Chapter Ten
Prince took a deep breath and reached for the door to Finn’s room, but paused, needing a few more minutes to collect himself.
He hadn’t meant to listen in on Finn and Bevin’s conversation.
He hadn’t left the hospital since Finn was brought in, stepping out only briefly for fresh air and to clear his head.
When he returned, he’d heard their voices just as he was about to enter.
Relief flooded him at the sound of Finn’s voice, but he knew the two friends needed that moment alone.
He knew Bevin had been just as scared as he was.
The thought that Prince could have lost Finn before they even had a chance to begin had shaken him more than he cared to admit.
Those two days had given him too much time to think, and he had done plenty of it.
By the time Finn woke up, Prince had already made up his mind.
When Finn was strong enough to hear it, he was going to tell him exactly how he felt.
When the rescue team reached their location, they moved quickly, securing Finn and transporting him to the hospital.
Prince wasn’t a doctor, but there were words he recognized as they worked, words like hypothermia, rib fractures, and concussion, and each one made his fear deepen.
While the doctors worked on Finn, Prince had paced the length of the hospital corridor, consumed by what-ifs and regrets. Time stretched painfully. It felt like hours before a doctor finally stepped through the double doors and looked around.
“I’m looking for Finn Turner’s family.”
The response slipped from Prince’s mouth so naturally that he didn’t stop to question it. “I’m his husband.”
He braced himself, half expecting someone to challenge him, but no one did. The doctor simply nodded and began explaining Finn's condition.
Although his injuries weren’t life-threatening, they had been serious enough to warrant caution.
Finn had suffered two fractured ribs, which could have been worse if not for the thick padding of his ski suit, and a cerebral contusion that caused swelling in his brain.
The doctors placed him in a medically induced coma for two days to reduce the swelling and give his body time to recover after the hypothermia.
For a while, there had been uncertainty about how he would wake, and that possibility weighed heavily on Prince.
He knew what had happened to Finn wasn’t his fault, but somehow he still felt responsible, especially after learning why Finn had been avoiding him.
Prince realized he had approached the whole partnership proposal the wrong way.
His plan to grow closer to Finn through business had not been the right approach. But now he had a chance to fix it.
Pushing the door open, Prince stepped inside. Finn turned his gaze toward him as he entered. Neither of them spoke right away. They simply looked at each other, as if trying to absorb the other's presence after everything that had happened.
"Hi," Finn said first, breaking the silence between them.
"How are you feeling?" Prince moved closer and sat carefully on the edge of the bed, mindful of the IV line.
"I hurt," Finn said, his eyes glistening as if he was about to cry, but no tears fell. His guard seemed to drop in a way it hadn’t with Bevin. It was undeniably cute.
Prince smirked and gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind Finn's ear. "Hush. The doctor will be in soon."
Silence settled between them again, softer this time, their gazes lingering. It broke when they both spoke at once.
"Prince."
"Finn."
They both chuckled. Finn glanced down at his fingers gripping the blanket.
"Go ahead," Prince said gently.
"I'm sorry," Finn said, his tone so soft it touched Prince’s heart.
Prince slid a hand beneath Finn's chin and lifted his face so he could look at him properly. "What are you apologizing for?"
He was relieved when none of his intimate touches were rebuffed.
"I made you worry. I avoided you because of my insecurities, and for being an idiot.
" Finn's fingers curled around Prince's wrist. "Maybe this isn't the right time to say this.
" He paused, gathering his courage. "But I like you.
Maybe 'like' is too simple a word, but my feelings for you are real.
Strong." His voice trembled slightly. "I don't know when it happened or what specific moment started it.
I just know it was before I came to the resort.
I planned on taking it to my grave, never telling you how I felt.
But when I fell…" He swallowed. "It made me realize I shouldn't wait. "
"If you're a fool, then so am I. I've always prided myself on being confident," Prince said softly, not letting Finn carry the weight of vulnerability alone.
"But you have more courage than I do, Finn.
" He smiled faintly as he cupped Finn's face in his hands.
"Like you, I don't know exactly when it started.
But the moment I realized what I was feeling, I ran. "
Prince saw the confusion in Finn’s eyes, so he continued.
"The night you showed up at the resort, I originally wanted to help you out of a bind, but then I watched you playing in the snow.
That was the moment it hit me that I wanted you in my life.
" His thumb brushed gently along Finn's cheek.
"Hearing your laughter. Seeing you happy. It did something to me. My heart would not slow down. It shocked the hell out of me. I’ve never been instantly attracted to someone just hearing them being happy. "
He exhaled slowly. "I used business as an excuse to stay close to you while I tried to figure myself out. Even then, I wasn’t ready to admit it. I told myself you were my son's friend. I questioned the timing. I worried about hurting your friendship. But none of that stopped me from wanting you."
His gaze softened. "It may seem sudden to everyone else. It does not feel sudden to me."
Prince paused, licking suddenly dry lips.
"When I proposed that we become business partners, I thought it was the safest way to keep you near me." His voice lowered. "I won't say it's love. Not yet. But Finn, my feelings for you are strong. Strong enough that I've been jealous of my own son's closeness to you."
If Prince had more to say, the words caught in his throat when Finn leaned forward and pressed his soft lips to his.
Finn closed his eyes, leaving Prince momentarily stunned, his breath stolen by the unexpected contact, but he quickly gave in.
His lashes lowered as he gently parted his lips, accepting the kiss.
Finn's lips trembled softly against his, as if his earlier confidence had waned and whatever emotions he had been trying to hide came bubbling to the surface, waiting for Prince to take control. Prince didn’t rush, even though he wanted to devour Finn whole.
He slowly teased Finn's lips, tenderly pulling him closer, softly brushing his mouth, swallowing his breathy moans.
Prince knew he should pull back and give Finn time to adjust. They had just confessed their feelings for each other and should take things slower.
But in this moment, feeling Finn's fear made him yearn to comfort him.
So he stopped hesitating and swept his tongue inside Finn's slightly parted mouth.
Finn melted into him as Prince felt Finn's fear slowly melt away.
Prince didn’t slow down. He deepened the kiss, one hand cradling Finn's jaw and the other steadying him, pouring everything he could not yet say into the slow, grinding press of his mouth against Finn's.
Don't go too hard, kept chanting in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of Finn's injuries.
But it was a difficult task because he could feel and taste Finn's need. To Prince, it wasn’t enough.
He wanted Finn to give him more. He nibbled and sucked on Finn's mouth and tongue, taking what he could.
Prince's lungs burned for air, but he didn’t care.
In just a short time, he was growing addicted to Finn's lips.
The more he tried to restrain himself, the more his control wavered.
Their mouths moved in sync as their tongues teased, twined, and curled, saliva pooling between them as his stomach burned with need.
Prince slowly released Finn's mouth and pulled back just a bit, tracing the seam of Finn's lips with the tip of his tongue, giving them both time to breathe, before capturing his mouth again.
This time, the kiss lingered. His hunger was growing deeper, and he was losing control, or so he thought.
Prince's body grew hot, his cock twitching with interest, but he paid it no mind as his hand slipped from Finn's jaw to his waist, fingers spreading and tightening just enough to pull him closer.
Their chests pressed together, the solid line of Prince's body aligning with Finn's.
Prince was still being careful of Finn's injuries, keeping a firm hold on him and practically pulling him onto his lap, praying Finn wouldn’t grind or roll his hips, because the gods knew Prince would not be able to handle it.
Finn moaned against his lips, the sweetest and sexiest sound Prince had ever heard, making him lightheaded with lust. From Finn's scent to his taste, Prince still wanted more.
He wanted to push Finn down and take far more than an intense kiss.
But he forced himself to slow down. He stroked his thumb along Finn's cheek, grounding himself, even as his hand remained at Finn's waist, their bodies still close enough that the heat between them was undeniable.
Their lips moved together, unhurried yet charged, as if they were memorizing the shape of each other.
Finn's fingers tightened in the fabric of Prince's coat, not subtly this time.
Not shy, but a silent request, and Prince understood it.
He answered by deepening the kiss just enough to make a promise.
His mouth pressed more firmly to Finn's, his tongue sliding against his in a slow, deliberate stroke that spoke of everything he was holding back.
When he finally pulled away, it was only by a fraction, his forehead resting against Finn's, both of them breathing harder than they should have been.
"When you're better," Prince murmured against his lips, his voice rough with restraint, thick with everything he was forcing himself to deny, "I won't hold back."
Finn's eyes darkened at that, his desire showing, no longer hidden behind hesitation.
Prince brushed his mouth over Finn's once more, softer this time but no less meaningful, lingering just long enough to promise more, before easing back. He didn’t want to stop touching Finn now that they had laid everything out in the open.
There was no way he was staying away from him.
He just prayed to every god in the universe that Finn could handle his clinginess.
"Are you two done talking?"
Prince growled low in his throat and snapped his head to the side, glaring at Bevin for interrupting their moment, the muscles in his jaw ticking in irritation.
Of course, Bevin looked completely unbothered by it and even smiled, clearly testing Prince's limits, the hint of amusement in his eyes only making it worse.
"Stop growling," Finn whispered, drawing Prince's attention back to him, his voice soft but firm.
"But…" Prince began, frustration still simmering beneath his skin, but he didn’t get to finish. Finn leaned in and kissed him, cutting off the protest before it could fully form.
"We'll finish when he leaves," Finn said, softly caressing Prince's cheek, the gentle touch steady and soothing, calming him almost instantly.
Prince's expression softened. He smiled and lifted his hand to cup Finn's cheek, turning just enough to press a lingering kiss into his palm. "Okay," he agreed quietly.
"Finally, someone who can calm the angry beast," Bevin mumbled, or at least pretended to.
"Ignore him," Finn whispered, his lips brushing near Prince's ear as he spoke. "He's just jealous." He shifted his gaze over Prince's left shoulder and added, "He's salty cause he ain't getting none."
Bevin snorted. "Neither are you for a few weeks."
"Shut up," Finn grumbled, shooting him a look. "You don't have to rub it in."
Ignoring the two as they playfully bickered, Prince slowly positioned Finn back on the bed and fixed the blankets around his waist, concealing anything that might have sprung up, then stood to his full height.
He moved just enough to give the doctor room but stayed close to Finn's bed, his hand still resting near him, a silent claim he wasn’t ready to release.
"It's nice to see you awake, Mr. Turner," the doctor remarked as he walked over to the other side of Finn's bed and began his exam. "I'm Doctor Jira."
Bevin watched his father and best friend, seeing the love pouring out of them, almost tangible. He rolled his eyes, wondering if Finn truly understood what kind of beast he had unleashed by dating his father. The man could be obsessive and clingy in ways most people would not survive.
But when Bevin caught the look in Finn’s eyes, that open admiration, that soft hunger for attention, he was certain his friend would not just tolerate it. He would enjoy every second of it.
Most people would probably find it weird that he was okay with his father and best friend becoming lovers, or maybe something even more, but life was too damn short to waste time dwelling on stupid shit.
What really caught his attention, though, was the cute doctor examining Finn. Mousy brown hair matched warm brown eyes, and the way his scrubs fit ever so perfectly had Bevin questioning himself. He was starting to think he might be developing a very specific kind of interest.
Doctor Jira was not only good-looking but surprisingly engaging.
While stalling, hoping to give his dad and Finn time to talk, Bevin had pulled the doctor into a conversation about something completely mundane.
Somehow, it had turned into one of the most interesting conversations he’d had in a long time.
He had planned on leaving once he knew Finn was okay, but now there was a real possibility he might stay a little longer.
After all, he had an ache that only a doctor could cure.