“Will you run then?” she asked. “Like you were thinking of doing last night?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know if it’ll be possible by then, because I don’t know how all this will end.” Josiah gazed off into space, rubbing his aching neck. “All I can do is deal with the problems in front of me. The rest will have to wait.”
The meal Sofie cooked was delicious. She listened to Josiah and Alex talk about their day, and then, the minute they’d eaten, she shooed them off to bed.
It was a relief. Josiah had been fighting exhaustion for days, and as tempting as it was to reach for Alex as soon as they were alone, neither of them had the energy to make love. They were both fast asleep the minute they tumbled into bed. He woke at dawn to find Alex lying with his head propped up on one hand, gazing at him.
“Hey,” Alex said softly, leaning in.
“I must have morning breath,” Josiah muttered, holding up a hand to stop him.
“I don’t care.” Alex kissed him gently on the lips. “I don’t know how long we have left. I want you as often as I can have you.”
“Well, you’ve got me.” Josiah grinned. “What did you have in mind?”
“I want you in me again, like the first time, only slower.”
“That can certainly be arranged.” Josiah wondered if he still had any ancient lube left from when Peter was alive, but Alex was one step ahead of him.
“I have this.” He held up the tube of lube from the other night.
It was even better this time, because that first frenzied need to have each other was sated, and they knew each other better. Josiah had always been a good lover, and he took his time, arousing Alex completely before sliding into him. Alex’s body was beautiful, but Josiah had never been particularly attracted to looks. While he found Alex’s deep grey eyes and teasing lips captivating, it was the sense of being intimate with this clever, challenging man that really turned him on.
It’d been years since Josiah had enjoyed lazy morning sex, and it had always been one of his favourite things. He was pretty sure it was as good for Alex as it was for him, judging by the sounds Alex was making. He hoped Sofie and Sem were deep sleepers.
Afterwards, they lay wrapped up in each other’s arms, dropping little kisses onto each other’s bare skin every so often. Josiah found his mind wandering to the case, to the future, and to what Sofie had said about one day losing Alex.
“Do you always top?” Alex asked suddenly.
“Hmm? Oh. No. Peter preferred to bottom, that’s all.” Josiah smiled. “He’d top if I asked, but I knew he didn’t enjoy it as much, so…” He shrugged. “It didn’t bother me. I like both.”
“Would you let me top you, then?” Alex asked.
“I’d love that. Not now, though.” Josiah glanced at the clock. “We need to get going.”
“Of course. Another time. When it feels right.”
Later, dressed in a sharp navy-blue suit, Josiah knocked on the door to the spare room and glanced inside. Sofie was sitting on the bed beside Sem, who was awake and sitting up, and had some colour in his cheeks. He looked much like his sister: slight and blond, with pale blue eyes.
“This is Josiah, the man who rescued you,” Sofie told her brother. “And also, my boss.”
“Hey, Sem. Good to meet you.” Josiah held out his hand.
Sem took it, shyly. “Thank you, sir, for all your help. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused,” he said softly.
“Well, I won’t lie and say it’s been no trouble, but I will say that it’s been worth it.” Josiah grinned. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better, sir.”
“Please, call me Joe.” Josiah glanced at Sofie. “Can he be left alone today? I can’t swing another day out of the office for you. Esther will ask questions.”
“It’s okay,” a voice behind him said. “I’ll stay with him.” Alex appeared, dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt instead of the smart suits he’d been wearing for the past few days. He’d clearly thought this through already.
“Thank you.” Sofie looked hugely grateful. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, but he might need some help walking to the toilet, and I’d rather someone was here to keep an eye on him. I agree that I need to go to work today, or it’d cause too much suspicion.”
“I’ll call you if I have any concerns about him,” Alex told her, sitting on the bed beside the patient. “Hey, Sem, I’m Alex – we’re gonna have fun today without these two Inquisitus spoilsports around.” He gave a huge grin and a thumbs up.
Sem relaxed, visibly, and so did Sofie. Sem was in good hands.
