Patience Read online

  Chad stopped the movie and they took off their headphones.

  Jamie grinned at him. “Wow. That really was good.”

  “I have a whole collection of eighties movies on here we can watch. We’ve got a lot of hours to fill between London and Rome.”

  Jamie nodded. “Okay, so, maybe the eighties aren’t all that bad.” He smirked at Chad’s feigned offended expression.

  “Not all that bad? I see we still have work to do if you’re going to be my lifelong mate.”

  Jamie chuckled, leaned in, and kissed Chad hard. “No, I don’t. You’re stuck with me, pup. Even if I think raisins are dead grapes.”

  Chad shook his head. “First it’s raisins. Then the eighties aren’t ‘that bad.’ What’s next?”

  Jamie pondered the question. “I don’t know, but I’m sure there’ll be something.”

  Chad laughed, then caught his lips in a soft kiss. “Nothing you could come up with would change wanting you as my mate.”

  Jamie swallowed. “I really hope not, Chad. I already love you, so much.”

  Brushing his thumb over Jamie’s cheek, Chad shook his head. “There isn’t. I love you too, baby.” With another kiss to Jamie’s forehead, he sighed and sat back. “Do you think you can sleep?”

  Jamie frowned. “Not without help.” He prodded his wolf gently, but the wolf was already sniffing. “And I’m going to need it soon.”

  Chad nodded. “Let’s head it off, if we can.”

  “I’m going to make another bathroom run—a quick one,” he clarified at Chad’s leer.

  Chad pouted, making Jamie chuckle.

  “Really, I’m still, uh, oozing from earlier.” He made a face. “Good thing I packed underwear in my backpack.”

  Chad chuckled. “All right. Go on. I’ll get us some drinks.”

  IT TOOK six drinks in fairly quick succession, but Jamie fell asleep not long after. Chad watched him for a while, brushing the blond hair off his face. His heart thudded when he thought about what Jamie was putting himself through just to protect Chad, just to make sure the bite wouldn’t hurt him—or worse.

  Chad promised himself to do anything and everything he could to show Jamie how all this made him feel, so his human side could never doubt Chad meant what he said.

  As he thought it through, it occurred to him that they hadn’t discussed any kind of human commitment outside of living and working together. It was commitment, but he had a feeling Jamie might want more. He knew Tanner and Finley were married, and he wondered if it was something Jamie would want. He hadn’t missed the expression on his mate’s face, even through the fear, when he’d used the word “partner.”

  Maybe he’d take some of the time on the long hours from London to Rome to have that conversation. He could skip a John Hughes movie for that. He chuckled at himself over it.

  He put the laptop and headphones away, then moved his seat back to where Jamie’s was. It didn’t lay flat like in first class, but it wasn’t bad. He tugged Jamie over and settled them as close as they could with the massive immovable arm between them. When they were at least holding hands and Jamie’s head rested on his shoulder, he let himself relax enough to sleep.

  CHAD WAS in a quandary. The flight attendants were passing out the boxed breakfasts, and he couldn’t decide if he should wake a peacefully sleeping Jamie for it or hopefully let him sleep through landing. Jamie slept on, and Chad was grateful he was still so oblivious.

  When Sherri handed him the box and asked what he wanted to drink—coffee, since one of them needed brainpower to get off the plane—he took a quick inventory. The croissant looked like it might be half-decent, with the butter and jelly. The granola bar might hold them over until they got into London proper—that was until Chad peered closer and saw it had raisins. He set it aside and pulled out the last thing.

  A box of raisins.

  He snorted and had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Yeah, he’d be letting Jamie sleep through that.

  He sipped his coffee, though, and ate the granola bar from both his and Jamie’s boxes, saving the croissants for his mate. It wasn’t much and wouldn’t hold a wolf shifter for long, but perhaps they could get something else in Heathrow before they left.

  But by the time they landed and got off the plane, neither wanted to hang around the airport for long. Jamie had, thankfully, slept through landing. He was still antsy until they got off the plane, but finally he and his wolf both calmed down.

  They stopped only long enough to get fresh coffee for both of them, then collected their bags and went to deal with immigration. The line wasn’t nearly as long as Chad had expected it to be, but he did spend extra time explaining his Beretta. While he was going through the process with the Border Force, Jamie called Finley. Finally they cleared Chad, and he and Jamie were on their way to the Underground station.

  Since Chad had read in a few places that some of the ticketing machines in Europe didn’t take international credit or debit cards, he stopped to get some cash out. He wanted to have it just in case, anyway. They didn’t need to get stuck somewhere. He had no idea how much he needed to withdraw when he found the “cash machine,” as they called it there, since he didn’t really have a clue how the exchange rates worked. Even with the app for his phone, he wasn’t 100 percent certain, so he took a guess and hoped it would be enough.

  He had to stop, though, when he took it out of the machine.

  Jamie peered over his shoulder. “Looks like play money.”

  Chad laughed. “It does, doesn’t it? I saw pictures of the euros—so I wouldn’t look like a complete fool when I exchanged it—and they’re even worse.”

  Jamie laughed. “You couldn’t look like a fool,” he said, kissing Chad. “Now, uh, tickets.”

  They found the ticket machine for the Underground. Jamie was the one who’d done the research on the Underground, so he made the selections, and Chad fed the notes into the machine. He blinked at the coins they got in return. “What’s this?”

  “Money,” Jamie said, smirking.

  Chad rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but I should have gotten like, three doll—err, pounds back.”

  “I don’t think they have anything under a five-pound note.”

  “Oh.” Chad sighed and shook his head. “Too damned complicated for me,” he muttered. Jamie chuckled, but kissed him and handed him his pass.

  Finally, passes in hand, they made it to the train itself. Chad wasn’t sure what he expected, but it looked like just about every other subway or light rail he’d ever ridden, with the same weird-patterned upholstery, vertical holding bars, and sliding doors. They found seats near the end of a row with space for their luggage and settled in for a long ride.

  He was surprised it took them a while to get through to the next station terminal. When he realized the Underground really was underground a good chunk of the way, he entertained himself for about five minutes by reading the advertisements closest to him and watching the map.

  They did surface for some of the trip, but there wasn’t a whole lot to see. Part of it had a huge concrete wall along the track. For the rest… well, it looked a lot like suburban anywhere else, with a lot of trees, the occasional high rise, and a good deal of basic rooftops. The early morning caught up to him, and he closed his eyes, resting his head back against the window. He knew he should watch the scenery, but he also knew they’d be taking the same trip the other direction when they went home.

  “You okay, pup?” Jamie asked.

  Chad opened his eyes and looked over. “Yeah, just tired. I woke kind of early. Wanted to make sure you didn’t wake up too soon.”

  Jamie smiled at that. “I appreciate that. Listen, why don’t you nap? I’ll watch for us.” He paused to peer at the map. “I’ll wake you at Covent Garden or something.”

  “Thanks. I’m thinking we’ll need our energy in London.” Chad nodded, considered kissing Jamie, but wasn’t sure what the attitudes around them would be like. So he settled for hold
ing his mate’s hand.

  WHEN THEY got to the main floor of King’s Cross, Chad had them stop to look around. They found the exit and saw they were right across from St. Pancras, where they were to take the next leg of their journey.

  “You know, they have a Platform 9 3/4 here.”

  Jamie grinned. “I’d heard that. Want to see it?”

  Chad nodded, and they wandered farther into the station. They finally found the blank brick wall with the partial luggage trolley sticking out and the sign above. He didn’t care if they looked like tourists, he still insisted they stop and take pictures.

  “Hey, Starbucks,” he said, pointing.

  Jamie turned and frowned. “Let’s see what they have over at the other one? I’m sure there’s some place with coffee and hopefully food. That way we’re there if we run out of time.”

  “That makes sense,” Chad agreed.

  Chad found himself grateful they’d stuck to no more than semismall rolling cases and their backpacks. London traffic, even on that little street, seemed insane. They managed to cross without getting hit, then stepped inside St. Pancras.

  He nodded to the directory just inside the door, and they moved up to it. He frowned as he read the list of restaurants. “Nothing makes sense. Well, except the Starbucks.”

  Jamie nodded. “Yeah, but I need real food.”

  “Yeah, I don’t have a wolf and I do too.”

  Jamie pointed to one. “Here, Fine Burger. It’s probably got something with meat. How about that?”

  “That sounds good. Maybe coffee to take with us?”

  Jamie nodded. “That works.”

  They went to the burger place first, and Chad looked up to consider the options. He decided on the one with the beef, cheese, and bacon, and turned to see what Jamie wanted. He was staring at a picture in a clear plastic menu holder. “What’d you find?”

  Jamie pointed, and Chad leaned in to see it better. A big bun sat open, piled with what looked to be two kinds of sausage, bacon, and an egg on top of it all. “I can’t decide if that looks disgusting or delicious.”

  Chad laughed. “Go with delicious. I think you’d like it. Maybe we’ll take a doggy bag for Murray.”

  Jamie snorted and elbowed him. “You’re funny.”

  “I try,” Chad replied, grinning.

  Sandwiches in hand, they found the Starbucks. “They’re the same, no matter what country they’re in, aren’t they?” Jamie asked, shaking his head at the exact same wooden tables, wooden chairs, counter, and the rest.

  “Yeah, I think so.” Chad chuckled, then stepped forward to put in their order.

  They found the Eurostar check-in line. He pulled out his phone and brought up the tickets he’d bought while in line for the Border Force. He’d overestimated the amount of time they’d need to get into town, but he didn’t mind. He did stop to exchange some of the pound notes he had into euros. Sure enough, they looked as much—more so, as Jamie said—like play money. Shaking his head, he stuffed the bills into his wallet. He still wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing amount-wise, but he wasn’t too worried. He hadn’t taken enough out to even put a slight ding in his account.

  It took a little longer than he would have liked for security, but once he’d shown his license for the Beretta and proved he didn’t have any ammunition with him, they finally let him through. They ate in silence, and Chad guessed Jamie was as hungry as he was, based on how they nearly inhaled their food. The burger was good, the “chips” better than he expected, and the jolt of caffeine he got meant he’d probably at least make it onto the train without passing out.

  They took up space in the corner of the bathroom, brushing their teeth—Chad was sure something had died in his mouth. Then Chad pulled his weapon out of its box, found the clip he’d hidden in its special protected pocket in the suitcase, put it all back together and in its holster, and finally felt a lot less naked.

  He sincerely hoped he wouldn’t need it, but there was still enough cop in him that he hated the thought of being without it.

  The announcement for their train came only about twenty minutes later. It seemed to take forever to find their car—coach eleven—but once inside, their seats weren’t far along the way. They used the racks at the end of the car to store the bigger suitcases, then finally settled into their seats.

  Chad struggled to stay awake. Even after the coffee, his eyelids dropped right after sitting down. He managed long enough to make use of the in-seat power and plug his laptop in to charge, then his phone into his laptop to charge it. Then, despite wanting to watch the scenery and talk to Jamie, he passed out.

  Chapter 14

  JAMIE SPLIT his attention between watching Chad sleep and looking at the scenery. He wasn’t particularly impressed with what he did see out the window. It turned out green hills and small houses looked much the same no matter where they were. Jamie was sure if he wasn’t so tired or strung out worrying about what lay ahead, he might have been more interested in everything.

  He wondered if Chad might like to come back when they weren’t under such stress. Then he wondered if he’d find out something he didn’t want to hear, something that might mean Chad wouldn’t be his anymore.

  Gods, he hoped not. He was more than a little terrified to find out.

  He closed his eyes, trying to get himself to relax. They still had nearly a full day of travel before they even made it to Rome and met the wolves there. They would need to get through Paris and Milan before then.

  Jamie was just ready for this part of the trip to be over. He moved around until he was lying against Chad, wanting as much touch and closeness as he could. If they didn’t get good news, he’d want this to remember, want every moment with Chad that he could file away to bring out later.

  With that thought in his head, he fell asleep.

  JAMIE COMPLETELY missed the tunnel. Not that he was necessarily sad about that. He hadn’t been sure how he’d take going underwater like that. He woke when announcements started in French, eventually restarting in English, giving local time—apparently they were an hour ahead of London—and that they would soon be arriving at the Gare du Nord terminal in Paris.

  He shook Chad’s shoulder. “Pup.”

  Chad opened his eyes and smiled. “Hi. How long was I out?”

  Jamie warmed at the smile. “You missed the trip. We’re coming into Paris now.”

  Chad blinked, eyes widening. “Wow. Uh, damn.” He stretched and looked around, sitting up. He peered through the window. “Can’t see all that much, eh?”

  Jamie shook his head. “No.”

  “Did you want to see anything while we’re here? We’ve got….” He paused to check his watch. “Uh, what time is it here?”

  “Three thirty local time. They announced it,” he added at Chad’s expression.

  “Ah. Okay. We’ll have more than four hours.”

  Jamie frowned. “I don’t know. Not really?” He glanced around, then leaned in. “I could happily skip Paris altogether. Shh!”

  Chad grinned. “Not the one I’d be most interested in either. In fact, either end of the trip is more my speed.”

  “London and Rome?” Jamie asked.

  Chad nodded. “Yeah. Both seem a lot more appealing to me.”

  Jamie beamed. “Me too.” He bit his lip in thought. “I know we’re still trying to find Quincy, but maybe on the way back, we could stay a night. I could pay for it.”

  Chad held up a hand. “Don’t worry about money. We need to do something about that when we get home—get you put on my accounts and stuff. But if you’d like to stop and we have the time, I’ll be happy to.”

  Jamie blinked at him over the accounts comment, but decided not to try to figure it out just then and nodded. “All right. Well, let’s see how long it takes in Rome.”

  They didn’t have much time then to talk, as the train was slowing down. They focused on putting laptops and cables away, then waiting for the train to stop.

  It turned o
ut getting from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon was pretty simple and didn’t even involve them going outside. The two-level subway train gave them both pause, but then before long they were emerging in the Gare de Lyon station.

  They stopped off to the side, and Jamie frowned. “So… do we just find a place to sit?”

  Chad was looking at his phone and held up a finger. After about a minute of doing something, he nodded and looked up. “I know we’re both a little tired, but what if we went out and got some air?”

  Jamie tilted his head as he thought about it, then nodded. “Uh, okay. Fresh air can’t hurt.”

  “Good.”

  They found the lockers and stored their suitcases, then headed out. Within a short distance, Jamie realized they were right on the river.

  Chad took his hand as they turned, following it north for a while. “I figured if we worked it out right, we’d be able to sleep well enough on the train tonight.”

  “That would be nice. I don’t really want to end up awake all night, then passing out when we get to the villa.”

  Chad lifted his hand and kissed the back of it. “We should be early enough to get started, if we’re not too tired.”

  Jamie nodded. “That was my thought. Then again, we may end up in bed anyway.” He grinned.

  Chad laughed. “I wouldn’t turn it down. Especially if we don’t have to leave right away. Means you can top.”

  Those words went straight to Jamie’s cock. He cleared his throat. “My wolf will appreciate that.”

  They walked for a while in silence, and Jamie enjoyed how companionable it was. Just holding hands and looking around. The architecture was so different than anything he’d ever seen before. He was glad Chad had gotten them out of the train station, after all.