Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

Vaughan stood up straight, his incisions pulling a little. He winced, buttoning his shirt as he made his way to the door. “You forget your key again you—” Vaughan stopped immediately, his teasing grin falling like a rock to the ground as he opened the door and saw the man he loved standing there looking angry and in pain.

“Duke. Jesus Christ. What are you doing out of bed?” Vaughan asked nervously, pulling his shirt, making sure all the buttons were fastened securely. Duke’s sharp eyes followed the gesture before moving back up to his face. He wished he knew what Duke was thinking, because his usually kind brown eyes were shooting daggers at him. “Come inside before you hurt yourself.”

Vaughan walked back inside carefully, hoping Duke would follow, but wouldn’t notice anything. Like how slow Vaughan was moving. He had to turn his back on Duke or the guy would see the exhaustion in his eyes, just like Vaughan could see it in his. His lover looked so tired, and Vaughan ached to wrap him in his arms and take care of him. Not to mention how much he’d missed him while they were both recovering. Duke had on a pair of track pants and a plain white t-shirt like he’d not planned on going out. His salt-and-pepper-colored hair was longer than usual and free of product, blown in whatever direction the wind had taken it.

Duke was at his dad’s house. How the hell did Vaughan explain that he was there and not in Miami? Um. Did he take the red-eye last night? Or did his flight get in a little while ago and he was just getting ready to call Duke after he’d unpacked and showered? Ugh. More fuckin’ lies. But he had to think of something, he was a lawyer for crying out loud. Maybe he could stall or divert.

Vaughan acted like it was critical to get them something to drink, so he kept going towards the kitchen, needing to come up with a plan quickly, preferably one that involved the fewest lies. “Let me get you something to drink, sweetheart. Please sit down; you look exhausted. I’m going to get us some—”

“Stop,” Duke growled, and Vaughan paused mid-stride, but he didn’t turn around. He knew Duke was too smart for this to go on. Especially the way Vaughan was acting. If everything was normal, Vaughan would be all over Duke right now, not scurrying away.

Vaughan stopped at the breakfast bar, his back still to Duke. Something was wrong. Duke wouldn’t be there otherwise. “Duke, you should be in bed. What are you doing out? Where’s Charlie?”

There was no response, but Vaughan could feel the heat and anger radiating from his man, especially since he was standing close enough for Vaughan to feel the hot breath ghosting across his still-moist skin on the back of his neck. His body burned with the need to touch Duke. His mind warring with him to come clean now. Oh god, but how? It was too soon. “My dad said you were doing better. Have you had a doctor’s appointment yet?”

“Turn around,” Duke finally demanded on a harsh breath.

When Vaughan turned after several long seconds, he was face-to-face with his love. Duke’s eyelids were hanging low, and there were dark smudges beneath his eyes. Vaughan almost reached out and smoothed the deep frown that ran down the center of Duke’s forehead. The skin around his eyes had crinkled with laugh lines over the years but the creases there now weren’t from amusement. Duke was thinking hard. The next words that left Duke’s mouth had Vaughan stunned and eager to go back in time and forget his idea to be the anonymous donor.

“I thought you said you were an honest man and you didn’t play games.”

Vaughan turned his head just slightly. Did Duke know it all or did he simply find out that Vaughan wasn’t in Miami? He wasn’t sure. Fuckin’, fuck, fuck! He never would’ve came up with that idea, but how else could he recover? Duke would want to see him when he’d been released. He wouldn’t understand why Vaughan couldn’t come over if he only lived a few minutes away. Even if he could blame it on a new job. No one worked twenty-four hours a day. Not even attorneys. “I don’t play games, sweetheart.”

Duke nodded his head once, his casted hand going up to his temple, scratching it like he didn’t understand something. “You conveniently left off the honesty part.”

“Duke. I’m not a liar. I swear,” Vaughan whispered painfully. “But I’ll do and say just about anything to protect the—”

“The what?” Duke said, inching in closer when Vaughan didn’t finish.

No. Not yet. It’s not time to tell him, yet. “To protect those I care about,” Vaughan amended.

“So you care about me?”