Theo
THEO
The temptation to go straight home flared, and died almost immediately once stepped out of the clinic. After having all but locked himself in his apartment for days, he wasn’t eager to go back. The only reason he’d gone back in the first place had been to get laid.
“Brad,” repeated the man’s name, lip curling.
shook his head as he let his feet take him wherever. Honestly, the man had just been a hot piece of ass who was more than happy to accompany back to his apartment. was more than willing to let their little accident pass and would have probably still been willing to have a bit of fun, though a little more carefully. But having been stuck to the man for almost two hours, found his interest flagging faster than a deflating pool float.
Seriously, knew the man’s dick was caught, but it hadn’t been like had been any less careful. And sure, the ambulance ride to the hospital had been awkward and probably a little painful, what with all the bumps. But seriously, Brad couldn’t have been anymore whiny or fussy if he’d tried. was many things, but he wasn’t so hard up for a fuck that he was going to roll over for a big baby.
His attention was brought back to the present when the hallway he’d been wandering down opened into a large atrium. A massive glass wall faced the ocean, where the sun began to peek over the horizon. Opposite the windows was a row of cubbies set into the wall. spotted a coffee place and another for burgers. There seemed to be a sub or Italian place, though he couldn’t make out which.
The seating was scattered about, with rows of dividers splitting the tables and benches up in a haphazard fashion. It could have been sterile and chaotic, but the plants in round pedestals added an air of comfort and warmth.
looked up, squinting at objects hanging overhead. Still craning his neck, he stepped forward, not caring that he would probably look ridiculous. He couldn’t tell what the objects were, but he recognized sculptures when he saw them. The one over his head was bent and twisted like a knot, while another zigged and zagged around itself. He didn’t know the artist, and it was interesting to think about how they’d managed the installation.
“Eh,” he shrugged and let them be.
Instead of focusing on a style and medium he wasn’t interested in, he chose to home in on the coffee place. The smell was intoxicating as he drew close, eyes sweeping the menu. Once he’d ordered, he scanned the quiet atrium and finally settled on a seat near the window.
Choosing a table, he flopped back in the chair. With a satisfied groan, he propped his feet up on the table and faced the window. The view was as impressive up close as it had been from the doorway. had no idea what the real estate costs for a hospital this size on the water were, but he imagined someone had shelled out a pretty penny.
As the sky began to burn, a familiar voice piped up from behind him. “Mr. Atkins?”
turned his attention away from the sunrise, squinting at the man behind him. His lips curled as he recognized the doctor from the clinic. Dr. Andrews, his name tag read. The dark-haired man stood, coffee in hand, his head tilted in question, reminding endearingly of a curious dog.
“Well, hello, Doc,” all but purred.
The older man blinked, curiosity slipping behind a professional smile, and preferred the more open expression than the one from before. The Doc was a good-looking man, even with a formal smile. He guessed he was about half a foot taller than . If he saw him on the streets, he would have guessed Dr. Andrews was a construction worker. He had strong features, a square jaw, and large but gentle hands, as himself had experienced. The ghost of dark stubble on the doctor’s face matched the pitch black of his hair. Well, the parts that weren’t sprinkled with streaks of white, that was.
couldn’t help but smirk. The doc looked even better when ’s tongue wasn’t stuck to someone else’s dick.
“I would have thought you’d have gone home by now,” Dr. Andrews said, looking down at the table.
shrugged. “I can go home anytime. But that doesn’t mean I always wanna.”
“So, you decided to camp out in the hospital cafeteria instead.”
motioned to the window. “Look at that view. I get to enjoy this, a decent cup of coffee, and all without worrying about a seagull taking a shit on my shoulder.”
That earned a soft chuckle from the doctor. looked up, watching as the man’s dark blue eyes flicked between the window and the seat across the table. Cocking his head, he took note of the quirk of the doctor’s dark brow and the eyes his mother would have called ‘Irish eyes,’ though had no idea why. Far as he knew, red hair and green eyes were supposed to be an Irish thing.
motioned to the other seat. “Take a load off, Doc, doesn’t do you any good standing there.”
The man did as he was told, wincing as he sat down. “Thank you. I only realized a little while ago that I’ve been on my feet longer than usual. It helps to take a break every now and then.”
“All work and no play make the Doc a dull boy,” chided him.
That earned a wry smile. “Call me Grant.”
“Only if you stick to calling me . dore is for my mother, and Mr. Atkins is my father,” said.
Grant cocked his head. “And there again, I know your name sounds familiar.”
scoffed, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m too familiar with it.”
If anything, he was just glad the man hadn’t immediately recognized his surname. Few things found their way under ’s skin, but one of them was having someone immediately associate him with his family. The Atkins had a long and storied history in Port Dale. Which they damn well should since they helped found the city generations ago.
Now, his family was the closest Port Dale had to royalty, or at least they liked to think of themselves as such. What had once been a family of hardworking builders and miners had morphed into little more than socialites with delusions of grandeur. Sure, they had money and pedigree, but that was about it. More money than sense, thought.
“I’m sensing a theme,” Grant said, watching him.
chuckled. “Are you? Well, I guess you’re an observant one. I’ll have to watch out for that.”
Again, Grant’s brow raised. “Evasive, Mr. Atkins?”
scowled at him. “We just had this conversation.”
“Did we? Sorry, but at my age, you have to give something up mentally. Apparently, I kept my keen eye but not my memory.”
blinked, letting out a soft laugh. “Alright, well done.”
Apparently not quite as innocent as he looked, noted. Then again, that wasn’t something he was going to complain about. He did love a man willing to wield their wit now and again.
Grant’s smile held as he looked out the windows. “This is my favorite time to be down here. It’s a pity I don’t always get the opportunity.”
looked up. “I bet between that and the...art up there, this place cost almost as much as a whole wing of the hospital.”
“I wouldn’t know; I was never one for crunching numbers.”
“Says the man who probably had to take a lot of math courses to get that snazzy white coat.”
“There’s a huge difference between knowing measurements and dosages and dealing with budgets.”
“Is there?”
Grant snorted. “Yes, the former gives me a sense of fulfillment and pleasure. The latter would tempt me to wade into the ocean and keep going until the bubbles stopped.”
“Well, you’ve got me there,” laughed. “Never was one for math. Too many numbers, too much logic.”
“As a man who has to rely on said logic to get through his job, I’m not sure I like the tone of disgust.”
winked at him. “Don’t worry, Doc, I won’t sneer too hard. Who else would have freed me from the idiot?”
“Idiot?” Grant questioned, then blinked in understanding. “Ah, yes, Mr. Matthers.”
“I’m not normally one for last names,” told him.
“Ah, not your partner then.”
“Oh God, please, don’t. I feel bad for whatever poor bastard has to put up with him.”
“He seemed like a perfectly nice young man.”
It was ’s turn to raise a brow. “Nice young man? Geez, I know you made a crack at your age, but you can’t be that old.”
“Forty-five in November,” Grant told him.
grunted. “If it weren’t for the salt and pepper, I would have pegged you for almost ten years younger.”
Grant gave him a warm smile, and felt heat pool in his gut. The doc had one of those faces that could look surly and mean when it didn’t carry an expression. More than likely, that was why he kept at least a professional smile when dealing with people. The genuine pleasure on Grant’s face, his smile managing to reach his eyes, made him look positively handsome.
“Well, thank you, . It’s not something I think about often, but that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to hear.”
“You’re telling me no one has ever looked you dead in the eye and called you ‘Daddy’ before?” asked doubtfully.
Grant’s sip of coffee became a splutter, spraying the table. looked unimpressed as Grant coughed around the sip of coffee he’d managed to inhale.
“Excuse me?” Grant spluttered.
Oh god, was the man blushing? Well, that was...actually as endearing as the puppylike cock of his head he’d given earlier.
snickered. “You heard me.”
Grant cleared his throat, saving face with another drink of coffee. “No. No one has ever called me...daddy before.”
’s grin grew even wider at Grant’s pained tone. “Would you like me to?”
This time, he was ready for the spray of coffee as Grant once more choked on his drink. wondered how much of the man’s coffee would end up on the floor and table rather than inside Grant.
“What?” Grant managed around a wheeze.
appraised the doctor openly, even leaning back in his seat to see if he could spot the curve of the man’s ass. He couldn’t, not with the coat in the way. Yet he would place a good sum of money on it being as nice as the rest of him. For his part, Grant managed to get even redder in the face as looked him over.
“Eh, I’ve never done it before. Then again, never had anyone in my bed who made me want to,” noted.
Grant’s eyes widened comically. “Uh, I’m not sure what to say to that.”
shrugged, drinking the last of his coffee. “Say yes, then we can find a nice quiet spot.”
“Are...you’re propositioning me?” Grant managed.
narrowed his eyes. “I’m not a whore.”
Grant’s eyes grew even wider. “No! No, I wasn’t trying to say that you were...no, not at all.”
smirked. “Good because I’m not. I’m a slut.”
“How...candid of you,” Grant said, staring.
“Eh, it helps to know what you are. Makes life a lot easier.”
“Oh?”
“Know what you are, and no one will ever have a weapon to use against you.”
Grant cleared his throat. “And why do you assume I would be interested in the first place?”
“Is this your way of asking if I somehow know you’re into dick?”
“Crass, but apt.”
snorted. “I didn’t. Don’t think I didn’t see how you looked at me before you left the room. But mostly, I don’t know any straight or unwilling guy on the planet who would have reacted the way you did to my offer.”
Still, it had been a bit of a gamble. It was mostly the way Grant’s eyes had swept over in the examination room than anything else. The tattoos were probably the main interest at first, but had felt the heat emanating from Grant when the man’s eyes had locked with his. The bashful and awkward reaction to the offer had only confirmed his theory. However, it was nice to know he was right.
Grant grimaced. “I’m not the only observant one at this table.”
“I watch people. It’s a hobby.”
“And developed into a skill somewhere along the line,” Grant muttered.
squinted. “This isn’t a yes or a no I’m hearing from you. This is you stalling for time.”
Grant’s head snapped to him. “Are you always this blunt, or only when you’re trying to get into someone’s pants?”
laughed. “I’m blunt, but I tend to get even blunter when I see something or someone I want.”
Grant chuckled. “And I just happen to be in your crosshairs.”
“In my pants is far more fun.”
Grant shook his head. “God save me, this is actually charming.”
“Another skill of mine,” said, winking.
Grant stood up. “Well, as...charmed as I am and appreciate the attention, I’m going to have to decline.”
“Oh, that’s a shame,” said, disappointment bubbling in his gut.
Grant smiled. “Call it bad timing. I’m still on the clock and have to get back.”
looked up, flicking his finger on the edge of his cup. “Dedicated.”
“And observant.”
“And very daddy.”
This time, Grant kept his reaction to a faint pink blush on his cheeks. “Perhaps another time, .”
watched him go, the corner of his lips twitching. As much as he’d insisted Grant call him , it felt almost…intimate to hear it come from his mouth. It only added another layer of disappointment to his morning.
“Getting sentimental in your old age, ?” he asked himself.
He turned his gaze back to the window. Well, at least he could still watch the sunrise.