Ezra glared at the men milling around the clearing as he surreptitiously worked on the ropes that bound his feet. The gambler had noticed a sharp rock sitting next to him when one of the kidnappers had unceremoniously dumped him in the clearing. Shuffling so that it looked like he was getting into a more comfortable position, an unlikely prospect seeing as his arms and legs were bound, Ezra realised that he wasn't able to reach the rock with his hands. Hoping that they'd lose interest in him sooner or later, Ezra waited until he realised that wasn't going to happen. One of the five men continuously kept an eye on him, occasionally wandering over to give him some water or food. Eventually, Ezra realised that he could reach the rock with his legs, and instead began sliding his bound ankles against the sharp edge. Keeping any visible movement to a minimum and having to stop every few minutes when he was being watched, Ezra's progress was slow and frustrating. Everytime one of them came over, Ezra was sure that they'd pick him up and move along. However, these men appeared to be in no hurry whatsoever. They were completely unconcerned by the prospect of anyone following them, having taken care of the only threat that had been witness to the kidnapping. They had ridden at a leisurely place, and stopped at this clearing which they now seemed reluctant to leave. Ezra figured that if they'd waited all these years for the gold, a few more days didn't matter, especially now that they knew where it was.
Ezra certainly didn't mind taking this trip slowly, it kept him closer to Vin. It had been a whole day and night since they'd left the tracker, cold and bleeding on the stable floor. The gambler was certain he could cover the ground that they had yesterday in half the time they'd used. As he felt the ropes start to give, a fierce determination took over and Ezra knew that he'd be holding Vin in his arms by tonight - or die trying.
His mind swirling with images of the tracker, Ezra hadn't noticed on the kidnappers' approach. Catching the slight movement in Ezra's legs, the guy bent down to check the ropes, "What do you think your doing?"
Swing his leg around, Ezra's boot connected with the side of his attacker's head. As the miscreant fell backwards, Ezra crawled towards him grabbing a hold of the gun with his bound hands. Now on his knees Ezra shot one another guy who had swung around at the commotion, but the gambler realised that he wouldn't be able to turn in time as his peripheral vision showed the leader aiming a rifle directly at him. Ezra jumped at the sound of gunfire, his eyes widening in disbelief as he watched the leader crumple to the ground. Spinning around as he jumped to his feet, Ezra was relieved to see Buck jumping off his horse to take care of the man Ezra had kicked and Chris riding into the clearing chasing down the other two.
When it became obvious that the injured guy wasn't going anywhere, Buck turned to Ezra and quickly taking his knife cut the ropes at the gambler's wrists. "Shoot him? Leave him here? Or let him go?" Buck asked the gambler.
Recognising the man as someone who hadn't harmed either Vin or himself, Ezra just shrugged, "Just let him go." If it had been one of the two men that had beaten the tracker the night before, Ezra wouldn't have hesitated in shooting him. However, this guy had just been along for the ride, and the gambler knew that without their leader's encouragement, he was harmless.
Chris' adversaries weren't surrendering so quietly, but Chris didn't have any problems gunning the fools down only allowing each of them to get one shot off. "Take care of the bodies," Chris ordered the one they were letting go as he waited for Buck and Ezra to mount their horses.
Ezra immediately took the lead, and pointed his horse towards where he knew the shack was. "They left Vin in stables a few hours from here," Ezra's words coming out clipped and hurried. "He's hurt, bad."
"We found him this morning," Buck stated. "Nathan, Josiah and JD are with him now."
Vin was being looked after, was the first thought that came to Ezra's mind as Buck continued, "That's how we knew to head for Serenity."
Ezra sighed audibly, "Vin's alright then." When he received no answer, Ezra looked at Chris' sullen expression and switched back to see the concern in Buck's eyes. "I mean if he managed to tell you what happened and where I was. He must be doing fine, right?"
"No," Buck answered sadly. "Except for sayin' Serenity a few times, Vin's completely out of it. He's wounds were infected, his fever's really bad and he must have pneumonia." Realising by the look on Ezra's face that he was probably saying too much, Buck decided to end his litany, "He looked pretty bad to me."
* * * * * * * The three men remained silent for the rest of their journey. After what Buck had said, Ezra wasn't sure he wanted to know anymore. Vin's injuries were serious, but he was alive, and if that was all the gambler could cling to he'd hang on for dear life. As he was able to see the tracker for himself, Ezra's mind became locked in a war where love, worry and guilt all strived for first place in his thoughts. The anxious lines etched on both his companions' faces told him that the tracker's predicament was foremost in their minds as well, and for a while guilt won out.
Ezra could only imagine what Chris and Buck must be thinking. They find Vin badly beaten, lying locked up in a cell, freezing and alone. Then Chris had most probably been dragged from his best friend's side to search for him. And when they do find him, he's unharmed, no signs of him having struggled ever. It would look to them as if Ezra hadn't tried to help Vin while he was being attacked, that he hadn't tried to keep Vin warm and safe, that he hadn't tried to stay with Vin. The worst part was, it was all true. Ezra should have stayed with Vin, the man who had been willing to love him, the man who would now believe that Ezra would leave him. Ezra's heart froze as he realised that might actually be Vin's last memory - Ezra having left him totally alone.
Closing his mind to that thought, the gambler moved passed onto something he could blame himself for that wouldn't cause him to break down completely. Ezra knew that these felons had followed him for something he and his mother had done years ago. Ezra hadn't volunteered that piece of information yet, and neither Buck nor Chris had bothered asking.
Finally, the dilapidated shack came into view and Ezra spurred his horse on. Leaping off the animal while it was still moving, Ezra burst through the door and into the empty room. Spinning around to stare questioningly at the men who hadn't been all that far behind him, Ezra silent question as answered by Buck. "Nathan wanted to take Vin back to Four Corners."
"He would have been able to ride?' Ezra inquired hopefully.
Buck shrugged, "I doubt he's riding, I'd say he's either doubling with Josiah or they've built a travois."
"Perhaps it would have been wiser to wait until..." Ezra began.
"Vin has a better chance at Nathan's clinic," Buck interrupted. "They needed fresh bandages, medicines, stuff that wasn't here."
"Of course," Ezra mumbled, knowing Buck was right. Vin needed to be where he could be looked after properly, and deep down the gambler was relieved that was where Vin was. It was just that he'd so desperately wanted to see the tracker, rush up and wrap his arms around Vin and reassure him that he wasn't alone anymore. Suppressing the urge to yell out his frustration, Ezra instead moved towards the door ready envisioning a tortuously long ride back to Four Corners.
"It'll be dark in a few hours," Chris stated suddenly. "We should stay here tonight, head back first thing in the morning. Four Corners is still a day's ride from here, and the horses need resting."
Ezra stopped and stared at Chris incredulously, noticing the dark expression clouding the gunfighter's face. That look warranted no argument. Well, that and the fact that Chris was right. Ezra realised that these were the first words Chris had spoken since that morning, and they weren't even directed solely at the gambler. Not that Ezra blamed Chris, he considered himself lucky that the cold, silent treatment was all that he was getting from the brooding gunfighter.
"I'll get our stuff," Buck offered.
"I'll assist you," Ezra stated hurriedly, preferring to be outside with Buck than inside alone with Chris at this moment.
Chris nodded before setting to work and starting a fire. He'd noticed how quickly Ezra had tried to get away from him, and wondered what the gambler was thinking. Chris knew he'd been quiet and moody, but after his initial relief at finding Ezra unhurt Chris' thoughts had naturally turned to worrying about the tracker. Which is probably what was bugging Ezra too, the gambler was just looking for something to keep his hands busy and his mind occupied. Hell, that's was they were all doing. Chris had a feeling none of them would be getting much sleep tonight, and that it wouldn't be too difficult waking Ezra at dawn.
* * * * * * * This time the quiet grated on Ezra's nerves, they'd been riding for half a day each man lost in his own thoughts. The gambler didn't want to think, in fact he'd prefer to have Chris or Buck accusing, yelling or even fighting him. Unable to stand it any longer, Ezra blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "I'm sorry."
"What?" Buck asked, surprised that the gambler had broken the silence.
"This was all my fault," Ezra began, and before he could stop himself the whole story came tumbling out of his mouth. From the moment he and Vin were attacked by surprise to when Chris and Buck had showed up at the clearing, including the fact that he was the reason the kidnappers had come after them in the first place. The only thing Ezra left out was that he and Vin had been about to make love right there in the shack and that's why they'd been caught by surprise.
Both Buck and Chris listened attentively until it was obvious that Ezra had exhausted every excuse, reason and self incrimination.
"What was the first thing that came to mind when you were attacked?" Chris finally asked.
"Excuse me?" Ezra wasn't sure what Chris wanted to know.
"When they busted into the room,": Chris tried again. "Who did you think they were, what did you think they wanted?"
Ezra hesitated for only a moment, "Bounty hunter. I thought they were trying to taken Vin in."
"Exactly," Chris nodded.
"But I was incorrect," Ezra continued. "They were after me. They thought I had taken their gold. It was my..."
"But it could have been bounty hunters," Chris interrupted. "Or it could have been someone exacting revenge for something I'd done, hoping that you and Vin would lead them to me. That's even happened before. Maybe a pissed off husband after Buck."
"The possibilities are endless," Ezra mumbled, he could hardly believe was he was hearing. His friends didn't blame him. They weren't angry, just upset, worried and anxious. Now all that was left was to face Vin, and hope that the tracker would be as understanding as Chris and Buck.
"Exactly," Buck smiled slightly at the relief that was evident in the gambler's expression. Hopefully now Ezra would stop with the guilt. It had never occurred to Buck that Ezra was to blame for any of this, and he knew for sure that Chris had felt the same way. Perhaps they should have said something sooner, but Ezra had needed to tell his story first before either Buck or Chris could relieve him of his heavy burden. Now the gambler could use his strength to concentrate on Vin - they all could.
* * * * * * * Nathan looked up as the door to the clinic flew open, his eyes locking on Ezra's. Besides the anguished look on the gambler's face, Nathan noted that there didn't appear to be anything physically wrong with him.
Shifting his gaze away from the healer, Ezra finally let his sight rest on the man in the bed. "How is he?" Ezra whispered as he slowly walked towards Vin.
"I've managed to clean out the wounds, and stitch the deeper cuts at his side and forehead," Nathan addressed Ezra and also Chris and Buck who had also appeared in the doorway.
Ezra reached out a tentative hand and ran his fingers through the still damp, brown curls, realising that Vin's hair had been recently washed. "He's burning up," Ezra observed concernedly.
"It's the fever," Nathan stated. "It was chilling his body before, but now that he's warm it's managed to take hold."
"Pneumonia?" Ezra missed the slight nod from the healer. The gambler didn't really need the answer, now that he was closer he could hear the harsh, laboured breathing issuing from the tracker. Instead he moved on to his next question, "Has he woken?"
"No," Nathan answered gently. "Just mumbles in his delirium sometimes."
"Still hooked on Serenity?" Buck wanted to know.
"That and callin' Ez's name," JD said as he pushed his passed the two gunfighter's into the room. "I'm glad your back and alright Ezra. What happened?"
Ezra tilted his head at the new voice, but kept his focus wholly on Vin.
"We'll tell you all about it at the Saloon," Buck stated, dragging JD out of the room.
Chris indicated that Nathan should come with them, before quietly shutting the door behind him.
Alone with Vin, Ezra sank into the chair beside the bed and took one of the tracker's hands in his own. Lowering his head, Ezra pressed his lips to the warm skin and kissed the tracker's forehead, avoiding any bandages, bruising or swelling. "I'm back Vin," Ezra whispered huskily. "I'm here, and I won't leave you again."
* * * * * * * That statement proved difficult, especially since Nathan or one of the others kept kicking Ezra out of the clinic to eat or rest. Trying to convince Ezra that stepping out of the room for a while didn't constitute leaving Vin behind was practically impossible. So the only way that the gambler would leave was if they promised they'd fetch him if Vin so much as twitched.
Returning from one of his enforced outings, Ezra heard the soft Texas drawl drifting through the open door.
"Ezra."
Rushing to the bed, Ezra leaned over the tracker, "I'm here Vin."
"Serenity."
"No, I'm here," Ezra said more forcefully, grabbing a hold of Vin's arm. "I'm right here."
Vin's eyes flickered open, and Ezra stared into the unfocussed blue orbs willing Vin to see him.
"Ezra, Serenity," Vin managed to croak out once more, before his strength gave way and he lapsed back into a deep sleep.
"I'm right here, by your side," Ezra repeated, trying to control his emotions. Of all things Vin had focussed on the fact that Ezra had left him for Serenity, and the gambler hated that Vin still thought he was alone.
Noticing that Ezra was on the brink of losing control of his feelings, Nathan spoke softly, "Ezra, can you help me give Vin some of this herbal tea."
Ezra nodded, glad that he could do something to help rather than just feel inadequate and frustrated.
* * * * * * * As the days turned into weeks, the bruising and swelling began to fade, bandages were being removed and stitches were able to come out. Vin was slowly getting stronger and now managed to swallow most of Nathan's teas and medicines, however the fever still lingered and even though he struggled for consciousness lucidity continued to escape Vin. Calling for Ezra was the only thing the tracker seemed to manage.
Vin's hoarse and desperate cries for the gambler were making it more and more difficult to pry Ezra away from the tracker's bedside. Nathan and Chris had resorted to threatening the gambler, often having to wake an exhausted Ezra to order him to get some rest. Naturally, as soon as the coast was clear, Ezra would sneak back into the clinic, take hold of Vin's hand and rest his head on the blankets be the tracker's side.
Frightened, pain-filled blue eyes stared at him, and Ezra hurried towards them ready to reassure and comfort. But instead of getting closer, Ezra seemed to be drifting further away. Desperately trying to claw his way back to his lover, Ezra called out, "Vin, I'm not leaving you."
The eyes turned cold and icy as Ezra helplessly drifted farther away and the gambler doubted he'd ever see them alight with warmth and trust again. "No, I won't leave you. Please, believe me, I don't want to leave you."
"I know Ezra."
The quiet drawl woke the gambler from his dream. Blinking a few times to clear his head, Ezra felt the long fingers running through his hair. Looking up Ezra found himself gazing into loving, blue eyes and registered the smile in their depths. Without thinking, Ezra blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "Vin, I didn't want to leave you behind."
"I know Ezra," Vin whispered. "You told me to remember that."
Ezra sighed as he traced Vin's face with his fingers, glad that the tracker understood, "How are you feeling?"
"Achy," Vin simply answered, coughing slightly at the dryness in his throat.
Pouring some water, Ezra held it to Vin's lips. Drinking gratefully, Vin took in his surroundings and realised he must have been brought back to Nathan's clinic.
"Are you tired?" Ezra asked "I don't want you to wear yourself out."
"No," Vin said quickly, his voice coming out a little stronger. "It feels like I've been asleep for years."
"Close," Ezra drawled, grinning at the startled expression that came over Vin's face. "Actually, it was only a few weeks."
"Vin, you're awake," Chris moved to the other side of the bed and smiled down at the tracker. He'd come to the clinic ready to admonish Ezra for sneaking back in and chase the gambler out. But seeing Vin awake and alert made Chris forget the reason he was here. "Are you alright? Tired? Thirsty? Do you want something to drink?"
Vin grinned slightly at the repetition of questions and wondered whether he'd have to go over this five more times. "If it has some whiskey in it, I'll drink it."
"Only healing herbs," Nathan stated as he entered the clinic. "And you'll drink a whole cup full."
Both Chris and Ezra chuckled at the groan, however Nathan studiously ignored it and started mixing his brew.
Vin couldn't help but make a face as he obediently drank the mixture, "It would taste better with the whiskey."
"You never complained about Nathan's medicine before," Josiah observed as he entered, smiling broadly.
"Yeah well, you'll have to knock me out again before I drink anymore," Vin grumbled good-naturedly, noticing that Buck and JD were right behind the preacher.
"Glad to see you're better," Josiah grinned.
"I'll say," JD pushed his way in and plonked himself down on the end of the bed. "You were out of it for ages."
"So I heard, Kid," Vin drawled.
"And it's about time we heard something other than Ezra being in Serenity," Buck added.
Vin blinked at Buck and then turned his attention to Ezra, "You were in Serenity?"
"Not exactly," Ezra answered, his brow furrowing at Vin's question. "I never made it. Don't you remember?"
Vin watched the confused looks his friends were directing at him, "I remember having the tar beat outta me, I remember Ezra sayin' he didn't want to leave, and then I woke up here. Why? What happened?"
The room was silent, until JD decided that if nobody else would he'd take up the story. Everyone relaxed as they listened to the Kid's version, smiling indulgently whenever JD embellished the tale.
* * * * * * * "You're not sleeping in that wagon," Nathan insisted.
"I'm fine," Vin stated vehemently for the hundredth time.
"I know you're feeling well enough," Nathan knew that was true, to his annoyance Vin had taken it upon himself to make trips to the bathhouse, Saloon and, knowing the tracker, out riding. Chris even had to drag Vin back to the clinic after he'd tried to break up a bar fight. "But the wagon's too small and draughty."
"Perhaps Mr Tanner could stay in my room," Ezra joined the conversation, taking pity on both men seeing as they seemed to have the same argument daily. "He'd be close to the clinic, there's plenty of room, and I can sleep on the floor."
Missing the smirk Vin threw at Ezra, Nathan studied the gambler to make sure he was serious.
Ezra gave Vin a warning look before continuing, "I promise he'll be well looked after. Vin's comfort will be foremost in my mind. And he'd be out of your hair."
That was true, Nathan nodded, "Okay, but if Vin so much as coughs, I want him back here."
"Understood," Ezra confirmed, as he led the tracker out of the clinic.
"It's about time you sprung me," Vin muttered under his breath.
"Well if you'd followed doctor's orders in the first place, instead of getting into fights, I would have," Ezra grinned.
No sooner had they stepped into Ezra's room when there was the sound of gunfire from the street. Ready to go back in the direction they'd come in, Vin was surprised to find Ezra was blocking his way.
"I'll go out and see what's happening," Ezra's set look made it clear he was serious. "You make yourself comfortable."
Vin nodded in assent as he backed further into the room. Pleased that the tracker had listened and was doing as he was told, Ezra shut the door and began muttering as he headed down the hallway, "I can just imagine what Mr Jackson would have to say if I let Vin join a gunfight..."
* * * * * * * "What's happening?" Vin asked at Ezra's return a few minutes later.
Ezra shut the door and was turning towards the tracker as he answered, "Nothing, just a couple of drunks letting off..."
The words stuck in the gambler's throat as he faced Vin who was lying on his bed, naked.
Watching the gambler's expression turn from surprise to hunger, Vin smiled, pleased with the reaction. They'd stolen a few kisses and caresses while the tracker had been confined to Nathan's clinic, but now Vin had Ezra all to himself. "You told me to get comfortable," Vin drawled innocently.
"You look it," Ezra mumbled, still transfixed by the wonderful sight in front of him.
Vin slowly licked his lips, "It's your turn to get comfortable."
His lustfilled, green gaze never leaving Vin, Ezra began to undress noticing how the blue of the tracker's eyes darkened with the desire everytime a garment was discarded.
Completely naked, Ezra climbed onto the bed almost timidly. Finally having Ezra within reaching distance, Vin ran his hand over the smooth, well muscled chest before encircling the gambler's neck and pulling his head down. Vin caught Ezra's lips with his hot, demanding mouth and soon both tongues were duelling for entrance into the other's moist cavern. Ezra was careful not to place his full weight on Vin's body as he moved to cover the tracker. As skin came into contact with skin, Vin arched for more of the sensation when he felt a sharp twinge in his side. Quickly relaxing his muscles, Vin moaned into Ezra's mouth and pulled the gambler down on top of himself instead.
Ezra hadn't missed the tracker's movement and refused to give in and fall onto Vin. Dragging his lips away from the luscious mouth, Ezra trailed kisses down Vin's neck and over the lean, chest. As he began licking and biting at a hard nipple, Ezra felt Vin grab a handful of his hair and heard the low growl emanating from the tracker's throat. With Vin's fingers still entwined in his hair, Ezra moved his mouth lower, over the flat stomach, avoiding the fresh scar on the tracker's side.
Vin sighed and pushed his head back into the pillows as he felt the rough tongue slide over his erection. Allowing his thighs to be coaxed further apart by the gambler's talented hands, Vin still managed to tug at Ezra's chestnut waves trying to focus Ezra's attention back to his groin. Finally his penis was being swallowed into a hot, wet mouth, and Vin arched his back pushing himself further into Ezra's throat. Suddenly, another painful spasm in his side caused Vin to catch his breath and lower his lips back onto the bed.
Ezra let Vin's erection slide out of his mouth as he looked up in concern, "You're stiff."
"Isn't that the objective," Vin drawled, not bothering to hide the disappointment from his voice at the loss of Ezra's hungry mouth.
"You know what I mean," Ezra grinned as he leaned on his elbow and looked down into Vin's face. "I don't want to hurt you."
Vin traced Ezra's full, swollen lips with his finger, "Then take me, soon."
Seeing hesitation cloud the gambler's eyes, Vin pressed his lips to Ezra's drawing his lover into a deep, passionate kiss, before rolling onto his stomach.
Ezra knew that he wasn't able to resist, his body was screaming for the tracker, hell he'd gotten hard the moment he'd laid eyes on Vin's naked body. Noticing that Vin had conveniently placed a vial of oil on the bedside table, Ezra quickly slicked his fingers before running his hand over the tracker's butt his fingers gliding along the crack. "Don't push back," Ezra whispered huskily into Vin's ear as he pressed a digit into the tracker's opening. While moving his finger in and around Vin's hole, Ezra's tongue darted out and lapped at the tracker's ear. As a second finger joined the first, Ezra began sucking and nipping at Vin's neck and shoulder, pleased with the growls and purrs he was eliciting from his lover.
Vin was finding it hard to following Ezra's instructions as every touch from that man's hands or mouth was driving him wild. Unable to stop himself, Vin began writhing on the bed, spreading his legs further apart and leaning on his elbows, ready to rear back onto all fours.
Realising Vin was more than ready, and not a little anxious himself, Ezra positioned himself between the tracker's thighs. Taking hold of Vin's hips, Ezra lifted the tracker's ass slightly before gently sliding his aching erection into Vin's tight, velvety channel. When he was fully embedded in Vin's warm body, Ezra bent over the tracker, pressing his chest to Vin's back. Running a hand down Vin's arm, Ezra entwined his fingers with the tracker's. Once he was sure that the tracker wouldn't be able to raise himself from his elbows, Ezra allowed himself to get lost in the sensations. Sighing deeply, Ezra began to thrust in and out of the tracker, keeping his strokes slow and languid.
Vin loved the sensation of Ezra's warm body covering his, hot, sweaty flesh rubbing against hot, sweaty flesh as the gambler moved over him. The feel of his lover's rock, hard cock deep inside him had Vin's body burning and he automatically tried to push back and meet Ezra's thrusts. Vin's movements became erratic and his muscles quivered as, with a lusty growl, he tried to arch himself up onto his hands and knees. But Ezra kept his weight in place and his strong, sure strokes soon had Vin succumbing to his erotic rhythm.
As Vin's body bucked under him, and the tracker's strong muscles clenching around his hard, aching penis, Ezra bit his lip and tightened his clasp on Vin's hand to fight off the urge to wildly pound into the willing body. Eventually, Ezra's restraint was rewarded when Vin began rocking in time with Ezra's thrusts and the gambler never wanted it to stop, even their panting was in sync. With his free hand, Ezra reached between Vin's leg and softly took hold of his lover's hard, leaking cock. Ezra smiled when Vin's hand met his and urged him to rub and masturbate the tracker harder and faster. As the hot sticky liquid spurted over his hand and Vin's stomach, Ezra felt the tracker's limbs shake and the gambler yelled out his own release as he poured his seed deep inside Vin's body.
Carefully withdrawing from the tracker, Ezra slumped down next to his panting lover and tried to catch his own breath. Once his world had stopped spinning, Ezra stared lovingly down at Vin who had rolled onto his back and whose chest was still heaving with each breath. Before tucking Vin under the covers, Ezra fetched a cloth and gently cleaned the tracker's torso.
Vin enjoyed the gambler's gentle touch as he compliantly allowed Ezra to clean him, and then obediently scuttled under the sheets. Expecting Ezra to join him, Vin was surprised when the gambler removed the slightly stained blanket from the bed. Vin watched lazily as Ezra rummaged in his closet, wishing the gambler would just hurry up and get into bed with him, "What are you doing?"
"Retrieving a warmer blanket," Ezra answered as if that should have been obvious. "Nathan will kill me if you catch pneumonia again."
"Wouldn't want that," Vin muttered as the blanket was thrown onto the bed.
"I'm not just thinking of my safety," Ezra drawled, as he moved to his drawers to lend Vin a nightshirt he could wear for extra warmth. "It's your comfort that I'm most concerned with."
"Well then, get in here," Vin demanded, throwing all the covers back and making it clear he wouldn't replace them until Ezra joined him.
Ezra didn't need to be told twice, forgetting what he'd intended to do, the gambler quickly lay down beside Vin and replaced the blankets. Vin wriggled closer to the gambler and Ezra quickly wrapped his strong arms around his lover.
"Now I'm comfortable," Vin whispered before drifting off into a peaceful, sated sleep.
Ezra smiled and tightened his embrace, "Me too."
fini
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