They lay there quietly, holding hands for several long minutes, until Alcy broke the silence. “You know Supreme isn’t going to like this.”
Beez sighed. “I know.”
“What’s the worst they could do to you?” Carter asked.
Alcy had already asked himself that question. “Honestly? We could be unmade. Stripped down and recycled, then rebuilt.”
“No, fuck that!” Carter barked. “That’s not what a loving deity would do, and you keep saying Supreme is all about love.” He drew in a sharp breath. “I love you. Both of you. Andno one, deity or otherwise, should be able to take that away from me.”
“Fromus,” Alcy corrected. “Last night showed me what love is. How coming together with another person—or persons—leads to such a feeling of… completeness. And I’mnottalking about the sex, Beez.”
He pouted. “Aw, damn. I thought I’d got you on that one.”
Alcy grinned. “I mean, it’s when our hearts touched.”
“Well, at leastsomeorgans were touching,” Beez teased. Then he sobered. “You and Carter mean more to me than I could ever have thought possible. I figured this was going to be like any other assignment, but it isn’t.” He gazed at them in wonder. “I found out I actually have a heart. You knowhowI know that? Because it aches at the thought of being apart from either of you.”
Alcy gave him a speculative glance. “So what do we do?”
“You’re asking me? I don’t have a clue.”
Carter sat bolt upright. “Maybe Mr. McAffrey will know.”
Beez rolled to his side and gazed at Carter. “Who?”
“The guy I got the book from. Maybe he knows what to do.” Carter’s eyes sparkled and his breathing quickened. “We could go see him.”
Alcy was a wreck. He hated the idea that Supreme could make him leave either of these—his—men, but he also knew they couldn’t hide their budding relationship. “We should do that. Let’s go see him.” Alcy said. As an afterthought, he added, “Soon.”
Carter peered at his alarm clock and chuckled. “Well, it’s nearly ten now. We could have some breakfast, then head over there.”
“Or we could go to Starbucks, get some coffee, and more of those pastries,” Beez suggested, grinning.
The normalcy of this conversation made Alcy smile. “Keep eating like that, and you’re going to get a gut.”
Beez pouted. “And you wouldn’t love me no more?”
“No, it means there’d be more to love.” Alcy leaned in and kissed Beez, who blinked, then recovered quickly, wrapping an arm around Alcy and pulling him closer.
“Got room in there for another?” Carter queried.
No words were needed as they pulled him into their little cuddle puddle.
“This is it,” Carter said when they reached the store. The place was dark again, and Carter worried it wasn’t going to be open, but then the lights came on inside. He tapped at the door, and it opened a few moments later.
Mr. McAffrey beamed. “Carter! Just in time. I’ve got tea brewing. Bring your friends and come in.”
They all shared a look. “Were you expecting us, sir?” Carter asked.
“Of course. Today’s the day, after all.”
Carter frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“I suspected as much. Come in, come in.”
They were ushered into the shop, and Alcy’s eyes went wide. “Oh, I love what you’ve done here.”
“I’m glad,” Mr. McAffrey said. “It was hard to decide what would fit best.” He pointed to the corner table. “Take a seat. Let me get the tea.”