Kindle Alexander - Up In Arms (16 page)

“Hello, Reed, how are you, son? I think it’s been at least ten years since I last saw you.” Dr. McBride stood at the front door, a giant grin spreading across his lean, aged, scholarly looking face. A medical bag in one hand, the other extended to shake Reed’s hand. Reed grinned at the now senior citizen standing in his door. Dr. McBride had been his family doctor for most of his life. He remembered this man to be much different than he looked right now. Now the doctor looked old with completely white hair and a small belly sticking out over his expensive looking, designer slacks.

“Hello, Dr. McBride, it’s been a while, sir. I think more like fifteen years. Thank you for coming over.” After shaking the doctor’s hand, Reed stepped back, opening the door wider with a slight sweep of his arm. “Please come in. The patient’s back in my bedroom. I appreciate you coming on such short notice. I wouldn’t trust his care to anyone but you.”

“I’m happy to stop by. I make house calls for your family regularly. How is our patient? Did the flight go well?” The doctor followed along behind Reed through the house.

“Trevor just got in within the last hour or so. The flight was rough, lots of turbulence and a long, unplanned layover. I’m not sure of the damage it may have caused. Trevor seems in pain, but isn’t saying anything much about it. Which I’m finding is just his way about most things. I do know Trevor’s getting frustrated with his arm being bandaged to his chest.”

Reed led the doctor through the house to the master bedroom. Just outside the bedroom door, Reed stopped, turning back to the physician. He lowered his voice. “Dr. McBride, I’m sure you can see how important Trevor is to me. I need to get him the best care possible. I’ve taken your advice, but you must know Trevor’s a stubborn one. He tries to move around on his own and won’t take his medicine like he should. If it’s possible to remove the bandage keeping his arm secure, I believe he will feel much better about it all. Please keep that in mind while you examine him.”

The physician looked Reed straight in the eye while he spoke, but only nodded his reply before Reed reached around to open the bedroom door. Trevor lay propped against the headboard in his boxers exactly as he left him. The oversized, stuffed pillow lying beside Trevor quickly came to lie across his lap, hiding the evidence of the beautiful hard-on he sported. A deep blush hit his cheeks. Reed couldn’t help but chuckle at Trevor’s quick movement and uncomfortable look.

“Trevor, this is Dr. McBride. As I was trying to tell you while you were ignoring me, I asked him to stop by and check your wounds after the plane ride. I thought you may be more comfortable here as opposed to his office after such a long trip.”

Trevor’s blush grew darker with each word Reed spoke. He gave a nod, but stayed quiet, his eyes going between the doctor and Reed. Dr. McBride approached the bed standing directly in front of Trevor.

“Hello, Sgt. West. I understand you were hurt in the line of duty.” The doctor extended his hand, and Trevor shook it.
“Yes, sir, about a week ago and please call me Trevor.”
Dr. McBride nodded, resting his bag on the side of the bed. He unbuckled the clasps and pulled the zipper free. Reed stayed in the doorway, a shoulder propped carelessly against the frame, watching the exchange between the two.
“Your medical records are being sent to me. I spoke briefly with your physician in Germany. Am I right when I say you took four gunshot wounds and this amputation?”
“Yes, sir,” Trevor replied, not saying anything more. He could be as quiet as he was stubborn.
“How are you holding up?” Dr. McBride started a steady stream of questions only requiring simple one word answers while beginning the exam. The doctor pealed back the layers of bandages and checked each wound. He lifted Trevor’s arm, leaning him forward, then back, the whole time asking questions about the events leading to this injury, or certain points during recovery at the German hospital. Reed stayed back, quiet, watching Trevor become absorbed in the exam and finally participating. Dr. McBride was clearly the best at distraction, and Trevor got lost in the exam.
Standing propped against the door frame, Reed crossed his arms over his chest and watched the exam. Reed’s gaze stayed fixed on Trevor’s muscular body while he listened intently to every word the two spoke. Trevor was a stunningly beautiful man. It was hard not to stare at the expansive bare chest just a few feet from him. Trevor’s body looked lean and long, but broadly muscular and well defined. It took years of dedicated training and disciplined body building to be that toned and fit from head to toe. He could see Trevor put the time in. Each muscle strained and rippled with the positions the doctor placed Trevor in. From where Reed stood, he couldn’t see where Trevor lost any muscle mass from being down this last week.
Reed was again taken back to his thoughts of Trevor looking like a warrior, but his face looked like he could have been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. The deep, full lips answering Dr. McBride’s questions gave a natural pout when he sat quiet or slept. Those lips seemed to give Reed fits when he tried to sleep, always invading his dreams, waking him with a raging hard-on. Reed found them incredibly appealing and looked forward to years of kissing just them. Trevor’s eyes were arresting, and every time those deep blue eyes looked his way, his heart flew from his chest, landing safely in Trevor’s caring hands.
Lord knew, over the three days he sat by Trevor’s bedside, Reed had more than enough time to study every part of his gorgeous face. Those pouty lips could spread easily into a brilliant smile. Trevor’s high cheek bones, sculpted jaw, and strong chin softened when he smiled, yet another reason to put plenty of smiles in Trevor’s life from this point forward. And Reed wanted to see many happier, smiling moments in their immediate future. Besides, Trevor’s smiles were contagious. They always caused him to stop and stare. Trevor’s eyes sparkled when he got excited, much like right now. Zoning back into the conversation, Reed listened to see what caused this smile from his otherwise somber man.
“Yes, sir, I’ll take it easy, you have my word.” Trevor nodded his head, affirming his declaration.
“All right then, let’s change these bandages. We won’t keep your arm locked to your chest. These wounds look to be healing nicely, but you must continue to take it easy. Your strength will return, but you must not push it. As hard as this is to say, you’ve been lucky in your recovery. Let’s keep it that way.” Dr. McBride turned, looking down to Trevor’s leg. “The flight wasn’t easy on this leg, was it?”
“No, sir. I jerked around quite a bit.”
“Let’s take a look.” Dr. McBride slowly began to remove the bandages from the wound just below his knee, making this the first time Reed saw the actual cut. In Germany, the hospital staff required him to leave the room during any redressing. Reed schooled his features, putting a tight rein on his emotions, showing no sign of the horror Trevor must have endured to cause such an injury. While Dr. McBride worked, Trevor watched Reed closely, not looking at the doctor once. Reed finally lifted his eyes to Trevor’s, making sure the sorrow he felt didn’t reach his gaze. It took quite of bit of effort; the wound looked painful, swollen, and angry.
Reed gave Trevor a quick wink and a little side grin before reaching down to adjust himself from the dull ache inside his pants, which never quite went away since he opened the front door to the doctor. Hell, that wasn’t completely true either. The dull ache stayed in his pants since Reed watched Trevor enter the grand ballroom at the rehearsal dinner.
The movement successfully distracted Trevor, and he was again rewarded with a touch of red brightening his cheeks. Aquick flash of a smile came to Trevor’s lips. Reed’s heart did a flip in his chest.
Dr. McBride continued the exam, not saying too much more after seeing Trevor’s amputation. After every wound was bandaged, the doctor wrote out a couple of prescriptions, explaining each one to both Trevor and Reed, leaving a couple of samples to be taken now. The doctor would also be present at the rehab hospital tomorrow for Trevor’s appointment.
“Trevor, there’s no reason to live with this pain right now. Take this medicine as prescribed. You hear me, son?” Dr. McBride asked, looking down at Trevor.
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, is that a ‘yes, sir, I hear you’, or a ‘yes, sir, I’ll take my medicine’?” The doctor continued his steady stare on Trevor.
“It’s a ‘yes, sir’ to both.” Trevor smiled, taking both prescriptions and the samples from the doctor.
“Good.” Reaching down, Dr. McBride extended his hand and Trevor shook it immediately. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, son. I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Thank you for coming out.” Trevor clasped his hand. “Thank you for stopping by on such short notice. I hope this didn’t inconvenience your day, sir.”
“No, not at all. Now take it easy on the arm until we get you assessed tomorrow.” Dr. McBride finished packing his bag and snapped the buckle on the leather case closed. He turned back to Reed while taking the bag in his hand. Emotion played in his eyes the minute he turned away from Trevor.
“I’ll walk you out, Dr. McBride. Trevor, I’ll be right back,” Reed said. The doctor followed Reed through the house, and they stayed quiet. Once they made it past the point where there was no chance Trevor might hear, Reed turned and asked, “How does he look?”
“The wounds are healing nicely. It’s surprising not one of them became infected. He needs to take it easy, rebuild his body. That leg looks to have taken a beating during the flight. The swelling has increased based on what they said in Germany. I want him seen by Dr. Conrad first thing in the morning. He’s the best at this sort of injury. Trevor doesn’t remember much about that night, does he?”
“No, sir, he doesn’t remember anything. It sounded gruesome.”
“His body was ravaged. I’m not sure he should’ve lived through it. I want to get him some counseling, but I have a feeling we need to be inconspicuous with it all. You were right on the phone, he doesn’t say too much. He doesn’t seem like the kind that would go for a formal counseling session, so I’ll work it into his care plan.” Coming to the front door, Dr. McBride opened it before looking back at Reed. “I’ll be in touch. Keep him down. This is a good thing you’re doing, son.” Dr. McBride shook Reed’s hand, and left through the front door without a backward glance.
With a quick turn of the lock, Reed made his way back to the bedroom, stopping by the refrigerator to grab a cold bottle of water.
“Okay, sexy, per doctor’s orders you must take this medicine. I’ll send out for the prescriptions to be filled. No stalling on this, you promised,” Reed said. He came to the side of the bed, sitting down carefully on the mattress. Lifting the small plastic package, he peeled back the foil, letting the pill pop out into his hand.
“I feel fine,” Trevor began. Reed took the advantage, and shoved the pill into his opened mouth.
“No, you don’t feel fine. That’s a lie. Now swallow!” After handing Trevor the water, he peeled back another wrapper, popped the tablet out, and handed it over. “Now be a good boy and swallow this pill. If you do, we’ll work up to swallowing other things very soon.” With a wink, Reed glued his gaze to Trevor, watching him take all his medicine with a blush on his cheeks.
“Now there’s a good boy,” Reed said, bending down to softly kiss those sweet lips and Trevor puckered up to kiss him back as if it were the most normal thing between them.
“You taste divine, handsome,” Reed added, staying close to Trevor’s face, breathing him in. Holding the moment, Reed looked lovingly into Trevor’s eyes. “Now, one of those will make you sleepy, but I think you’re already there. Let’s lie you down, I want you to rest. I’ll leave the door open. Call me if you need me. Remember, you promised the doctor; no undue strain on this left side. I’ll get you to the restroom when you need to go. This button on the phone acts as an intercom. Press it, and it will find me. My home office is just through that door,” Reed said, looking over at a side door to his bedroom while positioning Trevor all the way down along the bed. He could already see Trevor was going to overexert his left arm from the way he tried to absorb his body weight and move himself down the bed. Reed frowned at him for using it so much, and arched a brow in his direction.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be a very bad patient, Trevor West,” Reed said, kissing him on the lips again. Reed absently moved the hair from Trevor’s forehead before continuing. “I’ll check on you. Please sleep for me.” Kissing Trevor’s sweet lips again for the third time in a matter of minutes, Reed could see the fatigue in his eyes. Hopefully a good sleep would chase it away.
“Thank you,” Trevor said, a yawn tearing from his lips. Reed stayed close, staring into Trevor’s mesmerizing blue eyes.
“I can see no need for any gratitude. It’s nothing more than you would do for me.” Reaching up, Reed again gently brushed the auburn strands of hair from Trevor’s brow. “Why must I keep reminding you we’re a couple?” Trevor’s eyes slid closed. Reed’s voice lowered. “You would think you might try to remember such important details.” Reed trailed off at the sounds of Trevor’s soft snores. Pulling the silky duvet up, he covered Trevor, tucking him the way Rylie told him Trevor liked to sleep. Apparently Trevor liked to be bundled up tight, so Reed tucked the sides of the covers along Trevor’s body. He made sure he lay comfortably on the pillows, and his leg was properly elevated.
The realization of how much Reed envied his duvet hit him hard. He desperately wanted his body to be the blanket covering this man right now. The thought struck odd, and he quietly chuckled to himself. Reed was never one for cuddling when he slept. Hell, if truth be told, Reed never slept with another before, ever. But he could feel his need growing to be lying wrapped tightly in Trevor’s arms. He knew without question his past sleeping patterns were about to change as he watched the handsome man sleeping in his bed. His heart filled with a depth of love he never knew existed. Bending again for the fifth time in a matter of minutes, Reed carefully kissed Trevor’s soft, sleeping lips. He couldn’t seem to keep his lips or hands off Trevor West.

Stretching out his long body, Trevor turned slightly in the bed, breathing in Reed’s cologne. The smell sent goose bumps along his arms. A faint reasoning tried to force its way into his dream. But, oh man, did he love this dream. Refusing to stir fully awake, Trevor sensed Reed surrounding him completely. Reed’s face took shape in his mind. A grin spread across his lips as Reed stood before him. His toned, muscular body was completely naked. His long hard cock jutted out, begging for Trevor’s touch.