Ty turned his chin. "You"re my backup?" he asked, a smile forming as he spoke. His eyes sparkled, and the smile lines around them appeared before he took an impulsive step forward and hugged Zane tight. Then he kissed him, heedless of the crowds milling through the terminal.
Zane clutched at Ty"s arms in surprise, but the warmth of Ty"s lips melted the shock away within seconds, and Zane squeezed his eyes shut as everything else faded.
It seemed like forever before Ty broke the kiss and took Zane"s face between his hands to look at him. "I thought it"d be days before I got to see you."
Zane turned his head just enough to press his lips to Ty"s palm before he frowned. The swell of absolute relief and ridiculous happiness didn"t stand a chance against the stored-up anger and frustration. He pulled back and took Ty by his shoulders, shaking him just like he"d wanted to. "What were you thinking?"
Ty laughed and grabbed him. "Stop! Okay!"
"I should shake you until your teeth rattle," Zane said as he let Ty go.
Ty nodded as his smile fell away. His hands dropped from Zane"s face, his fingers dragging against Zane"s skin.
Zane had almost a week of frustration built up, and he wasn"t about to let it go that easily, even if Ty did look like a kicked puppy because Zane sort of wanted to kill him. When he spoke again, he was surprised that it came out in a growl. "Where the h.e.l.l have you been?"
Ty shrugged, looking away at the thinning crowd. "Here and there. In theory, Tennessee was involved. Or Kentucky. I"m still not sure." He looked back at Zane. "Which one has the bluegra.s.s and which one has blue gra.s.s?"
Zane barely resisted the impulse to shake him again. It wouldn"t help, but it might help him feel better. "I"m not asking where Burns told you you were."
Ty nodded, refusing to comment on that.
Zane shook his head and then glanced up at the ceiling before meeting his lover"s gaze again. "You just left," Zane said, and he made no effort to hide his upset.
Ty glanced around the terminal, then looked back at Zane and flopped his hands. "I had to. I don"t know how to explain it; it"s just sometimes it feels like... like the world is shrinking around me. Like if I don"t get out and away that it"ll catch me and crush me. And I know that sounds stupid, but it"s a real feeling and I panic. I woke up that morning and I just had to go." He reached up and put his palm against Zane"s cheek again. It was like he couldn"t help himself. "I tried to wake you, I really did. I even shook you!"
"You shook me."
"Well... I poked you."
"Ty!"
"I know! You were sleeping so soundly and.... You looked happy and safe so I let you sleep."
"I was," Zane said, too loud, and Ty glanced around. Zane stopped and gritted his teeth before continuing, his voice lowered again, "I was. And then I woke up."
Ty met his eyes with difficulty. Even with the fear Zane could see, Ty was more rested and pulled together than he had been five days ago, when he"d resembled a train going off the rails. He looked so much more like himself. Zane recognized just how stressed Ty must have been before taking off, and he could see that wherever Ty had been, it had helped.
"When I left that morning I intended to be back that night. Or at least the next morning. I swear, Zane, if I"d known I"d be gone this long I would have tried to stick it out." Ty waited a few breaths and then added, "I"m sorry."
It didn"t help Zane feel any better about the situation, especially when Ty"s sincere remorse highlighted how he was acting like a stereotypical jilted lover. Jealous, demanding, cranky. Zane grimaced. It just wasn"t fair that he had been the one left behind and yet he still looked like the a.s.shole. "There"s no way I"m going to come out of this looking good."
Ty grabbed his arm as Zane turned away, stepping in front of him to face him. "What do you care if you come out of it looking good? The only person seeing you is me, and I know what I did was s.h.i.tty. What do you care if we fight in front of a bunch of strangers who"ll never see us again? I know you"re angry, Zane. Show it. Just get it out so it doesn"t sit inside you and blow up later."
Zane looked into his eyes and saw the near desperation there, and suddenly he could see the core of what had been bothering Ty. Neither of them had ever felt comfortable showing what they were feeling. For the first time, Zane could see just how badly Ty needed that. But Zane was too close to losing his temper as he stood there and looked into Ty"s eyes. "What do you want me to say?" The words came out graveled and curt.
Ty put both hands out, palms up. "I don"t know, b.i.t.c.h at me? Tell me it"s okay? Say something. I"m d.a.m.n near groveling, here, Zane."
"You scared me, Ty. Scared me," Zane snapped back, loud enough that people started glancing at them.
"I know," Ty said, still calm. "I"m sorry I scared you. I"m sorry I bolted without saying anything to you. I"m sorry I left when you needed me. If I could go back, I"d do it differently. But I"m not sorry for going. You and I both know I needed it. And somewhere in there, you know I needed to do it alone."
"I wouldn"t have stopped you," Zane said in a more controlled tone.
"I know, Zane."
"Then why the h.e.l.l didn"t you wake me?"
"I was afraid... I was afraid if I woke you and looked into your eyes I wouldn"t be able to go. And I had to go, Zane, I had to."
Zane sighed. The anger was melting away, even after almost a week of percolating. Zane wanted to resent Ty for being so easy to forgive. He had expected to be hit with Ty"s charm, not this disarming sincerity. Even though fear and worry remained, they were blunted by the desperately happy part of him that just wanted Ty with him, no matter what. And he was glad to see Ty looking healthy again.
Ty nodded. "You"re understandably p.i.s.sed."
"You"re d.a.m.n right I am."
"Why don"t we go get your bags, take a cab ride to my hotel, and you can take it out on me there?"
"Take it out on you. As opposed to what, the world?" Zane asked as he turned and started to walk through the breezeway.
Zane heard his partner sigh, but Ty kept his mouth shut as they walked.
Zane suspected he was overreacting, and he tried to swallow the anger. This wasn"t how he"d wanted to see Ty again. He was not supposed to be angry and hurt and Ty all understanding and apologetic, making him feel like a caveman for being upset.
After checking the directory sign outside baggage claim, Zane found the baggage conveyor for his flight and stood waiting for his black leather duffel to scroll past. Ty stood at his side, silent and close. Zane could feel him. He took a steadying breath and turned to look at Ty.
He was watching Zane, eyebrows raised.
Zane sniffed in annoyance. "Still upset," he muttered, the words almost lost under the shuffling sound of people moving around them. But he sighed and relaxed a little; just being able to see Ty and feel the bundle of energy that was his partner allowed that.
Ty gave him another serene, amused smile. He glanced over his shoulder, and then he stepped forward and took Zane"s elbow. Before Zane could do anything but draw a breath, Ty kissed him again, right there in the middle of baggage claim.
Zane grabbed his elbows, holding him still so he could deepen the kiss. To h.e.l.l with whoever was watching. Ty felt so good in his arms, and he smelled like sandalwood, of all things. Zane didn"t care why Ty was suddenly so comfortable with the PDAs. He was going to take advantage while he could.
"Does it make you feel better to know I missed the h.e.l.l out of you?" Ty whispered, lips moving against Zane"s. "And I hope you"re still just a little angry when we get to my hotel room."
Zane let out a shuddering breath. "It"ll be more than just a little."
Ty hummed, the sound deep and antic.i.p.atory. It was almost a purr. "Promise?"
Zane gripped Ty"s upper arms tight. "Absolutely."
Ty smiled rakishly, d.a.m.n him, and took a step back, looking Zane up and down before nodding at the conveyor belt. "There went your bag."
Zane glanced around and had to dart after his duffel. When he pulled it off the belt and looked back at Ty in exasperation, Ty was still smiling.
"Come on. I"ll show you the hotel d.i.c.k ponied up for," Ty said as he turned to head for the exits.
"You really have a hotel? But when do we move?"
"I don"t know."
Zane slung the small bag over his shoulder and loped after Ty. "Why was Burns in such a hurry to get me here this morning if the meet isn"t set?"
"Probably because he knew I was here alone with nothing to do but something stupid. I"ve been stalking this guy for two days now," Ty said as he dug around in his pockets, fussing with the heavy trench coat he wore. "Took me a full day just to get a whiff of him. Burns needed to give you time to get under. It"ll be this evening, so we"ll have time to buy you some new clothes, give you time to scruff yourself up. Maybe give me time to scruff you up."
"What do you mean scruff me up?"
"I mean screw you through a wall," Ty said, waving his hand up and down at Zane.
Zane laughed in surprise. That idea sounded pretty d.a.m.n good.
"And you look like a Fed. We"re not supposed to look like government on this one, so we"ll need to find you some new clothes."
"If you say so. All I know is I"m backup. And a lot happier to be here than I was thirty minutes ago."
Ty"s hand snaked around Zane"s waist and pulled him closer as they walked. "Burns didn"t give me anything but the city and "hurry" and that he"d call me to give me an address later. Then I sat here cooling my heels for two days because he decided I needed backup. I didn"t even get a chance to run down this dude, who apparently is pretty good at not being found."
"Who is he?"
"I don"t know. Do you really want to talk about a case we"ll be handling in less than twelve hours, or do you want to go see my kicka.s.s hotel room and discuss your feelings instead?"
"Are you seriously asking me that question right now?" Zane said as he moved his duffel to his other shoulder so it didn"t hang between them.
"Is that a no, then?"
Zane reached to dig his fingers into Ty"s ribs, smiling when Ty twisted to get away. "You might get there without being mauled in the back of a taxi, but I"m making no promises."
"Fair enough. So how was your week, anyway?" Ty asked, pa.s.sing through the gla.s.s doors and out into Chicago"s frigid March morning. He began to search his pockets again, not looking where he was going.
Zane stopped their forward progress toward the curb after Ty almost ran down a couple of nuns dragging neon paisley rolling cases. "What are you looking for?"
"I got you something," Ty said as he lifted one side of his trench coat and peered under it. "This d.a.m.n thing has so many hidey holes I can"t remember which one I put it in."
Zane couldn"t help but laugh again. "You got me something?"
Ty looked up, his eyes wide and sincere as he nodded. G.o.d, he was handsome. Zane had to shake the urge to kiss him again, and he let the warmth in his chest spread through him as he met Ty"s eyes. Ty, as always, remained outwardly oblivious to the effect he often had on Zane.
"I"ve been here an hour or so. Walked through the gift shop." He flopped his hands and gave up the search. "It"ll fall out eventually," he muttered as he smoothed his hands down the front of his coat. He"d definitely bought it for the exact reason Zane had thought.
"You didn"t need to bring anything home but yourself," Zane said, sighing as he took Ty"s arm and got him moving again, following the ground transportation signs toward the taxi queue. It was the same Ty Grady he knew and loved. Really loved. And wasn"t that still an odd thought?
"I didn"t know when I"d get home after this," Ty said with a wave of his hand. "I couldn"t call you. I was pretty sure you were going to be frothing at the mouth by now, so I had to have a plan B in case a sincere apology and groveling didn"t work."
"I wasn"t frothing at the mouth."
Ty cleared his throat and glanced at Zane with a knowing look.
Zane shoved his hands in the pockets of his long overcoat and tried to ignore him, but he could just feel Ty watching and waiting. "Okay, so I was a little put out." He shrugged as he glanced over at his partner.
Ty nodded as they came up on the cab in the front of the line waiting for pa.s.sengers. He opened the door and they both climbed into the back of the car, and Zane stashed the duffel between his feet. Ty said something to the cabbie Zane couldn"t make out over the traffic noise, and the car was moving a few moments later.
"I am sorry I left like that," Ty said as soon as they were sitting next to each other, a careful two feet of empty seat between them.
The structures whizzing by outside cast weird shadows into the cab, but Zane knew the features of Ty"s face without having to see them, and a short glimpse in the sunlight showed him that Ty was watching him, eyes intent.
"I"m sorry you felt you had to."
Ty gave an elegant shrug and smiled. "s.h.i.t happens," he said as he looked away.
"Usually because you"re full of it," Zane muttered, leaning back in the seat to take the first easy breath he"d been able to draw in days. He glanced at Ty and felt more of the pressure in his chest ease away.
Ty rested his head against the seat and turned to look at Zane. "Nice suit."
Zane looked down at himself. It was a deep black suit with sharp lines and tiny charcoal pinstripes, bought to replace the suit ruined last week at Lydia Reeves" funeral and picked up from the tailor"s just yesterday. The jacket had been cut a little fuller to allow for his gun holster, and the sleeves a little longer to cover his knives. "Burns caught me in the gym. This was what I had for work, since I didn"t have time to run home."
Ty was still watching him, his head lowered, his lips twitching as he fought a smile. "No, Zane," he said in a low voice, an entirely different tone to the words. "I meant nice suit."
Zane"s mouth went dry as the honey-smooth tone of Ty"s seductive voice seeped into him. A slash of light caught in Ty"s eyes, and they glittered green with flecks of gold, focused on him. Zane felt his cheeks flush. "Well. I... uh."
Ty didn"t respond. He continued to watch Zane as the city pa.s.sed by the cab"s windows. Zane raised an eyebrow, and Ty smirked. Zane knew that look. He knew it very well, and the cab could not get to the hotel fast enough.
T Y LED Zane through the lobby of the hotel d.i.c.k had put them up in, bypa.s.sing the front desk in favor of the elevators. Technically, they had two rooms for the day. They wouldn"t need both.
Ty had to admit that he was nervous. He"d been nervous ever since the morning Richard Burns had called him and he"d realized he wouldn"t be able to get back to Zane before Zane completely flipped out. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Ty glanced at Zane and breathed in deeply to calm himself.
Zane turned to lean against the side wall, facing Ty, watching him. His dark eyes didn"t stray, not that Ty had anywhere to hide.
"You mad?" Ty asked, lips twitching as he fought a smile.
Zane"s eyes narrowed, and the calm facade melted into something that looked a little more dangerous. A thrill ran through Ty"s body, and he could not suppress the shiver.
"You want to talk?"
"Is there more to say?" Zane asked. His voice carried a cautious undertone. "I"m angry, you"re sorry."
"Honestly?" Ty said, losing the teasing note. "I think we have s.h.i.t tons of things to talk about."
Zane frowned, looking pained. But he nodded in agreement.
The elevator lurched as they reached their floor. Ty waited for the doors to open before he stepped closer and took Zane"s hand in his.
Zane laced his fingers with Ty"s, and the frown faded, replaced by an unusual vulnerability. "This isn"t going to keep me angry."
"Yeah, that"s not exactly my plan," Ty whispered as he led Zane down the hallway. They pa.s.sed a few people on their way to their door, but he never let go of Zane"s hand. He didn"t let go of it as he fished his key out of one of his many pockets and unlocked the door, and once they were inside, he didn"t let go of it after he let Zane drop his bag. Instead, he pulled Zane closer to kiss him.
Zane"s free hand dug under Ty"s trench coat to slide around his waist, pulling Ty to him as their lips met.
Ty"s eyes fell shut and all the tension drained out of him as he wrapped around his lover. Zane was so warm, and his familiar scent seeped into Ty, pushing away all the worries he"d been harboring. He reached out and slid his hand along Zane"s waist, pulling at his shirt. "I love you, Zane."