The sheets were changed, Eli had had his own shower, the soup was heating on the stove, and he re-packed his bag for their Christmas trip away.
In short, Eli was done, and if Rob was still asleep, he was shortly to be bored.
Peering into the living room, he found the TV on, albeit quietly, and a change in position from the long lump under the fleece blanket on the sofa. One arm was hanging straight out, wrist up and underarm exposed in an oddly vulnerable pose. The remote was caught in the fingers of the other hand, resting over Rob’s waist. He was half-turned onto his side, a cushion Eli had stuffed behind his arse, keeping him from rolling onto his back entirely and gluing his T-shirt to the salve Eli had rubbed onto the welts.
“Rob?” he called gently.
A grunt.
Eli beamed and slippe
