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After they witnessed Pekka's arrest—and Alby's appearance in a carriage, safe and sound and not six feet under—they found Wylan at the crypt, much to Jesper's relief, packing the vials of compound back into their boxes. He looked up anxiously as they came in. "Everything—?"

"Everything went as planned."

"Alby?"

"He's fine," Kaz snapped. He was looking around without seeming to, and Wylan shook his head in response to the question he hadn't been asked.

"I haven't seen her. But … the bandages are fresh. She's been here."

Jesper and Nina went to check, confirming that Inej had been back to change her bandages. That put Jesper's mind at ease, at least. If Inej was well enough to look after herself, then she clearly had a reason for not being at the Emerald Palace that didn't involve her safety. He could see that Kaz had wanted that triumphant moment when he laid her freedom papes in front of her. Well, Kaz would have to wait.

In the meantime, Jesper thought he might have waited long enough. The night's worry over Wylan's safety had only underscored how important he had become. Regardless of whether he was fit to be part of the Crows, he was one now … and Jesper very much wanted to see if he could be more. He hovered next to Wylan, uncharacteristically nervous. "Are you—are you taking those back to your workshop?"

Wylan looked up into Jesper's face, wanting to see something there that would tell him where they stood, but all he saw was anxiousness, and that could be from anything. "Yes."

"I could—I could help carry them."

"Oh. Okay, sure. Thanks," Wylan said, trying not to get his hopes up. Jesper just happened to be going the same way. That was probably all it was.

Over Wylan's head, Jesper caught Nina's eye, and saw her amused little smile. So he was being ridiculous. Maybe that was okay.

They returned to the workshop, Jesper for once at a loss for words. Wylan didn't speak, either, until they were inside the building, approaching the stairs down into the interior. "So … so how does it feel, to be a free man again?"

Jesper laughed. He really hadn't thought about it until now, but it felt pretty good. "Amazing."

"Yeah?"

"Like the world is full of possibilities." Such as the one that lay before him tonight, if he had the courage to reach for it. He set his crate down, and Wylan went around the table to set his down on the other side.

"Such as?" Saints, how he wanted to be one of those possibilities.

They leaned forward on top of their crates, smiling at each other, as Jesper tried to come up with the most tempting ideas he could. "A decadent night on the town … Club Cumulus is often a fun time. And my friend Poppy has a new show at the Blue Paradise. Which I've been dying to see, so, um …"

"Oh." Foolish, Wylan thought, to imagine that another night together, possibly more, had been on Jesper's mind.

But then Jesper added, more hesitantly than Wylan would have expected, "You could come with me."

Wylan laughed nervously, ducking under the table to hide how much he wanted that offer to have been more than just a friendly gesture. "Sure."

Jesper swallowed, wondering where he had gone wrong. He was usually so good at getting what he wanted, when he wanted someone. But he couldn't remember the last time the person he wanted meant something to him, mattered to him, the way Wylan had come to do over these past days. "Um … something's off with you," he said, tapping his ring on the top of the crate for emphasis.

He had two choices, Wylan reflected. He could hide under the table and pretend there was nothing, and possibly lose any chance of starting over with this beautiful, funny, charming man; or he could face the problem head-on. His usual response was the hiding. But … he didn't want to hide. Not this time. He stood up, facing Jesper over the crates. "The night that we first met … well, I left because I assumed that's what you were going to do."

"Oh. Okay?" Only Jesper hadn't left. Wylan had. And Jesper didn't like being left. It reminded him of … of her. Of the first leaving. "Okay," Jesper repeated, backing away, because … it wasn't wrong. He might have. He probably would have. He usually did, in fact. Leaving meant he couldn't be left. But had he missed his only chance that night, then?

Wylan blinked as Jesper fled across the room. Was he thinking that was the way Wylan had hoped to end that night? "No," Wylan said hastily, not wanting to be misunderstood. "I … I just thought that someone like you wouldn't want anything more. Especially after just one night, so I … I thought it was easier to cut my losses."

So. Being Jesper Fahey had come back to bite him at last, when and where he least expected it. "Yeah, I get it," he admitted. "Yeah, I mean, my reputation isn't entirely unfounded." Not unfounded at all, actually. "I like the chaos," he said, knowing he sounded defensive. "The gamble of Barrel life."

Wylan looked at him and spread his hands out wide, as if to say that Jesper had proved his point for him.

"Never knowing what comes next," Jesper continued. "I might very well have left you first." And made a terrible mistake in the process. Well, he wasn't about to make the same mistake twice. "But that … was before I got to know you."

Wylan's heart leaped in his chest at the softness in Jesper's voice.

Jesper went on, carefully. "I can't make you any promises. Or predict what might happen between us. But I can tell you that …" He stopped. He'd never asked before, never wanted before. Not like this. It was terrifying. And … amazing. His eyes met Wylan's. "I'd like to find out."

Startled, thrilled, excited, Wylan turned away to hide his smile.

Jesper's heart was pounding. Had he waited too long, done too much damage with his irritation when they met the second time? Wylan's lack of response felt so heavy, so final … "You may have gathered this about me," he said in a rush, "but silences … they really aren't my favorite thing."

Almost before he finished the sentence Wylan was in his arms, kissing him, and it was … magical. Enchanting. Intoxicating. Jesper's hands closed on the back of Wylan's coat, holding him there, never wanting this moment to end.

At last it did. Jesper couldn't help but laugh, joy bubbling up inside him. "That was even better than the last time."

Not hiding his smile for once, or his laugh, Wylan took his hands, tugging him toward the bed. "Maybe you need a fuller reminder."

He was happy to go. Doffing his hat, he held his arms out for Wylan, who put a knee on the bed and knocked them both onto the mattress. Laughing, Jesper turned them over so that he held Wylan in his arms, leaning down to kiss him again.

After countless kisses, he realized that Wylan's hands were working their way down the buttons on his vest. "Why do you wear so many layers?"

"I like to be a challenge." Jesper sat up and carefully stripped off coat, greatcoat, vest, and gunbelt, and was working on the shirt underneath when Wylan's small fingers pushed his aside and continued the job, pulling his shirt out of his pants. He closed his eyes as Wylan laid both hands on his bare chest. His clutching hands found Wylan's coat. "You're not exactly naked yourself, more's the pity," he complained.

Wylan went still in his arms. "Um … Why don't I get the candles?" He got up, going around the workshop to snuff them. He wanted to see Jesper, but he wasn't sure he was quite ready to be seen. Nervously, he removed his clothes, prepared for Jesper to ask questions, or decide Wylan wasn't quite what he wanted after all … but when he returned to the bed, it was to find himself wrapped in Jesper's arms again, being kissed as though kissing him was the most important thing in the world.

And when their hands began to roam and Jesper's voice breathed his name into his ear, Wylan had everything he could have asked for.