Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“No. He could give it to some hot, young, Atlanta detective, though.” Vaughan seethed. He’d never understand how anyone could turn Duke away. Judge would always be on his shit list for that, no matter how stand up the guy’s friends believed him to be.

“Judge is a damn good man. He was always up front and honest with Duke. Judge found what he wanted in life and now, so has Duke. So fate worked its magic like always and you’ll all be with who you’re supposed to be with.”

“I guess,” Vaughan said tiredly, yawning widely. His earlier exercise was starting to catch up with him and he felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion right before he closed his eyes, still staring at his father. He later remembered thinking before he drifted to sleep, Who are you fated to be with, Dad?

Vaughan eased up the couple steps in front of his dad’s house and Quick carefully propped him against the wrought iron rail while he fumbled with his keys. Vaughan breathed a sigh of fresh air right before he went inside. It was great to be home. He’d been holed up in that hospital for three very long days. It would’ve only been two but he hadn’t been able to produce a bowel movement by the second day, so Dr. Chauncey, being the overly cautious doctor he was, insisted that Vaughan stay one more day, and made sure that he was at least passing gas. It was all so personal and nasty, but that was the medical profession. A little embarrassment was a small price to pay to have Duke in his arms for the rest of their lives.

Duke had gone home the day before since he was doing so well. Charlie and his daughter were helping care for Duke while Quick took care of Vaughan. Duke was under the impression that Quick was busy handling the office. Duke didn’t know Judge had taken a couple bounties and asked a couple of his guys from the PI office to come over and assist Quick, which made him more available to care for his very own post-op patient. Vaughan thanked the heavens that it was all going to be over very soon. As soon as Duke confessed his undying love for him, Vaughan would tell him the truth, and not a moment before.

“I’m gonna help you upstairs, then I can fix you a bowl of soup. I made some homemade chicken noodle. You used to love my soup when you were sick as a kid. Do you remember?” Quick smiled at him as he led him up the small flight of stairs to the second floor.

“Of course I do. I loved your soup whether I was sick or not. I think I even faked it a few times to get it.” Vaughan chuckled wearily. He was tired and sore, he’d willingly admit that much. He knew what to expect. He’d do his exercises and stay mobile so he’d heal properly. By his next checkup, Dr. Chauncey would be amazed. However, at the moment he needed a hot shower, food, and rest… after he talked to Duke.

They’d talked every day, a couple times a day, and always right before they went to bed. It was so strange talking to Duke like he was in another state, all while he was right down the hall. He’d come out of his hospital room on the second day for his evening walk on the ward and had almost run into Duke doing the same thing. Moving so abruptly and ducking behind the wall had caused Vaughan a little pain, but it was worth it to keep his secret until the right time. As if his father knew what Vaughan was thinking, he got a big bath sheet from the linen closet and placed it in the bathroom attached to the large guest room. He put Vaughan’s pills on the nightstand and his bag under the bed for the time being. Lastly, Quick retrieved Vaughan’s phone and placed it on the bed next to his pillow. With a quick smile, he left so his son could clean himself up. He’d needed help the first couple days, but he could manage alone for the most part.

He unbuttoned his shirt and eased it off his stiff shoulders. Damnit, hospital beds suck ass. He knew a lot of his back pain and the tightness in his shoulders would dissipate now that he had a comfortable bed to sleep in. He pushed at the slack waistband of his very low-slung sweats, careful not to touch the bandages that covered his incisions. Three small gauze pads were taped over the half-inch incisions where the laparoscopes were inserted and one medium-length bandage was over the slightly larger two-inch incision where his kidney had been removed from his body and placed in his lover’s. Vaughan lightly brushed his hand over the bandage. His head swam, and his heart beat with a strong, thumping pulse. He was so in love, he’d given away his kidney. A throb began behind his left eye anytime he thought that Duke would reject him. But that wasn’t possible. He banished those thoughts to the very back of his mind. There was no way. Vaughan could already feel how deeply Duke felt for him, just based on their conversations each night before bedtime. He hated the lies he had to tell in the beginning of their conversations, and any time Duke asked how his work assignment was going. Vaughan always quickly changed the subject. But each time the call came to end, there were words left floating out there, unsaid, before they each hung up. Even now, he ached to hear the man’s rough, deep voice… Oh god… To taste him again. Vaughan’s cock began to rise but he ignored it. His next orgasm would be given to Duke.