Page 176 of Stop and Seek
The world outside didn’t matter. The cops didn’t matter. Consequences could go fuck themselves.
He was safe. He was wanted.
Noah wasn’t going anywhere.
This wasn’t the life he’d ever imagined for himself.
But it was exactly what he’d been chasing.
3 months later
“I can’t do this.”
Noah sighed. “Theo. We already started.”
He tightened his grip on Theo’s hand, which was clenched so tight it felt like Noah was holding a rock with bones. “You’re okay. He’s super professional. Look, his shop’s spotless. That’s a good sign, right?”
Theo shot him a look that could’ve boiled water. “Fuck you,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “I hate needles.”
“Yeah, I’m gettin’ that,” Noah said, grinning. “But I thought you were into pain? With yourlittle issues.”
A string of expletives came out of Theo’s mouth, low and fast, like a swear word smoothie. The buzzing of the tattoo machine started again, and Noah shot the tattoo artist an apologetic smile.
Honestly, it was kind of perfect.
Theo looked like a cat trapped in a bath. Tense all over, shoulders hunched, eyes narrowed like the machine was built to purposefully fuck withhim. And jesus, Noah loved it.
He leaned in and kissed Theo’s forehead. “You’re doing amazing, baby.”
“Don’t youdarefuckingbabyme.”
“You are, though! You’re being so brave.”
Theo’s hand crushed his again.
When Noah had first floated the idea of matching tattoos, Theo had laughed. A lot. Called it cringe. Said it waslame as shit.It took forever to hash it out, to convince him that it was forthem. To hell with what anyone else believed.Two weeks later, Theo had brought up Latin phrases like it washisidea.
They landed on something simple. Clean script. Nothing overly romantic. Just... real.
Noah’s was done already.Amor sine fine—love without end—inked over his heart. It hadn’t even hurt that much, not with Theo pressing his face into Noah’s palm the whole time. The pain was an afterthought, but what it meant? Noah almost teared up a dozen times.
Theo, however, looked like he might pass out.
“I’m going to fucking puke,” Theo muttered.
“You’re not gonna puke,” Noah said gently. “But if you do, I’ll still love you. It’s almost done. Ten more—”
“You said thatten minutes ago, Noah.”
“And I’ll say it again in another ten. Welcome to the world of clocks, baby.”
The artist shut off the machine and held up his hands in surrender. Noah couldn’t blame him. Theo had fidgeted like hewas trying to win a gold medal in twitching. The fact that the lines were even remotely straight was a goddamn miracle.
Noah leaned forward, brushing his fingers across the fresh tattoo on Theo’s ankle.Semper tuus.Always yours.
His heart gave one of those ridiculous squeezes it did when Theo surprised him. Because yeah,Theohad picked it.Theo, who rolled his eyes and went ten different shades of red every time Noah saidI love youout loud. Who just started saying it back a few days ago.
He’d picked this. Always yours.
