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Outside of Alec’s apartment building, Liam sat on the curb. It was the least threatening place he could imagine waiting. He didn’t want to hassle Alec at work and he didn’t want to lurk by Alec’s door on the third floor. No doubt Alec would find the curb close enough to home.

Liam sighed. The library closed at five p.m. on Tuesdays. Ira and Casey had seen Alec at work today, so Liam just planned to wait here. Of course Alec might be out and about for hours. That was okay since Liam could be patient and the damp cold didn’t bother him. He had a werewolf’s metabolism. An hour and a half passed.

Just before dusk, he saw Alec out of the corner of his eye. Liam didn’t turn. He kept his shoulders loose, his hands dangling between his legs, his breathing regular. Let Alec choose to approach him, though if he didn’t, Liam would have to think up another strategy. He dreaded engineering some fake surprise meeting. Given his experience with the quad, Alec would not take stalker behavior in stride, no matter Liam’s motives.

Alec stopped and, after what seemed an eternity, walked over. He didn’t offer a greeting.

Looking up, Liam attempted a smile. “Um, hi, Alec.”

“What are you doing here?” Alec stared down, dark eyes flat and dull, and Liam didn’t think just the sight of him made Alec unhappy. He looked beaten down.

Liam pushed himself to standing and dusted off his hands. Alec stepped back, as if he knew Liam wanted to kiss him. Alec’s mouth was perfect, the way it dug up when he was pleased or down when he was not. Like now. Still, sexy as hell.

Alec began to glower at the inspection.

Don’t show dominance. Liam looked away. “Would you like to go for coffee?”

“No.”

Liam scratched the back of his head. “Everything okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

Because you’re marked. “Ira is worried about you.” Okay, true, but a stupid thing to say.

Alec frowned and stayed silent. Obviously he didn’t think it his job to make conversation.

Liam wasn’t sure how to move forward. This meeting had gone more smoothly when he’d played out the scene in his mind—Alec, while wary, had been happy to have company.

“Look, would you stop staring at me like that?” Alec demanded.

Crossing his arms, Liam turned slightly. What he really wanted to do was slink away before he revealed just how awkward he felt. Especially when he longed to appear sophisticated in front of Alec.

“Liam,” Alec said more gently. “I think it’s better we don’t see each other, okay?”

“Well.” Liam forced himself to put it out there. He didn’t know how else to reach Alec. “I rather like you.”

“Sorry.” The dismissal would have hurt more if Liam hadn’t smelled Alec’s panic.

“Alec,” Liam said quickly because Alec was turning to go to his building.

He looked back, tensing up.

“I wouldn’t hurt you.”

Alec held up a hand. “Never mind. Just drop it, okay? And leave me alone.”

“Who do you see?”

Alec paused.

Liam answered his own question. “No one. You hide out here on your own.”

Breathing too hard, Alec just stood there.

Don’t reach for him. Do not reach for him. “Why?”

Unconsciously, Alec lifted his right hand to the left side of his chest and Liam’s stomach gave a sickening lurch.

“Look, I’ve had a real crappy day and…” Alec’s shoulders slumped. He shook his head. “What the hell. It doesn’t really matter, does it? Nothing does. Come on up.”

It mattered and it wasn’t the most enthusiastic of invitations, but Liam took it.

Trudging up the stairs, Alec didn’t see how his day could get worse, but Liam could always prove him wrong.

His job, Alec was going to lose his job. It was the only thing he had. The only thing. Books and kids. They kept him grounded. He would unravel when his life became a complete void.

Sharon. Alec rolled his eyes. Always so enthusiastic about his “lifestyle”—not that he even had a lifestyle these days—and while it had grated on his nerves to have her work the fact he was gay into most conversations, he had accepted it. Because she meant well and because she had got him the goddamned job in the first place.

But today Sharon had been loud. Their boss overheard “boyfriend” and wanted an explanation. Okay, legally he couldn’t fire Alec for sexual orientation and Alec was probably overreacting but, fuck, he could not afford to lose the job. It would be simple to claim Alec had no credentials. Since he didn’t. Sharon had helped him lie on the application form. It wouldn’t take much effort to show that Alec had been hired on false pretenses.

And now Liam was here, sensitizing Alec’s skin and shaking his nerves.

He dug in his pocket for his keys. Beside him, Liam stood, ever watchful. Graceful, sexy…and totally bizarre. A stalker to boot. Alec’s taste in men had gone down the toilet these last two years. He hadn’t thought he could do worse than feckless Bill.

Alec walked in, threw his keys and wallet on the table and went to the fridge for a beer. He opened one for Liam, silently gave it to him, then sat on a chair.

He would not speak, dammit, though Liam evidently felt at a loss for words. A part of Alec wanted to help out, but he didn’t have the energy to make awkward conversation.

He didn’t even have the energy to look at Liam. Those golden eyes and beautiful face made him weak in the knees.

Liam sighed, exhaling shaky despair. When Alec lifted his gaze, Liam immediately did the same. The golden boy looked a little lost. Which didn’t explain what he was doing here, even if it eased something within Alec.

“Are you going to jump on me today?” Alec asked.

Liam grimaced. “No. I’m sorry about the other night.”

Alec guzzled some beer, ignoring the apology. “Then why are you here?”

Avoiding Alec’s eyes, Liam muttered, “I have a request.”

“Okay.”

That sigh again. It rather got to Alec. If either he or Liam were halfway normal, they might be able to start something. But not like this, not like this.

Liam hunched forward.

“Yes?” demanded Alec, impatient.

“Would you take off your shirt?” Liam winced while he asked.

“No.” Keeping hold of his temper, Alec put down his beer and stood. “There’s your answer. You can leave now.”

“Christ.” Liam looked away. The man’s desperation made Alec uneasy. He’d invited Liam up because he just didn’t care about anything. But apathy never lasted long and he was beginning to care enough to be unnerved by Liam’s behavior.

“I want you to leave.”

“Look.” That intense gaze of Liam’s pinned Alec. “I promise you I will be out that door in a heartbeat. Just take off your shirt.”