“I know, I just…” He leaned his head against mine. “I feel like I’m failing before I’ve even started. What if there are other ghosts out there who need my help?”
“They’ve always found you before, right?” I waited for his reluctant nod before continuing. “Then you’re fine. The ones that truly need you have always found their way to you. Anyone else has already been waiting, so a little while longer won’t hurt them. Besides, this is a small town. I don’t claim to be an expert at this sort of stuff, but there can’t be that many ghosts lingering around here, can there?”
Alex took his time considering it from that angle, probably looking for a reason to castigate himself for not doing enough, but finally, he nodded once. “I guess you’re right. I’ve only seen a few in town and they ignored me, so maybe it’s okay?”
“It is. You’re doing the best you can and that’s all anyone can ask for.”
Alex’s arms came up around my neck, his pretty green eyes still worried, but at least he was smiling. “You’re way too good at getting into my head and calming me down when I’m acting ridiculous.”
“Someone has to be the logical one around here,” I said, and Alex scoffed, flicking the back of my head in retaliation. “Seriously, though, I understand why you’re stressed about this, but I meant what I said. It’s going to take time and patience.”
“I hate being patient. I feel like I’m a kid again and trying to learn how to handle something impossible.”
I hugged him as tight as I could, tight enough to get a little squeak of surprise from him. Officer of the law or not, if I ever met Alex’s parents, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t try to fight them for what they’d done to their son.
“You did it, though. You faced something no one should ever have to deal with, especially not a child, and look at you now.” I shushed his immediate response with another kiss. Knowing him, it would be another self-deprecating joke. “I’m serious, Alex. Not only did you survive, but you thrived. You have friends, you run your own business, and you’ve managed to keep your demon cat appeased.”
He snorted, which would have been more adorable if his face hadn’t been less than an inch from mine.
“Now who’s being ridiculous?” He tightened his arms, clinging to me just as tightly as I held him. “I really, really love you, Donovan. Thank you.”
“I was just stating the truth,” I murmured. “And I really love you, too.”
We stayed there in each other’s arms in the dimly lit living room until the tension drained from Alex’s body and I finally saw a real smile from him. He looked relaxed and soft and all I wanted to do was drag him into the bedroom and spend the rest of the night worshiping him, showing him how much I truly loved him. The answering heat in his eyes was all I needed to see, and we made it three steps down the hallway before a shrill screech dumped a bucket of ice water on us.
“Didn’t you say you were cooking a pizza?” Alex asked over the incessant alarm, and I groaned.
“Yeah, I was. I’ll deal with that while you shut off the smoke alarm?”
“Teamwork makes the dream work!” He winked at me, every inch a brat.
“I take it all back. You’re absolutely ridiculous.”
Alex just laughed and laughed.
***
Hours later, the house was still dark and Alex was asleep again, this time curled up against me with his head on my shoulder. He’d taken care of the smoke alarm and ordered food while I scraped the burnt bits of cheese and crust out of the oven, then we’d retreated to the bedroom. Alex was always beautiful to me, but when he let go of his insecurities and stress and got caught up in pleasure? He was transcendent. I’d wrung two breathless orgasms from him before he’d finally surrendered to exhaustion despite his earlier nap.
I couldn’t find oblivion quite as easily, though.
Satisfied that Alex was safe in my arms, my mind latched onto something Will had mentioned earlier.
“So learn with him.”
He’d said it so simply, like he was surprised I wasn’t already doing it, and now that the thought was in my head, it surprised me, too. Somehow, I’d fallen into the habit of taking a back seat to anything related to the paranormal, letting Alex handle it while I supported him. Except, even then, I’d taken on a more passive role. He was the one doing research, learning everything he could, even going to the crystal shop, which I knew had grated at him at first. Why was I leaving so much on him when I had access to the same resources?
Now there was no way I would be able to sleep.
Careful not to wake Alex, I slid out of bed, tucking the blankets up around him. I couldn’t help a smile when he immediately snuggled into my pillow in his sleep and I was tempted to get right back in with him, but I was much too awake for that.
Navigating the house in the dark was easy now, and I made my way to the living room before turning on any lights, flipping on a small table lamp next to the cozy armchair. It rarely saw use unless people were over, with us preferring to sit together on the couch. Louis currently occupied my usual spot there, though, glaring at me as if daring me to try to dislodge him.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, your Highness,” I murmured, grabbing my laptop and settling into the armchair instead. At least the cat hadn’t laid on the messenger bag I carried for work again. Last time, he’d nearly cracked the lid of the laptop before I’d moved him.
Once it booted up, though, I didn’t know exactly where to start. Alex seemed to have the research on meditation and crystals and things like that locked down. Or at least, he had Camille and Ori helping him, which would be far more useful than any website I could find. He’d gotten very lucky that there was a shop in town run by someone like Ori. In a small town like this, the odds weren’t exactly on his side.
That gave me pause and I glanced up at Louis, who still glared at me like I was the bane of his existence.
