“Yeah…but,” Seb huffed as he unlocked the door. “They could have fucking knocked instead of scaring me half to death.”
The thought of Seb opening the door to a couple of strange shifters made Tim’s blood run cold. He slid his hand up to the back of Seb’s neck and waited for him to look at him. Then he said, “Promise me you won’t open the door to anyone you’re not expecting?”
“I promise.” Their gazes locked for a long drawn-out moment, and then Seb turned and stepped over the threshold. “It’s a shame I’ve not got one of those cameras like Nathan’s,” he shot back over his shoulder as he carefully climbed the stairs.
Why didn’t I think of that? Why didn’t anyone else?Tim had his phone out in seconds and sent off a quick text to Alec. When the reply came back that he’d get it sorted as soon as possible, Tim relaxed a little. He glanced up to find Seb waiting for him at the top of the stairs.
“What did you just do?”
Oh shit. Maybe I should have asked first instead of just taking charge.
Seb raised both eyebrows. “Now you look guilty. Come on, spill.”
Tim sighed and slid his phone into his back pocket as he took the last few steps up to Seb. “I asked Alec to install a security camera. So you can see who’s at your front door.”
He didn’t hold his breath waiting for Seb’s response, but his hands curled into fists of their own accord.
“And that makes you feel guilty because….?”
Seb smiled, and it caught Tim totally off guard. “I…um….”
“You thought I’d be pissed off at you for interfering?”
Tim nodded. “Basically, yes.”
“I’m not stupid, okay?” Seb manoeuvred down the short hallway and pushed the door open with the end of his crutch.
Tim followed closely. “I never thought you were stupid. Just pig-headed,” he mumbled. Not quietly enough, though, because Seb laughed.
“Fine, I may be a little stubborn, but not where security is concerned.” He stopped, half turned, and waved his crutch at Tim. “I’m doing this, aren’t I?”
“True,” Tim conceded.
“I actually think it’s a great idea. Thank you.”
He met Tim’s gaze as he said it, and those two small words settled deep in Tim’s chest like a warm glow.
Ducking his head to hide the blush no doubt colouring his cheeks, Tim put his hand on Seb’s arm and gently steered him into the living room. “Come on. Let’s get you sat down and off that leg.” When Seb started to protest, he added, “Doctor’s orders.”
With Seb deposited on the sofa, Tim dropped his bag off in the bedroom and went to investigate the contents of the fridge and kitchen cupboards.
“What are you doing now?” Seb rested one arm on the back of the sofa as he watched Tim opening and closing cupboard doors.
“Seeing what you’ve got in the way of food.”
Seb’s brow furrowed as though that thought hadn’t occurred to him. “Oh. I usually go grocery shopping on a Monday night on the way home from work, but”—he glanced down at his foot—“I guess that’s going to be almost impossible now. Fuck.”
After finding very little in either the cupboards or the fridge, Tim leaned against the worktop. “If you give me a list, I can go shopping for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t, but I want to.” He walked over and sat on the other end of the sofa, careful to avoid Seb’s cast. “Going shopping is not something you need to be attempting on your own. It’s no trouble for me to pick up what you need before I come to see you.” He paused, swallowing down the apprehension of saying the next bit. “And I planned on coming over a lot. If that’s okay?”
The silence stretched between them as Seb stared at him, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. “For appearances’ sake?”
No. For mine.“I suppose.” Bollocks to it—it wasn’t as though Seb didn’t already know how he felt. “And because I want to. I know you don’t like to talk about it, and this’ll be the last time I bring it up, but thinking about you being in danger brings out my protective instincts in a big way.”
“Okaaay?”
