Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

was easy to forget that he still needed more than eight hours' sleep in a day.
    Sebastian crashed down onto the couch next to Daren. "Thank you," Daren mumbled, pressing his face into Sebastian's shoulder.
    "Thank you," Sebastian said to Rachael in turn.
    "Don't mention it."
    "I guess we'll give you a call when we have another meet."
    "Like hell," Rachael replied. "If you think that Agent of yours couldn't find a way back here if he really needed to, then you're nuts. I've got your bags packed. You're coming back to my apartment and living in my guest room."
    "Do you think we really need to…"
    "Yes I do. Now get your stuff, both of you. We're wasting time."
    Sebastian was just too tired to argue, and Daren could barely keep his eyes open. "Okay. Thank you," he conceded.
    Sebastian quickly moved their things to the car. Left a few hundred on the table to cover rent in case they never came back. Then Daren grabbed his hand and took long deep breaths. He wasn't sure if he could feel Daren's hand shaking or if it was his own. "You know, this is the first time I feel like I'm leaving home."
    "I know the feeling." It was the first time Sebastian had a place that felt even semipermanent, and for a few weeks it even held someone else important to him in it.
    "You two can save for it later. Time to go."
    ****

CHAPTER 13
    There was a soft, pleasant, warmth enveloping his body, and Sebastian rose into wakefulness. It felt like it was late in the day, but he didn't particularly care. He didn't have any place to be, just a few errands to run. And he had Daren curled around him, and as far as Sebastian knew, he'd slept peacefully through the night.
    He stroked Daren's head and let himself drift back into sleep. When he woke up again, Daren was awake, and looking at him with a smile on his face.
    "What are you smiling about?"
    "I just like it when a plan starts coming together."
    "What plan?"
    "Just… I don't know… Everything. I worked out where the private jet should take us."
    "Us." Sebastian mimicked still half asleep.
    Daren pushed himself up. "Yes. I mean, you're coming with me? I mean, I guess I just assumed, but we never talked…"
    Sebastian gave him a kiss. "Yes, I'm coming with you." It was one of the things Sebastian had spent time dwelling on during the previous night. Yes, he would get on that cash-only jet and go off to whatever far-flung destination Daren chose because Agent Kim had been right; Daren did need to be saved and cared for and protected. He also needed to be loved again in his life, properly, the way someone should be loved, and Sebastian was going to try to give him that as well.
    Daren smiled and snuggled up close again. "Stop one is going to be Nauru."
    "Where?"
    "Nauru. Fly-speck of an island in Micronesia. Like five people live there. Bit of a dump really, but it was set up to be a tax shelter in the nineties. They had some banking reforms a couple of years back so the worst of the terrorists and drug runners have moved their money, but some people still have little accounts they started there quietly, in hopes of no one ever finding them."
    "So we're going there to drain out some more accounts."
    "And spend a few days lying on a beach. Maybe find an x-ray machine."
    Sebastian cupped Daren's cheek and gave him a soft kiss. "I can get behind beaches and x-ray machines."
    Daren nuzzled against him. "I guess we should get up. Start the day. We still have some plans to make."
    That morning, Rachael teased him mercilessly as he scrambled some eggs for breakfast. In the shower, Sebastian lingered over the little touches and rubbed at the knots in Daren's neck and shoulders. His left shoulder was still tender, but that would probably hang on for a while. Physical therapy, which Sebastian insisted on, was far easier with Rachael there to prop up his other side, letting Daren walk properly without the cane. Rachael did the grocery run as well as picking up a few new burner phones.
    Daren spent the day on the computer. Rachael spent the day making Sebastian memorize every route to every airport for fifty miles in any direction.
    By bedtime, Daren was getting worried and frustrated again. Sebastian held him close. "We're going to figure it out. Agent Kim will come through, and we'll be out of here and on a beach before you know it."
    Daren placed a kiss on Sebastian's neck and let his lips linger there, his breath sending a warm wave across Sebastian's body. "Make me forget for a moment," he whispered.