Page 35 of Yes, Captain

“I want him here,” Eddie murmured sleepily.

“And I can still overrule your opinion, Doc.” Will smirked at his colleague over his shoulder. Even though Will could technically do it, he’d always held Ezio in the utmost of respect, and the other man knew his medical opinions were always considered. With Ezio being one of the best doctors he’d ever come across, Will followed his advice. They were friends too, Ezio having stayed at his house more than once for breaks between their contracts. But this time, Will was happy to pull rank. “If it makes you feel better, I’m a light sleeper, and if any of the beeping changes, I’ll wake up and get off.”

“We need to swap positions for that,” Eddie whispered so only Will could hear him. He couldn’t help his snort of laughter, and even burying his face in Eddie’s hair didn’t hide it.

“Fine,” Dr Dimitriades sighed loudly. “You know best.”

That had Will sitting up. “Seriously, Doc, is he at risk if I lie here with him? If he is, I’ll get off the bed.”

“No, you’re okay, Captain. Stay there.” He shook out a light blanket and laid it across the end of the bed so Will could easily pull it up over them. “He’s under observation, so I need to check his vitals regularly, and he’ll need to be on oxygen until his levels are okay again, but otherwise, with the medicine he’s had, he’s a low risk for another reaction. Lie down again and get some sleep.”

Ezio dimmed the lights and pulled the door closed behind him, leaving them alone. Eddie sighed, and his body went lax. “I was scared, handsome. It’s been years since I had an attack that bad.”

“I was too,” Will whispered. “I didn’t really know what to do.”

“You were perfect.” He laced their fingers together and pressed closer again, trembling in Will’s arms. Reaching down, he pulled the blanket over them, making sure Eddie was covered properly.

“You still cold, beautiful? I can get another blanket if you need it.”

“No, just need your arms around me. Wish I could feel your skin against mine.” With every word he uttered, Eddie’s speech slowed, getting quieter. He was falling asleep fast. Will didn’t respond, holding him tighter instead, grateful he still had the ability to do it.

Will didn’t know what time it was when he’d fallen asleep, but when his watch buzzed, waking him up, it didn’t feel like anywhere near enough. He was still exhausted. Eyes burning and his mouth as dry as the Sahara, Will shifted and edged his way off the narrow bed, trying not to disturb Eddie. The curtain between the two beds in the room was drawn closed. Another patient must have come in during the night, and he hadn’t even heard them.

Will straightened himself as best he could and picked up his discarded jacket and hat before kissing a still sleeping Eddie on his forehead. He looked so peaceful, but he was still too pale. Love surged through Will, and he smiled softly, never expecting to experience it again. He brushed the backs of his fingers down Eddie’s cheek, grateful that he no longer needed the oxygen mask.

Will still didn’t want to leave, but ultimately, his wants didn’t matter. He had a responsibility to bring the ship into dock. A shower, coffee, and a jog up to the bridge were in his immediate future when all he wanted was to stay with his man. At least Ezio would be able to keep him updated on Eddie’s condition. With that thought, Will resisted the temptation to touch him again and slipped out the door, closing it softly behind him.

He stopped dead in his tracks. Blinking, Will looked, then rubbed his eyes and looked again. It wasn’t his imagination. Ezio had his arms wrapped around a man, holding him close as they kissed deeply. Running his fingertips up and down the other man’s spine, Ezio was tender with him, but the heat between them was at inferno levels. Shirtless and gorgeous, the man was built like a damn bodybuilder, a deep tan tinting his skin. Who is he?

The man’s big hands gripped Ezio’s white lab coat, pulling the doctor tight against his body. Every inch of them was pressed together. When they pulled back, they kept their faces close, turned into one another as they spoke in hushed tones. Even in Will’s dazed, overtired state, he could tell that there was something more between them. An intimate connection. The shock of it had him blurting, “Oh shit, sorry.” Ezio stumbled backwards and looked at him wide-eyed, his horror at being caught obvious.

“C-Cap… Captain—” the doctor stuttered, wide-eyed with shock. Will held his hand up. The other man huffed and stalked past him, shaking his head before slipping inside the room where Will had come from. The click of the door as it closed echoed through the silence that descended in the small consultation room.

Will looked at his friend and sighed when Ezio opened his mouth again to speak. “Ezio, can we talk? I’m not awake enough to deal with it now, but come and see me after we’ve docked.”

“Yeah,” he rasped, then cleared his throat, nodded, and spoke again. “Yes, Captain.” Shoulders slumped, and lips turned down in a frown, Ezio clearly wasn’t happy.

“Ezio.” Will closed a hand over his shoulder and smiled, squeezing gently. He was trying to show his support. It was a big deal when someone was outed, and Will wanted to let him know that he’d never communicate what he saw with anyone. “It’s all good.”

“Thank you.” The doc paused and added. “I’ll ring through your coffee order, so it’s delivered straight to you.”

eighteen

Will

There was a knock on the office door, and he called out, “Come in.” Will looked up to see Ezio closing the door behind him. He stretched his neck, leaning back on the chair before putting the documents he’d been reviewing away. He had already spoken with the doc a few times that morning asking for updates on Eddie. Thankfully, he was okay and had been discharged from his care. Eddie had been in to see him an hour earlier. The relief at seeing Eddie almost back to normal had nearly buckled his knees. Will had held him close, never wanting to let go.

Then he’d forbidden Eddie to do another meet and greet again.

It hadn’t gone down well.

Every protective instinct in Will screamed at him when Eddie slid into the seat, and Will got a closer look at the dark circles under his eyes and the sallow tone to his skin. It was irrational and probably illegal too, but he found himself fighting the desire to lock his man away and keep him safe and healthy. He’d asked Eddie to sit that night’s performance out too.

Eddie had pursed his lips and cocked his head to the side, his sass showing through even in his less-than-full-health state. Instead of agreeing to Will’s demands and slightly nicer request, Eddie had schooled him on the pressures faced by entertainers on the ship. He understood that the other performers were relying on him and the reality that they were already a performer down thanks to Gerard’s replacement not arriving until the next cruise, ten days away. Will understood dedication and passion. He also understood the obligation and commitment to each other that every staff and crew member developed while working on the ship. Then Eddie had politely told him to pull his head out of his arse and butt out of his career.

He respected Eddie even more after that.

“Afternoon, Captain.” Ezio’s words jolted him back to the present, and Will shook off the memory of Eddie’s lips against his as he’d apologized. Repeatedly. With kisses.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com