Sean’s gaze tracked back to the chrono on the nearest holoscreen. He winced. “I missed my appointment withGracie.”
“Da. Is why she send me. Time forcheckup.”
Sean touched the nearest holoscreen and flicked it to where Elena was working. He took a few more seconds to type out some commands—saving files, forwarding others—and would’ve gotten lost back in his work if Alexei didn’t curl a warm hand around Sean’s elbow and tughimaway.
“Now, Senya,” Alexei said with a deepchuckle.
“Make sure the director gets my latest report,” Sean called over hisshoulder.
“Will do,” Elena said, notlookingup.
Alexei led Sean out of the room, guiding him to the closest elevator. Now that he wasn’t blinded by work, Sean could focus on the fact that Alexei washere, by his side, after a month of being separated due to his mission. Sean desperately wanted to kiss the other man, but they needed to act like professionals, despite theirrelationship.
“Dye hair for mission?” Alexei asked on the ride down to the groundfloor.
Sean shrugged. “I’ll dye it backtonight.”
“Okay.”
Alexei’s immediate relief at his answer didn’t surprise Sean. He knew Alexei preferred who he really was over the identities he’d inhabited over the years. Sean was grateful he had found someone who preferred the truth over a veneeroflies.
Since he’d been medically cleared at the EAMSG headquarters in Paris and his records forwarded on to the MDF, Sean’s time under Gracie’s care was relatively brief. A touch from her hand so she could get a read on his health through her healing power confirmed that he didn’t require a stint inMedical.
“I’ll sign off on a regulatory three days off for you, but I’m not sure how long that will last,” Gracie said as she tapped an update into hertablet.
“Anything I need to know?” Seanasked.
“Alexei can fillyouin.”
Sean looked over at where Alexei was scrolling through his personal tablet. He didn’t look up at the mention of his name when he said, “Is in report. Jamie sendtoyou.”
Sean thought back to his long queue of unread emails and grimaced. “When canIgo?”
“You’re cleared,” Gracie said, patting his shoulder. “Take the rest of thedayoff.”
She walked out of the exam room, moving on to her next patient. The door automatically closed behind her. Sean slid off the biobed, ignoring the way its sensors went blank as he left its scan field. Alexei looked up from his tablet and tucked it away in his pocket. Sean let his gaze slowly travel up and down Alexei’s body, taking him in. He really did like how Alexei looked inasuit.
“Keep looking like that, we not make it home,” Alexei warned as he approached. “Get room on-base. Never hear end of it fromKilyusha.”
“You could just not tell your brother,” Seanreplied.
Alexei chuckled as he touched Sean’s chin with his fingers, tilting his head back. “He sneaky. Wouldfindout.”
Sean’s reply was lost in the tempting feel of Alexei’s mouth on his. He parted his lips, drawing Alexei in deep as they tasted each other for the first time in weeks. Sean groaned as Alexei grabbed him by the ass and hauled him close, keeping him there as theykissed.
Sean broke the kiss with a gasp, tucking his face against the curve of Alexei’s neck and shoulder as he hugged the other man tightly. He breathed in the last lingering traces of the cologne Alexei had put on earlier in the day and sighed softly. “Missedyou.”
“Missed you too, Senya,” Alexeirumbled.
“Let’s go home,Lyosha.”
The promise in Alexei’s gray eyes was enough to make Sean forget about all the work he still needed to finish in favor of following the doctor’sorders.
Ten minutes later, they were in Alexei’s car, driving away from the security checkpoint at the base perimeter. Sean slouched a little in his seat, smiling when Alexei placed his hand on Sean’s thigh, squeezinggently.
“Mission go okay?” Alexei asked, most of his attention ontheroad.
Sean curled his hand over Alexei’s, soaking up the heat that seemed embedded in the pyrokinetic. “It was long. Not sure if we found anything worthwhile. You guys did,though.”
