Sway stood at the nurse’s station going over the schedule changes for next week. He’d been juggling it for the last two days, now he feared he may need to call a couple of the fill-in nurses. There was a forty-eight hour bug running rampant through the hospital and so far it’d attacked two of Sway’s best nurses. They all were great, but Rebecca was one he could rely on to cover for him when he needed it.

It was just after eleven and past time for him to make his rounds, but every way he turned he was pulled to resolve another issue. His mind whirred as his nurses fired off questions. He still had to find out why the new beds he’d ordered hadn’t been delivered that morning. The last of the candidates would be arriving next week. It’d be terrible if they had to sleep on the floor.

“Sway. I can take Rebeca’s patients in two and five, if Sheryl will cover the one on her side, in room seven. Wilma glanced down at her clipboard and yanked one of her many colored pens from her scrub top.

“I can help you there, Sway.” RaShawn agreed.

Sway thanked them and looked back at the schedule, squeezing his temples. He really did have an amazing staff and they were already a kick-ass team. They worked hard, and they gave one-hundred percent. And, he appreciated how they didn’t mind covering for each other. He really wished he’d gotten some sleep last night then maybe today wouldn’t have been so hard to deal with. At least he was almost done with morning work.

Sway printed off the new schedules, came around the large desk and started to hand them out. They all stared at him as they listened to his instructions. He’d been in the middle of a sentence when all eyes moved to something behind him as if a ghost was creeping up on him.

“Oh my gosh. He is… who the… damn,” Wilma stuttered.

The murmurs got louder but Sway stayed on task. If he didn’t have the nurses on the floor soon, Dr. Dominick would come searching for him and that was the last thing he wanted.

“Um, Sway, there’s a guy…”

Sway darted his eyes up, exasperated. He really wasn’t interested.

“I think he’s looking at you,” Wilma failed to whisper.

Sway turned and caught on to the side of the counter, his legs weakening at the sight of Brian King, no more than a few feet away and making his way towards him. Sway stared, not knowing what to think, not knowing if Brian was there to simply surprise him or if he was delivering news. His expression was unreadable, until Sway raked his eyes up and down Brian’s huge body as he moved with the self-assurance of royalty and the grace of a lion. Only then did Brian’s hard disguise drop and the care Sway knew he held for him radiated from his gleaming onyx eyes.

“Do you know who that is?” Wilma hurriedly asked.

“Is he about to eat you?” Adam—an LPN—asked cautiously.

“I think he just might,” Sway chuckled, staring up at Brian’s handsome face when he stood over him.

‘Hello,’ Brian mouthed and leaned down to kiss Sway, completely ignoring the fifteen-person audience.

“Hi,” Sway breathed, ending Brian’s kiss quickly. They were in the middle of the unit in front of the nurse’s station. He wormed out of Brian’s tight hold and turned to face his stunned staff. “Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Brian King. Brian, this is everyone.”

Brian dipped his head, then focused back on him. The man had tunnel vision when it came to Sway. “I need to talk to you, if you have a minute,” Brian signed, causing the hushed murmurs to rise behind them.

Sway understood. He was always mesmerized when Brian communicated. Those big hands, making delicate, sometimes complex movements.

“My office is just around the corner, right before the exit doors. Can you wait for me in there? I’ll only be a minute.” Sway had to finish giving his team their duties and get them on their rotations. When Brian disappeared around the corner, Sway turned around to see a bunch of shocked and greedy-for-the-scoop faces. His nurses loved to gossip with the best of them. Instead of indulging their curiosity, Sway continued as if Brian had never appeared. They didn’t know his heart was beating madly.

“Sway are you really not going to say anything about Chunky BigHunky, come on?” Wilma grinned excitedly. “He is super fine. Is he deaf?”

“No,” Sway gave his clipped answer. He wanted their thoughts off what was his. “Just quiet.”

“Mmm. I love a quiet man,” Adam said with pronounced sass, eyeing Sway.

Sway gave him a glower that said, ‘then go find your own.’ He passed out the last schedule and shoo’d them and their continual questions away. “Go on ya’ vultures. Go do some work.”

“I bet your about to go put in some serious work yourself, Mr. Sway,” Adam snarked and sashayed off.

Sway hauled ass to his small office. He didn’t see Brian when he walked in. What? Sway checked out in the vacant hall then came back in and closed his door. He jumped and grasped his chest when he saw Brian was standing behind it, leaning casually against the wall, blending into the shadows.

“Stop doing that,” Sway huffed and flicked on the light switch.

“It’s honestly not on purpose,” Brian smiled, coming closer and wrapping his arms around him.

Sway fell into the embrace. God, Brian had shown up right on time. He’d been thinking about last night and this morning, praying he hadn’t done anything to damage their growing, fragile relationship. He’d been beating himself up ever since he’d told Brian what he’d heard. What if it had been a trigger? Sway hadn’t even thought before he spoke, too caught up in the moment. Since then he’d second-guessed himself so much that now he wasn’t sure he heard Brian say his name either.

“Everything okay, Brian? What are you doing here?” Sway abruptly yanked his head away from Brian’s chest. “You’re not supposed to be walking on that ankle. Why aren’t you home resting?”

Brian sat down in one of Sway’s chairs and spread his legs. “You’re cute. I don’t need a day of rest. I need to talk to you.”

“Okay,” Sway said uneasily.

Brian patted his thick thighs. Sway locked his door, then slowly straddled Brian’s big lap so he could see what he had to say.

“I’ve been thinking about last night. About what you heard.”

“You believe me?” Sway was confused.

Brian appeared the same. “I don’t know. I didn’t hear it, but… maybe it’s possible. My speech therapist has been noticing differences in my breath and pitch. Subtle but there. Baby, maybe I did, but I can’t remember what I did to make it happen. All I know is I think of your name and it eases the pain inside of me. It might even happen again.”

“So, what’s wrong?” Sway beamed, chastely kissing Brian’s mouth.

Brian straightened and asked Sway seriously, “Is that what you’re waiting on? For me to speak. Is that the only way I’ll hold on to you?”

Brian

Of all the times Brian wished he couldn’t read body language, now was one of them. Sway stared at him with the most crushed expression he’d ever seen. He eased off Brian’s lap, still watching his hands as if Brian was going to take the question back. He wished he could but he had to hear it, he had to see it. Before he went through the fire he needed to know Sway would be there waiting for him on the other side. A relationship for them wouldn’t be easy, it’d take work and dedication and Brian was willing to do it but only with someone who wanted him for him.

“Wow,” Sway sighed, going to the one, single-pane window in his neat office and staring out of it… not really seeing. “I was afraid you would think that.”

“You seemed disappointed when I denied it.” Brian went and stood beside him. He couldn’t stand the hurt expression on Sway’s beautiful face.

“I was disappointed at myself. Not at you. I thought… what if I didn’t hear it… and I just gave him false hope. I didn’t think at all before I blurted that out. And… I’m so sorry,” Sway said, his eyes shiny. “I hated the sadness on your face and knowing I put it there. It’s been eating at me.”

Brian pulled Sway into his arms. This conversation was over.

Sway held him tightly around his neck, his fingers threading through the short hairs on the back of his head. “I don’t need you to talk, Brian. I can hear you just fine,” Sway whispered softly, kissing his throat.

Brian nodded against Sway’s temple. He was good and most of all thankful that Sway hadn’t put on a big show. He’d looked hurt, but he’d reassured him where they stood without a bunch of drama and excessive waterworks. His admission was true. Brian lifted Sway’s chin, staring in his eyes and getting lost in the deep pools of milk chocolate. He worked his throat, beneath Sway’s fingers and flexed the muscles in his larynx, focusing to push thorough his diaphragm like he’d been coached.

“Brian, don’t,” Sway urged, obviously picking up on what he was trying to do.

Brian widened his stance and held Sway to him, bending his knees until their foreheads were together. He ignored Sway’s pleas and concentrated. Sway. Sway. Sway. Brian chanted in his head before he began to move his throat. He parted his lips, gusting breaths of voiceless air against Sway’s face. No sound. Brian inhaled deeply and let his belly fill with air then released it just as slowly. He tried to conjure every private voice lesson he’d had. I can fuckin’ do this. Colton said he’d speak when he had too, well dammit, he had too. He was ready! Brian swallowed and pulled from the base of his lungs, trying again. Sway. Sway. Brian slammed his eyes shut and grunted, concentrating. ‘Sway.’

Nothing.

Come on! You’re stronger than this! Brian could feel the tension in his scrunched brow. Then he remembered diaphragmatic breathing. Frustration evident, Brian inhaled again but was stopped.

“Look at me,” Sway whispered sternly.

Brian cracked his eyes open, not wanting to accept defeat. One look at Sway’s face and Brian knew he hadn’t uttered one sound. Not even a hiss of the first syllable in his name. He felt warm hands on his cheeks.

“You can’t force it, Brian.” Sway peered up at him through long brown lashes, effectively moving Brian’s thoughts from speaking to something else. Sway held on tighter and lifted one thigh on Brian’s waist. Holding on to the back of his neck, Sway lifted the other leg and climbed Brian’s six-foot-three frame like a tree. He wound his body against Brian’s torso, speaking in the soft huskiness that turned Brian mad, “Just like last night. Let it come naturally.”

Brian’s arms instinctively hooked around Sway’s back, but he didn’t exactly need holding in place. Sway’s thighs were strong and constricting his waist, his growing erection stabbing Brian in his abs. The temperature in the cramped office went from comfortable to sun-surface hot in seconds. So fast that the rush of blood to his groin made him dizzy. Brian attacked Sway’s mouth, walking them forward until he slammed them against the wall. Sway gasped, and Brian prayed no one barged in. Maybe they’d assume Sway had knocked over his file cabinet. That… or he had a battering ram in there.

Brian moaned and easily dug both hands inside Sway’s thin scrubs. His ass was pliable and hot in his rough palms. He wanted inside again, already, as if he hadn’t just been there less than twelve hours ago.

“Damn, Brian.” Sway ground against him harder when Brian’s finger grazed his hole. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”

Brian smiled against Sway’s jaw, biting and scrubbing his beard along his chin. Midday office rendezvous were always attractive and sexy when seen on television, but things didn’t always go so smoothly in the real world. Brian had to rein it in. Somehow.

“I gotta stop. Fuck. Brian, okay, okay,” Sway gasped as Brian slowly withdrew his hands and lowered him to the floor. “I got so much to do, and the hours go by fast. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dr. Chauncey knocks on the door in the next five minutes.”

Brian inched away and let Sway straighten his baby blue scrubs. His hard cock was so noticeable behind the thin material, it was funny. Brian licked his lips. I can drop to my knees and—”

“Forget about it,” Sway said, shaking his head, while tightening his drawstring. “I’ll never be able to get any work done in here again if you did that. All I’d see is you in that one spot doing—”

Brian sneered. Sway really did hear him just fine.

“So, we’re fine, yes?” Sway looked up at him hopefully.

“Yes.” Brian propped his hip on the corner of Sway’s desk, while he fixed his hair in the small square mirror hanging beside the door. “Also, I wanted to let you know work will be crazy—”

“Hold on. I’m not that good. I can’t watch you sign in a mirror. Hold on.” Sway finished taming his wavy hair and turned to face him.

“I was saying, work is going to be hectic for a bit.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, Duke has us on a lock down window. Basically, three to midnight.” There was no need to go into too many details about the recovery with Sway. “Being that you don’t get off until afternoon, we may not have much time together this week. I’m not sure exactly when the lock will release.”

“Those are shitty hours to force someone to keep open… for an undetermined amount of time. Why don’t ya’ll just go get him now?”

Brian paused. Is he serious? Sometimes, Sway made it too easy to tease him.

“You’re a genius, Sway.” Brian feigned like his boyfriend had the best idea ever. “Why didn’t I think of that? Of course. Just go get him.”

“Are you making fun of me?” Sway glared.

“Hell yeah, I am. Baby, if I knew exactly where he was, the exact room… we’d go get him. But, we can’t just kick in random hotel doors.”

“Why? Because it’s illegal?”

“No,” Brian smirked. “Because they’re expensive as shit. We have to pay for all damages. So, we wait for good intel. It’s part of the job, Sway. They’re called jumpers for a reason. This is just how it is sometimes.”

“I know. I’m just greedy. I don’t want to wait… but I will.”

“It shouldn’t be too long. A week, tops. Then…” Brian pulled Sway to him, making him grin despite the news he’d just heard. “Then, I’m on vacation.”

Sway’s eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Yeah. I know you won’t be. And I know the trial is very demanding, but I’ll be home, resting, relaxed.” Brian gave him a chaste kiss. “Waiting on you to come to me.”

“Mmm.” Sway lifted his head higher, seeking more. Baiting him with that sultry voice, “Waiting for me to come do what?”

Brian lifted one brow. “What else? Come make me dinner.”

Sway slapped Brian’s shoulder hard. “You better get some more of those Fresh Favorite ready meals you and Dana love so much.”

Brian laughed. “You know about those?”

“Of course, I do. Dana may be able to fool Ford, but I know the man can’t cook that damn good.” Sway’s laugh was so much lighter now. “He made beef bourguignon last night. Come on! Does Ford think he went to culinary school while attending weapons training?”

Brian loved how naïve civilians were to their skills. Brian stood and shook his head sadly. “You can’t tell him, but your brother is crazy if he thinks he’s fooling Ford.”

“He told me Ford is always praising his cooking.”

“I would too!” Brian signed dramatically, making Sway crack up. “Why rock the boat? He’s eating well. Let it ride. If it makes Dana feel good to pretend he made it all himself from scratch… then whatever. If he wants to suddenly be called ‘cookie’, then who cares? Feigning ignorance with your lover is a small price to pay for good eating.”

“Now we know your schemes,” Sway grinned and leaned in for one final peck.

Brian left, letting Sway walk him out of the hospital to wait with him for his Uber. When the Expedition pulled up for him, he told Sway he’d call him and if he could squeeze any time in, he’d let him know.

He watched Sway turn and go back inside to his job and Brian had to go do his. Next week couldn’t end fast enough.