“I do.”
Tim ignored the pang of longing that always tore through him when he thought of bonded pairs. It hadn’t been so bad when it was all theoretical, but seeing Nathan and Jared together, after having watched them go through all they did to get there, made the feelings that much more acute. What he wouldn’t give for someone of his own like that. “But I needed to talk to Seb before he goes back to his flat.”
Luke hummed in response as they walked along the hallway to the stairs. “Gareth said P-Pack admitted to following Seb and watching his house.”
“So I understand.”
“He doesn’t trust them. I don’t think Cam or any of the other betas do either.”
Tim’s chat with Alec flashed through his mind. “I think you’re probably right. But there’s not a lot anyone can do about it yet.”
Luke sighed. “No.”
They climbed the stairs in silence after that, and with a wave, Luke carried on up to his flat while Tim exited at the first floor.
No sound came from inside Nathan’s flat, no TV or music, no signs of life in general. Tim checked his watch: 10:15. Surely someone was up? Nathan would have mentioned if both Jared and Seb were still asleep, wouldn’t he?
Tim knocked on the door, cringing at how loud it sounded against the silence of the hallway. Listening for the telltale footsteps of someone approaching the door, he waited patiently for a couple of minutes.
But no one came. With a sigh and a less than charitable thought about Nathan, he tried again, a little louder this time.
And waited.
Finally he heard the shuffling gait and tap of a crutch that announced Seb coming to answer the door. It opened slowly, and a waft of Seb’s scent washed over Tim and took him by surprise.
Fuck, I missed that.Taking another deep breath, he tried not to appear too obvious and focused on Seb’s face, which had scrunched up adorably in confusion, a couple of pillow creases on one cheek. His dark blond hair had that tousled appearance, and honestly, Tim didn’t think he could have looked any more appealing if he’d put actual effort into it.
Seb looked warm and sleep-rumpled, and Tim would like nothing more than to march him back to his bedroom and slip in bed beside him.Fuck.
He cleared his throat and attempted to pull himself together. This would not go over well if all he could manage was to stand and leer at him. “Hey, I didn’t get you up, did I?”
“Whatever gave you that idea?” Seb fixed him with an unimpressed stare, which Tim totally deserved for such a stupid statement. “You better come in now you’re here.”
Seb stepped back and opened the door wider, and only then did Tim glance down and see what he was wearing. Or rather, what he was not wearing. Dark purple boxer briefs clung to him like a second skin, and the white T-shirt looked a couple of sizes too big and hung loosely on his frame, revealing the top of one shoulder and part of his collarbone.
Swallowing was far more difficult than it should be, as was raising his gaze to Seb’s face. When he eventually managed it, Seb’s cheeks had flushed and he had one hand in his hair.
“Um….” Seb looked down at his bare legs and shrugged. “Pyjama bottoms don’t fit over my cast, so….”
Tim cleared his throat. “Oh… um, yeah. I wasn’t—”
Wasn’t what? Staring, drooling, wishing he could run his hands over the fine blond hairs covering Seb’s thighs? Probably best if he didn’t finish that sentence.
Tim quickly stepped inside and moved past Seb so that he was no longer tempted to be totally unprofessional. “Is Jared still in bed?” He glanced towards the closed bedroom door at the end of the hallway.
“Yeah. He was working late, I think.” Seb followed as Tim headed for the relative safety of the kitchen. “Let me just go and put on some shorts.”
Oh, please don’t, not on my account.
But Seb was already disappearing into his bedroom.
After setting his bag on the worktop, Tim turned to face Seb as he came into the kitchen a few minutes later, and he forced himself to keep his gaze head-height. “How are you feeling?”
“So, this isn’t just a social call, then?”
“A bit of both, actually.”
Seb smirked and set his crutch to one side, leaning against the worktop. “Well, in that case, Doctor, I’m feeling pretty good.” He flexed his right wrist a couple of times and wiggled his fingers. “I iced it twice a day like you said, and I’ve been exercising it a little now the swelling’s gone down. It feels loads better.”
