16
Ben leaves the office at one on Friday afternoon, waving away Fiona’s warning to not kill himself speeding. Throws his satchel in the back of the car, sends a text to Alex to let him know he’s on the road, and puts on U2. As soon as he’s on the coastal highway, he lets the needle slip as high as he dares, just a smidge over the limit. Ignores Davey’s Chicken. At three thirty he turns into the drive at the beach.
As he gets out of the car, the front door opens and Bart races down the steps, barking. Ben kneels and hugs him, letting the Labrador lick and snuffle at his neck. When he stands, Alex is leaning against the doorway, barefoot, hands in the pockets of his cutoff jeans, smiling. Ben catches his breath, wondering when cutoffs got so sexy, and goes up the steps. Slips his fingers through the cutoff’s empty belt loops and pulls Alex to him. Tilting his head to kiss him, he closes his eyes and sighs. Traces Alex’s lips with his tongue; smiles at the faint taste of orange juice and beneath it a bite of salt. Warm tastes, summer tastes. Alex breaks the kiss and leans his forehead on Ben’s.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” Bens kisses him again.
“I missed you too.” Alex says when the kiss ends.
Reluctant to let go, Ben slides his arm around Alex’s waist as they go through the living room. At the kitchen door, he stops and asks how Allie is.
“She’s good today.” Alex squeezes his hand. “Come on, she’s really excited to see you.”
Allie is in the courtyard on one of the recliners, a book face down in her lap while Polly gives her a manicure. Ben does a double take at the shiny IV pole and pouch, even though Alex has warned him about it.
“You made good time.” She holds up her free arm to him, the one with the IV attached, wincing when the lure needle pinches. Ben kiss the top of Polly’s head, then goes around to kiss her taking care to avoid the tubing. “Please tell me you haven’t left a line of carnage behind you on the highway.”
“As if.” Alex appears from the kitchen with a fresh pitcher of iced tea and a plate holding what looks to Ben like fried chicken. “Is that for me?”
“I had a hunch you might drive straight through and figured you’d be hungry,” Alex says.
“Have I told you recently how much I love you?” Ben asks biting into the chicken.
“You may have mentioned it once or twice.”
Polly makes a gagging sound and Ben nudges her with his foot.
“You’re just jealous, old lady.”
They talk while Ben eats, Alex seated on the ground, his back against Ben’s legs. When he pushes his plate away and wipes his fingers on the paper towel Alex produces before he’s tempted to use someone’s clothing, Allie yawns.
“I think I might have a nap before dinner,” she says. Alex pulls himself up, brushing his hands on his pants and asks if she’s okay to walk. Does she need to use the bathroom first? When she says yes to the bathroom and no to walking, he scoops her up. Ben feels timid and out of place, and asks if he can help with anything.
“Bring the pole, it’s on wheels,” Alex says. “You’ll just have to lift it when we go inside.”
Ben trails behind them until the bathroom then leans against the dresser waiting for them to come out . He helps Alex place the IV pole in its usual spot, hanging back while he settles Allie on the bed and pulls the blanket up over her knees.
“I might just lay down here too,” Polly says.
“Do you need anything?” Alex looks at Allie. “Water? Pain okay?”
“No, I’m fine honey, just a little sleepy from the heat,” Allie says. “Go on, go spend some time together you two.”
Ben watches Alex pull the door a little to stop Bart going in and bites his lip. This is a side to Alex he’s not used to seeing. The Alex he knows is, even now, always a little hesitant, reluctant to be in the lime light but this Alex moves with ease and confidence, doesn’t question himself.
“You’re very good at what you do,” he says when Alex turns around.
“Huh?”
“I’ve never seen you doing any of the actual nursing stuff,” Ben says as Alex puts his arm around his shoulders. “I mean I’ve seen you with the kids at the unit, but you’re usually making them do rehab things they don’t want to do. Not like this. You’re very … gentle with her. Thank you.”
“Oh.” Alex tugs at his hair and looks shy and is transformed back into the man Ben is familiar with. “Well, you know, she’s an easy patient. Let’s get your stuff from the car.”
◆◆◆
Ben gets his bag and his satchel and they make their way upstairs, with Bart padding along behind them. Alex has left the curtains pulled and the air-con running so the room is cool. Bart lays down next to his basket chewing on his new rawhide bone and giving happy thumps of his tail. On Alex’s side of the bed is a photo of Ben and one of the books from Ben’s bookshelf with a bookmark about a third of the way through. Next to them is a thing like a walky-talky but Ben isn’t interested in any of these things, right now.
Dropping the bags by the armchair, he turns and reaches for Alex. This kiss carries an urgency the first ones didn’t; this kiss is about more than hello, and he pushes Alex back on the bed. Lays down next to him and kisses him again, one hand pulling at the chestnut curls, the other hand tugging at Alex’s tee-shirt.
“Off,” he mutters. “Off.”
Grinning, Alex pulls the shirt over his head.
“Better?” he asks.
Ben growls and attacks his throat, biting and sucking, until Alex is panting and arching beneath him. He works his way down Alex’s chest, to the denim cut offs. Unbuttons them and slides them and Alex’s boxers off and throws them behind him. Lowers his head and takes Alex in his mouth.
“Jesus,” Alex moans and Ben looks up. Alex is propped on his elbows watching him, eyes fever-bright, chewing on his bottom lip. Ben wraps his fingers around him and strokes the velvety skin up into his mouth, keeping his eyes on Alex’s. Uses his tongue to stroke the head; shivers when Alex groans. Stands up and undresses as fast as his shaking hands will let him.
It’s fast, sweaty, and over within minutes; they lay, panting, Ben’s head on Alex’s chest, fingers still wrapped around him in a loose hold.
“Maybe I should go away more often,” Alex murmurs, running his fingers up the length of Ben’s spine. Ben huffs.
“No, you shouldn’t. I miss you too much.”
“So I noticed,” Alex pulls Ben up to be kissed. “I missed you too.”
Ben sits up, ignores Alex’s protest, and goes to his bag. Digs in it for a moment until he finds the box and brings it back to the bed. Puts it on the pillow next to Alex.
Watches while long fingers undo the silver ribbon and lift the lid off. Inside is a silver dog tag on a chain, matching the one around his own neck. On it are engraved five words: All I Want Is You. Alex traces them with his finger and hums the U2 song, then holds it out for Ben to attach around his neck.
This time it’s not so fast.
◆◆◆