Race was no stranger to clandestine affairs. The stolen glances, the barely there touches when no one was looking, stolen kisses in the empty lab. It wasn't the first time he was playing this game.

It was almost a comfort to fall into those old, familiar steps.

It was a thrill to have a secret again.

He allowed himself a satisfied smirk.

Across the room, Benton raised his eyes from his computer and gave him a quizzical look. "What are you so smug about?" he asked, smiling as well.

Race walked over, to lean against the Doctor's desk with all the nonchalance in the world.

"We have guests," Race said.

Benton tilted his head in fond amusement, waiting for the rest of the explanation. Race couldn't leave him hanging.

"We have to be on our best behavior."

"Oh, drat!" Benton exclaimed. "There go my plans for an orgy!"

The straight face and deadpan tone took Race entirely by surprise, and he dropped the insouciance and doubled over laughing. He had to support himself against the desk and pull himself together, before he could reply, "We'll have to settle for a clandestine affair, then."

Benton smiled up at him. "Did I just foil your plans of seduction?"

Race bit his upper lip to stop himself from laughing again. Benton's eyebrow was arched in a very suggestive manner and that, combined with the fake innocence and the earlier stunt, was a bit too much for him to handle discretely. The knowing smirk Benton flashed him confirmed his suspicions.

"You're paying for this," Race warned, one of his hands reaching tentatively for Benton's across the desk.

Benton teasingly ran his fingers across the offered hand, but didn't take it.

"You'll have to wait until we have the house to ourselves, I'm afraid."

Race sighed and pulled his hand back.

"I'm starting to wish I told Estella about us before she came over. It's not like she expected me to take a vow of chastity after the divorce."

"No one expects that of you, Race," Benton teased and he wanted to show him just how far off the cards that possibility was.

But Estella was staying with them for a week, before taking the kids with her to Columbia, and Race Bannon was perfectly capable of being on his best behavior for a week. Especially when that meant they had the house to themselves for a whole month after that – plenty of time to make Benton pay.

Benton stretched lazily in his chair, watching him.

"I could use some coffee," he said, getting up. But instead of heading for the door, he lingered next to Race, letting his proximity sink in.

The silence stretched.

"Anything else you need?" Race asked, leaning into the other's space.

Benton pulled him in for a quick and playful kiss.

"Some kind of secret agent you are!" Benton teased. "You can tell her when we go pick up the kids, next month," he suggested.

"Ex!" Race corrected. "Ex-secret agent!"