Rise & Fall (THIRDS 4)

Their breaths steadied, and their skin began to cool as the minutes passed. Sloane was afraid to get up, fearing Dex might be regretting it now. Did his partner truly understand the significance of what they’d done?

“It’s okay.”

Dex’s soft words met his ear, and Sloane closed his eyes, relieved. He pulled back, and his heart squeezed at the warm smile on Dex’s face.

“Are you having second thoughts?” Dex asked hesitantly. “I didn’t want to push you into doing something you didn’t want to do.”

“I wanted to do it,” Sloane said confidently. “But….” He gently took hold of Dex’s arm wrapped in his T-shirt. “I’ve scarred you.”

“How about if once they’re fully healed, I get a tattoo? It’ll look cool. I’ve always wanted a tattoo.”

“A tattoo?” Sloane liked the idea of that. He carefully sat up and pulled Dex with him, wrapping him up in his arms.

“Yeah. Therians will still know your mark is there, but Humans will only see the tattoo unless they’re close enough.”

“You really want to?”

Dex smiled brightly. “It’ll be awesome.”

“Okay.” Sloane sat there for a moment, his hand tenderly holding Dex’s arm. Any Therians who saw it would know. “You’ll have to keep it covered at work.” The gossip would run rampant through their unit, especially since Dex was supposedly not seeing anyone. This wasn’t the kind of thing you did with a casual hookup or even a long-term boyfriend. This was the real deal. Sloane swallowed hard. How’d he go from flipping his shit over the word boyfriend to being in a committed relationship to… this?

“No problem.”

Speaking of work…. “You see this?” Sloane held Dex’s arm up. “When you’re unsure, when we’re not together, when you’re scared, or about to do something you know you shouldn’t, you look at this, and you remember you have more to think about than yourself. I’m a part of you now, got it?”

Dex nodded.

“I want to hear you say it,” Sloane growled.

“You’re a part of me.”

“Good. Now, get the Therian first-aid kit. We need to patch you up. While you’re there, could you bring me a T-shirt?”

“Sure.” Dex gave him a quick kiss before getting off the couch and pulling on his pants. Although his partner did his best to hide the pain he was feeling in his arm, Sloane knew better. He dressed while Dex fetched the kit, and when his partner returned, Sloane went to work cleaning his wounds and dressing them. As soon as his arm was bandaged, Dex popped a couple of painkillers and pulled his long-sleeve T-shirt over his head, mindful of his bruised ribs.

“Okay. We’re dealing with Hogan as a team. No going off on your own.”

“I promise.”

“And we’re going to stop acting like a bunch of fucking idiots and talk things through. No lies, no withholding information, no nonsense. Communication.”

Dex arched an eyebrow.

“Yes, that goes for me too, wise guy.”

“Okay.” Dex’s smile grew wide before he planted a kiss on Sloane’s lips. “Have I told you I love you?”

“I wouldn’t mind hearing it again,” Sloane teased, releasing Dex’s arm and returning the kiss.

“I love you.”

Sloane did his best Han Solo impression. “I know.”

“You dick,” Dex laughed. “Come on.”

“Okay.” Sloane grew serious. “I… kind of like you. Sometimes.”

Dex pressed his lips together trying not to laugh. He shook his head.