Yusuf more or less had taken a vow of chastity. With Nicolo abstaining, Yusuf too was living as close as he could to the promise of not 'leading into temptation'. It had been hard. It had been so very, very hard those first few years. But over time he had learned to feed his need for intimacy through what they could have. And now, over the decades, he was barely bothered at all.

Most days.

And then some days Nicolo came home from work and started stripping in front of him and Yusuf was an old human but he was still only human. There was no way his eyes couldn't stay and drink in that delicious sight. No way his body couldn't thrum with desire.

He sighed and turned to get the bread and plates set on the table. Wine was poured next into two mismatched cups that Yusuf had made himself in the shop. Nicolo's had a painting of doves flying all over it framed with olive branches; a cup of peace at the end of a hard day.

"Did you bring home something?" He called into the bedroom, curious about the clanking purse but not enough to stop what he was doing and pursue the mystery further. "If Gustavo wants something else painted, he is paying you full price, this time. No more discounts because he says please so nicely."