He met Eric’s steady gaze, unsure still what he would see there. The warmth, the tenderness surprised him. He realized suddenly that was one of the things about the other man that drew him. There was nothing feminine about the blond vet, but he was not afraid to be gentle, to reach out with simple kindness and caring, not only to the animals he tended but to people in need as well.
Now Eric clasped Damon’s hands in his. “I understand, Damon. This is new to you, not something you’ve had time to get used to, to think about and practice and learn to accept. You asked me to help you, to work with you. I will. You just have to let me.”
Eric released Damon’s hands and then put both arms around him. Hesitantly, Damon returned the embrace.They stood for several minutes, just holding each other, bare, warm torsos pressing together, heartbeats falling into a matched rhythm. It felt comfortable. It felt right. Tension drained out of Damon’s muscles and he felt himself relax.