Elijah helped slip my wool coat through one arm, draped the other side over my shoulder, and then fastened the middle buttons, like I was a fragile thing going out into inclement weather. Had it been anyone else, I might’ve felt helpless, but instead my stomach flooded with warmth. This close-up view of him under the lamplight had me cataloguing more things, like the small mole on his cheek close to his ear and how his eyes took on more of a gray hue when he wore something in the same color palette.

There was a drawn-out moment when he looked up at me and our eyes met. I couldn’t help staring at his mouth, how it was heart-shaped, and I wondered if kissing him would ruin everything. Sure we’d offered each other mutual pleasure, but those had been physical acts with little emotion thrown in outside of the act of pure giving. But having my tongue in his mouth would be mind-blowing level.

“You ready?” he asked, clearing his throat.

No, I want to kiss you. Instead, I nodded, and he snapped on Ginger’s leash and then slipped into his own coat before I followed him out the door to the elevator.

As soon as we got downstairs and saw the heavy flakes sticking to the ground and coating the barren maples, we smiled at each other. Ginger was yanking on the leash, attempting to sniff around the sidewalk at all the white fluff.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“Pretty good. Feels…refreshing,” I replied. When I spotted the stone bench near the walk, I went and sat down, already knowing I wouldn’t be able to go very far.

“I figured you might think that,” he said. “I’m just going to walk her to the stop sign. Be right back.”

I watched as a very excited collie tugged Elijah down the pavement while the traffic piled up at the stoplight. When I spotted him doubling back a few minutes later, I stood up unsteadily and attempted to meet them halfway. But I walked so slowly, I only got about two driveways down. Still, it felt good to breathe fresh air into my lungs and move my limbs.

“Ready to head back inside?” he asked, studying me as I panted from the effort. To think I used to compete in bike races just over a month ago…seemed unreal.

“Yeah,” I admitted, my legs feeling a bit like wet noodles.

As soon as we got back to my apartment and he helped me out of my coat, my teeth started chattering as a shiver raced over my clammy skin. Shit. I didn’t know if it was the effort of going downstairs or the swirl of warm air meeting cold, but I felt a bit off.

“Damn, maybe that was a bad idea,” Elijah said, rubbing my shoulder, concern swimming in his eyes.

“No, it wasn’t,” I replied, not wanting him to feel guilt. “I think my body is just trying to play catch-up.”

He glanced around the apartment as if considering our options. “Since your knee is no longer wrapped, how about I run a hot bath? Your arm can stay on the outside, and we can get you nice and warm.”

I nearly groaned aloud from the mere idea of immersing myself in a tub of water and washing the funk from my skin.

“Fuck yeah,” I replied. “Great idea.”

As he twisted the knob in the tub, the steam coming off the water made me tremble again. It would feel so good to get inside after a month of sponge baths—not that I was complaining. Those sponge baths had led to— Fuck, now I was sporting a semi.

Elijah pretended he didn’t notice as I pushed down my sweats and underwear with one hand. After he helped peel my shirt off my shoulders, I stood completely naked in front of him. I glanced away as a blush crawled across my cheeks.

All of a sudden Elijah lifted his sweatshirt off, and it joined my clothes on the floor.

“What are you doing?” I marveled as his skin flushed and his nipples pebbled from the cool air swirling around us.

He shrugged. “I don’t want to get it wet while I’m helping you.”

But I knew it was more than that. He was making me feel better, like we were on equal footing. Typical Elijah. He had such a big heart, and I nearly felt ashamed that I hadn’t really appreciated it before.

He held on to my shoulder as I carefully stepped into the tub, using the wall for support. All I needed was to slip and break something else on my body. I noticed how his eyes darted down to my half-filled cock before skirting away. His fingers encircled my waist as he helped me squat down to cushion my fall. I placed my arm on the rim so that it hung out of the tub and didn’t get wet.

He added my body wash to make a lather, then saturated a washcloth and ran it down my back. I couldn’t help groaning.

“Must really feel good,” he said, this time not worrying about how wet I was and where the water was draining.

I shifted as he ran it over my hair, neck, and shoulders. “I can’t even explain it.”

It wasn’t just the water or washcloth. It was Elijah with his gentle hands on me.

“I think I actually get it.”

He washed up and down my arms and chest, and when the cloth neared my groin area, it tingled in reaction. Christ, simmer down already. Elijah was nothing if not diligent in his task, so he ignored my semi and focused on my legs, his breaths puffing against my arm. I supposed I could’ve actually attempted to wash myself, but he hadn’t even offered—and I certainly wasn’t complaining. It just sort of became our thing. Him taking care of me until I didn’t need it anymore. That thought sat heavy in my gut.

I soaked for a while. Elijah leaned against the vanity and played something on his phone, and Ginger came in and out of the room, sniffing at the water droplets on the tile. When my skin started pruning, Elijah drained the tub and helped me stand. As I placed one leg out of the tub to gain leverage on the floor, I began slipping. He grasped me around the waist and pulled me toward him, effectively mashing our bodies together.

My good hand gripped his neck.

“Whoa, you okay?” he asked, steadying me.

“Yeah, thanks.” I pulled back and stared down at him. The front of his jeans was saturated. “Well, crap, now I got you all wet.”

“No worries, that’s what dryers are for.”

He helped me towel off and then walked me to my bedroom. He slid open my covers so I could lie down. When he offered to help me get dressed, I begged him off for now. Not only because I didn’t want to be such a burden, but also because I didn’t want to complicate things between us even more. And right now, his hands on me might not be a good idea.

The sheets felt so good on my bare skin, like I was floating on air. My muscles were loose but still achy. But I felt clean and warm and happy. Like things were getting back on track in my life. Except I wished I could also keep a couple of things exactly the same.

After Elijah got me situated, he unbuttoned his jeans.

“I’m going to throw these in your dryer.”

After he left the room, my eyelids began to shut of their own volition. I could feel Ginger jump on the bed and make herself comfortable. The long day was obviously taking its toll on me, I realized, as I slipped into the twilight of sleep.

Suddenly I felt hands shaking me awake and hot breath close to my ear.