Mike is always uptight, especially when he comes home from work. Sometimes it’s so bad his back hurts. Mark wants to help him by giving him a massage, but Mike doesn’t like having his back touched. It brings back bad childhood memories Mark doesn’t dare to ask about. One evening though the pain is so bad that Mike agrees to try having a massage. Mark lights some candles for atmosphere and tells his boyfriend to lie on their bed. He uses scented massage oil and is very gentle as he starts touching his lover’s back in long sweeping strokes. Still, Mike flinches at every touch, every movement of Mark’s hands and it breaks the other man’s heart. He talks to Mike in a calm voice, making sure he knows who’s touching him. After a while Mike relaxes and the flinching dissipates. Mark kneads the now more malleable muscles until he has gotten rid of all the tension. By the time he is finished Mike has virtually melted into the mattress and is half asleep. From then on this becomes a weekly ritual that both of them enjoy immensely.