“You about to go home, Sway?” His patient asked while she flipped through one boring television show after another. She was such a sweet lady and she adored all of the nurses working the trial, but she always lit up when Sway came in to check on her and to see how her assigned nurse was treating her.

As the charge nurse, it was Sway’s job to ensure the nurses were staying up on their tasks and performing to the standards that Dr. Dominick and Dr. Chauncey expected. Sway skimmed over the chart, double-checking that the nurse had updated today’s test results.

“Oh no. Not for another few hours.” Sway smiled at her and perched on the edge of her bed. She was only forty-seven and was suffering from acute kidney failure from a car accident. Sway was glad she’d been chosen as a candidate because the woman was so full of life, and had so much more to live for. “I brought you something, Ms. Debbie.”

She gave Sway a thrilled grin and clapped her hands quietly. “Oh, what?! Is it a Bahama Mama or a RobRoy?”

Sway gave her a playful swat. “You don’t even drink. Now shush, you don’t wanna get us in trouble,” Sway said, glancing around conspiratorially. He climbed off the bed and went to the small duffle bag he’d propped by the door. He reached inside and pulled out the tiny ball of fur.

Ms. Debbie squealed then caught herself, throwing her hand over her mouth and gesturing wildly with the other for Sway to bring the little kitten to her.

Sway smiled just as wide and tiptoed as if he was under surveillance, causing her to play right along, ducking her head and hissing a low, “Shhhhhh.”

Sway put the nine-week old kitty on the bed and watched her bound right into Ms. Debbie’s arms. She behaved as if he’d just given her the winning mega millions lottery ticket. Sway watched with a light heart. This was why he did what he did. For that smile on his patient’s face.

“Oh my gosh, where did you get her?” Ms. Debbie rested the kitten on her chest, laughing as it playfully swatted at the curly tendrils hanging from her ponytail.

“The Pet Palace associates on Scott Blvd will bring over animals and entertain the kids up in Peds every now and then.” Sway petted the fluffy white fur, wishing he never had to take her away from Ms. Debbie. She’d confessed to Sway a couple of weeks ago how much she missed her five cats. She’d had to find them all homes before she even applied for the trial—knowing she’d have to travel for it—which had been three months ago. As soon as she’d teared up talking about them, Sway had made it his mission to get one of those kittens when they brought them back. He probably didn’t have long before they sent out an APB for the cute thing.

There was an abrupt knock on the door—a physician’s knock—and Sway and Ms. Debbie both scrambled to tuck the stolen kitty under the covers. “Yes,” Sway croaked, hiding his laugh as Ms. Debbie wiggled under the thick blanket.

They tried to sit still and look as if everything was normal, but Dr. Dominick stood staring at them as if they were, indeed, up to something. Ms. Debbie suddenly whooped with glee and the doctor turned to her, a deep crease in his brow.

“Everything okay, Ms. Rolland?” the doctor asked carefully.

“Just puuurrrrrrfect,” She sang loudly.

Sway’s face had to have been beet red, he was trying so hard not to laugh. How had the smart doctor not seen the lump moving friskily under the sheet and Ms. Debbie trying to subtly chase it? “She’s just really happy about a story I told her,” Sway tried to deflect Dr. Dominick’s attention.

Nothing major would happen if he busted them, he’d most likely just tell Sway to take the kitten back. Fact was, no animals were allowed in this section of the hospital unless they were service animals. Still, it was fun to make Dr. Dominick the butt of their joke.

“Very well then,” he said stiffly. “Sway, I poked my head in to tell you not to forget, my office, before you go.”

Sway nodded just as stiffly. Then he heard Dr. Chauncey’s voice just outside the door.

“Is Sway in there?”

Dr. Dominick left the door propped for him and turned and left.

“Sway, there you are. I think you better get—” Cayson paused mid-sentence, inching farther into the room. He pointed at the moving mound skittering around Ms. Debbie’s stomach. “Um…what’s that?”

“Nothing!” Ms. Debbie blurted loud enough to be heard in the east wing. “It’s my breast!”

Sway lost it, splaying across the foot of Ms. Debbie’s bed in hysterics. Cayson wasn’t doing much better, especially when the fuzzy head and pointed ears popped out.

“Sway, if you and Deb are caught with that thing in here, my name is Leigh, and I can’t see.” Cayson smiled at them and gestured for Sway to come out into the hall.

When Sway finally reined in his laughter, he closed Ms. Debbie’s door and stood waiting. Cayson rubbed his chin, looking around nervously. “Of course, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but there’s a patient in the ER who’s trying to sneak in and out, undetected, by a certain nurse he’s dating who works here.”

Sway clutched his chest before he could stop it; but Cayson was quick to calm him.

“It’s only a nick on his temple and a mildly sprained ankle.” Cayson handed over the chart. “If it was my Roman down there… I’d hope you tell me.” Cayson squeezed his shoulder on the way by. “I’ve signed off on his discharge, he’s just waiting on a nurse to give him his instructions.”

“Thanks Cayson,” Sway said and hurried towards the emergency department. He had a bone to pick with his sneaky boyfriend.

When he walked into the ER, several of his friends greeted him with hugs and warm smiles. He hadn’t transferred that long ago, but he still missed them. With Brian’s chart firmly in his hand, he pulled open the curtain to exam room seven and saw him lying on the bed, one leg hanging over the side, the other—with the splinted ankle—was propped up on a couple of pillows. His big arm was draped over his eyes as if he was shielding them from the florescent lighting.

“You’re waiting on a nurse, sir?” Sway whispered, shutting off the set of lights over Brian’s head.

Brian’s smile spread and he lowered his arm slowly. With his eyes still closed Brian reached out for him. All thoughts of reading Brian the riot act fled and the next thing he knew he was wrapped in his arms. Brian buried his face in Sway’s neck and breathed deeply, moaning happily with the exhale.

“I missed you too, baby.” Sway leaned back, lightly fingering the small bandage. “God, what happened?”

“I won the fight with the man,” Brian signed. “But, I lost to the window.”

“That’s not funny.” Sway tried to scowl. It was minimal damage this time, but he wanted Brian taking his safety seriously.

“It’s not as bad as it looks. Trust me.” Brian kept staring at him, drinking him in. “You look sexy in scrubs.”

Sway leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Brian’s dry lips. He smelled like sweat and danger. “How’d you get here?”

“Brother. They left about ten minutes ago, when Cayson all but admitted he was about to go tattle on me. Dana didn’t want to be bitched at, so he left too.”

“Coward,” Sway mumbled. “I’m going to go home with you, so don’t even try to sneak out. I don’t think Cayson will mind.” Shit. He just remembered he was supposed to be stopping by Dr. Dominick’s office. And he had a hijacked kitty to return. “I shouldn’t be long. Don’t move.”

“No problem. Hit the lights on your way out.”

Sway laughed. “I’ll be right back, hunter.” Sway kissed Brian’s forehead. He couldn’t help it.

Sway jerked his head up when Brian rapped his knuckles on the TV tray.

“Yeah.”

Brian frowned slightly. “Please sit down. I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“I was the one who discharged you. I believe my instructions were to stay off the ankle and ice it every couple hours.” Sway talked as he went back into the kitchen to get Brian’s dinner. They’d picked up barbecue on the way, now he was stacking ribs, brisket and mac-n-cheese on Brian’s plate and a small appetizer plate for himself. He wasn’t in the mood to eat, even though he hadn’t had much today. It was the meeting he’d had with Dr. Dominick that had his mind so preoccupied. As soon as he sat next to Brian and started pushing around the small amount of food on his plate, his boyfriend picked right up on his temperament.

Brian’s thick palm rested on his neck, his fingers kneading at the tension resting at the base of his skull. “Baby, what’s the matter?”

Sway tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he knew he’d failed. “Nothing,” Sway murmured and put a piece of tasteless meat in his mouth. It was probably delicious—Brian’s plate was almost empty—he just couldn’t taste it. What the hell was he going to do? Sway felt Brian’s sharp eyes on the side of his face but he couldn’t turn to look at him. Sway tried to eat some more but bile rose in his throat as he thought of the meeting he’d just had.

“Sway?”

Sway stood at the entrance of Dr. Dominick’s office. He didn’t want Brian waiting long. “You wanted to see me before I left.”

Dr. Dominick removed his reading glasses and placed them on his large desk. “I thought I said the end of the day.”

Sway shrugged a little. “This is the end of my day, I guess.”

“Oh?” Dr. Dominick’s eyebrows rose.

“Yeah. Dr. Chauncey has excused me the rest of the day so I—”

“I haven’t excused you.”

Sway stared for a moment, wondering if he was serious. When the doctor’s face remained stoic, Sway gritted his teeth. “I apologize. May I be excused for the rest of the day?”

Dr. Dominick pushed a few papers into a neat stack and closed a thick medical journal he’d been reading. He made Sway wait an unnecessarily long time before finally asking, “For?”

Sway frowned. He wanted to say, ‘none of your damn business’ but a person couldn’t say that to their boss. “I have an important matter that needs my attention.”

“Like my very important clinical trial?”

Sway continued to stare, until Dr. Dominick gave him a slight smirk and waved off his last comment. “No problem. You can go. But, first—”

Sway turned back around.

“Here,” Dr. Dominick said casually and held an envelope out towards him.

Sway mechanically came forward and took it. “Is this something you want me to give to one of the nurses?”

The doctor laughed deeply. “No. I want you to be sure your tux is dusted off. Can’t have you making me look bad.”

Sway sputtered, “Excuse me?” while he opened the envelope. Inside was a ticket for the nurse’s gala. “Um. Yeah. We spoke about this. I’m not sure I’m going.”

“It’s mandatory,” Dr. Dominick said in a no nonsense tone.

Sway balked. It’s never been mandatory before. “How?”

“Because I said so.” Dr. Dominick licked his lips. “If you need assistance with a new tuxedo, let me know. Close the door behind you when you leave. Thank you.” And just like that, the conversation was over, and Sway was flabbergasted. He was confused if his boss was line-stepping or not. Had he just been ordered to be Dr. Dominick’s date? It sure sounded like it. Then he’d made it sound like, because of Sway’s position, he had to do it.

He wanted less and less to do with Dr. Dominick. He’d thought the guy was on the level. Not superior and egotistical like some of the other department heads. Sway hadn’t been so wrong in all his life. A person really showed their true colors when you hung around them long enough.

Brian squeezed harder, drawing Sway out of his musing. Brian had pushed his tray to the side and turned so Sway could lean into him.

“Wait. Are your ribs sore?” Sway asked, hesitating.

Brian grunted his disapproval and pulled Sway back to him. He wrapped both arms around him so his hands rested on his stomach. Brian lifted his T-shirt and rubbed the fine hairs on his belly. Sway sighed and leaned in more, enjoying the feel of Brian’s arms around him. He needed this.

With his hands still in front of Sway, he signed, “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know how?” Sway groaned, rubbing his tired eyes. It was still daylight, but he was exhausted. He was realizing he slept better when he was pinned under Brian.

“Just say it? Is it your mom?”

Sway shook his head.

“Your boss?”

Sway tensed involuntarily, and Brian caught it.

“James Dominick?” Brian finger-spelled the doctor’s name.

Sway turned quickly, and Brian held in his wince when Sway clipped his ribs. “How do you—?”

“It’s what I do.”

“Jesus, Brian.”

“What’s he doing? Being a dickhead boss?”

“Worse,” Sway grumbled. “He’s being creepy.”

A glint of menace flitted across Brian’s dark eyes. He narrowed them and signed with hard, jerky movements, “What. Did. He. Do?” Brian glared. “Tell me!”

There was no mistaking from Brian’s gestures that he didn’t take kindly to someone encroaching on his territory. His growl was threatening and louder then Sway had heard before.

“Nothing.” Sway got up and paced, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know. It’s these looks he gives me. He used to be in the locker room and he’d be staring…” Sway paused. He didn’t want to make something into nothing. It felt like harassment—because Sway was uncomfortable—but Dr. Dominick hadn’t technically done anything. “He hasn’t touched me, honey. Calm down, please. I was ready to ignore the strange looks.” Sway was conveniently avoiding using the words flirty, wanting, needy looks. The looks he gave Brian when he saw him, as if he couldn’t wait to get his hands on him. He didn’t want to make Brian more upset then he was, but he told the truth. “He gave me a ticket to the nurse’s ball, and said I had to go with him.”

Brian sat up, his ankle no longer propped on the ottoman. Instead, he just watched Sway’s every movement. It was uncanny sometimes the way Brian read body language and mannerisms. Sway tried not to fidget or look as nervous as he felt. He didn’t want to go anywhere with his boss, especially showing up at that kind of function… with him. But, how did he say hell no? God. What if he removes me from the trial?

“Bullshit! You aren’t going anywhere with him! Have you told Cayson?”

Sway’s eyes were wide. “No!” Sway shot his own hard glare at his boyfriend. “And, you better not either. This trial is major, baby. Groundbreaking. These doctors can save lives. The patients… they deserve this.” Sway thought about Ms. Debbie and how much she’d sacrificed to participate in the trial. This one last chance to save her life. Was Sway really going to be the one to have the plug pulled over a few inappropriate remarks from his boss? Shit. Just man up, Sway.

“Trials are heavily monitored by multiple boards. We can’t have sexual harassment scandals going on.” Sway hurried to change his wording. “Trouble. Discord. It could affect the trial. It doesn’t take much for the FDA or the review board to get wind of misconduct and shut everything down. Hospitals are notorious gossip mills. I just have to steer clear of Dr. Dominick which has been harder and harder.”

“I can make it easier.” Brian glowered like the dangerous killer he was. “I can make him disappear.”

Sway was getting frustrated, and if he was honest, a bit turned on by his boyfriend’s fearless bravado. He’d never had anyone willing to make someone disappear for him. Brian must’ve seen that he didn’t want to talk about the situation any more. At least not right then. He only needed his guy. Sway stopped speaking and came back to drop his weary body to rest against Brian. Nothing else was said and Brian didn’t push for more. Sway could handle this.

He must’ve dozed off because next thing he knew, Brian was nudging him with his forehead. Sway lifted from his spot on Brian’s chest. He had no clue how those hard muscles were so comfortable to lie on, but Sway found himself trying to nestle in closer and ignore Brian’s persistence. And, he smelled so good. When did he get up and shower? Sway felt a distinctive rumble under his cheek, Brian was laughing at him.

Sway relented and let Brian move them to the bedroom. Was it dark outside? He wasn’t sure. He hardly cracked his eyes open. The second his face hit a soft pillow that smelled like spice and sandalwood, like Brian, Sway was asleep again.

When he woke the next time, it was to soft jazz playing, a warm fire blazing only a few feet away, and Brian’s mouth on his nipple. Sway moaned sexily. His voice was rough, and sleep-laden when he spoke, “Mmmm, babe. You don’t play fair.”

A sweet puff of air on his moist bud made goose-flesh pop up along his arms and neck. He loved Brian giving him this kind of attention, but it was his turn. He’d yet to explore Brian’s body the way he wanted.

Sway arched his neck when Brian reached up and clasped his hand over his throat. He swallowed. The restriction, the control Brian had on him made his cock pulse. Enjoying the ride a little while longer, Sway pushed until Brian was flat on his back. With his arms over his head and tucked under the pillow, Sway leaned down and moaned against Brian’s open mouth. “Leave them right there. It’s my turn.”