18. Chapter Eighteen #2
“I care if it involves you getting reprimanded for something they should be applauding you for.”
“Let’s talk about something else,” Cavalari said.
“Good, because I’m done talking about what happened,” Bronx scoffed.
“How about you tell me what the doctor is saying about your recovery?”
Bronx proceeded to update Tony on what the doctor discussed with him during his exam and what the weeks ahead would look like.
Tony settled in on the edge of Bronx’s bed and they chatted until Bronx showed signs of fatigue again.
When Bronx started to drift off to sleep again, Tony slipped out of the room.
Later in the day, Bronx took a few steps around his room and walked to the bathroom with assistance from Tony.
Over the next few days he graduated to walks down the hallway and then he was introduced to the rehab room and his new team of physical therapists.
It was hard work and very taxing on Bronx but he wanted to get better—for himself, but also so he could go home and be with Tony.
When he wasn’t in the rehab room at the hospital busting his ass to improve his coordination, and making himself stronger, he was zonked out sleeping from all the exercise he was pushing himself to do.
But he had a full tank of determination that was feeding him and an even bigger desire to resume a relationship with Tony.
Tony remained by Bronx’s side through the sweating, complaining, and groans of frustration.
He knew just when to offer Bronx a kiss or an emotional boost of confidence whenever Bronx would stumble or doubt himself.
The process was slow but every day Bronx showed signs of continued improvement.
The hospital brought in another bed so Tony could stay with Bronx in his room at night, instead of staying at a hotel.
It allowed them to strengthen their bond from the long talks they had at night after the lights went out.
These were memories Bronx knew he’d never forget.
Bronx remembered one such conversation in particular with fondness.
“You still awake?” Bronx asked Tony where he was lying on his side facing him.
“I am but why are you?” Tony asked. “You should be exhausted from your rehab session today.”
“Believe me, I am, but I have so much stuff on my mind,” Bronx said.
“Like what?” Tony questioned.
Bronx seemed to ponder the question and choose his words carefully. “You know I’m crazy about you, right?” he finally said.
“As I am for you,” Tony replied.
“Really?” Bronx asked.
Tony rolled his eyes. “Why else would I still be hanging out in Houston in your hospital room instead of being home in LA?”
“I don’t know, I thought you were on duty.”
“Nope, no duty for me, at least not for a while,” Tony said.
“I feel like I’m at band camp talking to my bunk buddy across the room,” Bronx complained.
“Did you go to band camp when you were a kid?” he asked.
“Do I look like a kid who went to band camp?” Bronx asked and chuckled. “No way did my parents have the money for that. Besides, it would have involved structured lessons and I was too wild for that shit. I’m self-taught and learned everything I know the hard way.”
“School of Hard Knocks.”
“You know it! I’m a proud summa cum laude graduate of that school, which I’m pretty sure is pronounced soon to come a lot . It even says so on my resume,” Bronx joked again. Then his face turned serious. “Come lie with me in this bed for a bit?”
“I’m not sure we’ll both fit.”
“Please? I want to make out with you like we did on the bus that last day,” Bronx grinned.
“You remember that?” Tony asked.
“It’s been slowly coming back to me for a while now,” Bronx answered. “It was hot as fuck. Who knew a handjob could be that . . . arousing?”
Tony chuckled as he rolled out of his bed and stepped closer to Bronx. “It was absolute fire and I’m still amazed by how real and raw it is between us.”
“Even more reason for you to lie with me,” Bronx coaxed.
“Okay, I’ll see if I can fit,” Tony said and swung one of his long legs up onto the mattress.
Bronx slid over to make as much room as he could while Tony lifted his other leg and adjusted himself in place.
It was tight but manageable. A moment later they were sharing the same pillow while staring into each other’s eyes and practically sharing the same breath.
“Hi,” Bronx sighed, his eyes glassy with fresh emotion and his face slightly flushed.
“Hey you,” Tony said and grinned like a loon. He gently cupped the side of Bronx’s face then his hand slipped down to squeeze the nape of his neck. “Damn, I’ve missed being this close to you.”
Bronx eliminated the few inches separating them and brushed his lips to Tony’s. “I really need to taste you,” he whispered.
Tony groaned and parted his lips when Bronx pressed his mouth against Tony’s again. “Fuckkk,” slipped past his lips just as Bronx eased his tongue inside Tony’s mouth, and like a flash of lightning hitting its target, their kiss turned into an inferno.
Suddenly their hands were everywhere, groping and tugging at clothing. Their kisses became urgent and sloppy but neither seemed to care.
“I want to do more than kiss but I probably shouldn’t,” Bronx sighed in between another fiery kiss.
“I think your doctors would disapprove of that,” Tony concurred.
“I knew you’d say that,” Bronx scoffed.
“Once you get home, there’ll be no stopping us.”
“Promises, promises,” Bronx chided.
Sounds of their heavy breathing and soft moans filled the room as they continued to kiss. Bronx wasn’t sure how much time had passed but it didn’t matter. Tony was here with him sharing this intimate exchange of passion that was almost too good to be true.
“I can’t wait until I can take you home,” Tony said. “Then you can sleep beside me in my bed—or in yours. Whichever you want. Or maybe you’re not ready for that? I don’t want to push or imply I’m looking for sex because I’m not—looking for sex, that is. I just want to be with you.”
Bronx chuckled and rubbed at Tony’s chest. “I’m way ahead of you with wondering what comes after I’m back home,” he said.
“I want to be with you—for sex, and everything else. It might be crazy to others but on a level that only makes sense to us, we work. I’m not going to deny that anymore.
What I feel for you is insane but it’s real and I want to see where it goes. ”
“Fuck, I want that, too,” Tony said and kissed Bronx again.
When they finally came up for air, Tony wrapped Bronx up in his arms and they fell asleep with their legs twined together on a mattress made to fit one normal sized person instead of two grown men. It was the first time either of them had felt this relaxed in a long time.