“We don’t want to have sex without you, Eli.” Henrik was exasperated.
Elias huffed before grabbing a hunk of bread and stuffing it in his mouth. It was dry and so he was left chewing for quite a while.
Johan stood up and said, “I’m going for a walk,” before swiftly heading out the front door and into the twilight.
“What is wrong with you?” Henrik asked Elias.
Elias stared at Henrik wide-eyed and frightened. “I don’t know how to fix this Rik, and every time I try, I swear I make it worse. I don’t know what to do, should I go and try to talk to him?”
“Not right now, he will have walked to the water spring. It’s where he goes to think.”
“See? That, right there. I should know that about him, but I don’t. I could tell you exactly how much pressure to apply when sucking on his balls, but I don’t know where he goes when he needs space. I-I’ve fucked this all up, Rik!”
Henrik realised that when he and Johan had agreed to not have sex until things were mended with Eli, that he’d made a mistake when it came to Elias.
He hoped that when Johan returned later, he would understand and not be cross with Henrik for his decision.
“Come here,” Henrik held out his hand for Elias before leading him over to the bed. Henrik took his time undressing them both, and he left a trail of kisses down Elias’ neck and collarbone. When they were both naked, Henrik pulled him down to the mattress, and then they faced each other, side by side.
Henrik pulled Elias’ leg so that it rested over his hip and left them skin to skin everywhere they could be.
When their cocks pressed together, Elias whimpered and scrunched his eyes shut.
Henrik kissed him hard, tried to show Elias with his lips and tongue how much he missed him, how much he loved him, and Elias all but melted.
“I’m sorry, Eli.”
“Why?” he whispered.
“I’ve given Johan an abundance of what he needed—space. But you need touch and affection, and we starved you of that. It… wasn’t kind.”
“I’m like an awful little leech, aren’t I?” Elias asked miserably.
Henrik laughed. “No, my love. You are a person, and you have needs just like we do. We’ll find a middle ground until things are mended.”
Elias sniffled so Henrik kissed him on the nose, then his cheeks, and then his lips. They kissed without the intention of it going anywhere despite their growing arousal. They kissed until the front door opened and Johan stepped inside.
“We weren’t… We didn’t… It isn’t what it looks like!” Elias exclaimed as he covered himself with the blanket.
Johan cocked his head to one side thoughtfully, and Henrik could see the moment it registered what he was giving to Elias. Henrik felt antsy until a small smile tugged on the corners of Johan’s lips.
He joined them on the bed, still fully clothed but he settled behind Elias and pressed a kiss to the back of his neck.
Johan cleared his throat. “You’ll sleep in the middle tonight?” he asked Elias.
“Is that okay?” Elias whispered.
Johan nodded and Henrik was flooded with relief. He could see by the way Elias’ shoulders relaxed that he felt the same. The last few weeks he’d become an elf-shaped barrier between the two of them, and the middle spot on the bed had started to feel loaded. This was a step in the right direction, at least.
H
enrik smiled when he woke the next morning. Elias was wrapped up protectively in Johan’s arms with one hand reaching out to rest on Henrik’s waist. It was the most peaceful he’d seen Elias since they’d returned.
Johan’s eyelashes fluttered before he blinked a few times and smiled at Henrik.
“Morning,” Henrik whispered.
Johan reached over Elias and cupped Henrik’s cheek, stroking his thumb over his cheekbone.
