning, and his heartbeat was steady under Wesley’s palm. “That’s what I said.”

Wesley tightened his arm, pulling Sebastian more firmly against him. “You’re very fucking impertinent this morning.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have told me you like it, then.”

Wesley did like it. Heat was rising in his blood, the urge to push Sebastian onto his stomach, to pin him down, to bite at his shoulders as Wesley fucked him into the mattress, nice and slow, until Sebastian was breathless and whining and begging to come.

Wesley closed his eyes, took a breath through his nose, and forced his body to calm.

Maybe Sebastian used to enjoy that sort of thing, but he didn’t have magic anymore and he had understandably complicated feelings about being pinned down now.

And yes, Sebastian appeared to have no fear at the moment, despite being captive under Wesley’s arm.

He was even confident enough to give Wesley a hard time.

Wesley would enjoy it without demanding more. Sebastian deserved to have someone treat him carefully, even if he didn’t treat himself with care—perhaps especially because of that. Wesley would not rush this.

The ringing of the phone cut through his thoughts. With an irritable huff, Wesley reluctantly got off the bed, grabbing his striped pajamas and tugging them on as he stepped into the parlor to take the call.

“Viscount Fine speaking.”

“Good morning,” Jade said into his ear. “I’m sorry to call so early, but I’m afraid you two must get packing.”

Wesley raised his eyebrows. “Packing?”

“Immediately,” Jade confirmed.

Sebastian was peering at Wesley from the tangle of sheets. Wesley curled his fingers in a beckoning motion. Sebastian frowned.

“Jianwei says to get dressed, by the way,” Jade said.

“Miss Robbins, what on earth is going on?” Wesley asked, eyes on Sebastian as he grudgingly crawled out from under the covers. “Are you implying Mr. Zhang is about to join us on the astral plane?”

Sebastian’s eyes widened. He grabbed Wesley’s full-length green robe, pulling it on as he hurried into the parlor.

Wesley bent slightly, tilting the receiver so they could both hear Jade. “We’re in the lobby,” she said, voice floating up from the telephone, “and coming up to your room now.”

The line disconnected. Sebastian and Wesley exchanged a look. “Why would we need to pack?” Wesley frowned. “Where are we going?”

There was a knock. Wesley went to the door, opening it to reveal Jade and Zhang. Wesley tilted his head. “No Arthur or Brodigan?”

“Not here,” Jade said. “We have news.”

“Clearly,” Wesley said dryly, holding open the door for them to come in.

They sat in the parlor, Jade and Zhang taking the settee together while Wesley picked up the phone receiver. “Tea or coffee?”

“Neither, I’m afraid,” said Jade.

“We can only stay a few minutes.” Zhang’s gaze had fallen on Sebastian. “Nice robe. Do those monogrammed initials stand for Webastian de Ceon ?”

“Is that your own lipstick on your collar?” Sebastian said back, taking one of the armchairs.

Despite the tense set of his shoulders, Zhang smiled. “Flippant this morning, I like it.”

“He must like you ,” Wesley said.

“That might be about to change.” Jade held out two tickets to Sebastian. “The R.M.S. Gaston leaves this afternoon for the Port of Southampton. You two need to be on it.”

Sebastian took the tickets with open confusion as Wesley dropped the phone back into the cradle. “I beg your pardon?” Wesley said.

“I kept an eye from the astral plane on that jerk from the Magnolia, Billy, at the police station,” said Zhang. “He’s trying to claim he took that swing at Sebastian because he’s a criminal and a bootlegger.”

“I mean,” Sebastian said ruefully, “he’s not wrong .”

Wesley waved that away. “And the police are listening to that lout?”

“They might not have,” Zhang said, “except they also picked up the two would-be bootleggers from Yonkers yesterday, and they described you, Rory and Sebastian to the police. The inspector has latched on to the two stories and thinks Sebastian might be using you as a mark. He hasn’t been able to find any information on Sebastian either, thanks to a magical family that keeps themselves out of public records, and that’s made the inspector more suspicious. ”

“And if the inspector keeps digging,” Jade said, “he might discover guests who remember meeting Sebastian at a masquerade that was supplied bootlegged liquor by Alasdair Findlay—whose death is also under police investigation.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Only a few weeks ago, they had jested about the police, because with a thought, Sebastian could have them all on the ground. Now, though, when he’d given up his defensive magic for Wesley—

“Outrageous.” Wesley started forward. “I’m going straight to the station—”

“Obviously we’re not going to let the police have Sebastian,” Jade said firmly. “But it will mean questions. Time. And we don’t have that anymore.”

Zhang was getting to his feet. “Jade, love, we have to go; Gwen’s cable has just arrived.”

“ Why don’t we have time anymore?” Wesley said. “And just arrived where ?”

Zhang gestured vaguely out the window. “Telegram office, a few blocks from here. I can’t get a good enough look from the astral plane; we’ve got to pick it up in person.”

Jade had also stood. “Arthur convinced his brother—the alderman—to distract the police. John has met both of you and will call the accusations ludicrous, but Ace also played a role in the bar fight at the Magnolia, and with John running for Senate, he obviously doesn’t want any touches of scandal involving family members.

We’ll explain everything at the pier. Pack your trunks and meet us there, won’t you? ”

Two minutes later, Wesley and Sebastian were alone in the hotel suite again. “We’re leaving for England now ?” Wesley said. “I can’t just tell the police to fuck off and leave you alone?”

Sebastian shrugged helplessly.