Page 33 of Hallowed & Haunted
Niillas presses a swift kiss to the top of Sander’s head.
“As soon as we leave the mountain road, we’ll have reception again. Then you can call your friends.”
“Ourfriends,” Sander says with emphasis, wrapping his arms around Niillas’ waist.
Neither of them moves for several long moments before Sander sits up properly, wincing as he stretches.
“You okay?”
“Just a few scratches from the floorboards.”
“Let me have a look.”
The scratches are shallow, already beginning to scab over, but Niillas inspects them carefully anyway. He covers them with a healing salve he carries along with his sparse first-aid supplies, before readjusting Sander’s trousers again.
Sander watches him work with soft eyes, and when Niillas looks up, he finds himself caught in his gaze.
“It’s sexy having you fuss over me.”
“Is that so?”
Niillas can’t help the predatory edge that tinges his voice.
“Yeah.” Sander’s smile is small and vulnerable. “I like it. Everyone else always assumes I can manage.”
Niillas presses a kiss to Sander’s temple.
“I get it. And I like you when you are strong and competent, but I like you weak, too. And scared. And crying. And everything in between.”
Sander’s eyes glaze over as if he’s one moment away from crying, but he blinks rapidly, composing himself.
“I’m starting to understand.” He kisses Niillas on the lips again, chaste this time. “And I want to be that person for you, too.”
Niillas smiles.
“Deal.”
He stands, pulling Sander up with him, who’s obviously reluctant to stop touching him. Sander’s still scared, Niillas realizes as they gather their scattered belongings, never straying more than a few steps away from Niillas.
Karo watches them work with warm brown eyes, staying close to them, too.
“What should we do about him?” Sander asks, nodding toward the dog.
“We take him with us. He’s real now, flesh and blood. Unless he makes you uncomfortable?”
Sander looks at the dog thoughtfully before kneeling down and holding out his hand for Karo to sniff. With their matching coloring, they look like something from the cover of a chic outdoor magazine.
“My apartment doesn’t allow pets, but you wanted to get a hunting dog, if I remember correctly, right? I’ll help you to exercise him.”
“How do you know? We haven’t talked about this.”
Running a hand through his already disheveled hair, Sander looks adorably flustered.
“I might have overheard you talking about it to Lars?”
A pleasant warmth expands in Niillas’ chest. He vaguely remembers the conversation with their goalie, months ago, when he’d just transferred from Rovaniemi.
“Interesting. What else did you hear?”