"I will," Billy promised. His hands moved up over Mike's neck, fingers curling around the back. His thumbs caressed over the other's jaw, leaning so close their foreheads nearly touched. "After you get some sleep."

Billy had a ploy in mind that went beyond just getting Mike to rest. His first was that he knew what that exhaustion was like. Mike might not think he was tired because he was pushing himself away from it. But the moment he let himself relax, it was like to claim him completely. The second was what happened when two people slept together. Genuinely fell asleep beside each other, holding each other. The subtle and warm trust that was created in such a state.