21. Soren
D oc turns his back to the floor-length mirror in his bathroom and looks over his shoulder. “Well, you certainly marked your territory,” he teases.
“Are you complaining?”
He shakes his head. “Hell no. I think next time you’ll have to mark me where other people can see.”
“Oh?” I tilt my head. “Are you giving me orders now?”
He laughs. “Not at all. It was just a suggestion, Sir.” His grin is full of mischief, and I am almost tempted to take him over my lap and spank the sass out of him.
“Come here, let’s get you cleaned up and then put food into you.”
“Washcloths are in the second drawer on the right. First aid kit is under the sink,” he says, taking one last look in the mirror before walking out of the bathroom.
Gathering all the supplies, I wash my hands and take everything into the bedroom. Doc is laying face down on the bed, head resting on his folded arms and propped up on a few pillows, looking content and relaxed. Something I never thought I’d see from him when we first met.
“How you feeling?” I ask, sitting on the bed next to his legs.
“Good, relaxed. I needed that, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I set a hand on the back of his thigh. “Tell me if something feels wrong or too uncomfortable, okay?”
“I know the drill,” he snarks. That earns him a smack on the back of his thigh. “Sorry, Sir. I will, don’t worry.”
“Good boy,” I praise, watching the way he shifts on the bed at my words.
Carefully, I dab the bite marks where the skin broke with a damp cloth, cleaning up the dried blood. After drying them, I take the arnica cream from the first aid kit and slather it over the marks left behind.
“You said it’s been a while,” I start, unsure how to phrase this topic because either way it’s awkward. “But how long has it been since you’ve been in this type of relationship?”
Doc sighs. “Honestly? Years. It takes a lot of trust, and this life isn’t something you can really be honest about. And I couldn’t risk it. So James and I have gotten by, but it’s not the same.”
Leaning over, I press a kiss to his lower back. “Thank you for trusting me.”
He hums. “What about you?”
“Two years. I’ve had casual things with two people, but by casual I mean some spanking and light bondage; which I know is a lot for some people, and I don’t mean to diminish what they need. But for me…I’m very full on, and I like having relationships with my partners. But look at me, most people think I’m the one who needs to be bent over, and if they don’t think that, then they sure as hell believe someone my age doesn’t have the experience to know what I’m doing.”
He shifts on the bed, rolling onto his side so he can look at me. “That’s bullshit. You obviously knew what you were doing. I felt a level of safety and comfort with you that I didn’t expect since we don’t know each other well, but I’m not going to question it. If we’re able to give each other what we need, then who cares how old we are or what we look like?”
He huffs and then sighs. “Yes, I was worried about your age, but that wasn’t about your experience. I was worried you wouldn’t want someone like me.”
I shake my head. “According to my best friends, I like older brats.”
He laughs, hard. “Well, you found one.”
“I’ve gathered that.” I smile and shake my head. “Come on, get dressed, it's time to feed you.”
He groans but gets up and heads to his dresser, pulling out a loose pair of sweats and slipping them on. “Where’d my phone end up?”
“Over here.” I grab our clothes from where I dumped them when we first came up, fishing around for his phone and handing it over.
“Thanks. Let’s go see if James will make us grilled cheese.”
I laugh, extracting my shirt from the pile of clothes and putting it on. “I can make grilled cheese, if that’s what you want for dinner.”
“You worked hard this afternoon, it’s fine to let my best friend spoil you.” He grins and I shake my head at his ridiculousness, following him out of the bedroom.
Downstairs, we find James, Kail, and Enzo in the kitchen.
“Nice to see you again, Soren,” Kail says. “Are you joining us for dinner?”
“Yes,” I reply before smirking. “Doc wants grilled cheese though.”
James laughs. “Already working on it. Everyone is having grilled cheese and tomato soup; except Doc, of course, who will eat two sandwiches because he hates tomatoes. That okay with you, Soren?”
“Perfect, I love tomatoes.”
Doc makes a gagging noise and walks to the fridge, saying, “I knew you were too good to be true.”
Rolling my eyes, I take a seat next to Enzo. “How are you doing?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Okay. I’m up and about at least, until my surgery that is.” There’s bitterness in his tone, but I don’t blame him. I can only imagine what having your whole life turned upside down is like.
“What about you?” he asks. “Doc driving you crazy yet?”
“Hey!” Doc protests as he comes over, sliding a bottle of water my way. “I’m an angel.”
Everyone in the kitchen laughs.
“Bullshit,” James says. “You’re about as innocent as Roman is.”
Enzo snorts. “Which means not at all.” He sighs. “I miss that kid. Benji sends me updates, but it’s not the same.”
Kail reaches over and pats his shoulder. “I know. Maybe you can ask the Boss if Roman can visit? I think it’ll be good for both of you.”
Enzo shakes his head. “No, I don’t want him to see me like this. You know how he is, he’ll feel guilty. I can’t put that on him, he has enough going on.”
“Think about it,” Kail replies. “I think it’ll be good for the both of you.”
Enzo reaches up and squeezes Kail’s hand where it still rests on his shoulder. “Yeah, okay.”
“Dinner’s ready,” James says, breaking the somber moment. He sets bowls of tomato soup and plates of sandwiches on the island. “Go sit down, Doc.”
“Rather stand, thanks,” he replies, giving a cheeky smile.
I smirk and pull my food closer. “I can get a pillow for you if you want, Doc.”
“Fuck off,” he snarks, before biting into a sandwich.
“You sure that,” James waves to Doc, “is what you want, Soren?”
I laugh a little and nod my head, dipping the corner of my sandwich into my soup. “Yes, I think it is.”
“You think?” Doc screeches dramatically. “Do I have to drop my pants and show how much thought you put into it?”
Shrugging, I say, “Sure.” I bite into my sandwich as James reaches out and stops Doc from dropping his hand to his waistband.
“You better fucking not. People are eating, you fucking drama queen.”
Doc rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”
The conversation shifts from Doc’s drama to more mundane things, and it feels nice to be included. I was slightly worried that they would…not exactly exclude me, but unintentionally leave me on the outside of this dynamic they have. Maybe I should be worried about being this comfortable around Doc’s family. Instead, as his eyes meet mine from across the counter, I feel nothing but the promise of something more.
The ringing of a phone breaks the moment, and Doc shoves the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth before pulling the phone out of his pocket. Instead of letting the call go to voicemail, so he can chew and swallow, he instead spits the food out onto his plate.
“Gross,” James says at the same time Doc curses and brings the phone to his ear.
“What’s going on?” he asks in a brisk tone.
We all watch intently as he listens, his expression darkening.
“Be there soon, call me if you have any updates.” He keeps the phone in his hand and meets Kail’s eyes. “I need you and Soren to go to the main house and prep the room for an emergency. Something happened to Georgio De Luca.”
Kail and I both jump from our seats. “Got it, sir,” Kail says. He looks at Enzo and the other man smiles.
“I have my crutches, I’ll be fine,” Enzo reassures him. “Go.”
“Keep your phone close and call the emergency number I gave you if you need someone, got it?”
“Promise.”
Kail nods and shifts his attention to me. “Give me three minutes to change, meet at the front door.”
I nod in agreement and he runs out of the kitchen.
“Rose,” Doc says into his phone. “Meet me at Georgio De Luca’s, and hurry.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I rush out of the kitchen to the front door. I knew this life was dangerous, but this is my first real taste outside the safety of my uncle, and it’s a little bit terrifying. But I knew what I was signing up for. It’s not always check-ups and restocking medical supplies. Sometimes it’s life and death.
Taking a breath, I settle my nerves, knowing the next few hours are more important than anything I’ve done so far, and I refuse to let Doc down.