Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“Shut up. Stop being so dramatic.”

“Ditto.”

“I’m not, Duke. I just don’t want him looking at or talking to me like that.”

“Very well. I’ll let him know.”

“Thank you. I’ll just wait here until he leaves.”

“Cool.” Duke got up and walked to Quick’s office door. Throwing it open, he bellowed down the short hallway, “Dr. Chauncey. Roman will see you now!”

“You bastard! What the hell, Duke?” Quick said in a stern whisper.

“Oh. The doc wanted to get a chance to apologize for ‘speaking without consequence’ – he actually said that – so I thought it only fair to give him that opportunity.”

“Fine. Just don’t leave, alright. I don’t want me and him to be alone… ya know… give him the wrong idea,” Quick whispered again.

“Of course not.” Duke smiled, reassuring his friend

As Dr. Chauncey got closer he begin to smooth down his shirt and push a few strands of hair back in place. Duke turned and noticed Quick straightening up the knocked over picture frames and scrambling to push some of the papers strewn around into neat stacks. When Quick saw him looking at him in amusement, he hastily flipped Duke off right before the doctor appeared in the doorway. Duke moved aside and let Dr. Chauncey in. “I’ll just give you guys some privacy.”

“Duke!” Quick yelled at a closing door.

Duke was laughing so hard as he left Quick alone with the doctor that he had to clutch his side. He hobbled back into the living room and Vaughan looked at him with humorous curiosity.

“What the hell was all that about?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Duke said, sitting down next to Vaughan. They shared a few sweet kisses like they’d been apart too long. Duke pulled back and stroked Vaughan’s cheek, only to lean in and tenderly kiss him there. “I love you.”

“Mmm. Me too. I need to show you just how much.” Vaughan’s leer was so salacious Duke had to take a couple breaths to will his dick not to fully harden in his thin sweats.

“I got good news.” Vaughan beamed after they finished another round of kisses.

“Oh, yeah? Lay it on me. I need good news right now.”

“Great. Good news is… we can fuck.”

Duke coughed on his own saliva.

“I told Dr. Chauncey the G-rated version of last night’s episode and he said it was alright. If you didn’t feel any pain, then orgasms are fine. The physical sexual activity should be kept light until we both feel up to handling more.”

“So….” Duke wondered what that meant.

“Soooo… it means I can’t fuck you as hard as I intended but I’ll make it good for you, sweetheart, don’t you worry.”

Damn. That was hella good news. He felt like he could fuck right that minute. His body was healing every day. The only injury that gave him problems were his still-bruised ribs and the occasional headaches from the concussion. He knew they’d take the longest to heal but everything else was workable. “We need to go to my place… soon.”

“Agreed.” Vaughan winked.

Before they could discuss that possibility more, Quick’s office door flew open hard enough to bang against the wall, startling him and Vaughan.

“Jesus,” Vaughan gasped when he saw a red-faced Dr. Chauncey emerge with Quick hot on his heels.

Duke stood up, wondering what the hell he’d done by forcing those two to be in the same room, especially with Quick already wound up.

“Your friend could use a lesson in manners, Duke,” Dr. Chauncey said, glaring daggers at Quick.

“I won’t be insulted in my own house! Out! Now!” Quick demanded.

Vaughan got up and went over to his dad searching his face like a demon could’ve possibly taken over his body. “Dad. What is going on? Dr. Chauncey is here because of your phone call to his office. He needs to examine Duke. Why are you going crazy like this?”

Quick turned on his heels and slammed himself back in his office. Vaughan stood there dumbfounded, staring down the hall.

“Duke, will you take off your top please, so I can look at your incisions. I’ll just draw some blood and get a urine sample. That should be enough to determine if any complications have arisen.” Dr. Chauncey was digging in his bag when he spoke but as soon as he sat up, Duke saw that the man’s baby blue eyes were not as radiant as before. Goddamn you, Rome.

Duke walked Dr. Chauncey to the door after he had collected his samples and was finished with the exam. “Dr. Chauncey. I’m really sorry about Quick. He’s usually pretty laid back.”

The doctor laughed humorlessly. “I guess I just bring out the worst in him.”

Vaughan looked as disappointed as Duke while Dr. Chauncey slowly made his way to the front door. It appeared he was trying to save face by offering up some last minute conversation like Quick’s words had little effect on him. But anyone with eyes could see it was bogus. Duke couldn’t imagine how embarrassing it would be to get kicked out of the home of someone you’d unknowingly flirted with and told to never return. Or to be treated with utter disgust, because that’s the look Quick wore.