Thank you for reading!

Wylan woke first, as was becoming usual, but as he was starting to slip from the bed, Jesper stirred, one arm wrapping around Wylan's waist and pulling him back against him. "No," he murmured, still more than half asleep. "Don't go. Stay with me."

How did you resist a request like that? Plus, the bed was comfortable and Jesper was warm. Wylan rolled over and snuggled in, closing his eyes, feeling very … safe, and let Jesper's deep, even breathing lull him back to sleep.

Jesper woke up in what felt like mid-morning, delighted to find Wylan still there. He sat up further against the headboard, just watching Wylan sleep. Had he ever done this before? Had he ever wanted to? Most lovers he'd have awakened by now, either to go again or to send them on their way. But with Wylan, he was content to lie here and listen to him breathe.

At last Wylan opened his beautiful eyes and looked up at him. "Hi."

"Hi. Sleep well?"

A small smile, hidden away. "Mm-hm."

The sunlight coming in the window lit up Wylan's delicate features. He was so beautiful. Like a work of art. "I must admit," Jesper said softly, "I quite like the way you look in the morning."

Wylan made a small sound of protest and hid his face behind the flowing sleeves of the shirt he still wore, but Jesper wasn't having it. He laughed and leaned over, his fingers gently under Wylan's chin to lift his face for a kiss. Wylan turned over, his head on Jesper's chest and Jesper's arm round his shoulders. It felt lovely. A leisurely morning, nothing to think or worry about.

"You hungry?"

"Mmm," Wylan murmured noncommittally. He was pretty content just to lie here.

"Nina once mentioned a breakfast place that set waffles on fire. Or was it sausages?"

She would. And Jesper would go there. They had quite a bit in common, Wylan thought. He snuggled into Jesper's chest, closing his eyes in contentment. And more. Jesper's body was so warm against his, his skin so smooth, his scent so exactly and only his. Wylan wanted … well, he never wanted to get out of this bed, for one thing.

"No, I don't know," Jesper concluded. "Can't remember. Wasn't listening."

"I …" Jesper's voice, Jesper's hands, Jesper's— Wylan lifted his head. "I don't know if I'm really ready for … breakfast … just yet."

"Oh," Jesper hummed in delight. Come to think of it, he wasn't either. Not if there were other options on the menu. He bent for a kiss, their arms winding round each other. Wanting more, he rolled them over, cupping Wylan's cheek and then grasping Wylan's arm, pulling him closer, his hands restlessly tangling in the fabric of Wylan's shirt. Possibly he would stop being hungry for this man someday, but he was far from there now. He wanted—

A loud pounding came on the door, and they both jumped, breaking apart. Jesper glared at the door—and the cold-hearted person with a cane he was certain stood behind it. "No!"

"Downstairs, now," Kaz ordered. "Ravka needs saving."

Both Jesper and Wylan fell back against the pillows, groaning.

"I swear, he practices the worst possible timing."

"Has … this happened before?" Wylan asked.

"Well, not this actual thing, but … you know, Kaz just doesn't like it when other people have lives. Too much of a reminder that he doesn't have one of his own. Rain check?"

Wylan smiled. "Absolutely." And he looked so happy, so lovely, that Jesper just had to kiss him one more time. They might have forgotten Kaz entirely if he hadn't banged on the door again.

"Now, Jesper."

"Fine," Jesper snapped back. He and Wylan looked at each other and sighed, listening to Kaz's footsteps and cane thumps receding. "We should get up."

"Yes."

"And get dressed."

"Yes."

"And go see what Kaz wanted."

"Yes."

"And save Ravka."

"Yes."

Each breathless 'yes' was punctuated by a kiss. The last kiss was accompanied by hands beginning to move to interesting places, which Wylan was enthusiastically in favor of. What he was not in favor of was the likelihood of being interrupted by Kaz, again, at a more crucial moment than they had been so far. Reluctantly, he pulled himself away, ignoring Jesper's adorable noise of complaint.

Jesper was partially consoled for the loss of their lingering morning of love-making and eventually breakfast by the reminder that his new suit had been delivered yesterday. The tailor had made it with a kilt, since Jesper hadn't had time to go get pants fitted properly, and he tried out how that felt. So freeing.

Wylan was looking at him from the edge of the bed, where he had been putting on his shoes. "You know, I always wanted to know what people wore under those."

"And now you do."

"Yes. A little disappointing, really." Wylan smiled, ducking his head. "But the alternative would have been much more distracting."

Jesper leaned over him, his eyes warm and wicked. "I'm sorry, am I not distracting enough for you?"

"Oh, no, you are. You are. Very distracting," Wylan assured him as their lips met. They fell together onto the bed, the kiss deepening. Wylan thought hazily that he could lie on a bed and kiss this man for hours and be perfectly content.

Even as he thought it, Jesper smiled slowly down into his eyes and said, "I could stay here like this with you all day."

"Me, too." Wylan wrapped his arms around Jesper's neck and pulled him down for one more kiss, feeling Jesper's weight settle deliciously on him and Jesper's hands on his waist pulling him closer.

Then Jesper lifted his head and sighed. "If it wasn't for Kaz."

"And Ravka," Wylan added with regret.

"Oh, Ravka. It always needs saving."

"You did it before."

"And came home to find myself framed for murder and my home gone. I'm not sure it was worth it."

"Maybe this time it will turn out better."

"I'm sure this time it will turn out a mess, just like it did before." Jesper reluctantly got to his feet. "But, just like before, I don't really have any other choice. He'll be breaking the door down in a minute."

Wylan stood up, adjusting his clothes, while Jesper put on his hat. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

And they left the room together, ready to go save Ravka.