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“I’m glad you liked it. My mom used to cook a lot when we were younger and sometimes I’d watch. I grew up in the South, so I learned to cook that way too. But, having Tweetie around for so long, I’ve gotten used to her soul food. Everything is deep fried and or smothered.” Sway wiped away some of the grease from his lips. “I broil and roast a lot of meat now, though. Especially recently. My mom’s cholesterol level was a concern at her last visit.” Sway continued to talk while he took the dishes to the sink and began to clean up their mess. Brian just watched his boyfriend… and listened to him talk. As if a panic attack had never happened.
“I wanted to ask you something,” Brian signed. They were lying in bed, facing each other. The fire crackled in the background, leaving enough romantic light in the room so he could still feast on Sway’s beauty. Everything had been locked up for the night and from what he understood, Sway’s mom’s nurse, Tweetie, had volunteered to stay with his mom for the entire weekend. She’d been on speaker and Brian remembered thinking that she sounded just like he’d imagined. Compassionate, understanding, and funny with a tad of wrongness. He had no clue why she’d asked Sway what kind of lube he’d gotten. Sway had told her he loved her before quickly hanging up. Brian raised a brow at Sway in fun but didn’t comment. Instead he was more focused on something else the nurse had said.
“Your mom’s nurse said you’d had a trying week. Today you text and said today was weird.” Brian caught Sway’s chin with his palm and lifted his head when he tried to avert his gaze. Brian had to see those eyes in order to read them. There was something Sway didn’t want to tell him.
“It was nothing. Just um. It’s not a big deal, really,” Sway stammered nervously.
Now Brian was really intrigued. “Tell me anyway. I’ll decide what’s a big deal.”
Sway flushed, then a flash of heat flared in his eyes at Brian’s seriousness. Sway would be wise not to diminish Brian’s capabilities. His mutism didn’t weaken his skills, it sharpened them. If anyone was threatening what was his, he’d identify it, and eliminate it.
“Oh. I um. I was just steering clear of my boss today. This week, he’s um…”
He. Brian’s feelers went up immediately.
“Cayson?!” Brian finger spelled rapidly, in disbelief. Couldn’t be. The man was head over heels in love with Quick. He’d never hurt him like that. He knew the doctor. But, he wouldn’t doubt Sway.
“No! Cayson is one of the lead physicians. Only one.” Sway chewed on his bottom lip for a moment then added, “There’s another. He heads up Nephrology.”
Brian rubbed Sway’s neck in encouragement. He could see Sway didn’t like admitting to this.
“He just gives me a bad feeling.” Sway hurried to say, as if he was trying to find the right words. “He gives me these weird looks. Then in the showers tonight—”
Son of a… Brian shot straight up in bed, glaring down at Sway. Shit, was he going to have to get up right now, at midnight, and hunt a motherfucker down?
“Jesus. Lay down. I’m fine, nothing happened. I decided to simply shower here at my boyfriends’ instead. No big deal. And, so much better by the way.” Sway smiled. It was weak and one hundred percent not genuine. Brian easily recognized it. Sway was bothered by this.
It absolutely is a big deal. No one is supposed to be harassed at work.
“Brian please, lay down. I’m a big boy too. If there’s a problem, I’ll handle it.” Sway pushed on Brian’s chest until he relented and eased back down. Sway laid his head on Brian’s left pec, draping his arm and leg over him as if to pin him. “Nothing happened in the showers. He just seems to always magically show up when I’m in there.” Sway looked as if he was thinking of a particular incident. “And, the way he removes his—”
Brian’s chest rumbled with anger, cutting Sway off.
“Let’s not think about that anymore. I’m here with you… I’m good, now.”
Brian continued to caress Sway until he heard his deep breaths and his weight settle fully on him. With one hand still possessively wrapped around Sway, he reached over with his other and removed his phone from the night stand. In seconds he was on Emory Hospital’s website under ‘staff’. Brian scrolled through the pages, his eyes narrowing with each swipe of his thumb. It’d been a long time since he had something to protect so fiercely. It was bringing out his true nature. Under Nephrology he saw his boss’s—Quick’s—partner picture, Dr. Chauncey; the next photo was of a Dr. James Dominick, MD, FACP. Brian’s finger stalled as he continuously stared at the one photo. He wasn’t sure how he knew it was the guy, he just did.
