What have I done? What have I done? Sway chanted in his head while he checked over another student’s notes on his patient’s chart. The ER was still buzzing with activity, triage was full, so was the waiting room, and the eighteen-month-old baby with the bad ear infection was still wailing loud enough to be heard on the fifth floor. Sway glanced up at the bright red numbers on the digital wall clock, gulping when he realized he only had half an hour before he was supposed to meet Brian outside, and he still had to change his clothes. There was no way he was going to let him see him dressed in pajamas. He couldn’t believe he’d said yes so fast, what had he been thinking? He’d been at work since seven this morning. It was going on five in the evening and he’d already had two traumas, a DOA and countless flu patients, yet he still had another shift to go. He was thinking he needed this.
“You look like you could use a break.”
Sway ducked his head at the close proximity of whoever was practically whispering in his ear as he stood at the nurse’s station. He turned sharply, clutching his chest when he noticed who it was. “Oh. Dr. Dominick, I mean, James. You startled me.” Sway chuckled, closing the file and tucking his pen back in his scrub pocket.
“I apologize.”
“No need. Your diagnosis is accurate, and I concur. I’m actually going on break right now. I don’t have much time, so I better head out.”
Dr. Dominick gave Sway his full attention. “I saw you’re pulling a double tonight.” The doctor stared boldly. “Maybe I can interest you in a two a.m. cup of old coffee in the breakroom?”
“Um, sure.” Sway’s smile was stubborn. The way Dr. Dominick stared at him made him feel extremely awkward, especially when there were several other nurses watching the hot doctor. Sway hated the gossip mill and avoided it if he could. Getting cozy with a department head usually turned into juicy rumors that spread like wildfire. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
“I hope so.” Sway heard Dr. Dominick say in his deep voice. He kept walking down the hall, before he turned the corner he checked to see if the physician was brazenly watching him from behind… and he was.
Sway hurried through the locker room, after changing his clothes and stopping at the full-length mirror to double check his appearance. He had on a simple pair of no-name jeans and a beige sweater. He wet his hands and finger-combed his hair, trying to tame the soft ends that curled around his ears and at the base of his neck. Remembering to grab his fleece-lined denim jacket, he spared another glance at the time and cursed that he was sixteen minutes late and he still had to haul ass back to the ER department. Damn.
Sway scanned the common area as he rushed past two paramedics wheeling in a stretcher. He didn’t linger by the doors when he heard the roaring sirens of another ambulance quickly approaching. The last thing he wanted was for his manager to run after him for help. He couldn’t cancel on Brian, if he was still there. At half past five, dusk was about to blanket the already overcast skies, but there were plenty of street lamps to help him see across the hospital courtyard and into the parking lot. He closed his coat over the thin sweater when a chill wind whipped through the tall buildings. Students and staff hustled about the campus with book bags and Starbucks’ cups, all of them with places to hurry to and Sway was no different. Seeing Brian suddenly felt as urgent as the traumas he’d had today. Sway spun in the other direction at the sound of a horn honking. The first thing he noticed was the sporty, extremely masculine, all-black Mustang outshining any other car in the parking lot. It was very sexy, but not near as sexy as the tall, well-built man standing in front of it, his ensemble coordinating as if it was made to go with the car. Dark black jeans that clung to thighs the size of oak branches, a jet-black T-shirt with a simple logo on the right pec was stretched to capacity, but it was the leather coat that set off the look. It made Brian appear just as dangerous as his friend Dana said he was. Then he smiled, and all Sway saw was stars.
Jesus. Okay, just breathe Sway.
It had only been a few weeks. Had he forgotten just how breathtaking Brian was? Sway concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and not falling on his face as he approached. Brian pushed off the car when Sway was only a few feet away and came towards him. One word rose to mind as Brian moved. Powerful. Sway wasn’t sure if he should go for a hug, a kiss, a handshake or fist bump, he didn’t know what was typical for their situation. He wanted to wrap himself around one of Brian’s thighs and hump it until the pressure in his pants subsided, but he was sure that wasn’t the proper greeting protocol either. His and Brian’s relationship was starting off so completely backwards that Sway had no clue how to move from there. He was so out of practice he was embarrassed. When he was close enough, Brian pulled him into his large body, enclosing him within a cocoon of hard muscles, spicy cologne and amazing body heat. Sway rested his head on Brian’s chest, realizing just how much he’d missed his touch. He didn’t know why he’d waited so long to reach out.
“Brian,” Sway whispered in awe when strong arms squeezed him tighter. He realized Brian was talking to him, communicating just how much he’d missed Sway too. He could tell by the way Brian affectionately rubbed his back and shoulders. He’d forgotten how Brian spoke with his body. His actions so much louder than any words.
Sway stared into Brian’s dark eyes. Eyes that sparkled under the parking lot lights.
“It’s really good to see you.” Brian signed with one hand, keeping the other snug around Sway’s lower back, as if he feared Sway might run again.
Brian
Brian had gotten there at twenty minutes to five just in case Sway finished early but no such luck. When five past five rolled around Brian’s heart had begun to pound and his hands held a persistent sheen of moisture that wouldn’t go away no matter how many times he scrubbed them on his jeans. How could he sign with sloppy hands? Brian huffed a harsh breath and rubbed his big hands down his face, wiping the dampness along his cheeks and beard. He was sweating in the dead of winter. Damn, what was wrong with him? Sway was just a guy, right? By five twenty, Brian thought he’d been stood up and he debated going in there and dragging Sway out and demanding to know what the deal was, then tucking his tail and going home alone.
Then he saw him run outside and Brian enjoyed the excitement and nerves flashing in Sway’s eyes. He watched him move rapidly down the sidewalk in those skinny jeans with his jacket wrapped securely around him. Brian’s first thought was getting Sway warm. He sank into his seat with relief before he climbed out of the car, the heavy feeling of dread and disappointment he’d felt a minute ago rolling off his lap and hitting the asphalt where he stood.
He couldn’t stop the smile, the pure joy he felt as the man he’d obsessed over for weeks was now only a few feet away… and then in his arms. Brian pulled Sway’s tight body to him more forcefully than he’d intended but the way Sway reciprocated, he didn’t think he minded. He smelled so good, like hand soap and vanilla. Brian inhaled deeply, dragging his nose along Sway’s jaw up to his temple.
“It’s really good to see you too. You look great.” Sway took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I’m late. It got pretty busy a couple hours ago.”
Brian nodded, staring and licking his lips like a wolf. Looking at Sway right then, within his grasp, close enough to smell and feel, made him turn predatory. But the hunger he felt wasn’t coming from his groin. The ache wasn’t just there. “I understand. It’s fine, I wasn’t waiting long.” Brian shrugged like it was nothing, and instead asked, “Ready to eat?”
“I’m starved, I haven’t eaten since early this afternoon and even that was only a snack.” Sway talked while Brian led him over to the passenger side door and opened it for him. He watched as Sway slid his body gracefully onto the soft leather and it was difficult for Brian not to yank him back out and make him do it again.
“You have a place in mind that you like?” Brian asked when he’d got in and turned to face Sway. He wasn’t picky when it came to dining, he could eat a roasted squirrel on a skewer if it was cooked through… he had before. He was happy going along with whatever Sway wanted… or they could stay right there. He’d be content sitting in his car eating a granola bar in the nicely-lit parking lot as long as the man sitting next to him stayed right where he was, looking at him just like that.
Sway blinked those puppy dog eyes and Brian fought the desire to reach out again. He didn’t want to be too needy, come off as too hard up. “There’s a place that serves amazing samosa dumplings in Emory Village, if you like Asian. Only a few minutes from here, on Decatur. It’s good food… and I hear you like to eat.”
Brian watched a faint cherry hue tint Sway’s ivory cheeks. His heart stuttered. Whether Sway just meant to say that or not, he’d just confessed to asking around about him. Brian hadn’t been dismissed and ignored like he’d thought, Sway had been doing recon. It had to have been Dana spilling the info, since he was Sway’s best friend. Dana always made fun of Brian’s robust appetite. He was a six foot three, two hundred and forty pound man, of course he loved to eat. Brian started his powerful engine and coasted out of the parking lot. There was no need to hurry. He was going to make the small amount of time he had with Sway last.
“This car is smoking. It smells really new.” Sway said it as statement, but Brian nodded anyway with a satisfied smile on his face. Sway blushed, playfully rolling his eyes and added. “Well at least I know you’re not overcompensating.”
This time Brian’s eyes widened at the slick wit. It was rare that he was caught off guard, but he hadn’t expected such forwardness. He thought Sway might dance around how they’d met and focus on starting fresh. Brian admitted he didn’t really want to do that. He loved how they’d met. Loved that even though they were there for nothing special, that wasn’t what either of them had found.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I’m rambling because I’m… I mean I wasn’t… Fuck.” Sway dropped his head into his hands and stared out of the window, avoiding Brian’s gaze.
He’s nervous. Damn if he didn’t find that adorable and flattering. He could use the boost to his ego right about now, especially after the day he’d had. Sway didn’t even know he was fixing his shitty day. Brian wanted to return the favor. He reached over, wove his large hand under Sway’s fleece collar and covered the back of his warm neck. He squeezed him gently at first, just caressing, calming his nerves. Then he pushed his thumb and middle finger into the sensitive pressure points at the base of his scalp where that silky blond hair lay curling in different directions.
Sway moaned softly and leaned against the headrest, quietly asking for Brian’s fingers to dig deeper into the tightened muscles. He wished he could keep his eyes on Sway’s serene facial expressions while he worked out the kinks from his tiring day, but he had to watch the road. This was university row and where most of the sleep-deprived medical students who went to Emory sought out nourishment, so Brian was mindful of the heavy foot traffic. Instead of staring, he focused with his touch. Sway had knots everywhere, which told Brian a couple of things. One, Sway had a lot of stress in his life or from his job and two, he had no one to take care of those knots. It appeared neither of them had what the other so desperately needed.
Brian clamped down on his lust. He was half hard at the sounds of soft moaning that came from the other side of his vehicle. Moans that sounded so familiar from what seemed like way too long ago. He’d owned Sway’s body then, for a moment in time. Now, he had a second chance. He was pleasuring him again but in the way he needed. Brian had to remind himself there’d be time for deeper pleasure later. Patience. Because the next time he had Sway’s body under him, he’d take it, wreck it, then own it… and not just for a damn moment.
“Come on. I’m sure you’re ready to eat.” Brian could tell that Sway was hungry since his stomach had been growling quietly since he’d gotten in the car. Brian could take care of that for him. Feed him and make sure to get him back to work on time. He needed to take care of him.