Cain put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder and squeezed.

Thomas gave a bitter laugh. “It’s not making me feel any better.” Because it still didn’t wipe out the fact that the crime had Kasper’s signature all over it. Were they trying to send him a message? Was this a direct threat?

“You and Maya saved the baby. Isn’t that worth something?”

Slowly, he nodded. At least one innocent had been saved. “It is. Good night, Cain.”

“Night, Thomas.”

With a heavy heart, Thomas crossed the street and approached his motorcycle. He put the key into the lock and swung himself onto it, when he noticed that something was wrong. He looked down to the tires.

“Shit!”

Thomas jumped off the bike and inspected the damage. Both tires had been slashed, front and back, and were completely deflated. Angrily, he hit his boot against the back tire. Why would somebody slash his tires? Was this another message?

“Something wrong?” Eddie’s voice addressed him from behind.

“Some asshole slashed my tires.”

Eddie came into view and looked at the bike. “Oh, crap!”

Thomas shoved his hand through his hair, closing his eyes for a moment. Then he glanced back at Eddie. “Can you give me a ride home so I can get the van?”

Eddie’s eyes blinked in the dark. The moment’s hesitation confirmed to Thomas that he was apprehensive about being physically close to him again. Thomas was about to say that he could take a taxi, when Eddie suddenly nodded.

“Sure, no problem. Hop on.”

Eddie mounted his bike and swept up the kickstand with his left foot before turning the bike toward the street, then turning the key. Thomas swung himself up behind him, putting his arms around Eddie’s waist. When the bike accelerated and pulled into the street, Thomas felt himself jerked backwards and tightened his grip around Eddie’s midsection. He noticed that as so often Eddie hadn’t put his helmet on. They both liked to ride without it, and tonight the cool air blowing past his ears was exactly what Thomas needed.

He couldn’t remember when he’d last ridden on the back of someone else’s motorcycle, but he remembered that he’d never much liked it. But tonight, he was glad not to have to concentrate on traffic, and instead let his thoughts wander.

Holding onto Eddie gave him a strange sense of peace and comfort. Of feeling safe, when he knew that he was never truly safe, neither from the external threats that came from Kasper’s disciples, nor from the threat the dark power within him represented. Still, feeling the warmth from Eddie’s body seep into his chest gave him a feeling of home that he hadn’t felt in a long time. Because Eddie represented home for him.

Thomas sighed and moved his head closer to Eddie, inhaling the scent of his hair and skin, his masculine odor. Of their own volition, his thighs pressed harder against the outside of Eddie’s thighs, and it felt as if Eddie were pressing back into him. At every point where their bodies connected, Thomas felt as if on fire. If he didn’t get off this bike soon and away from Eddie’s tempting body, he would burn up. Or he would do something stupid, like pulling Eddie off the bike at the next stoplight and mauling him.

When the motorcycle leaned into the next curve, Thomas’s hand slipped and landed on Eddie’s thigh. He gripped it for support until Eddie pulled out of the curve, straightening the bike again. Underneath his palm, Eddie’s muscles flexed, and he could sense his body stiffen as if trying to ward off an attack.

Disappointed at Eddie’s reaction, Thomas removed his hand from Eddie’s thigh and brought it back around his waist. Eddie’s jacket was open in the front, and Thomas’s hand accidentally slipped inside, feeling the hard abdominal muscles under Eddie’s T-shirt. Heat radiated into his palm as he let his hand wander. He wanted to touch him so badly, wanted to explore his body, arouse him again.

Thomas shifted his hips and unintentionally rocked against Eddie. A grunt came over Eddie’s lips. Quickly, Thomas brought as much distance between them as the seat of the motorcycle allowed, and was glad when they finally turned into his street.

Eddie pressed the garage door opener and the gate lifted. He drove in and brought the bike to a stop. Thomas hopped off as quickly as he could while Eddie killed the engine and engaged the kickstand, parking the vehicle as he got off.

Without looking at him, Eddie asked, “Do you need help with hauling your motorcycle back?”

Thomas headed for the van and opened the door. “No. I’m good.” He could almost hear the silent sigh of relief that Eddie released as he walked toward the stairs leading up to the house.