“Sounds good. See you out there soon.” Chou gave him a smile and patted his shoulder, then left the kitchen.
Lord have mercy. A Dommy doctor, a Texan cop with a death wish, and a pro-spanky Cajun walk into a bar.
Ain’t that a bad goddamn joke.
3
Neil knew that Isaac was going to make sure that he understood that he was supposed to call when he got shot. Or nearly got shot.
He could almost hear the lecture.
He was looking forward to it, even, because then he could just let the worry flow over him.
It might be coming, but that wasn’t how it started. Once Alain was settled, Isaac pulled him to the bedroom, closed the door, and spent a quiet minute with him, forehead to forehead, just breathing. “You scare the fuck out of me.”
He filled his lungs with Isaac-flavored air. “Yeah. I scare the fuck out of me too.”
Isaac puffed out a breath and paced away. “Go kneel on your cushion.” His cushion was kind of like a time-out chair; when he got sent there he knew he was going to be there a while.
“Yes, Sir.” He knew this spot—it was comfortable, solid.Safe. It’s safe. It’s safe here.
Isaac paced past him a couple of times. “What happened? And don’t give me the official story. I want yours.”
“Barnette is dirty. On the take. I can’t prove it yet. I know it, but he’s local, dad and brothers are on the force. I won’t apologize, and I’m not letting it go.” And Neil wasn’t going to let this shit slide. It wasn’t in his makeup.
“Okay.” Isaac stopped in front of him. “Who have you asked for help?”
“No one. I’m not putting anyone else in the line of fire. You know that.” He was the outsider there, and he knew it.
“And…who shot at you?” All the questions first without so much as a hint at what Isaac was thinking.
“It was a misfire on the books. Bullet grazed me, hit the concrete wall beside me.” He knew that wasn’t an answer, but he was going to try to get away with it.
Isaac growled, the first sign of how he was taking all of this. “I don’t give a shit about the books, boy. Who fucking shot at you?”
“His brother. Beat cop.” He refused to drop his eyes.
Isaac stood his ground, too, and stared right back. This time his tone was quieter, serious and even. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I needed to calm down.” He wouldn’t come to Isaac when he was on the edge of the cliff. That wasn’t safe. “And we haven’t…been in each other’s pockets lately.”
“If you get shot, and someone is stitching you up, you call me. That’s the rule, Neil. It’s pretty much our only rule. This is…” Isaac sighed and paced away. “Damn it, Neil. You know how I feel about you. I’m not in your pocket because…because I’m not enough for you, and I’m trying to—I understand. If I’m…if we’re together all the time, you’re not going to find what you need.”
“Fuck.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m—”
Just go home. Get up, asshole, and go home and just walk away. You’re making him unhappy. You make everyone fucking unhappy.
“Stop.” Isaac marched back to him. “I’m sorry. That’s not what you need from me tonight. Not what I promised you. Take a breath and listen to me.” Isaac took one with him, a deep breath in and a long, slow exhalation. “It was a scary day. A hard day. But you’re okay, and you’re safe here. You’re safe with me. And as long as you’re here, and you’re giving me this gift, you’re my boy. I don’t want to change you. I just want you to be happy.”
“I want you. I need you. You know that. Fuck, Guapo, I love you.” And he’d never said that to anyone but Isaac. Ever.
“I do know. I know.” Isaac’s palm settled against his cheek. “I love you too.”
He leaned hard, letting Isaac feel his weight, feel how he trusted his Dom, totally.
“That’s my sweet boy.” Isaac bent and kissed his forehead, then went to the small chest at the foot of the bed. “Will you stay here this week? You and I can reconnect, you could even work with Alain while I’m seeing patients…what do you think?”
What did he think? He thought he was exhausted down deep in his soul, and a few days of Isaac’s attention, playing with Alain, and cooking sounded like heaven. “If you’ll have me, I’m here.”