"Do you think you can sleep?" Jamie asked, his hand moving to stroke Corin's hair again, noticing how the fae leaned into the touch like a cat starved for affection.
"Maybe," Corin mumbled. "If you keep doing that."
Jamie smiled into the darkness. "I can manage that."
Silence settled between them, comfortable and expectant. Jamie continued the gentle motion, feeling Corin gradually relax against him.
"Jamie?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you." The words were quiet, sincere. "For not being afraid of me."
Something in Jamie's chest constricted. How many people had flinched away from Corin over the years?
"Nothing to be afraid of," Jamie replied softly.
Yet as he spoke the words, Jamie recognized the lie in them. There was plenty to fear—just not in the way Corin meant.
He feared the growing attachment he felt to this chaotic, beautiful being. Feared the satisfaction he found in being someone's anchor. Feared how right it felt to provide the stability Corin needed.
Maybe he and Daniel had that in common; they both wanted to save people in their own way.
But sooner or later, Jamie would have to leave. Find his brother. Return to his world.
And what happened to Corin then?
The store seemed to sense his unease, the room temperature adjusting to perfect comfort, the bed shifting subtly to cradle them more securely. Even the building wanted him to stay, to keep providing what Corin needed.
Corin's breathing had deepened, his body growing heavier against Jamie's side as sleep claimed him. Jamie watched the fae's face in the dim light, the usual mask of performative confidence stripped away to reveal something younger, more vulnerable.
Jamie was good at fixing things. Good at providing stability. Good at putting others before himself.
With the memory of their kiss still on his lips, Jamie couldn't help wondering what it would be like to stay. To be the person Corin seemed to think he was—someone with power, with magic, with the ability to calm storms with his touch.
The thought was seductive.
Much too seductive.
But Jamiecouldn'tstay here.
There was no way.
In the morning, Jamie woke to find Corin watching him, amber eyes solemn in the soft light. For once, the fae wasn't performing his usual theatrics. No dramatic poses, no flirtatious comments. Just quiet observation.
"You slept okay?" Jamie asked, his voice rough with sleep.
"Yes." Corin smiled. "Perfectly fine."
Something passed between them, an acknowledgment neither was quite ready to voice.
Jamie sat up, pushing back the covers. "About last night?—"
"We don't have to talk about it," Corin interrupted. "I overstepped. You were kind about it."
"That's not what I was going to say." Jamie ran a hand through his sleep-mussed hair. "We both agree that getting involved while you're still in love with someone else would be a mistake."
"And?" Corin prompted, clearly sensing there was more.
