Grant
GRANT
Unable to help himself, checked his phone for the hundredth time that day. It had been four weeks since their first date, and was starting to get a feel for the pattern Theo fell into so easily. The younger man was moody and prone to what could only call flightiness. When Theo was caught up in a new idea, the man could be lost for hours and sometimes days.
During those times, had to resign himself to radio silence from Theo. tried to let Theo have his time, knowing the focus and silence were what Theo needed to get anything done. That didn’t change the fact that he hated how it felt when Theo would go a couple of days, sometimes even three, without saying a word to .
He shoved his phone away, trying not to let the unease settle into his gut. It was hard sometimes, dealing with the way Theo could drift off, seemingly without a problem. told himself repeatedly he shouldn’t take it personally. That was just how Theo was.
Hell, one of ’s favorite things about the man was how free Theo seemed, how unfettered. It wasn’t necessarily something he envied, not really, but he could certainly appreciate it. Hell, if it wasn’t for that freedom, Theo might not be the person he was. He wouldn’t be the playful smartass who liked to tease , the man who could bring emotion and make it live on canvas, or the man who set ’s pulse racing with one look of those glinting eyes.
just wished the man would call a little more often.
“Dr. Andrews,” Lydia’s voice jerked him out of his wallowing.
He spun around to face her as she approached, and from the frown on her face, he wondered if he should have just been left to his moping. The thought had no more than flashed through his head before he winced and shoved it away. He was a forty-four-year-old man. He didn’t need to start acting like a lovesick teenager dealing with his first boyfriend.
“Lydia,” he managed, ignoring himself. “What can I do for you?”
She stopped in front of him. “Explain yourself.”
blinked, trying to think what he’d done recently that would require a defense. Well, there was the fact that he hadn’t exactly told her he’d been seeing anyone. He thought it was only fair since she hadn’t asked, as odd and out of character as that had been considering she’d seen him with Theo weeks ago at the gallery.
grimaced. “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you about him.”
She straightened. “Him? Wait, hold on.”
“Oh hell,” he muttered.
Her eyes widened. “Have you...have you been seeing someone?”
glanced around, ensuring no one was in hearing range before continuing. “Yes, I have.”
“For how long?”
“The past month or so...about five weeks, actually.” And three days.
He’d been counting.
Her eyes grew wider. “You dog! You’ve been seeing someone, and you didn’t tell me?”
“Well, yes, there is the fact that you’d react...well, like this.”
“What? Happy for you?”
When she put it like that, felt like a scumbag. It didn’t help when a hurt expression flashed over her face, driving the shard of guilt even deeper.
She eyed him. “Five weeks, huh?”
sighed. “If you want to yell at me for not telling you, can it wait until later? You can slather on the guilt as thick as you like.”
She swatted his arm. “Oh, don’t think you won’t be hearing about this. Trust me on that one. But I want to hear about this guy who apparently just popped up out of nowhere without me knowing it.”
“He didn’t...pop up,” protested.
Lydia stewed on that for a moment, lips parting in understanding. “Holy shit!”
“Language,” he muttered, looking around the empty hall.
She grabbed his elbow, shaking it energetically. “The artist?”
“Theo.”
“Oh god, you got yourself a little rich boy turned bad boy artist? Look at you go.”
He blinked, unable to hide the confusion.
She raised a brow. “Seriously? He might go by Omega on his work and Theo to you, but his full name is Theodore Atkins.”
Which he’d known, considering they’d met while Theo had been stuck to another guy. The thought was enough to send blood rushing to his cheeks again, and then his stomach decided to twist. Oh, he did not like the memory of Theo’s tongue on the other man, Brent, Brad, or whatever his name had been.
grunted. Jealousy, that was new.
“I know his name,” told her instead.
“Yeah, and you should know the last name. His family is like, as blue blood as it gets. Like, one of the three founding families of Port Dale, right up there with the Carters and the Thompsons. That boy comes from money.”
wrinkled his nose. “He’s a full-grown man, not a boy.”
“Who you snagged. Wait, does that make him your sugar daddy? I would have thought the other way around, but?—”
He was quickly growing tired of the conversation, and he turned to walk away. Neither he nor Theo had really talked about the man’s family, though thought maybe he should have pushed a little more. He’d known the surname had sounded familiar when he first read it but had brushed it aside. Based on what Theo had told him, he knew the man came from money, but hadn’t thought it had been that much.
And neither of them had ever relied on the other for money. That wasn’t who they were.
“Ooh, okay, hit a nerve,” Lydia said, jogging after him.
“He’s not a boy. And neither of us is using the other for money,” told her, voice even.
“Hey,” she stopped in front of him, placing a hand on his chest. “I was joking, . I didn’t mean to upset you. I was only trying to tease you. I know you wouldn’t use someone like that, and so what if he’s...well, age doesn’t matter, right?”
frowned. “Apparently, it does if you're bringing it up.”
“You’re the one who got huffy when I made a joke about his age.”
“Because he’s not a child.”
“Fine. Then I’m sorry I insulted your boyfriend and you in the same breath.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
The thought gave him pause, though. In truth, he was scared to approach the subject with Theo. They were both doing so well as they were, wasn’t sure if he wanted to risk it blowing up in his face by changing it. He hadn’t had a relationship in years . How the hell was he supposed to know what to do after so long? A man like Theo deserved someone who could devote time to him, and couldn’t offer that, not with his life.
So it was, let things go until they reached their natural conclusion or upend one or both of their lives. wasn’t sure either of them could manage that.
“Then what is he after five weeks?” Lydia asked.
“Someone who likes being around me, and I like being around him,” he told her, not sure if the truth hurt or freed him.
“Sounds like you might need to figure out if that’s what you want,” she said doubtfully.
He fought to find something to say when movement up ahead caught his eye. looked up, throat tightening, when he spotted a familiar figure standing beside the door to his office. He was leaning on the wall, fingers absently fiddling with the ring in his lip. When he caught sight of staring at him, he gave his customary smirk, waggling his fingers.
Lydia turned, coughing. “And now he’s visiting you at work?”
“That’s new,” muttered, trying to hide his pleasure at the thought.
“Well, to be fair, I originally came over to yell at you for not going to lunch. You were due for it two hours ago. I guess now you have no choice but to take your hour,” she said, turning to him with a smirk.
“Ah, so it seems,” said, unable to tear his eyes from Theo’s.
Lydia whistled. “Damn, you got it bad, .”
cleared his throat, glaring down at the woman who looked unfazed by his attempt at intimidation. He wasn’t sure what bothered him more, her using his first name at the hospital or her calling him out for whatever she’d just witnessed on his face.
Okay, it was definitely the latter that bothered him more.
“Which,” she drew out. “Is my cue to make myself scarce. And if you take longer than an hour, I promise I won’t notice.”
brushed past her, shaking his head. The warmth in his cheeks grew when he found Theo chuckling as he approached him.
“God, how much did you hear?” asked.
Theo raised a brow. “Enough to know she wants you to take an extra-long lunch. Why, what shouldn’t I have heard?”
almost found himself telling Theo exactly what he and Lydia had been talking about. It was too easy to forget himself and spill whatever came to mind when Theo looked at him. It was only as he opened the office that he managed to get hold of himself and realize he probably shouldn’t be too quick to offer up his rather possessive thoughts.
“Very boring medical things,” offered lamely.
Theo strolled in behind him. “I bet.”
The amusement in Theo’s voice was heavy, and knew he wasn’t buying it. Thankfully, Theo was distracted by the sight of the office as he closed the door behind them. felt his nerves tighten as Theo looked around, making him more nervous than when the man had entered his home for the first time.
’s desk sat against the far wall, in front of two large windows that looked down on the city. The wall on one side was lined with books, some medical and some for pleasure. The other wall was adorned with pictures, with his parents when they were far younger, ’s parents on vacation out in the Keys where had sent them. There was with the nursing staff, pictures from the picnic they’d thrown the year before. His favorites were the pictures with patients who’d returned after being released to thank him.
“Got you a nice little collection here, Doc,” Theo said softly, running his fingers over a frame.
sat on the edge of the desk, watching him. “Been working here a long time. You build up a lot of memories, make some friends too, along the way.”
Theo nodded, turning away from the wall of shelves. “Oh, so that’s where that ended up.”
looked over his shoulder, knowing what Theo meant. The only thing on the wall beside the door was the painting had bought. had it framed, and he’d even had ‘The Precipice’ etched into the frame to name it properly. It hung directly across from where sat at his desk. It was certainly better than the generic painting that had hung there for years.
“Yes. I figured since I spend more time here than I do at home, I’d appreciate it more here. It’s drawn a fair bit of attention, and more than a few knew who the artist is,” told him.
Theo chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve been getting some fans lately. It’s a little weird.”
“Fame and fortune aren’t all they’re chalked up to be?”
“Well, the fame anyway. Don’t really have what you’d call a fortune.”
hesitated before finally asking. “Are you that cut off from your family?”
The glint in Theo’s eyes faded away. “Yeah. I am.”
didn’t need the curt reply to know he’d gone too far. had only heard anything about Theo’s family on their first date and had never brought them up again. There was a story there, and somehow thought he might have a good idea what that was, based on the one tale he’d heard.
He wanted to ask what Theo did with all the money. It was strange to that the man didn’t consider himself successful financially after how well he’d done with the last showing. He’d already crossed one boundary today, though, and he didn’t want Theo to close up or drive him away.
Theo was here to see him, and that’s what he wanted to focus on.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t show up at lunchtime,” offered as a way to change the subject.
Theo turned to face him, his smirk back in place. “Because you’re two hours late?”
“Yes, that would be why,” chuckled.
Theo stepped closer, putting himself between ’s legs. “Well, then call me the king of great accidental timing.”
barely glanced at the closed door before reaching out, curling his hands around Theo’s thighs. Theo was warm. He was always warm. His leg muscles flexed at ’s touch, bringing a smile to his face.
“Been a few days since I last heard from you,” murmured, leaning closer.
“Did you miss me?” Theo asked, the glint returning to his eyes.
looked up. “Yeah, I think I did.”
Theo’s gaze flickered, though too quickly for to tell with what exactly. It didn’t stop Theo from leaning forward and kissing him, parting their lips, and tasting ’s tongue.
let out a soft sound. “Theo.”
He could feel Theo’s smile against his lips. “God, I love when you sound like that.”
Warm hands reached down, tugging at his belt. almost jumped off the desk with a jolt of surprise. Theo’s fingers pressed against the growing bulge in his pants, stopping him in his tracks with a low groan.
“What are you doing?” asked hoarsely.
Theo slid to his knees as he undid ’s pants. ’s breath caught in his throat as Theo looked up, lust shining in his eyes, licking his lips unconsciously. swallowed hard, realizing he would do whatever Theo wanted if the man kept looking at him like that.
“Gonna show you how much I missed you,” Theo said, pulling at the waistband of his underwear.
shuddered, knowing it was a really bad idea to do this in his office. People weren’t exactly known for adhering to the knock before entering rule on his floor. All it would take would be for one person to walk right in, and would be caught with his pants down.
The warmth of Theo’s mouth closed around him, and let out a rumbling groan. God, there was no way in hell he would ever deny Theo, not when he looked so damn good and not when he felt so goddamn perfect.
This man was going to drive him crazy.