Page 37 of Outside the Veil
“What is it? Did something scare you?”
“No…not precisely. I thought I heard something in the far distance. But I couldn’t make it out, and then your pain stabbed at me.”
“I’m sorry. Oh, God, Finn, I never realized you could…”
“Hush.” Finn put a finger over his lips. “I block it out most times. It was simply that I listened so intently.”
“Do you know what it was?” He gazed into those black eyes, thousands of fathoms deep, and became acutely aware of Finn’s thigh pressed against his.
“No, it’s gone. I think I imagined it.” Finn’s hand slipped to the side of his face, index finger caressing the curves of his ear. “You’re so warm.” He brushed his lips over Diego’s, featherlight.
“Finn…”
“Yes, yes. My apologies.” Finn held up his hands and backed off. “Carried away in the moment. Are we going to the river or do I take you back to the house?”
“Let’s go on. I want a picture of you by the rocks. Or maybe on them. We’ll have to see if anything comes out in this light.”
Finn smiled and pulled him to his feet. “And if not, I still get my swim.”
Chapter nine
Hope and Despair
Diego set his coffee on the counter and sneezed again. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m staying in today.”
“Ah. I forget that the damp isn’t the best thing for you.” Finn leaned against the counter, drinking milk. Diego had bought Finn his own bottle, still sold in glass containers in the local stores, so he could stop nagging about the proper use of drinking vessels. “You stay warm and dry. I’ll go out on my own.”
“You think that’s a good idea? What if something happens? Or the park rangers think you’re a vagrant? You don’t have any identification and no way to contact me.”
Finn pondered this a moment, put the bottle down and stalked off.
What now? Did I offend him?
He returned with his bright, Cheshire smile and his collar. “I’ll go out in my canine skin today. That way, on the fingernail-thin chance that something might happen, I’ll have your name and number around my neck and the park rangers can call you, yes?”
“Yes. You’re too damn clever.” Diego took the collar with a chuckle and turned to pour himself more coffee. When he turned back, Dog Finn sat on the kitchen floor, tail thumping on the granite tiles. “Oh. I guess you want to go right now.”
Finn leaped to all fours and let out a happy bark, jumping around Diego’s feet in manic canine joy.
“Whoa! Settle down and let me put this on.” Diego dropped to one knee and fastened the collar. A sudden surge of emotion welled up. He swallowed hard, threw his arms around Finn’s neck and hugged him tight. “You be careful. Don’t stay out too long.”
He got a long, wet tongue in his ear for his troubles.
“You worry too much. Go write. All will be well.”
The conifers stood draped in mourning veils of fog. Diego shivered as he watched Finn lope off into the woods, one hand raised to wave when Finn turned back to bark farewell.
Why had he pushed Finn away again the day before? His reasons for resistance had edged over to plain stubborn. That moment in the woods, he should have grabbed him and kissed him stupid. Instead, he’d left them both frustrated and lonely. Finn hid his hurt well, but he never quite covered the little wince every time he was refused.
To hell with Mitch. To hell with putting up barricades because of the pain. And to hell with all the manufactured reasonable explanations. Finn couldn’t have made it any clearer. He wanted Diego, despite his neuroses and his infirmity. Someone warm, caring, passionate, intelligent and understanding offered himself freely. What did it matter that he wasn’t human? What did it matter that this might be a brief, heated affair? They needed each other now, in so many ways, and he was selfish to keep shoving Finn away.
Enough was enough. Tonight he’d make dinner, with candlelight, flowers, the works. Then when they were contentand relaxed, maybe lazing by the fire, he would let whatever happened happen.
Decision made, he threw himself into his work with a vengeance.
Chapter 3—Diet and Habitat
You seem to be omnivorous.
