Salt Kiss – Episode 25
Tristan woke at dawn with his hand still wrapped around Mark’s. He had intended to keep watch from the chair, but sometime during the night Mark had reached for him in sleep.
The intimacy felt more revealing than any scene at the club. There were no roles here, only two men who had nearly lost each other.
Mark opened his eyes. “You stayed.”
“You ordered me to.”
“I asked.”
Tristan could not hide his smile. “Then I chose to.”
They spent the morning rebuilding security from the safe house. Tristan coordinated new personnel while Mark traced the shell companies through political and business contacts.
By evening, the immediate threat had receded. The emotional one had not.
“You said surrender could be relief,” Tristan told him. “Show me.”
Mark studied him carefully. “You are asking after an attack, while frightened and exhausted. I need to know this is not panic.”
“It isn’t.” Tristan placed his weapon on the table. “I want one hour where I’m not responsible for every outcome.”
They negotiated limits again. Mark’s injured arm restricted what they could do, and Tristan insisted on keeping the scene private and unrestrained.
“Kneel,” Mark said when every boundary was clear.
Tristan lowered himself willingly. The floor was hard beneath his knees, but the position quieted the restless calculations in his mind.
Mark guided his breathing and demanded his full attention. Whenever Tristan’s thoughts raced toward the attack, Mark brought him back with voice and touch.
“Who is responsible for you right now?” Mark asked.
“You are.” The answer no longer sounded like defeat.
“And what is your responsibility?”
“To tell you the truth.” Tristan looked up at him. “The truth is I trust you.” Mark’s composure cracked, revealing the depth of what Tristan had given him—and how much it might cost them both.