Page 71 of Static/Cling

He tried hard not to think.

He absolutely refused to regret what hadn’t happened with Leif and Bjorn. For them, it would be better this way. If he didn’t make it out of here, at least they still had each other.

CHAPTER 10

THE HARD PART

“We can’t stay here forever,” Leif said, even as he snuggled harder against Bjorn’s chest.

“You have to get up first so I can make sure the cabinet doesn’t fall and bring people running.”

“Working on it.”

“Work harder, yeah?”

“You’re warm.”

Bjorn kissed the top of Leif’s head. “I do tend to run hot.”

Leif snickered.

“You’re an asshole.”

“You love my asshole.”

Bjorn’s arms tightened. “And the rest of you.” He held his breath, waiting.

Leif understood. Because it was one thing to say they were more than best friends. Quite another to invest that much truth in it, and he couldn’t leave Bjorn wondering if it was just him.

“Mmmm.” Leif snuck an arm around Bjorn’s waist and tightened it. “Same.” He breathed deep, recognizing the scent of Bjorn’s slightly electrified sweat, the familiar warmth of him, and did what he never, ever did. He sank into Bjorn. Not just physically, but mentally, acknowledging the safe, calmspace that he usually only brushed against after sex, when he knew he wouldn’t encounter anything other than Bjorn’s tired satisfaction.

There was a lot going on in the bigger man’s head. Worry over Roger, and the dog, of all things. Anxiety mixed with curiosity about Kassian. Fear for their situation, even. But all of it overlaid with a kind of faith that took Leif’s breath away, because that faith, all of it, belong unequivocally, to Leif. He knew it like he knew Kassian didn’t like chipotle and Sal never left their office.

He knew it in his bones but didn’t quite know what to do with it.

“B?”

Bjorn shifted enough to get a hand under Leif’s chin, and despite the soft crackle of electric heat, the touch was reassuring. “Whatever you’re doing,” Bjorn whispered, “it’s kind of making my vibe spike.” He bent and kissed Leif then, deep and literally, electric in a way that made Leif’s heartrate skyrocket and his lips tingle.

When he pulled away, Bjorn’s eyes had a glow to them that lit up the small space between them. “I like it, but now might not be the time.”

“Your eyes.” Leif touched his cheekbone getting a sharp zap for his trouble.

Bjorn’s grin made him shiver, then the light faded, and Leif’s fingertips brushed against skin and stubble and honesty that made his chest hurt.

“So, um, guys?” Sal said.

“Yeah, yeah.” Leif shook himself. Their connection didn’t exactly go away but became more background noise and less immediately distracting. He forced heavy limbs to do his bidding and propped himself in a more upright lean on Bjorn’s chest.

Bjorn didn’t release his hold, which was nice because Leif wasn’t quite ready to give up the warmth. Periodic shivering still trickled through him, but at this point more because his clothes were damp with fear-sweat than from the residual effect of whatever that had been in the stairwell.

“Just that I’ve had Kassian’s earpiece off for quite a while now. I’m worried.”

“I thought his brother was there,” Bjorn said as Leif finally hauled himself out of Bjorn’s lap and onto his feet. They were on a mission, after all.

“I wish I could say that was a good thing.”

“Isn’t it?” Leif asked, alarm finally pushing back the fog and lassitude.

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