Page 12 of Two of a Kind

Tommick drained the last of his brandy.He put the glass on the side table with an unsteady hand.“If you’re certain,” he said at last, and shuddered all through his body when Dorrimin slid an arm behind his back to pull him against his side.

It was like touching Tommick outside the bath to make sure he was warm again, but a thousand times better, even with his mother there, no doubt gloating, and his sister there, no doubt laughing to herself.

Tommick was stiff, his head turned as if he felt he had to look everywhere but at Dorrimin.His slightly damp hair brushed Dorrimin’s neck.Then Tommick shuddered again, and slowly, slowly the tremors eased away to nothing but a long sigh.

Dorrimin’s cheek or jaw on the top of Tommick’s head would probably be too much, presumptuous.But Dorrimin kept his arm around Tommick, throat tight with nerves and pleasure that this was allowed.

When he finally raised his head, Ollis was intent on her fingernails and his mother was jotting down notes.The only one in the room watching them was Bemmi, but that was really her sleepy interest in the settee she wasn’t allowed on.

Dorrimin exhaled slowly too, as Tommick had done, and carefully moved his arm so he could drag his fingertips through the edge of Tommick’s hair at the back of his neck.Tommick shivered.

“Dorri?”he whispered, just for Dorrimin to hear.

“Do you mind?”Dorrimin whispered in return, although he didn’t want to stop.

Tommick hiccupped, the sound almost like a laugh, but much gentler.“Not even a little.You have no idea.”

Dorrimin reflected on that some awe and a wave of dizziness that had nothing to do with a few sips of brandy.Because he was starting to have some idea, actually, and it warmed him all the way through.

He bent his head to get his cheek to Tommick’s hair and closed his eyes to listen to Tommick’s soft, even breaths as Tommick fell asleep.