“Reed, really, what’s going on?”
“I’ve done some arranging, called in some favors. You’ll be staying with me. Hopefully indefinitely, but that’s your call. We’ll work together in getting you back healthy. Military officers are here locally. After all, this is the nation’s capital, so we can easily determine your future in the military once we get you back up on your feet.
“Reed, this is too much for you to deal with. I can’t let you take—”
“No,” Reed said, firmly interrupting him. “I want to do this. Please let me. It’s important to me. I’ve made lots of arrangements, but anything you’re uncomfortable with can easily be changed.” They reached the SUV and Reed began to help Trevor into the back seat on the passenger side. He never really gave Trevor an option. Reed positioned the pillow the way the hospital instructed before making sure Trevor was tucked in tight. Once Trevor was secured in the back seat, Reed lifted his gaze, just looking at his sexy as hell boyfriend. Something about having Trevor in the car made Reed feel like he may not fight him on this. He lifted his sunglasses, keeping his gaze on Trevor’s stunning face. Reed reached out to brush the hair from Trevor’s forehead.
“I hated leaving you at that hospital. It tore me apart having to step on that plane without you. We’ll get through this, Trevor. I want you to stay with me, at very least until you get your strength back and your shoulder and arm are useable. No arguing.” Leaning in, Reed kissed Trevor tenderly on the lips, using a little bit of his tongue as he sucked his lower lip into his mouth.
“I’m so thankful you’re here with me now, handsome,” Reed said once the kiss ended.
“Reed, I just don’t want to put you out—”
“No, baby, shhh, please. I see the doubt in your eyes. We can do this. I can do this. Please let me. Now stay still. Let’s get you home. It’s been a long trip.” Reed didn’t wait for Trevor to respond; he closed the door with a soft, secure click.
He darted around the back of the truck. Anthony still stood at the bottom of the ramp, waiting as Reed instructed him too. If Trevor wanted no part of this, he wanted Anthony to get him directly to the hospital. He gave a thumbs up, and Anthony’s grin spread further across his face. He raised both his hands in return, giving Reed the double thumbs up back. “Good luck man,” Anthony yelled.
“I’ll need it. He’s a stubborn one. Thank you, Anthony!” Reed called back, before climbing into the front seat of the truck. With a quick look over his shoulder, he gave Trevor a grin. Relief finally slashed through his heart, making his grin wider. Reed had Trevor tucked securely away in the back seat, heading to his home. Letting out a pent up breath he didn’t know he held, Reed started the SUV and put the truck in drive, pulling out of the private airport parking lot.
****
The drive to Reed’s house was almost comical. Reed took every back road he could find. If he got over thirty miles an hour, Trevor would have been shocked. Like normal, Reed kept a steady stream of conversation going, but Trevor’s thoughts stayed on his surprise of seeing Reed standing at the bottom of the airplane ramp. Reed Kensington totally shocked the shit out of him. Reed was the last person he’d expected to see waiting for him after the torturous flight.
In Germany, traffic was a bitch and he arrived late to the airport; he expected to be taken back to the hospital for missing his flight. To his utter surprise, Anthony wheeled him into a private section of the airport and loaded him straight onto a private jet. Shock couldn’t even begin to describe those first few minutes of realizing he would be alone on the flight. Trevor couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it and the questions flowed from him, but Anthony brushed it off with some dribble about how all officers and VIPs got this treatment. Anthony effectively moved his mind away from his questions by showing him all the cool gadgets he found when preparing the plane for this flight. Trevor could see it was all very strategic on Anthony’s part.
A young female flight attendant came out of a front cabin to help secure his chair in place before liftoff. During introductions, she mentioned Mr. Kensington’s name, helping everything fall into place. Trevor assumed she spoke of Rylie’s dad. Mr. Kensington was a UN ambassador and completely connected to pull together a hook up like this one. Both the attendant and Anthony tried to cover her mistake, and he let it stay hidden. It was such a nice gesture; Trevor didn’t want to ruin Rylie’s father’s surprise.
Almost immediately after takeoff, Trevor’s leg began to hurt. Anthony told him something about the pressure of the altitude and it all being normal. About six hours into the flight, the outgoing Anthony began to openly pray. The flight attendant stayed belted down, locked in her seat. The weather raged around them outside and they couldn’t seem to get high enough to get out of the storm. The turbulence kicked Trevor’s ass, slamming his leg and shoulder hard against the seat, over and over. Trevor tried to man up, gritting his teeth, and refused to take the pain medicine. An hour later, when they did an emergency landing to wait the weather out, Trevor caved and took the medicine.
He had no idea how long they waited to resume the flight. His pain medicine was strong; he passed out for several hours. When he woke, his thoughts stayed on what an excellent gesture this turned out to be by Mr. Kensington. One he wasn’t sure he could ever repay. Now, while Trevor sat in the back of this SUV, he realized Reed was the true Mr. Kensington and, without question, he could never repay this.