Apparently, you could take the man out of the military, but not the military out of the man. His heart broke a little more with that recurring thought. “No one knows. I promise.”
“Cameras have to be stationed somewhere in this hall, even though you can’t see them.” Justin’s voice was almost a whisper.
“This part of the building’s closed. They don’t monitor here,” Derek said, taking another step backward, giving Justin more room. He left off the part that he was guessing, he really didn’t know for sure.
Justin carried the small cup that held tangible proof of the passion they had just shared, the only thing left connecting them to the moment of lovemaking they had just experienced.
Derek resisted all urges to touch Justin as he turned and started walking down the long corridor. Justin tossed away the cup at the first available trashcan they passed. He gave an inward sigh when he heard Justin’s footsteps following a step or two behind. He’d wanted their moment together, even pushed for this since Justin first began at Tulane. His friends, who were couples, had lovingly shared stolen moments. He’d heard those stories for years, and they meant something special to each person who’d shared them. He’d just wanted that same feeling with his significant other.
Truthfully, tonight he may have grown a little possessive while listening to the nurses talk about Justin. Maybe that was why he set this up, but now he was second-guessing his decision. He wanted a relationship where he didn’t have to hide. One with open glances and quick make-out sessions even in public places, regardless of the professionalism of their jobs. He watched those happen to the couples he’d worked with too. Dammit, stolen moments meant something to the relationship.
“Shit, it’s already four forty-five. My shift’s supposed to end at six. I’m gonna be late. I’ve gotta get some things done before I can leave.” Derek glanced back up, hid his wayward thoughts, and let the naughty grin he knew Justin liked spread across his face. Justin surrendered to it and briefly gave him that gentle after-sex look he loved the most, the one that made him melt.
“Whoever gets out of here first needs to stop and pick up some dog food for Gunner and Gracie before we go home. I didn’t get to it yesterday. If you do that, I’ll grab us some beignets and a couple of decaf café au laits. We might be able to get a couple hours sleep before you head out to your parents’ anniversary party tonight,” Derek said.
“Sure,” Justin murmured absently and their moment was gone. They had reached the emergency room hallway. Justin pushed through the double doors, never looking back, leaving Derek standing there watching him walk away as the doors swung shut.
~~~
Justin stopped in the middle of the hall and turned back to the electronic doors. Was that pain he’d just seen in Derek’s eyes? He immediately began to chastise himself. Of course that was pain. It was the same look he’d seen more often than not in Derek’s eyes over the last few months. He hadn’t understood why.
He resisted the urge to go back and confront that look. They’d just had incredible sex where he got to top. He knew Derek had done that on purpose because he loved to be buried balls deep inside that perfect ass. The truth, and what no one knew, was that was the only time in his life he felt whole. Making love to Derek wiped his world clean. Those minutes gave him hope that they were truly a perfect match. Making love to Derek put them on a level playing field. He got as good as he gave.
Realizing he was taking the steps back to Derek, he forced himself to stop. They didn’t do this, or better yet, he didn’t do this. He wasn’t going to pry. When Derek wanted him to know what was going on, he would tell him. Until then, he’d sit back and wait, worrying the whole time.
Justin turned and forced himself down the hall. He’d been gone far too long for the lost excuse to be plausible. He had work to do; he had a job to perform. One that he was damn lucky to have. Derek was responsible for this job. Hell, he was responsible for everything good Justin had in the world. The needling prickles of inadequacy came flooding back. What if that look meant Derek was having second thoughts and just didn’t want to tell him?
Then Justin would go with his dignity intact. He schooled his facial features to hide his own pain.
“Stop overthinking everything,” he berated himself in the quiet, deserted hall. They had too many years under their belt, too much time to get past the very big difference between them. Yet Derek’s aunt had freaked him out tonight. He knew Derek came from money. Besides the way he carried himself, his education spoke for itself. The Babineaux’s were a long-established family and very well known in this area.