“I can certainly understand your attraction to it.” Takashi drifted among the shelves. There were old tomes neatly sat beside much newer books. Every binding was pristine; every book appeared perfectly maintained, even though some of the older books should have seen different treatment in their upkeeping than standing on a shelf.Unless they’re treated with magic.
“You seem a little out of it,” Zack remarked.
“A rough night, in some ways,” Takashi replied. In the center of the room was a small seating area with lush leather chairs. On either side of that setup was a long, polished table with a wooden chair on each side. “I’ve been exploring the mansion in my free time. I hadn’t come across this.”
“That’s because this place is huge.” Zack plucked a book off a shelf, opened it a few pages, and then closed it and put it back. “More shifter lore. Did you find anything interesting in the rest of the house?”
A few nights ago, Takashi would have told him without hesitation, but that was before he knew that Seamus could read Zack’s mind. Was the danger less now that Zack knew of it? Or more? Was he able to keep dangerous thoughts away from Seamus? Or unable to stop himself from thinking them constantly?
He had Katie’s safety to consider as well. Anton might attempt to protect her, but as powerful as Anton was, he hadn’t raised a hand in defense when Seamus attacked him.I should get all of us out of here. Takashi put his hand on one of the polished tables. Wood this smooth was still a pleasure to touch, and the sensation grounded him.
No one ever advanced across any board without taking risks. He couldn’t keep this from him.
“A few things, actually,” Takashi said. “I’ve been meaning to share them with you, but we haven’t had time.”
Zack raised an eyebrow. “We go to bed together every night—er, every morning. Well, dawn. Whatever. We share a fricking bed.”
“And these are the sorts of things that would be hard to keep yourself from thinking about obsessively, especially when you have nothing else to preoccupy yourself before sleep.”
Abandoning the bookshelf he’d been investigating, Zack crossed the space to Takashi. “We’ve got the time now.”
“Almost.” Takashi glanced up at the ceiling. Katie’s suite wasn’t directly overhead, but it was close. “Once they leave for the night.”
“We don’t know how long Seamus will be gone,” Zack whispered.
“But you’ll be able to sense when he’s coming back to the mansion, and I will be able to tell when Katie is returning. Anton should be with her.”
“That is … that’ll work.” Zack leaned against the table. “But you won’t tell me anything?”
“I’d rather show you. Now, if you’ll excuse me a moment, I want to put this coat away and slip into something a little more comfortable.”
“I thought suits were your thing,” Zack replied.
“Not always.” Takashi started to head for the door.
“Hey.” Zack took hold of Takashi’s hand and lightly dragged him close again. He pressed a soft kiss to Takashi’s lips.
The casual confidence of the act, of a lover simply wanting to give him a parting kiss, was a novelty. Roger was always like that, full of touches and kisses and cuddles. Zack had always been more distant, but like so many things about him, that was changing.
“I can feel how much you want me,” Zack murmured, his voice dipping low and gaining its ethereal note.
Takashi nuzzled Zack’s nose with his own, then teased his jaw with a light nip. “Yes, but we can screw, or we can seek secrets.”
“Can’t we do both?” Zack whined.
“Not at the same time,” Takashi laughed. “I’ll be back.” He pressed another quick kiss to his lips and then left the library.
True to his word, Anton had settled Katie into a suite not far from Zack’s, and technically Takashi’s since his was across the hall. Takashi passed by her suite, noting the distance he was from her, and went into Zack’s.
Anton was sitting on the couch, one leg over another and a small box in his hand. He smiled broadly at Takashi, but there was a slight tension in the careful way he held himself. “Brought you what I promised.”
After shutting the door, Takashi joined Anton on the couch and took the box from him. “Thank you.”
“Do you think she’ll be long?” Anton said. “Women are notorious for taking forever to get ready, aren’t they? And now she’ll have to do it without a mirror. Hmph.”
“You could buy her a tablet, something with a screen and camera,” Takashi replied. “The newer cameras are capable of capturing our likeness.”
“I’m aware of that, Takashi,” Anton said shortly.
