“Thanks, babe. I’ll add it to the collection.” Finn’s smile returned as he watched Joe rummage around in his bag. Instead of using matching place settings, Finn bought handmade cups, bowls, and plates of various sizes and colors from the countries he visited.
Joe pulled out a blue silk bag and handed it to Finn. He’d been so pleased to find the brightly colored bowl and had spent more than a few hours contemplating the pleasure he thought Finn would get from it. It was a very unique design, the rounded curve of the ceramic forming into the shape of a tulip on one side, and the whole piece was covered in intricate patterns in every color of the rainbow. “I saw it and thought of you, and it made me happy.”
Finn loosened the drawstrings and opened the bag, and he let out a delighted gasp when he pulled out the bowl. “This is amazing! I love it. Thank you!” He picked up the small white box nestled in the bowl and held it up, regarding Joe curiously. “What’s this? Something of yours?”
Joe felt his stomach drop. He’d forgotten he’d put the box in with the bowl, and even though he had bought the contents for Finn as well, something about those scratches on Finn’s back suddenly made it seem like a stupid, pointless gift. He should probably just lie again and say that it was his, and he knew Finn would let it go without another thought, but some part of him wanted—maybe even needed—to see how Finn reacted.
“No, it’s something else for you,” he said softly. “But I don’t know if you’ll like or want it.”
Finn carefully placed the bowl on Joe’s dresser and opened the box. His eyes widened when he saw the white-gold ring inside. “That’s a Celtic trinity knot, isn’t it?” he asked as he lifted the ring and held it up to the light. “It’s gorgeous, Joe. The emerald matches my eyes.”
“Yeah.” Joe felt his face flushing a bit. He didn’t indulge in emotional displays very often, and he was suddenly a bit embarrassed at how soppy and sentimental it probably seemed. “That’s why I bought it. Things were… hard on the mission. Dark. I liked looking at the ring and the bowl because they reminded me of you and that there were good things for me to come back to.”
Finn slid the band on the ring finger of his right hand, before closing the distance between them and pulling Joe into a light, lingering kiss. “I’m glad,” he said when he drew back at last. “I wish I’d been there. I wish I could’ve gone with you. It didn’t feel right staying here and not having your back.”
Joe swallowed hard against a lump in his throat. He supposed it was too much to hope that Finn might put the ring on his left hand instead, but the gesture reminded him that his place in Finn’s life wasn’t ever going to be what he really wanted. It wasn’t Finn’s fault, either—it was simply the way things were between them. Joe was grateful to at least be Finn’s best friend and the person he trusted most in the world. It had been enough for him for years, and it would continue to be enough. Other men might come into Finn’s life, but they were gone quickly and without regret in Finn’s eyes.
“I didn’t wish you were there,” he admitted. “I wouldn’t have been there myself if Herc hadn’t asked me. I’ve never seen such ugliness. I wouldn’t have wanted you to see it.”
“The mission was a success, right?” Finn rested his hand against Joe’s neck and stroked Joe’s jaw with his thumb. “Let’s focus on that and go wash all the ugliness away.”
Joe smiled crookedly. “I’d like that. Yes, the mission was a success, thank all that’s holy. But I don’t know if I could do it again. Even for Herc.” He didn’t realize until he said it that the words were true. Joe considered himself a simple man, and he could deal with evil—in his job, he’d had to—and while the adversary in this case had undoubtedly been one of the most horrible men he’d ever run across, it was the knowledge that they hadn’t taken him down sooner that was like a rip in Joe’s heart. There were plenty of dead bodies by the time the mission was over, but even though Joe knew saving every victim had never been more than theoretically possible, it still hurt that they couldn’t. What he needed more than anything right now was the warmth of the man he loved to soothe the jagged edges of his damaged soul.
“Come on.” Finn slid his hand down Joe’s arm and twined their fingers. “I’ll run a bath as hot as you can handle it, and I’ve got a loofah and lemon verbena soap with your name on them. I want you to lie back and let me take care of you,” he said as he tugged Joe toward the bathroom.
Joe willingly followed along, though he couldn’t help glancing at the scratches and bruises—obviously bite marks—that decorated Finn’s back. Some of them were fading, while others looked fresh enough that they might have been done the previous day. Or perhaps even that morning. Not that he would ask.He never did.
“Wait here,” Finn said, stopping Joe next to the huge whirlpool tub. “I’ll undress you, but I want to get the bath started first.”
Joe waited, watching as Finn started the water and added the bath salts. Finn moved with languid grace, and Joe always enjoyed observing Finn, no matter what he was doing. “I feel like I have sand driven into my skin. A nice soak will feel really good.”
“I’ll bet it will.” Finn made a detour to the vanity to pick up a lighter. “You can soak as long as you want. We’ll start the washing away process with a shampoo and scalp massage,” he said as he lit the two thick, round candles on either end of the tub ledge. “How does that sound?”
“Perfect.” Joe reached out, brushing a hand over Finn’s soft, thick hair. “You take good care of me.”
Finn’s answering smile was warm and sweet as he leaned into the caress. “I try,” he said. “I enjoy it.”
“Thanks.” The sight of Finn’s smile soothed a bit of the unease Joe felt from the sight of Finn’s back. Finn was here, after all, and that was what really mattered.
“Anytime. Now let’s get you undressed and into the tub.” Finn slid his hands beneath the collar of Joe’s black leather jacket and eased it off Joe’s shoulders and down his arms. Joe shrugged slightly, helping.
“Don’t be surprised that I’ve got a few new scars. One guy went at me with a knife after I relieved him of his gun.”
“Shit, seriously?” Concern flickered in Finn’s expressive green eyes. “Do you need me to check anything?”
“It should be okay.” Joe caressed Finn’s cheek, touched by the concern. “Couple of stitches, that’s all. Nothing deep. It’s healing fine.”
“What about the others?” Finn tugged the hem of Joe’s black T-shirt and worked with him to get it up and off.
“So shallow they didn’t need stitches.” Joe held up his left arm so Finn could see the neat line of stitches on his forearm. He pointed to the red lines on his left pec and the upper part of his stomach. “He missed my ink, I’m glad to say.”
“Thank God.” Finn leaned in and pressed his lips against Joe’s right shoulder where his tattoo sleeve started. “I love your ink,” he murmured against Joe’s skin.
Joe closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the kiss flow over him. “I’m glad. You’ll have to help me decide what to get next.”
“I keep telling you, it should be a four leaf clover on your ass,” Finn said, flashing a mischievous grin as he started unfastening the fly of Joe’s cargo pants.
Joe chuckled. “How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not getting that?” He shook his head. “I may be as much of ason of the ould sodas you are, but I’m not about to gothatfar!”
