“We can’t ask you to do that, Johan. It’s your home, your livelihood,” Henrik argued.
“You didn’t ask. My choice,” Johan said, looking a little cross with Henrik.
For some reason, where Henrik often took great joy in poking Elias until he bit, Johan being annoyed with him had a very different effect. He wanted to make the look on his face go away, tuck his tail between his legs and seek reassurance that it was fleeting and not a disappointment that would fester into resentment.
Before Henrik could truly spiral, however, Elias interjected, “No offense to your little hunting shack, but I think we might need to build something a bit larger if we’re to stay here long-term.”
Johan didn’t reply, but his expression shifted into a sad yet indulgent smile for Elias, who began poking his nose into everything he could find in the room like a puppy in search of some ham.
The wooden chair by the window creaked when Johan took a seat. He cleared the dusty glass with his shirt sleeve, gazing out at the dark starlit sky.
Stealing a moment, Henrik approached him and asked, pointing at Johan’s lap, “May I?” He nodded and smiled. Henrik straddled him on the chair so they were face-to-face, and Johan kissed him adoringly on the tip of his nose.
We’re okay. He’s not angry with me.Henrik’s shoulders slumped in relief.
“You are sure?” he murmured.
Johan didn’t reply verbally; he took Henrik’s hand and held it over his heart, where Henrik could feel the steady beat beneath his palm.
Momentarily interrupting the moment, Elias announced, “I’m going to take a proper look outside so I can develop the vision,” before sauntering back out the front door and leaving them alone.
Henrik and Johan both chuckled at their ridiculous lover.
“It’s a big change living out here. It might even be hard to make a living without giving away our location,” Henrik said.
“I like it out here. Peaceful. Safe. Will find a way.” Johan wrapped his powerful arms around Henrik, pulling him close.
“You are as stubborn as Elias when you want to be, do you know that?”
“You must have a type.” Johan laughed softly.
Henrik closed the small gap and kissed his stubborn shoemaker on the lips.
“Gods, seeing you two together makes my balls hurt, it cannot be healthy,” Elias said from the doorway. He wandered over to them and stood behind Henrik, hooking his head on his shoulder. “Feel how hard I am.” He pressed his groin into Henrik’s back where he was indeed as stiff as a rod.
“How is that possible? It’s freezing!” Henrik said in disbelief.
“I might have helped it along with a little tug.” Elias waggled his eyebrows in a ridiculous manner.
“Can I… try something?” Johan asked.
“Anything,” they both replied.
“Within reason,” Henrik added.
Johan looked around the dusty room before adding, “When we get back?”
“You big tease!” Elias bemoaned. “You would leave me in this condition?”
Johan just stood, helping Henrik back to his feet before guiding them both back out the door.
On the walk home, Elias took to guessing what Johan wanted to try, which led to the larger man either smirking or blushing furiously. Both of which Henrik found incredibly endearing.
“Do you want to try and see how tight I can squeeze my thighs together and push yourself between them?” It was actually one of Elias’ less-crude suggestions, and rather than blushing, Johan appeared to consider it before shrugging with a mischievous smile.
“Not… tonight,” he said.
Henrik couldn’t deny that the endless ideas Elias had come up with during their walk home had left him a bit hot under the collar, and it was a welcome distraction from why they were out here in the first place.
