Page 101 of The Badger in His Burrow

I slid my hands up his arms, feeling every hair, every drop of sweat. Reveling in all of them.

Elliot’s sagged into my chest, and I put my arms around him, holding him there, and I felt him relax into me with a sigh.

I don’t know how long we stayed there, but, eventually, he pushed himself up, placing a kiss to the inside of my knee before climbing down. He cleaned himself up, then brought me a warm washcloth and towel to do the same.

He noticed my pained expression as I straightened my left leg, and frowned. He sat on the side of the bed, putting one callus-rough hand on my thigh. “Can I do anything for it?” he asked me.

I shook my head.

“Some of Henry’s cream?” he asked.

I hesitated, and he got up. “I’ll be back.”

He had a jar of it when he returned, and slowly, carefully began to massage it into and around my knee. I’d never even let Noah touch my bad joints, but Elliot was gentle, cautious, tender, and it eased the pain a little.

“Thanks,” I said softly, after he’d put the jar on the nightstand and put the dirty towels in the laundry. I was propped up on my elbows, wary. I didn’t know if he’d want me to stay in the house—although he had told me to bring clothes—much less in his bed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked me. “Besides the pain.”

“I—” I swallowed. “I guess I’m just not sure if?—”

“If what?” His brow furrowed. “If you want to… be with me?”

“No!” I sat up higher. “I mean. I know Idowant to be with you. I just… don’t know what you want that to look like. Right now, I mean.” I could feel my neck flushing.

Elliot visibly relaxed. “You mean, if I want you to stay.”

I nodded.

He reached out and gently stroked my bearded cheek. “Of course I want you to stay.”

“Here?” I asked him, and I was surprised at how desperately I wanted a specific answer to that question.

Instead of answering me, he leaned forward and kissed me, soft and gentle. “Yes, here, if here is where you want to be,” he said, his voice as tender as his lips had been.

I nodded.

“Then lay down,” he murmured.

I did, and he climbed into bed beside me, then pulled me into his arms, turning me onto my right side and pulling my head so that I could hear the steady beating of his heart. “Stay,” he whispered into my hair, his hand cupping my skull.

“Yes,” I told him.

25

Elliot Crane

Are you coming over after work?

Seth Mays

Not sure.

Running like three cases right now, and everyone else is out on other things.

It might be late.

You can come over late.

---