Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(51)

Tony cracked a grin. "A closet would do for me."


They'd spoken in low voices, the sort shifters used to be private. Chris had an overwhelming urge to take Tony's elbow--or even to hold his hand. Knowing that was reckless, he thrust his hands in his pockets too.

"Elevator's this way," he said.

They walked side by side down a back hall that led out of the coffee shop.

"You make a reservation?" Tony asked.

"Phoned it in." The elevator that arrived was empty, the music playing inside some peculiar Outsider pop. "The manager is a sort of friend. I resuscitated her significant other after an accident. She gives me half off room rates."

"And doesn't ask who you stay in them with," Tony guessed.

"Right." Chris jabbed the button for the tenth floor.

"You're blushing," Tony observed.

Chris rubbed his forehead. "If it makes you feel better, I wish I were taking you somewhere I'd never been with anyone else."

"Ever use this room before?"

"No," Chris said, though in truth he didn't remember.

Tony's silent laugh shook his shoulders.

"I'm glad you find this amusing."

"I find it endearing," he corrected. "It's nice that you're embarrassed. Heck, it's nice that you're meeting me."

The door chimed and opened, sparing Chris the need to answer. They walked down the corridor with a foot of carpet between them. The separation didn't matter. Chris's body tingled all along the side nearest to Tony. He was halfway hard and totally hot-faced.

He flubbed his first attempt to get the key card to work.

"Need help?" Tony asked archly.

"Shut up." Thankfully, on the second try the little lock light turned green. Chris swung the door open. The room was nice but small: a bed, a bath, a window--now nearly dark--overlooking Fifth Avenue and the park. Tony strode straight to it.

"Nice view," he said, peering out. "I can see the tiger carousel."

Chris shut the door and flipped the bolt. The sound turned Tony around. Sensation poured through Chris at knowing they were alone. Tony was so flipping gorgeous, standing there tall and serious. His face was sad, but that didn't lessen Chris's attraction. He loved how Tony's fingers curled into his palms with tension.

"I'm gonna sound like a girl," the hot wolf said, "but could you just hold me?"

Chris crossed the room quick as thought and wrapped his arms around him.

"God, that's good," Tony said, rubbing his cheek over Chris's shoulder.

His arms had circled Chris's back, his warmth and hardness better than a campfire. Chris stood there like that for a while. He was powerfully aroused--enough to be impatient. In spite of that, simply holding Tony was enjoyable.

"What happened?" he finally asked. "Even if it seems like nothing, I want to hear."

"My brother found his soulmate," Tony said.

Chris pulled back a few inches. "The girl he went on the run with? The half faerie?"

"That's her. We all went to high school together. She's a good person, and he used to have a crush on her. It's nice for him. Really nice. It's just . . ."

"A big change."

"Yeah." Tony smiled sheepishly. "Then there's the hero stuff."

"The hero stuff?"

"He and Cass kind of saved the world."

"Not really."

"Pretty much," Tony said. "The faeries they were on the run from, the ones they ended up killing, wanted to use the dragons' power to destroy the Pocket and everything in it. They viewed our mixed magic-mundane reality as sacrilege."

Tony let his arms drop and took a step away. Chris sat on the edge of the bed to absorb what he'd said. "There really are dragons?"

"There are. Rick and Cass hatched them, and they're adorable."

"Adorable."

"Well, they're only yea big at the moment." Tony held his hands a short span apart. "That information isn't for sharing, by the way. Adam and the others are debating if they should go public with the dragons' non-extinction. You could say the brood is in the closet for the time being."

Tony's mouth twisted sardonically. Chris reached to him and took his hands. He'd sat down with his legs apart. A gentle tug brought Tony between his knees. The other man looked at Chris, but he seemed distracted. Chris tried to figure out what was bothering him the most.

"You're a hero to me," he said.

Tony pulled a face.

"You are," he insisted. "You're out to the world. You don't get the respect or the credit you deserve, but you go right on living and protecting the city like you've sworn to. I think you underestimate what a big deal that is."

Tony smiled faintly. "Sometimes I think it's a big deal. Sometimes I feel damn sorry for myself."


"Fine. You're not a saint. I still admire you, Tony. Literal dragon slaying not required."

"Strictly speaking, Rick slayed a faerie."

"Whatever." Chris saw Tony was teasing him, his green eyes twinkling with mischief. Chris rubbed his hands with his thumbs.

Tony's amusement changed subtly. "I love you, Chris."