“I worked hard without any support from my family,” Maurice added.
Finn’s heart tugged. “My family was very supportive of me. Maybe too much. They had a difficult time letting me grow up.”
Maurice turned slightly toward him, knee brushing Finn’s. “At least you knew they loved who you are and you didn’t have to hide your true self.”
Finn swallowed. He always forgot how easily Maurice could cut straight to the truth. “They’re heart surgeons educated in Denmark.”
“Like Jacob.”
“Yes, he’s worked with them.” Finn felt a tiny twist in his stomach at Jacob’s name—not guilt, exactly, but something close.
“I’m glad you had good parents,” Maurice said.
Finn smiled. “Their only fault is they’re way overprotective and involved in every breath I take. It was difficult for them to leave me here.”
“When did they return to Denmark?”
“Not long ago.”
“Do you miss them?”
“I do,” Finn admitted. “But it’s time for me to direct my journey without their constant input.”
Maurice’s expression softened in a way that made Finn’s ribs feel too tight. “I admire you for taking control of your life and doing what feels right.”
Finn looked down at his wine, cheeks warming. He wasn’t used to being admired. Not like that. Not by someone who made the whole room feel smaller just by sitting close. And God, he liked the way it felt.
Chapter Seventeen
Maurice
Maurice hadn’t expected theidea to slip out, but once it did, a rightness settled over him. “How would you like to get a massage together?”
Finn brightened instantly. “That sounds fun.”
Maurice took his hand, enjoying how natural it felt, leading him down the hallway toward the Wellness Car. Thetrain hummed beneath them, a steady vibration that made everything feel a little more intimate.
The guy at the desk barely looked up. “Same room. Undress and wrap a towel around your waist.”
Maurice pushed open the door, letting Finn step in first. The room was lit by soft amber sconces. A diffuser puffed eucalyptus into the air. Two hooks. Two towels. Two tables. One shared space.
Finn looked around with a mix of excitement and nerves, and affection pulled at Maurice. They undressed at the same time. Maurice wasn’t usually shy, but undressing in front of Finn for the first time hit him in a completely new way. Charged. Finn kept sneaking glances, cheeks pink, and the heat rose in his own chest.
And Finn… Finn was stunning. Lean and toned in that natural way, like he lived in his body rather than sculpted it.
Then there they were.
Finn was shrugging out of his T-shirt, his back to the light. As he turned to hop onto the table, a glint of bright, polished metal caught the low light. Maurice’s eyes widened. Nestled against Finn’s chest were two small, elegant gold hoops.
Nipple rings. Gold ones.
A weird, sudden jolt of electricity shot through Maurice—nothing to do with the pre massage. The gold looked shiny against Finn’s skin, flickering every time he breathed. Maurice knew he should look away—he really should—but his brain had gone into a sort of stunned loop. They were so deliberate. It changed the whole math of who Finn was.
The massage hadn’t started yet, and Maurice was feeling a lot more tension than he’d walked in with. He never mentioned those sexy nipple rings.
Finn’s gaze traveled over him too, lingering in a way that made Maurice’s pulse strum. They wrapped towels around their waists, both pretending they weren’t still looking.
A few minutes later, they were lying face down on the tables, side by side. The room smelled of eucalyptus and oil. The train’s rumble made the entire space feel cocooned.
