Jevon’s rumbling chuckle turned throaty. “I don’t know what half of it is.”
“I do. Just ask and I’ll show you.”
“Show me?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow.” Jevon whistled through his teeth and sat up on his elbows. “Is it wrong that I want to know what that tentacle thing is?”
Rhys laughed and retrieved the Bad Dragon dildo from the box. “You’d think it was a novelty toy, but it’s probably the most expensive thing in here.”
“For real?”
“Bible. And it’s a small one.”
Jevon gulped. “Jesus.”
“Yep. I’ve never really used it, and I’m nowhere near drunk enough to try now.”
“Good job it’s not my first pick then, eh?”
“Very funny. Whatisyour first pick?”
“The black cock. I can’t take the rest of it seriously—not yet, anyway.”
Relief washed over Rhys. Most of the toys in the box were well used, but there weren’t many that seemed to fit the burning desire in his gut for Jevon. Kink was kink, and he embraced it all, but getting off with Jevon wasn’t like that. They still had so much to learn about each other.
Rhys claimed the toy and put the box on the floor. He lubed up the dildo and fucked himself with it while Jevon looked on. Coming under the weight of Jevon’s gaze but without his touch was an odd feeling. Breathing his name without an answering kiss. “Oh, god, Jevon.”
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“I miss you,” Rhys choked out.
Jevon’s answer was a whisper. “I know, baby. I know.”
Twelve
Birmingham Children’s Hospital was as familiar to Jevon as it was brand new. The interior had changed beyond recognition, but it smelled exactly the same.
He took the lift to the oncology department and cycled down the corridor to the nurse’s station. Wide eyes followed him. He smiled and waved, the exaggerated movements so natural it was a wonder he didn’t do it to everyone he met. Wan-faced children waved back. Some even smiled, and Jevon’s world narrowed to just them as he entertained them with a quiet magic show.
An hour later, he made his escape and ventured into the fracture clinic. Despite the plaster parade, the children in there were more mobile. For hours, Jevon played games and painted pictures. Laughed, sang, and danced. He knew “Fee-fi-fo-fum”in six languages. Today he used four.
“Can you come again tomorrow?”
Jevon glanced down at the small boy tugging on his sleeve. “I don’t think so, kiddo, but you don’t really need me to. You know all the tricks better than I do.” He pulled a pound coin from behind the boy’s ear. “Look at that. Who put that there, eh?”
The boy took his prize and wheeled his chair back to his bed, a look of wonder on his face that got Jevon out of bed in the morning.I fucking hate hospitals.
A smiling young nurse brought him a cup of the worst tea in the world. “He’s not the only one who’d like to see you every day. You’ve cheered me right up too.”
Jevon ducked his head under the pretence of packing up his plastic pizza kit. The woman had been following him around all afternoon, testing the waters with gentle flirtation.Awkward.
“Listen,” she said. “I’m finishing at five, and a bunch of us are going for a drink. Do you want to join us?”
“Thanks, but I’ve got plans.”
“With your, uh, girlfriend?”