Mr. McAffrey went to the ancient bookcase, reached into it, and drew out a volume. “You mean this one?”
Carter gaped at it. “But that’s—”
“Already returned to where it needs to be.” Mr. McAffrey’s smile was kind. “The book isn’t important anymore, but your feelings are. My advice to you? Take your time. Relax. Things will work out as they’re supposed to. The men you conjured won’t leave until you’re ready for it to happen.”
“I’llneverbe ready.”
Mr. McAffrey’s eyes twinkled and he grinned. “Well, in that case, you should make them comfortable, don’t you think?” He walked away from the bookcase toward the door. “Thank you for coming, Carter. It was lovely to see you. Come back one day, and we’ll have a cup of tea together.”
Before Carter could object, Mr. McAffrey ushered him to the door, and seconds later he was standing on the sidewalk. Mr. McAffrey gave Carter a wave, then locked up again.
“How does he always make me feel so off balance?” Carter murmured. He turned to go back to the bus, and ran into two large walls of flesh.
“Are you okay?” Alcy demanded, seizing him in a tight hug and pulling him close to his chest.
“How’d you know where I was?” Carter asked incredulously.
“We always know where you are. We’re responsible for you.”
Warmth surged through him. Mr. McAffrey had said he should make Alcy and Beez comfortable, and this seemed as good a moment as any to start. He took their hands in his, then led them toward downtown.
“You seem lighter,” Beez mentioned. “And I’m not talking about your weight.”
He felt it too. He walked in silence, his gaze drifting from right to left to right, taking in the two men who flanked him.I don’t think I could survive losing them.In a week, they’d worked their way into Carter’s life, shown him how that life could be, and he was never going to give that up.Maybe now, I don’t have to.
Mr. McAffrey had given him hope.
Beez watched as Carter dug into his dish of ice cream. Of all the inventions humans had discovered in their time on the planet, Beez had to admit the frozen confection ranked in his top five favorites. He loved the variety of flavors, and often after finishing an assignment, he would sneak out to indulge a little. It was kinda weird though, to be sitting here with Alcy and Carter, enjoying a treat when the assignment wasn’t—
“Carter?”
“Hm?” he asked, eyes wide as he licked the spoon in firm, gentle strokes of his tongue. The recollection of that oh so talented tongue, and the things Carter had used it for, had Beez shifting in his seat as his cock hardened.
Beez cleared his throat, doing his best not to let the sight distract him. “Have you... made a decision?”
“Nope,” Carter said blithely. “I’m taking my time, weighing all the options. I’m not rushing into anything. Why do you ask?”
“Well, where’d you go after you left your dorm room?”
Carter’s gaze dropped to his bowl, nearly empty now. “I went to see the guy who gave me the book. I wanted to hold onto it for a bit longer, but he said it had already returned to him.”
“Returned?” Alcy repeated, his voice rising an octave. “But...” He turned to Beez. “I thought that didn’t happen until the assignment was done.”
“I’ve never heard of it either,” Beez admitted. “But you know as well as I do, Supreme moves in mysterious ways. Carter says he hasn’t made up his mind, so we’ll go with that.”
Beez felt… strange. He’d never given much thought to the ending of a mission. He’d go in, get laid, and leave his charge with a smile on their face.
Only now, he was thinking about leaving Carter, and the prospect didn’t sit well with him. What was more, Alcy was also in his thoughts.
He peered at Alcy, chatting animatedly with Carter, who seemed a great deal happier.Is Alcy happy?Even without hot and cold running sex, Beez was enjoying himself. He’d always thought of Alcy as a friend, and being able to spend some time together calmed him. Carter? He was a joy to be around. Beez had to admit, even when Carter had been upset, it had felt nice to comfort him.
For the first time in memory, he wasn’t ready for an assignment to end.
“Angel?”
Alcy lifted his gaze. “What’s up?”
Beez smiled. “I’m glad you got summoned with me.”