Noelle Keaton Trusting the ER Doctor [MM]

A Total-E-Bound Publication

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Trusting the ER Doctor
ISBN # 978-1-78184-257-7
©Copyright Noelle Keaton 2013
Cover Art by Posh Gosh

©Copyright February 2013

Edited by Stacey Birkel
Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All

characters, places and events are
from the author’s imagination and
should not be confused with fact.
Any resemblance to persons, living
or dead, events or places is purely
coincidental.

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book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2013 by Total-E-

Bound Publishing, Think Tank,
Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL,
United Kingdom.

Warning:

This book contains sexually

explicit content which is only
suitable for mature readers. This
story has a heat rating of Total-e-
burning

and a sexometer of 2.

This story contains 36 pages,

additionally there is also a free
excerpt

at the end of the book

containing 4 pages.

TRUSTING THE ER

DOCTOR

Noelle Keaton

People trust Kyle and Trent with

their lives every day—surely the two
men can entrust their hearts to each
other.

After

his

last

relationship

resulted in a nasty break-up, the
last

thing

emergency

room

physician Kyle Montgomery is
looking for is another romance. Yet
when he meets hunky paramedic
Trent Jones, Kyle cannot deny the
immediate

attraction

and

undeniable spark between them. As
their love develops, Kyle begins to
put the past behind him and focus
on his burgeoning relationship with

Trent.

Trent, who has been drawn to

Kyle ever since he first laid eyes on
him, can hardly believe the
handsome

and

sophisticated

physician would give him a second
glance, much less return his
feelings. Coming from a modest
background, Trent wonders if he’s
in the same league as Kyle and if
their relationship can go the
distance. When Kyle’s former lover
surfaces with allegations that cause
Trent to question Kyle’s true
feelings and motivations, it is up to
both men to take stock and decide
whether theirs is a love worth

fighting for, a love worth trusting
in…

Dedication

To O, for whom I promised to

make my first dedication, and to

my mother for always believing in

me.

Trademarks

Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the

trademarked status and trademark
owners of the following wordmarks
mentioned in this work of fiction:

Goodwill: Goodwill Industries

International, Inc.

McDonald’s:

McDonald’s

Corporation

Chapter One

The coffee in the break room

had long turned into some sort of
weird, unidentifiable sludge, but
Kyle drank it anyway, needing
some sort of caffeine infusion to
make it through the next few hours.
Although his shift had technically
ended, the middle of the cold and
flu season meant the Philadelphia
General emergency room was
overflowing, so he wasn’t going
anywhere anytime soon. Moving
towards the window, Kyle sighed
as he watched the snowflakes fall
and hoped it wasn’t the beginning

of a snowstorm. Snowstorms meant
car accidents and car accidents
meant he’d never get to leave.

A booming voice interrupted

the quiet of the break room. “Hey,
Doc! What are you doing?”

Turning, Kyle saw Trent, a

paramedic, walk in, balancing a
carton full of Styrofoam cups in one
hand, and a white bag with the
delicious aromas of pastries wafting
from it in the other.

“Don’t drink that poison. Take

one of these.”

After pouring the rest of his

coffee in the sink, Kyle gratefully
took one of the cups Trent handed

him. “What’s this? A belated
Christmas present?”

“Nah. We lost to the ER again

in hockey, so this is the last of the
pay-up. I guess you weren’t here
when Joe did the first drop-off?”

Kyle shook his head. “This is

the first chance I’ve had to come up
for air all day. But should you be
giving me this? I’m not on the
hockey

team.” Too clumsy, Kyle

silently added, feeling inadequate
next to the muscular and fit Trent.
Despite

the

baggy

paramedic

uniform and the bulky jacket, Kyle
could tell Trent had the well-toned
body that came from hockey and

working out. While Kyle had a
decent body, the long hours he put
in as an ER attending physician
didn’t leave a lot of time to create a
brawny build like he’d had in high
school—the kind of build Trent had
now.

Get your mind out of the gutter

Kyle scolded himself as Trent
continued, “Don’t worry about it. I
won’t tell anyone if you won’t. I
know you guys have been slammed
today, so I doubt anyone would
begrudge you a coffee. Take one of
the pastries, too. The bear claws are
my favourite.”

“No, I better not.” But a loud

growl

from

Kyle’s

stomach

betrayed him.

“I think you’d better,” Trent

laughed, taking a bear claw out of
the bag and handing it to him.
“Otherwise, you’re going to scare
off the patients when you go back
out there.”

“You’re probably right.” Kyle

bit into the sweet and flaky pastry.
“But if that’s a way of clearing out
the ER so I can get out of here,
maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

“I hear ya. I’m just finishing a

double shift myself.”

“Lucky you.” Kyle wondered

what the paramedic’s after-hours

plans were. Although he didn’t
know the man very well, he’d
heard enough from the hospital
grapevine to know that Trent was
very popular and didn’t often lack
for company. No doubt, he couldn’t
wait to get home before the snow
started to fall even harder so that
he could plan an intimate evening
with his latest conquest.

But Trent didn’t seem to be in a

hurry to go anywhere. Even when
the break room had filled with
people as word spread about the
fresh coffee and pastries, he
lingered near Kyle. Running a hand
through his thick, dark hair, he

seemed nervous. “I know you’re
slammed here, Doc, but I was
wondering…”

If I want to go out on a date once

I’m finally done here

, Kyle thought,

knowing he was being ridiculous.
For one thing, he had to be at least
ten years older than Trent. Unsure
of Trent’s exact age, Kyle estimated
he was in his early to mid-twenties,
as compared to his own thirty-four.
For another, Trent probably had
other more desirable options for
dates than a tired, overworked ER
doctor with dark circles and bags so
deep under his eyes that the
airlines would probably charge him

extra. It had been far too long since
he’d got laid, which probably
explained why he was getting all
moony and delusional over Trent
just because the man had given him
a coffee and a bear claw. Pull
yourself together

, Kyle scolded

himself.

“Wondering…” Kyle prompted

as Trent paused, looking uncertain.

“I got off the phone with my

sister just before I got here. She said
my niece is spiking a fever of a
hundred and three. She’s been sick
the last couple of days. I thought it
was something that would run its
course, but Natalie doesn’t seem to

be getting any better.”

“Bring her in, I’ll take a look.”
“I know it’s a lot to ask with

you already being so busy…”

Kyle shook his head. “I trust

your

judgement.

you’re

concerned, then she probably does
need an examination. How old is
she?”

“Nineteen months.”
“Bring her in,” Kyle repeated.

“I’ll give the nurses’ station a
heads-up to take you and your
niece straight to an exam room and
to come and find me once you get
here.”

* * * *

Trent paced the small exam

room while his sister tried to
comfort his niece, who cried and
wriggled on the exam table. “So
where is he?” Mia asked. “It sounds
like Natalie’s getting worse.”

Trent picked up his niece and

rubbed her back, which only
lowered her cries from a full blast
to a dull roar. “You saw the
emergency room on our way in—it
was standing room only. We’re
lucky that we were able to skip this
far ahead in line, so don’t complain
that the doc’s not dropping
everything to come and see us.”

“He’ll be able to fix her, right?”

“Sure he will, stop worrying.”

Trent hoped his apprehension
didn’t show. At eighteen, simply
being

mother

seemed

overwhelm his sister sometimes.
He didn’t want to add to her stress
by showing his own concerns.

There was a light knock on the

door. “Come in,” Trent said,
handing Natalie back to Mia.

His heart beat a little faster as

Kyle entered with a smile and a
nod, but it had nothing to do with
his worries about his niece. With
his strawberry blond hair and
chiselled features, Kyle reminded
Trent a little of Prince Harry. A

slightly older and ten times hotter
Prince Harry. He tried not to stare
at Kyle’s ass as the doctor hunched
over the sink, washing his hands.

“Hi, I’m Dr Montgomery. Sorry

about the delay in my getting here.
I meant to be available as soon as
you arrived, but got sidetracked by
a consult on some lab results.”

“It’s no problem, Doc. We’re

just glad you were able to see us,”
Trent said, nudging a pouting Mia.

“Yeah, thanks,” she mumbled.
Trent shot her a nasty look, but

thankfully Kyle seemed to take no
notice of her attitude. He looked at
the chart. “I see her temp’s still

over a hundred. May I hold her?”

Mia handed Natalie to Kyle,

and Trent watched Kyle place his
thumb and index finger underneath
the sides of Natalie’s chin. “I’m
checking to see if her lymph nodes
are swollen, and they are.”

Mia’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Is that bad?”

“Well, it may explain why she’s

crying. You don’t feel well, do you,
sweetheart?”

Trent watched Kyle’s gentle

demeanour with Natalie. He knew
he had done the right thing asking
him to examine her. It absolutely
had nothing to do with his finding

the doctor hot and wanting to
spend more time with him. No,
nothing at all.

Kyle used a small swab to take

a sample from the back of Natalie’s
throat, which caused the little girl
to cry even louder. “I’m sorry, but I
had to do it to make you feel
better.”

Even Mia smiled at Kyle’s

interaction with Natalie. “You
know she can’t understand you,
right?”

“She can’t?” Kyle asked in

feigned shock. “Tell your mommy
she’s

underestimating

your

smarts.”

That got another laugh out of

Mia, and Trent admired the
effortless way Kyle was able to put
both her and Natalie at ease.

“I need this swab for a rapid

strep infection test. It shouldn’t
take more than about ten minutes,
so I’ll be right back,” Kyle said,
handing Natalie back to Mia.

Mia shot Trent a sly look when

Kyle had gone. “Well, I can see why
you wanted to bring Mia here
instead of waiting to take her to see
Dr Franklin.”

To his annoyance, Trent felt his

face grow hot. “Dr Franklin didn’t
have any openings until next week.

It wasn’t safe to wait that long,
especially if it turns out Natalie has
strep throat.”

“Uh-huh.”

Mia

raised

eyebrow sceptically. “And we saw
Dr Montgomery instead of one of
the other doctors here because…?”

“Because he was willing to see

us without making us wait in the
ER all night.”

“So the fact that the man’s

totally freakin’ hot has nothing to
do with it?”

“We’re here for his medical

expertise,”

Trent

said,

the

explanation sounding weak even to
his own ears.

“Is he gay? Is he available?”
“Yes, to the first question. I

don’t know about the other.” Trent
knew

Kyle

had

come

Philadelphia

General

from

hospital in Baltimore about two
years ago. Rumour had it that he’d
moved here to be closer to Leland
Ackerman,

the

head

the

hospital’s cardiology department.
Because of Leland’s prominent
position, the relationship between
the two men had been discreet.
However, it had been months since
the two men were seen together at
hospital functions, the cafeteria, or
even passing in the hallways. Word

had started to spread that they’d
broken up, and Trent hoped, for
once, the rumours were true.
Maybe then, he’d have his own
chance with Kyle.

Kyle re-entered the exam room

with

furrowed

brow.

“Unfortunately, the test has come
back positive for strep.”

Mia gasped, but Kyle squeezed

her

shoulder.

“Don’t

worry.

Untreated, it’s a serious illness, but
the antibiotics I’m prescribing
should clear it up in two to three
days.”

Handing Mia the prescription,

Kyle turned to Trent. “Do you think

you can get this filled tonight? I
have a sample that I’d like Natalie
to take now, but she’ll need another
dose in six hours.”

“We’ll stop by the drugstore on

the way home. Thanks so much,
Doc.”

“Thanks, Dr Montgomery.”

Mia hugged Natalie to her. “You’ve
been so great to see us at the last
minute like this. I’m sorry if we
kept you from any plans you had.”

“Don’t worry about it. The cold

and flu season, not to mention the
snow, pretty much cancelled out
any plans I had.”

“I bet that made your date

mad.” Mia’s face was the perfect
picture of innocence.

Trent wanted to strangle her,

but Kyle merely shrugged. “Going
out on dates haven’t really been an
issue for a while. In the meantime,
follow up with your paediatrician,
but if Natalie’s condition worsens
before you do, like if her fever
doesn’t go down, bring her back
here to see me.”

“Thanks again,” Mia said as

Kyle left. Evidently anticipating
Trent reaming her, she told him,
“You’re welcome.”

“Who told you to ask him

about his personal life?”

“No one, but you wanted to

know, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but…”
“But nothing. Now you know

Dr Montgomery’s available, so go
for it.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, you

know that.” But he couldn’t help
but temper his words with an
affectionate

tone,

which

Mia

returned with a smile.

“Like I said, you’re welcome.”

* * * *

The snow still fell steadily, but

fortunately it was only a light
dusting, for which Kyle was
grateful since it would make the

drive home easier. He wasn’t due
back at the hospital for another
sixteen hours, and he planned to
spend the bulk of it catching up on
his sleep.

But his growling stomach

reminded him he needed to take
care of another priority before he
hit the hay. He tried to think of
what he had at home to eat, but
could only remember seeing half a
bottle of mayonnaise and a couple
of dried-out oranges. A stop by
McDonald’s then home, he decided.

Walking

out

through

the

ambulance bay to the lot where
he’d parked, Kyle stopped when a

man called out, “Hey, Doc, hold
up!”

A grinning and slightly out of

breath Trent ran to catch up to him.
“Hey, I hoped I’d catch you before
you left. I wanted to thank you
again.”

“It’s not necessary, I’m glad I

could help.”

“But I bet you wouldn’t say no

to some Zorobos burgers.” Trent
held up a large bag from the Greek
diner located around the corner
from the hospital. “I didn’t think
you’d get a chance to eat during the
rest of your shift after we left.”

“I didn’t,” Kyle admitted,

eyeing the bag hungrily.

“You want to go back in and

eat these in the break room?”

“Nah, I’ve seen enough of that

place for the day.”

The look of disappointment

that crossed Trent’s handsome face
surprised Kyle. “Okay, well, why
don’t you take this home with you?
Two are feta burgers and the other
two are regular cheeseburgers.”

Kyle took the bag, and on

impulse said, “There’s no way I can
eat four Zorobos burgers, even as
hungry as I am. Why don’t you join
me at my place and help me eat
them?”

He instantly regretted the

invitation, sure that he was making
a fool of himself. But Trent’s face lit
up and he nodded like the
invitation was something he’d
wanted or anticipated all along.

What are you doing?

Kyle asked

himself as he gave Trent directions
to his condo, which was only a few
miles from the hospital. Hadn’t he
already learned his lesson about
getting involved with someone at
work? Don’t shit where you eat was a
motto that definitely applied.

But Trent didn’t work with

him, not exactly. He was a
paramedic who worked for a

company contracted out to several
Philadelphia area hospitals. If
things didn’t work out between
them, it wasn’t like Kyle would
have to see Trent on a regular basis.
Besides, there probably wasn’t
going to wind up being anything to
work out. This was just a couple of
colleagues sharing some burgers.
No big deal.

However, Kyle realised he was

fooling himself the moment Trent
stepped into his condo and took off
his

jacket,

revealing

taut,

muscular torso that was well-
defined even underneath the navy
paramedic uniform. In contrast,

Kyle felt slouchy in his green scrubs
and long-johns top, but he was
grateful the baggy material hid the
growing tightness he felt between
his legs.

Gazing around at the glass and

chrome minimalist décor, Trent
seemed to take no notice of Kyle’s
sudden arousal. “This place is nice.
Really sophisticated.”

“Thanks, but I can’t take credit.

It was an interior decorator’s
doing,” Kyle said, deciding not to
mention that nothing about the
condo’s furnishings was really to
his liking. His ex had insisted on
decorating Kyle’s condo to his

tastes, even though he’d had his
own place. While they’d broken up
several months ago, Kyle’s long
hours at the hospital prevented him
from making changes that were
more his style.

“I’d like to make enough bucks

to be able to hire a decorator,”
Trent said, as Kyle went into the
kitchen to get some plates. “I live in
half a duplex that I share with Mia
and Natalie. All we have are odds
and ends from the Goodwill or
donations from the church.”

“You like this? You can have

it.” Kyle watched with amusement
when Trent’s jaw dropped open in

surprise.

“Have it? You’d give this stuff

away? This living room alone looks
like it cost a fortune—at least a
year’s salary, maybe two.”

“I don’t know.” Kyle shrugged.

He settled into a chair across from
where Trent sat on the couch,
taking a bite out of one of the feta
burgers. Damn, it was good. “I
didn’t pay for any of the furniture,
so I have no idea what it’s worth. I
didn’t choose it, either.”

“Leland Ackerman bought this

for you? For the two of you to share
when you moved here to be with
him?”

Avoiding Trent’s intense blue-

eyed gaze, Kyle focused on his
burger. “There’s not much that’s
private at Philadelphia General,
huh?”

“Not really, especially when a

good-looking

doctor

suddenly

shows up. Everyone gets curious
and wants to know what’s the
deal.”

“Good-looking, huh?” Kyle

teased, amused to see Trent blush.
“Is that the Philadelphia General
consensus on me?”

Trent put his burger down and

took a deep breath. “So were you
and Leland Ackerman involved?

Are you now? Does he live here? Is
he going to show up here?”

The rush of questions showed

Kyle just how nervous Trent was.
Maybe even more so than he was,
and Kyle’s heart galloped to such
an extent it felt like it would jump
out of his chest at any minute. He
moved to Trent’s side and looked
directly into his eyes.

“It’s true I moved up here from

Baltimore to be with Leland. We
first met and became involved
while he was doing a fellowship at
the hospital where I was working.
When his fellowship was up,
Leland convinced me to move here

with him, where he’d been offered
the position as head of the
cardiology department. Thinking
we had a future together, I quit my
job and followed him.”

“What

happened?”

Trent

asked, moving closer to Kyle.

Trent’s

nearness

and

his

wonderfully musky, spicy scent
was

powerful

distraction.

However, Kyle was determined to
finish, knowing that he needed to
clear

any

rumours

preconceptions.

“Things

just

changed. Leland wasn’t the same
man that he’d been in Baltimore.
The power of his new job went to

his head, and he became arrogant,
rude and condescending. What I
thought or wanted didn’t matter
anymore. He wanted to call all the
shots in our relationship.”

“Like picking out this furniture

for you?”

“Exactly. Even though we each

had our own places, Leland still
wanted to exert his control over my
personal space, even though I
bought and paid for the condo
myself.”

“What an asshole.”
“Yeah, he is. I should have seen

it when we were in Baltimore. It
would have saved a lot of hassle if I

had.”

“I’m sorry about the hassle, but

I’m glad you’re here now.” Trent’s
mouth curled into a shy smile.

“I’m glad I’m here, too.” Kyle

realised it was the first time he’d
meant it in months.

As if pulled by a force field,

Kyle leaned towards Trent, who, in
turn, moved towards him. Their
mouths met hesitantly at first, as if
both were unsure of what the other
wanted. But from the moment he
touched Trent’s soft, full lips, Kyle
wanted more and he knew there
was no way he could stop. And
from the massive erection he felt

poking against his thigh, he didn’t
think there was any turning back
for Trent, either.

Darting his tongue in and out

of Trent’s mouth, Kyle twined one
hand in his dark hair, while using
the

other

unbutton

the

paramedic uniform. Unfortunately,
the buttons weren’t cooperating, as
much as Kyle tugged at them.

“What are these? Mini-chastity

belts?”

“Cheap-ass

manufacturing,”

Trent

said,

taking

over

the

unbuttoning. Kyle stroked the bare
flesh as it was revealed. Once
Trent’s shirt was totally off, Kyle

pushed him back down on the
couch, tonguing his way from
Trent’s mouth, to his neck, down to
his nipples, sucking on each until
they were perfect erect orbs. He ran
his hands up and down Trent’s
back, unable to get enough of the
feel of his silky and smooth skin. It
wasn’t the artificial sleekness that
came with waxing. Trent’s chest
was genetically blessed, velvety
muscle, and Kyle planned to kiss
every inch of it.

“This feels so fucking good.”

Trent grabbed Kyle’s ass and
squeezed it as he tilted his pelvis to
meet Kyle’s crotch. The friction

from their erections rubbing up
against each other caused Trent to
moan, which in turn made Kyle
increase the pressure of the kisses
he made in a trail down from
Trent’s chest to his stomach.
Pausing at Trent’s belly button,
Kyle alternately licked and sucked
at the indentation, increasing his
rhythm as Trent tangled his fingers
in his hair.

After fumbling with the zipper

on Trent’s pants, Kyle pulled them
down, along with the briefs.
Gripping the shaft of Trent’s cock
in his hand, Kyle felt a few drops of
pre-cum, which he used to stroke

up and down the long, thick
member. He rose back up to kiss
Trent deeply on the mouth. Kyle
continued to make small, sensual
circles around the shaft of Trent’s
cock and used the resulting pre-
cum to stroke the full length of
Trent,

making

his

already

enormous hard-on bigger and
bigger.

“You’re

gonna

make

come,” Trent mumbled, matching
Kyle kiss for kiss. “And you’re not
even naked yet.”

“That’s easily rectified,” Kyle

started to lift his scrubs and long-
johns over his head, but Trent

stilled him.

“No, let me. It’s my turn to

touch you.” Trent slid his hands
underneath the shirts and lifted
them over Kyle’s head without ever
losing contact with Kyle’s flesh.
“You feel so good…strong and
hard.”

“Not as good as you,” Kyle

said, admiring Trent’s biceps as he
caressed them. “I’d have to work
out for a year before I got a body
like this.”

“You’re perfect the way you

are,” Trent said, lowering his head
to Kyle’s nipples, gently biting
them in a way that caused Kyle’s

erection to throb out of control.

“You are too.” Kyle watched as

Trent removed his scrubs and
boxers the same way he’d removed
the top, maintaining contact with
Kyle’s aching flesh. Kyle took a
sudden, deep breath as Trent took
him into his mouth, kissing and
licking the shaft first, then slowly
taking in more and more. Grasping
Trent’s shoulders, Kyle shifted so
that more of his cock slid into the
paramedic’s willing and eager
mouth. The heat of Trent’s lips,
along with the increasing pressure
and rhythm, made Kyle want to
come immediately.

As if he sensed this, Trent

pulled back and grinned. “What’s
your hurry? Got a plane to catch?”

“Sorry,” Kyle panted, barely

able to catch his breath. “It’s been a
while and I’m out of practice. And
it doesn’t help that you’re turning
me on more than I’ve ever been in
my life.”

The gleam in Trent’s eye told

Kyle the feeling was mutual.
“That’s why we need to make this
last as long as we can. I’ve been
dreaming about fucking you ever
since I first saw you. I want this
first time together—the first of
many

times,

hope—to

something neither one of us ever
forgets.”

“It already is,” Kyle assured

him, planting kisses along his
jawline.

“Not quite. I want to feel you

inside me.”

The mere thought made Kyle

groan with desire and nearly shoot
his load right then and there, but
the technicalities brought him back
down to Earth…a little. “I think I
have some lube upstairs, but I’m
not sure about the condoms. I
haven’t really had occasion to use
either lately.”

“I got lube in my jacket pocket,

and condoms are in the back pocket
of my pants.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “So

this was a planned seduction?”

“Let’s just say I had hopes,”

Trent said, kissing Kyle as he
disentangled his arms and legs to
reach his clothes.

Taking advantage of Trent’s

crouching position, Kyle gently
pushed him onto all fours, kissing
the back of Trent’s thighs and ass
while applying the lube to his
fingers. Stroking Trent’s back with
one hand, Kyle inserted a finger
into him, circling the rim of Trent’s
hole, increasing the pressure as

Trent moaned. It was Kyle’s turn to
gasp when Trent reached behind to
stroke his cock as Kyle inserted
another finger, feeling less and less
resistance the more he caressed. By
the time he inserted the third
finger, Kyle knew it was time.

He put the condom on and

slowly slid his cock into Trent,
relishing the tight feel of Trent’s ass
around

his

aching

erection.

Gripping Trent’s waist, Kyle arched
his back so that he could go deeper,
wanting to get as much of himself
into Trent as he could, wanting to
be as close to this magnificent man
as he could possibly be. Kyle

pumped sure and steady strokes,
each one bringing him closer and
closer to a mind-blowing climax.

“Faster! Faster!” Trent urged. “I

can’t wait much longer.”

“I thought you were the one

who wanted this to last as long as
possible,” Kyle said, pounding
faster nevertheless, for his own
pleasure

and

satisfaction

addition to Trent’s.

“Don’t stop. Just don’t…” Trent

moaned loudly and spasmed,
indicating his release, and Kyle
followed suit, pouring his cum into
Trent. Exhausted, he fell on his side,
still clutching Trent to him and

burying his head in the man’s
shoulder.

“I made a mess here. Do you

want me to—?”

“No,” Kyle interrupted. “I just

want us to stay like this.”

“You’re

fantastic,”

Trent

whispered, linking his hand with
Kyle’s and kissing it.

“So are you.” Kyle pulled Trent

even closer to him, relishing the
warmth their closeness created.

* * * *

Trent slowly blinked his eyes

awake, catching the first rays of
dawn slipping in between the
blinds. But what were they doing

on the left of the room? The
windows in his bedroom were on
the right side. Disoriented, Trent sat
up, but the warmth of the body
next to him quickly reminded him
of his whereabouts.

Months ago, when he’d first

seen Kyle working in the ER, Trent
had fantasised about what it would
be like to touch him, kiss him, hold
him. But he’d never allowed
himself to imagine that the dreams
might actually come true. Kyle had
seemed unattainable, not only
because of the rumours of his
involvement

with

Leland

Ackerman, but also his general

demeanour. Quiet, serious, and
intense, Kyle didn’t appear like the
type who would ever be interested
in someone like Trent. Up until his
niece had been born, Trent’s biggest
concerns were maintaining his top
beer-pong status at the Black Dog, a
local bar, and making sure that he
wound up with the hottest guy in
the bar at the end of the night.

But all of that changed once

Natalie came along. With Mia not
being much more than a child
herself at sixteen, and the father
dumping Mia shortly after he’d
learned of the pregnancy, Trent
knew he’d have to be the one to

step up to the plate and take
responsibility. Fortunately, after
months on the waiting list, Trent
landed a paramedic position with
the

city’s

emergency

services

department, and the extra money
had allowed him to move to a place
with space for him, Mia and
Natalie, who’d arrived a few weeks
thereafter.

Settling

down

under

the

weight of his new responsibilities
hadn’t overwhelmed Trent or
turned into a drudge as he’d feared.
Instead,

he’d

embraced

the

challenges, feeling steady and
secure for one of the first times in

his life. Yes, his social life had
slowed a little, but winding up with
the best-looking guy at the bar was
no longer a priority. Now, Trent’s
main goal was finding someone
who took the work-life-family
balance as seriously as he did.
Someone like Kyle.

Don’t fall too far, too fast

, Trent

cautioned himself as he snuggled
up to Kyle’s back. But as he kissed
the back of Kyle’s neck and gently
cupped his balls, Trent feared he’d
already begun to lose himself.
Although Kyle remained asleep, his
cock rose to attention as Trent
slowly kneaded his testicles. His

own cock hardened, and Trent slid
his fingers up the cleft of Kyle’s ass,
stopping once he found the open
hole.

With Kyle’s penis in his hand,

Trent began to stroke the length of
it as he moved his tongue down
from Kyle’s neck and back until he
inserted it into Kyle’s hole, darting
it in and out at first, relishing the
musky, almost smoky taste. Then
he began circling it with his tongue,
starting with the outermost ring,
going inward and growing closer
and closer to the centre, increasing
the pressure of his strokes on Kyle’s
cock as he did.

“Oooohhhh,” Kyle moaned,

shifting his legs as he finally awoke.
The change in position opened Kyle
up more, increasing Trent’s access,
which he used to plunge his tongue
right into the very core. Still
stroking Kyle’s erection, Trent felt
it began to slick with Kyle’s pre-
cum as it grew harder and harder.
Using his newly lubed hands, Trent
inserted three fingers into Kyle’s
hole quite easily.

Feeling Kyle’s hard-on start to

spasm, Trent moved up so that
Kyle’s body was nearly entirely
covered by his own. Quickly
slipping on a condom, Trent

replaced his fingers in Kyle’s hole
with his own rock-hard erection.
Trent began to grind his hips and
pump, roaming his hands over
Kyle’s chest as he did. The tightness
of Kyle’s hole made him want to
come

immediately,

but

Trent

focused on making it last, wanting
to extend the pleasure for both of
them for as long as possible.

“That feels so fucking good.”

Kyle took Trent’s hand and sucked
his fingers. “How are you so young
and so good at this?”

“You make me good at this.”

Trent thrust harder, knowing he
wouldn’t be able to hold back much

longer. Only when Kyle stiffened
before launching into a series of
violent tremors did Trent finally let
go, climaxing even longer and
harder than he had last night,
which he would have thought
impossible until now.

“Now that’s what I call a hell

of a wake-up call.” Kyle collapsed
against Trent’s chest. “But much
more pleasurable than the snooze
button.”

I can make sure you wake up this

way every morning

, Trent wanted to

promise him. But he didn’t want to
get too clingy too fast, something
that annoyed him with other men

who acted like one night of great
sex—although now his definition of
great sex would have to be
significantly revised after last night
with Kyle—equalled a lifelong
commitment.

But

Kyle

was

d i f f e r e n t , this

was

different.

Wrapping his arms around Kyle’s
chest and hugging him to him,
Trent could only hope Kyle felt the
same way.

Chapter Two

Whistling to himself, Trent

walked through the Philadelphia
General ER, hoping to catch a
glimpse of Kyle. It had been only
eight weeks since their first night
together, but they’d fallen into a
routine of checking in with each
other whenever Trent brought in a
patient. They rarely got a chance to
do more than exchange quick
hellos, but merely seeing Kyle gave
Trent enough of a thrill to get
through the rest of his shift.

Not spotting Kyle, Trent went

to the supplies room to collect

items he needed to replenish his
ambulance. After grabbing boxes of
soft roll bandages, gauze pads, and
latex gloves, Trent turned, running
right into another person entering
the room.

“Sorry, I…” Trent started, until

he realised he was looking into the
cold,

green

eyes

Leland

Ackerman.

“No problem,” Leland said, not

budging. “Actually, I’m glad to run
into you. I’ve been wanting to meet
Kyle’s boy toy.”

“Boy toy?” Even though Trent

was taller than Leland by an inch or
two, the man’s withering glare

made him feel small.

“Yes,” Leland nodded. “What?

Has Kyle convinced you that
whatever there is between you is
something more than a fling?”

“What Kyle and I have is none

of your business.”

“It isn’t, you’re right. But, by all

accounts, you’re a nice guy. I’d hate
to see you get hurt, so I just thought
I’d warn you.”

“You’re

threatening

me?”

Trent laughed, even though there
was little he found funny. “Okay,
you’ve said your piece, now move
outta my way.”

Leland stepped to the side, but

followed Trent down the hallway.
“Did Kyle tell you how we broke
up?”

“Yep.” Trent tried to ignore the

sudden tightening in his stomach.

“So, he told you that he caught

me with another man? A younger
man?”

“I don’t see what that has to do

with me or why you’re telling me
this.”

Trent quickened his pace but

Leland matched his stride. “Because
Kyle is only using you to get back at
me. I made a mistake and I’ve
apologised, but Kyle still feels
wronged. This affair he’s having

with you is his way of evening up
things between us.”

“You’re full of shit. Kyle’s not

like that.”

“He isn’t?” Leland asked in a

mocking tone. “Just how much do
you know about Kyle?”

“Enough to know he wouldn’t

play games or use me like you’re
saying.”

To Trent’s relief, they’d finally

reached his ambulance, which he
hoped meant an end to this
uncomfortable conversation. But
Leland lingered, leaning against the
ambulance with his arms folded in
front of him.

“I have a feeling you don’t

know the first thing about Kyle.
Has he told you anything about
himself or his background?”

“You know, Dr Ackerman,

Kyle and I have been way too busy
doing other things to talk about his
background.

Maybe

we’ll

get

around to it, one of these days. But
we’re having so much fun, who
knows when we’ll get around to
talking?”

Leland’s face reddened and he

curled his hands into fists. For a
moment, Trent thought the other
man was about to hit him. But
Leland got himself under control,

with his expression returning to its
calm façade.

“I guess I deserved that. But

just keep in mind that for all the
fun you think you’re having now,
Kyle’s still in love with me, and
he’s using you to make me jealous.
Once he believes his scheme has
worked, Kyle will dump you in a
heartbeat.”

“You really think so, huh?”

Trent busied himself with stacking
the supplies in the ambulance, but
Leland smiled as if he realised he’d
hit a nerve.

“Oh, I know so. Kyle comes

from one of the wealthiest and

most socially prominent families in
Baltimore. How could he be
interested in someone like you? A
poor, redneck paramedic from a
nothing background?”

Trent tried to come up with a

retort, but the words wouldn’t
form. Leland nodded and smiled, as
if he knew he’d scored a knockout
blow. He started walking back
towards the hospital entrance, but
stopped and turned, as if he’d
forgotten something.

“Seriously, ask yourself—why

is Kyle still here in Philadelphia?
All of his friends and family are in
Baltimore. And out of all the men

in the city to choose from, why
would he choose someone here at
the hospital where he knows I’ll see
and hear about it? I’ll tell you
why…he wanted to stay to make
me jealous, and I’ll admit, to some
extent, it’s worked.

“Now, Trent, you seem like a

decent fellow, and I hate that Kyle
has put you in the middle of this
drama between us. But it’s only fair
that you know where you stand
before things get too serious here.”

Trent managed to wait until

Leland had gone back inside the
hospital before he slammed his fists
against the ambulance and kicked

the tires. ‘Poor, redneck paramedic’—
that’s me in three words

. Trent

wished his partner would hurry up
so

they

could

get

back

headquarters. He needed to be
alone to think. No, on second
thought, he hoped there would be a
ton of call-outs tonight. Enough to
keep his mind off Leland’s words
and keep from wondering how
much of it was true.

The passenger door opened up

and Trent stuck the keys in the
ignition. “Let’s get going—”

But to Trent’s surprise, instead

of his partner, Holly, it was Kyle
who slid into the passenger seat.

“Hey there! Holly’s still inside, but
I’m glad I caught you before you
left. I have to work another half-
shift, so we need to push the dinner
plans back. How about a late-late-
late night snack instead?”

Just thirty minutes before, the

invitation

would

have

been

absolute heaven. In fact, it was all
Trent could do now to keep his
hands to himself, especially with
Kyle caressing his thigh, moving
closer and closer to his crotch.
Exercising all the discipline he
could muster, Trent shifted so that
Kyle was forced to stop touching
him.

“Tonight’s no good. I have

some stuff I need to do at home.”

“Okay, well, just come over

after it’s done.” Kyle tried to stroke
his cheek, but Trent evaded his
touch.

“Uh, let’s just make it some

other time.”

Trent tried to keep his voice as

casual and calm as possible, but
from

the

way

Kyle’s

eyes

narrowed, he could tell Kyle wasn’t
fooled. “What’s wrong? And don’t
say nothing because it’s clear you’re
upset.”

Trent looked into Kyle’s hazel

eyes, but quickly returned his own

gaze to the steering wheel in front
of him. “I had a talk with your ex
tonight.”

Kyle snorted. “I hope you told

him to fuck off. There’s nothing he
has to say that has anything to do
with us.”

“Actually, if he’s right, it has

everything to do with us. He said
you’re still in love with him and
that you’re using me to get revenge
over an affair he had.”

He waited for Kyle to deny it,

to say Leland was lying. Instead,
Kyle muttered to himself and shook
his head. “Son of a bitch!”

“Yeah, he is that. But is any of

what he said true?”

“No, don’t believe anything he

says.”

“What about you catching him

with another man? Leland said
that’s the only reason you broke up
with him.”

“He told you about that, huh?”

Kyle banged his fist against the
dashboard. “Stupid son of a bitch.”

Trent didn’t know if Kyle was

still referring to Leland, or maybe
now he’d resorted to calling him
names since the truth was out.
Either way, he wanted Kyle out of
his ambulance. “You need to go
back inside, Kyle.”

“Trent, wait—”
“No! Just leave me alone!”

Trent shouted as the words poor
redneck paramedic

echoed over and

over again in his head.

“I understand you’re upset, but

I can explain. You need to hear me
out. I didn’t bring up Leland’s
cheating because—”

“I’ve heard enough!” Trent

reached over and opened the
passenger door. “Now are you
going to leave or am I going to
throw you out?”

“Don’t be like this, Trent. I

thought we were close enough for
you to at least hear me out and give

me…give us a chance.”

Trent felt Kyle’s pleading gaze

on him, but he didn’t meet it,
keeping his own eyes straight
ahead until he finally heard Kyle
leave and the passenger door shut
behind him. It’s better this way,
Trent told himself as he did his best
to hold it together and not break
down. Obviously, you were nothing
but some revenge ploy of Kyle’s against
Leland, so you’re getting out before he
hurts you further

Only, Trent wasn’t sure if he

could be in any more pain than he
was in right now.

* * * *

Muttering a stream of curses,

Kyle stalked towards Leland’s
corner office, one of the perks that
came with being head of the
department. Ignoring the secretary
in the outer office, Kyle opened the
door to Leland’s inner sanctum,
only to find it empty.

“Where is he?” he asked the

gaping woman. “I know he’s still
here.”

“He’s

meeting

with

the

hospital administrator, but I don’t
know when he’ll be back.”

“I’ll wait.” Kyle closed the door

in the woman’s face. Un-fucking-
believable. Leland had convinced

him to leave his family and friends
in Baltimore to build a future
together in Philadelphia. Then once
they got here, Leland had turned
into a control freak, bossing Kyle
around and treating him as nothing
more than a decorative ornament.
The final blow, however, had been
the cheating.

Only a few months ago, in this

very office, Kyle had found Leland
bent over his desk, with his pants
down around his ankles, with one
of the residents he mentored
pumping fast and furiously into
him.

Dropping the folder full of

brochures of resorts where they could
spend a long weekend, Kyle found
himself too stunned to speak. It was
only when Leland arched his back to
allow the resident deeper access that he
finally saw Kyle.

“What are you doing here?” he

yelled.

“Bringing you the information

you wanted about what we should do
over the long weekend,” Kyle said in a
dull voice, as Leland and the resident
scrambled to pull up their pants.
Focused on Leland, Kyle barely noticed
as the resident slunk by him and left
the office.

Flustered, Leland cleared his

throat. “Look, this isn’t what it looks
like. I just needed a quick release. It
doesn’t mean anything, and doesn’t
have anything to do with us.”

“Fucking one of your residents in

your office when we’re supposed to be
faithful to one another has nothing to
do with us?” Kyle didn’t know if he
was more insulted by Leland’s tired,
clichéd excuses or his nerve in thinking
Kyle would actually buy it.

“It’s a fling, it’s nothing. Forget

it, and let it go.” Leland started
shuffling papers on his desk, as if
things between them were settled.

“I plan to.”
“Good.” Leland smiled with relief.

“Now pick up those brochures. To show
you what a good sport I am, I’ll let you
choose where we go.”

“No, you don’t get it, Leland.

When I said I plan to forget it and let it
go, I was referring to you and me. It’s
over.” Kyle turned and left the office
without a backward glance, ignoring
Leland’s calls for him to come back.

Ever since then, Kyle had made

sure to limit their interaction. Since
he worked in the ER on the first
floor and Leland worked in
cardiology on the fourth, avoiding
each other at work was relatively

easy. And not wanting to set foot
on Leland’s property ever again,
Kyle had bought replacements for
the assorted toiletries and clothes
he’d left at Leland’s house. As for
Leland’s items at his place, Kyle
had stuffed them into a garbage bag
and left them with Leland’s
secretary.

Of course, Leland had made

repeated calls, texts, and even
showed up several times on Kyle’s
doorstep pleading for another
chance. But Kyle had his mind
made up. He didn’t know or like
the person Leland had become
since he’d taken over as head of the

cardiology department. Catching
him with another man was simply
the last straw.

The opening of the door

brought Kyle back to the present,
and

Leland

entered

with

smirking, self-satisfied expression
on his face. “I had a feeling I’d be
seeing you tonight. I take it your
little plaything told you about our
conversation.”

“What did you say to Trent?

No, wait—first I want to know
what the hell you’re doing talking
to him in the first place.”

Leland took his time removing

his lab coat and placing it on the

coat rack before settling in behind
his desk. “Would you like to have a
seat?”

Kyle remained standing. “I’d

like an answer to my question.”

Reclining back in his chair,

Leland smiled. “I did you both a
favour, telling Trent where he
really stands with you. I told him
that you’re still in love with me,
which you are, even if you won’t
admit it. I explained how you were
using him to make me jealous. It
really isn’t good to mess with ones
that young, Kyle. They fall too
hard, too fast. The longer you stay
involved, the harder it is to

extricate yourself.”

“Well, you would know.” After

they broke up, Kyle had learned
that the resident he’d caught
Leland with was far from Leland’s
first affair. Apparently, Leland had
cut a wide swathe among the
Philadelphia General staff.

“See,

you’re

still

angry.”

Leland leant forward, folding his
hands on his desk. “And if you’re
still angry, that means you still
care.”

“No, I’m angry because you’re

interfering in my life and my
relationship with Trent. You and I
are over and never getting back

together, so you have no right to try
to come between me and Trent.”

“He’s not right for you, not

suitable. The two of you are too
different. You’re a doctor from a
good family, and he’s a low-class
paramedic. He’s nowhere near
good enough. You’re slumming,
Kyle.”

“No, I was slumming when I

was with you and put up with your
bullying,

condescension

and

cheating. Trent’s background is
none of your business, but I have to
tell you, he has more class than you
ever will.”

Kyle turned to go, but Leland

shouted, “If I’m so horrible, why
are you still here in Philadelphia?
Admit it—you’re still here because
you want to give us another
chance.”

Startled, Kyle turned back

around to look at Leland in
amazement. “What the hell are you
talking about? The only reason I’m
still here in Philadelphia is because
of the employment contract I
signed with the hospital. If it
wasn’t for that, I’d have left a long
time ago.”

“And I guess Trent is another

reason you’ll stay?”

Kyle nodded. “I’m going to try

and undo the damage you’ve done.
I’m going to tell Trent you’re a
jealous snob who played on his
insecurities to try and split us up.”

“It won’t last. You’ll be back,”

Leland said to Kyle’s departing
back.

“No, I won’t. You’re out of my

life for good.”

* * * *

In the weeks they’d been

dating, Kyle had never once been to
Trent’s

house.

They’d

always

stayed at Kyle’s place. He’d never
questioned it, figuring that Trent
preferred his place so they could
have privacy. But walking up the

steps of the duplex, Kyle wondered
if the real reason was because Trent
was ashamed of the modest West
Philadelphia neighbourhood. Many
of the surrounding homes were
boarded up, with bright orange
‘condemned’ signs slapped on them,
along litter-strewn streets. It was a
long way from Kyle’s clean, tree-
lined

neighbourhood

just

off

Rittenhouse Square. None of it
made the least bit of difference to
Kyle, but he could see how Leland’s
cruel words might have affected
Trent and caused him to doubt
Kyle’s true feelings.

Ringing the doorbell, Kyle

expected to see a still-upset Trent.
However, it was Mia, holding
Natalie in her arms, who answered
the door.

“Dr Montgomery, hey! What’s

up?” Mia stepped back to let Kyle
inside. “You looking for Trent?”

“Yeah, I need to see him. It’s

really important.”

Mia looked at a wall calendar.

“According to this, Trent’s shift
ended over an hour ago. To tell you
the truth, Doc, if he’s not here, I just
assume he’s with you. You two got
pretty serious, pretty quick, huh?”

“Yeah, we did. But we had a,

uh, misunderstanding, and I need

to find him to straighten things
out.”

Putting Natalie in a high chair,

Mia asked, “I hate to be nosy, but
can I ask if this has anything to do
with another guy?”

“In a way.”
Mia’s lips pursed together.

“Did you cheat?”

“No! No way,” Kyle shook his

head. “But he ran into an ex of
mine who wanted to get back at me
by filling Trent’s head full of
bullshit.”

“Bullshit like what?”
Kyle wondered how much he

should tell the young woman, but

her clear blue eyes, so much like
Trent’s, commanded total candour
and honesty. “He told Trent I was
only using him to make my ex
jealous. Apparently, he also told
Trent about my wealthy family in
Baltimore and said that meant
Trent wasn’t good enough for me.”

“Sounds like a real fucking

asshole.” Mia disappeared into the
kitchen. “He hit all of Trent’s weak
spots.”

“What do you mean?” Kyle

asked as Mia returned with a small
bowl and a spoon, settling into a
chair across from Natalie.

“See, our father took off when

Mom was pregnant with me. After
that, Mom pretty much checked
out, too, leaving us with whatever
relative felt the sorriest for us. So,
that’s how Trent and I got started
with the trust issues.

“And it didn’t get any better

when Trent’s first boyfriend, a guy
he totally fell head over heels for,
dumped him for a guy who
promised to buy him a car and a
flatscreen TV.”

Kyle

watched

Natalie

gobbled up the carrots Mia spooned
for her. “I understand that Trent
has been hurt in the past. But I still
wish he had trusted me enough to

open up before believing Leland.
At the very least, he could have
given me a chance to explain.”

“When he calms down, you’ll

get that chance.” Mia paused before
looking Kyle directly in the eye.
“He really likes you, and I think
you feel the same way.”

“I do,” Kyle assured her.
“Good. You two have a good

thing going, and I like seeing my
big brother happy.”

When Trent gets here, we’ll talk

things out and get back to being happy

Kyle thought, hoping that things
would actually work out that easily.

* * * *

It had been a long time since

Trent had got as hammered as he
was now. Definitely not since
Natalie was born had he tied one
on like this. Lurching up the steps
towards his front door, Trent tried
to remember the reason for his last
bender. No doubt, he’d probably
been betrayed by a guy he thought
he loved then, too. Working on a
bomb squad in Afghanistan was
probably a safer bet than taking
another chance with his love life.

Fumbling to fit the keys in the

lock, Trent sighed with relief when
the door opened up, although Mia’s
frowning face had a sobering effect.

“Where have you been?”

“At the Black Dog. I needed to

think.”

“You mean you needed to

drink. I’ve been calling you all
night. Why didn’t you answer?”

Trent stumbled past her into

the house and collapsed on the sofa.
Through bleary eyes, he tried to
decide which one of the three
visions of Mia was the real one.
“Something wrong with Natalie?
She all right?”

“She’s fine, sleeping in her

crib.”

“Good.” Trent planted his face

down into the sofa cushion.

“I was calling you because Kyle

was here. He waited three hours for
you to show up so you two could
talk.”

“Don’t wanna talk to him.

Nothing left to say. Don’t wanna
hear no more lies.”

“Sit up!” Mia pulled at Trent’s

arms until he was semi-upright.
“What lies are you talking about?”

“I was used… Kyle used me to

get back at his ex.” Trent tried to lie
back down, but Mia kicked him and
caused him to jolt back up again.
“What’s that about?”

“Kyle told me that his ex got to

you and bent your ear about a

bunch of bullshit.”

“Yep.” The last thing Trent felt

doing

was

reliving

the

discussion with Leland all over
again, something he’d done all
night at the bar. But from the way
Mia stood over him and glared,
he’d obviously get no peace until
he did.

He recounted the conversation

with Leland. Trent had expected
Mia’s expression to soften when she
heard his side of things and began
to sympathise. However, her face
only hardened and her stance
stiffened the more she listened.

“You’re a fool,” she said once

he’d finally finished.

“I’m the fool? I’m the injured

party here!”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Injured

how?”

“Injured because Kyle used me

to get back at Leland.” Saying the
words for the first time aloud made
Trent see how weak and empty
they sounded, unlike the strength
and conviction with which they’d
echoed in his head as he’d downed
boilermakers at the Black Dog.

“According to who? Leland,

Kyle’s ex? Of course he’d say
something like that. He wants Kyle
back and you’re in the way. So

what’s the best way for him to get
rid of you? Tell you a bunch of lies
about what Kyle’s intentions are,
get you to believe them so you’d
break things off, and presto, Kyle is
free again. You played right into his
hands, bro.”

Bile started to churn in his

stomach. “But what Leland said
made sense. The only way someone
like Kyle would be interested in
someone like me is if Kyle’s playing
games to get back at Leland. Leland
was right when he said I’m not in
Kyle’s league, that I’m not good
enough.”

Plopping down beside him on

the couch, Mia sighed. “You’re not
making any sense. You’ve let
Leland get it all twisted. Are you
mad at Kyle because you think he’s
using you or are you scared of not
being good enough for him? It can’t
be both.”

Trent remained silent and

listened while Mia continued,
“Leland threw a bunch of bullshit
at you, hoping that something
would stick. And it looks like it
did.”

“I’m such a fool.” Trent leant

forward with his face in his hands.
“Kyle said right from the start how
manipulative Leland was. It’s the

main reason they broke up. I should
have seen through the mind games
and realised Leland was playing
me.”

“Yeah, you should have.” Mia

nodded.

“Thanks for the support.”
“You know I got your back.”

Mia lightly punched his shoulder.
“But I’m tired of you letting your
issues and hang-ups get in the way
of a good thing like you have with
Kyle.”

“I won’t let that happen this

time. I gotta talk to him.” Pulling
his phone out of his pocket, Trent
then reconsidered. “No, I need to

see him face to face.”

“Not tonight.” Mia shook her

head. “You need to sleep it off.
Plus, I don’t think Kyle was all that
thrilled with you when he left here.
Blowing off my phone calls and not
showing up here for three hours
when your shift was over kind of
pissed him off.”

“Then it’s even more important

that I see him right away.” Trent
rose unsteadily to his feet. “I gotta
make this right.”

“Trent, wait—you’re in no

shape to drive.”

“My car’s still at the Black Dog.

I caught a cab home, so I’ll catch

another to Kyle’s.”

“This is a bad idea,” Mia said,

but Trent wasn’t listening. He
couldn’t wait—he’d wasted enough
time already. He had to see Kyle, to
apologise for believing Leland’s lies
in the first place and get things
back on track between them.

* * * *

From the moment Kyle opened

the door and greeted Trent with
sad, yet remote eyes, Trent started
to think that maybe Mia had a
point about waiting until he’d
sobered up to do this. But he was
here now, on Kyle’s doorstep, and
there was no turning back.

Trent took a deep breath. “I’m

sorry, I’m so sorry. I was wrong to
listen to him. I shouldn’t have
listened, shouldn’t have believed.
I’m sorry, sorry, sorry.”

“Are you drunk?” Kyle asked,

the disdain evident in his voice.

“I was at the Black Dog

earlier,” Trent said, avoiding the
question. “That’s why I didn’t hear
the phone. I didn’t know Mia was
calling to tell me you wanted to
talk.”

“Would you have answered the

phone if you knew she was calling
on my behalf?”

Trent looked down, shuffling

his feet. “I’d have answered
because something might have
been wrong with Natalie.”

“But would you have talked to

me?”

Kyle’s strident tone made Trent

meet Kyle’s gaze once more.
“Probably not. I was still pretty hot
under the collar then.”

“And

what

calmed

you

down?”

“Mia helped me to see how

Leland manipulated me. Even
though you warned me how he
was, I still fell for it.”

Kyle

nodded,

though

his

expression

remained

solemn.

However, he did move from the
doorway to allow Trent to enter.

“Thanks,” Trent said, grateful

for the warmth and to escape the
chill of the outdoors.

However,

Kyle’s

attitude

remained frosty. “So, you didn’t
come to your senses on your own?
Mia’s the one who helped you to
see the light?”

“Yeah. It’s sad that my baby

sister saw right through Leland
while I fell for his bullshit, hook,
line and sinker.”

“Leland’s good at making you

believe what he wants you to
believe. I know I did for a long time

while we were together.”

“So, you understand? Does that

mean you forgive me?” Trent
moved to take Kyle’s hands in his,
but Kyle shoved them in the
pockets of his pants.

“There’s nothing to forgive,

Trent. I know better than anyone
how easily Leland can twist things
around and cause you to doubt
yourself and or the motives of
others.”

“Exactly.” Relief started to

flood through Trent at Kyle’s
words, even if the look on Kyle’s
face stayed solemn.

“But I’m disappointed you

wouldn’t even give me a chance to
defend myself, to counter Leland’s
lies. I thought what we had
between us was strong enough to at
least give each other the benefit of
the doubt before jumping to the
conclusions Leland wanted you to
reach.”

“It is strong enough.” Trent’s

stomach started to churn again.

“I thought so, too, until

tonight. If you believed Leland so
easily, then you don’t trust me or
trust us as much as I thought.
What’s going to happen the next
time he approaches you with new
lies? Because now that Leland has

seen that he can get to you, you can
rest assured he’ll try again.”

Trent

blinked,

hoping

prevent the tears that were
threatening to form as Kyle
continued, “Maybe we rushed into
things too fast without giving
ourselves a chance to really get to
know each other. That’s probably
how Leland came between us to
begin with. Had there been a
stronger foundation between us, he
wouldn’t have been able to do
that.”

“Leland came between us

because of my stupidity. I know
better now.”

Shaking his head, Kyle looked

as miserable as Trent felt. “It’s
probably better if we take a break.
Space is something we both need
right now.”

Trent wanted to protest, but

knew it wouldn’t do any good as it
was clear Kyle’s mind was made
up. “I really am sorry.”

“Me too.” Kyle held open the

door as Trent walked through it,
going back out into the cold, dark
night.

* * * *

As the taxi dropped Kyle off at

the corner of his block, he reflected
on what a rotten day it had been.

Well, most of the ten days since he
and Trent had broken up had been
rotten, but today had been worse
than most. An accident on the
Schuylkill Expressway had flooded
the ER with injured victims. Then
he’d had a fight with the ER
department head over budget cuts
that would put a further strain on
the already over-taxed ER. And
worst of all, he’d run into Leland in
the cafeteria, where Leland had
made sure Kyle took note of his
latest

protégé,

handsome

cardiology fellow. Kyle didn’t feel
the least bit jealous, but neither did
he think it fair that Leland got to

enjoy an apparently active love life
while having blown Kyle’s own to
bits.

It’s not all Leland’s fault

, Kyle

reminded himself. You’re the one
who broke up with Trent

At the time, it had seemed like

the right thing to do, but now Kyle
wasn’t so sure. He missed Trent
desperately, having not even seen
him in passing as he transported
patients into the ER. Kyle hadn’t
felt this lonely after breaking up
with Leland. Then he’d been more
relieved to have finally put an end
to a relationship that had been
deteriorating for some time.

But

Trent’s

absence

was

another matter entirely. Kyle didn’t
realise how many gaps Trent had
filled in his life until he’d stopped
seeing him. More than just their
intense sexual bond, Trent had
filled the roles of friend and
confidant as well. Whether it was
venting frustration over hospital
bureaucracy

and

politics,

laughing

over

the

latest

Philadelphia General gossip, Trent
made Kyle feel more at home here
in Philadelphia in the few weeks
they’d been together than Leland
had in the many months they’d
been a couple. Kyle sorely missed

that closeness. He felt more alone
now than he ever had.

As he approached the steps of

his building, Kyle saw a familiar
figure sitting on the steps. No, it
couldn’t be. He rubbed his eyes,
sure that it was a figment of his
imagination. “Trent?” he asked, the
uncertainty plain in his voice.

Trent smiled, causing Kyle’s

heart to soar and break at the same
time. “Yeah, it’s me. I come bearing
gifts.”

Kyle eyed the large blue

container next to Trent, which
looked

the

kind

pizza

deliverymen used. “That’s food, I

take it?”

Trent nodded. “I figured since

it was food that got you to notice
me in the first place, and it was
food that you to invite me home,
maybe food would come through
for me one more time in getting
you to give me a second chance.”

As much as Kyle wanted to

self-righteously declare that he
couldn’t be bribed, he was hungry.
The last thing he’d eaten was a stale
egg salad sandwich from a hospital
vending machine seven hours ago.
“What have you got in there?”

Trent’s eyes lit up. “Burgers

from Zorobos, pepper steak and

shrimp fried rice from the Happy
Wok, some of those barbecued ribs
you like from Waylon’s, and bear
claw pastries for dessert.”

“That’s enough food to feed an

army for a week!”

“Using some inside sources, I

found out you’d worked two
doubles this week, so I figured that
meant you’d probably been eating
nothing but vending machine junk.
At the very least, I wanted to make
sure you got a proper meal. But I
also wanted to talk to you again,
this time without the fog of
Leland’s lies or the effects of too
many boilermakers getting in the

way of what I have to say.”

“You didn’t have to buy out

every restaurant in town to do that.
I’ve had a chance to calm down,
too, and I think I can talk more
rationally about what happened
between us.”

“So, should I take the food

back?” Trent teased.

“You better not! I’m starving.”

Kyle let the both of them into his
place. After bringing plates into the
dining room, he immediately went
for the ribs, munching on the
tender meat and spicy sauce.

He’d polished off six ribs and

was about to start on the pepper

steak when Kyle noticed that Trent
was only toying with the shrimp
fried rice. “Why aren’t you eating?”

Trent shrugged. “I’m enjoying

watching you.”

“Oh, come on—you like food

every bit as much as I do. In fact,
I’m shocked you let me nearly
polish off that slab of ribs by
myself. We’re usually fighting over
the last one.”

Trent set down his fork and

looked Kyle right in the eye. “To be
honest, I haven’t had much of an
appetite since we broke up.
Knowing that I fucked up a good
thing makes it hard to keep food

down.”

“I’ve been pretty miserable,

too,” Kyle admitted. “I tried
burying myself in work, but it
didn’t make up for the fact that I
missed you so much.”

Trent’s face brightened. “So I

didn’t make a fool out of myself
coming here?”

“Not at all. You didn’t have to

do all this”—Kyle gestured at the
food spread all over the table
—“although I’m glad you did, but
that’s beside the point. I’ve missed
you and have been wrestling with
whether to get in touch, and what
to say if I did.”

“Mia said you were probably

missing me as much as I missed
you.”

“Mia was right.” Kyle reached

over and took Trent’s hand in his.
“I’m not saying there aren’t things
we still have to work out. But the
last couple of weeks have shown
me that I’m a lot happier and my
life is better when you’re in my life
than when you’re out of it.”

“Except for Mia and Natalie, I

don’t have a life if you’re not in it.”
Trent stood up, still holding Kyle’s
hand. “Let’s leave the rest of this
for later. I’m ready to show you just
how much I missed you.”

Kyle eagerly followed Trent to

his bedroom, pulling off his scrubs
and boxers en route. He was naked
by the time Trent turned to pull
him in his arms. “Hey! Where are
your clothes? I wanted to take them
off you.”

“Next time.” Kyle covered

Trent’s face and throat with kisses.

“There’s going to be a next

time?” Trent asked as he encircled
Kyle’s waist with his arms.

“There are going to be many,

many next times,” Kyle promised.
He rubbed his growing erection
against Trent’s crotch, enjoying the
feel of the friction of his flesh

meeting the khaki fabric of Trent’s
pants. Trent’s bulge also began to
grow, which made Kyle press
against him even harder.

Kyle massaged Trent’s back

and became reacquainted with
Trent’s mouth, remembering just
how warm, soft, and luscious it
could

be.

their

tongues

intertwined, bumped, and caressed,
Kyle drew Trent closer to him, so
close they were almost one.

“I’m going to come in my pants

if I’m not naked soon,” Trent said,
coming up for air. “And I don’t
think that’s what either one of us
wants yet.”

“Everything in good time.”

Pushing Trent onto the bed, Kyle
straddled him as he slowly undid
the buttons of Trent’s shirt, one by
one. With each button, he bent
down to kiss the newly exposed
flesh, taking little nips as he went
along.

“You’re torturing me! I’m

dying

here!”

Trent

moaned,

gripping and squeezing Kyle’s bare
buttocks as if to speed things along,
but Kyle continued at the same,
steady pace.

“You have to admit, it’d be a

hell of a way to go.” With Trent’s
shirt finally off, Kyle focused on

unbuckling his belt and unzipping
his pants. Trent’s cock was so
engorged that the zipper almost
undid itself. Circling the head with
this thumb, Kyle used the pre-cum
that had formed there to stroke the
length of Trent’s cock, slowly at
first, then faster and faster until it
was fully erect.

Kyle pulled Trent’s pants

completely off and sank to his
knees, taking the massive hard-on
into his mouth. He licked the slit at
the tip then took more of it in,
enjoying

its

salty-sweet

taste.

Trent’s grip in his hair grew tighter
and tighter the more pressure Kyle

applied to his erection. Soon, Trent
began thrusting his hard-on into
Kyle’s mouth, matching the rhythm
Kyle had already established with
his strokes.

Kyle sensed Trent was close,

but Trent pushed Kyle away. “No, I
want us to come together.”

Trent slid off the bed, dropped

to his knees and cupped Kyle’s face
in his hands for a long, deep kiss. “I
love tasting you right after you’ve
tasted me,” he said.

Cupping Trent’s balls in his

hands and gently kneading them,
Kyle bent to kiss Trent’s nipples,
which grew hard as soon as Kyle’s

lips touched them. Sucking one,
then the other, Kyle gasped when
Trent

started

massaging

his

testicles, causing his own erection
to get even harder. Trent took them
into his mouth, licking at first, then
sucking with a gentle, yet insistent
force that made pre-cum drip from
Kyle’s cock and almost made him
pass out from sheer dizzy desire.

Wordlessly, as if by mutual

agreement, the two men sank to the
floor, but Kyle shifted so that he
could take Trent’s hard-on between
his lips, while Trent continued to
massage his balls with his tongue.
Kyle didn’t know how much longer

he would last, because the more
pressure he applied to Trent’s cock,
the more pressure the other man
applied to his sac.

Swivelling

his

hips,

Kyle

extracted himself from Trent’s
mouth, leaving a dazed Trent with
a confused look on his face.
“Condom,”

Kyle

explained,

panting.

Reaching into his bedside table,

Kyle grabbed the condoms, as well
as the lube. He put some lube on
his fingers then inserted them into
Trent’s hole, relishing the tightness
he found there.

Groaning and arching up into

Kyle’s

hand,

Trent

grunted,

“More.”

After sliding in another finger,

Kyle swirled them in a circle, and
pulled them in and out, alternating
between

the

two

motions.

Removing them, Kyle then licked
Trent’s hole, plunging his tongue
into the very centre of its hot core.
Trent wriggled and shuddered in
delight, turning his head to look
directly at Kyle. “Now.”

“Yes,

now,”

Kyle

agreed,

putting on the condom. Although
his desire was such that he wanted
to ram his entire length into Trent
right away, Kyle forced himself to

ease into it, wanting to savour the
tightness and enjoy each and every
moment.

“Nobody since you,” Trent

mumbled as Kyle pumped.

“No one for me, either,” Kyle

said, pulling Trent up so that he
could massage his muscled chest as
he continued to pump.

“I want to feel all of you,”

Trent said, spreading his legs a little
wider.

Kyle groaned with a final

thrust, his cock totally disappearing
into Trent. Kissing the back of his
neck, Kyle moved his hands down
the length of Trent’s chest until

they covered Trent’s where he was
massaging his erection.

“Faster,” Trent whispered, and

Kyle obliged, pumping at a frenetic
rate. With his heart racing out of
control, time and space disappeared
for Kyle. All he knew, all he cared
about, was holding Trent in his
arms

and

maintaining

this

incredible rhythm until they both
came.

With a shout, Trent came first,

with cum spilling all over both his
and Kyle’s hands as well as their
legs. Clutching Trent tightly to him,
Kyle gave a final, powerful thrust,
exploding into Trent, his hard-on

releasing wave after wave of cum.

Weary, they both sank to the

floor, as Kyle still held on to Trent,
kissing his neck and jaw, while
running his fingers through Trent’s
hair. Trent nestled up against his
chest, taking Kyle’s hand and
entwining their fingers.

“I love you, Kyle,” he said in a

strong, clear voice. “I thought I did
before, but being without you
convinced me that this is the real
deal.”

“Trent, I—”
Trent held a finger to Kyle’s

lips. “You don’t have to say it back.
I just wanted to be open and honest

about how I feel about you. I don’t
want there to be any room for
misunderstanding

confusion

ever again.”

Kyle turned Trent’s head and

kissed him full on the lips. “I love
you, too. That’s the first time I ever
said it, but it won’t be the last. I
plan on saying it, and showing it to
you, every day.”

“You didn’t even say it to

Leland?”

“Nope. He thought the words

were silly and unnecessary to say,
and I went along with him. But
even if I told him I loved him, I
would have been lying because this,

what we have right here, is love.
This is nothing I ever had with
Leland, nor with anyone else. I love
you, Trent—just you.”

“Me too, Kyle. Me too.” Trent

shifted so that he and Kyle could
fully embrace each other.

Lowering his mouth to kiss

Trent again, Kyle reflected on the
irony of his having moved here to
set up a new life with the man he
loved, thinking Leland was that
man. After they had broken up,
he’d thought the dream was over.
But, holding Trent in his arms, Kyle
realised his dreams were just
beginning.

Also available from

Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Doctor, Doctor

H.L. Holston & Eleanor

Bruce

Excerpt

Chapter One

The heat of Ryker’s naked body

pressed against Daniel, from the
backs of his knees up to where his
soft lips caressed the back of his
neck. He gasped when Ryker’s very
obvious erection slipped into the
cleft of his ass as the warm water
from the shower beat against his
chest. Daniel’s cock hardened at the
sensation of Ryker’s dick sliding in

between his ass cheeks. Suddenly,
his solitary shower took on a whole
new meaning.

But trust Ryker to pick the

worst time to want to fuck. Daniel
had an early shift at the hospital
and was already running behind.
Besides, whatever happened to a
subtle wooing? This was a far cry
from the soft wake-me-up kisses
and sweet nothings Ryker usually
bestowed on him in the morning.
Normally his lover was the master
of seduction, not the wham, bam,
thank you ma’am

approach. Despite

his arousal, Daniel frowned. This
new technique needed some work.

“In a rush, sailor? Do I even get

a say on where that thing is going?”
Daniel griped, his voice still rusty
with sleep. He pushed back against
Ryker anyway, telling him that
despite his sarcastic words, he
wanted

Ryker’s

embrace.

wanted Ryker’s strong arms around
him, craved the feeling of his thick
cock slipping inside him, pounding
his ass as only Ryker could do.

“You looked so beautiful just

standing there with the water
rolling off your perfect…lush…and
utterly tempting body.” As he
spoke, Ryker swept his palms over
his stomach, down his treasure

trail, finally gripping his swollen
cock. “How could a mere mortal
resist? It was like your ass was
calling my name.” His hands
abruptly moved from Daniel’s dick
to grab that part of anatomy that he
was talking about.

Daniel laughed at his lover’s

ridiculousness. “Well, that call is
going to have to wait, stud. I’m
running late for work.” Daniel
sighed, disappointed he couldn’t
stay and play with his lover.
“Despite having a boss who is a
dream to work for, tardiness is not
accepted in my line of—”

“Screw him. Tell him you got a

flat or your dog died. A few
minutes won’t matter. I can’t wait
until tonight. I need you right now,”
Ryker implored. His voice was low
and purposefully seductive, and he
was back to stroking Daniel’s
painfully hard dick with a skill that
left Daniel breathless.

Daniel moaned in response to

Ryker’s touch and his heart
pounded with each caress. This was
the Ryker he knew and loved—the
passionate man who had seduced
him within days of their initial
meeting.

The

heated

caresses

continued and Ryker slowly began
licking a strip on the back of

Daniel’s neck, then bit the spot
behind his left ear to remind him
who was running this show .

Daniel cried out, his entire

body trembling. His remaining
resistance

crumbled

Ryker

continued to worry at his hot spot.
Daniel shivered and the nipping
became harsher, each one a little bit
harder than the last—not enough to
bruise, but enough to be painfully
erotic. Ryker was hitting all his
kinks this morning.

Fuck it. He’d gladly be written

up for being late if it meant more of
Ryker’s naughty caresses and the
lust that flared between them every

time they touched.

“Okay, okay. God, you are such

a horn dog.” Daniel spread his legs
to welcome Ryker into his body.
“But make it fast. If I get sent to the
brig, you’re dead meat when I get
out.”

“I promise to bake you a cake

with a file in it and mail it to
Leavenworth,”

was

Ryker’s

desperate answer as he moved in
closer to push Daniel up against the
tile wall. Daniel bit back a moan
and tried to remember how to talk.

Daniel tensed when Ryker’s

rigid length pushed deep inside
him. Ryker felt huge. “Jesus, give a

guy a little warning next time.”

Ryker

sighed

with

exasperation. “Make up your mind,
Danny-boy. First you want it fast,
now you’re complaining because I
did as you asked?”

“One day, Ryker. Jesus, one

day…” He broke off, his body
gradually adjusting to the invasion.

“And I’m looking forward to

that. Now be quiet, I have work to
do.”

The next thrust nailed his

prostate and Daniel’s cock twitched
against his belly, hard and wet. He
grunted out his pleasure as the
intense sensations inundated him,

and when the next lunge came,
Daniel buckled and fell to his knees.
Ryker followed Daniel down to the
ceramic tile of the shower floor,
slipping out for a moment. Then,
Daniel felt Ryker’s strong hands
grip his hips at the same time as
Ryker started to pound into him
again. Daniel arched back, allowing
the other man greater penetration
as Ryker continued to nail his
prostate on every thrust.

In his sexual past, Daniel had

cared about a few other men and
had enjoyed making love with
them. The sex had been satisfying—
usually an extension of their

friendship—but sex with Ryker was
transcendent. It was everything
everyone said lovemaking should
be—beautiful, sizzling, fun, yet
loving at the same time. Daniel had
been hooked from the moment
Ryker had kissed him nearly a year
ago. All his past lovers paled in
comparison.

With every moment Daniel

spent with Ryker, he knew that he
was in way over his head, but
found, as Ryker fucked him within
an inch of his life, he just didn’t
care. Screw work, his career. He’d
give it all up to stay in Ryker
Kincaid’s arms. He wasn’t sure the

other man felt the same way, but
that was okay for now. Daniel
could love him enough for both of
them.

Ryker stretched and filled him,

thrusting

harder

and

deeper,

developing a rhythm that made
Daniel buck and moan, pushing
back to meet each one of Ryker’s
movements. And with each thrust,
he could hear Ryker whisper in his
ear, “Daniel. So beautiful. So
responsive. So mine.”

Turning his head so Ryker

could see his face, Daniel raggedly
said, “Yes. Yours.” This wasn’t just
another hard fuck or friends-with-

benefits relationship. They had
moved past that. No, this was so
much more and had been for
months in Daniel’s case.

Ryker’s blue eyes flared with

emotion and he bent down and bit
Daniel’s

neck,

marking

him

without words. This time, Daniel
knew there’d probably be a bruise.
How the hell was he supposed to
hide a hickey at work? But again,
lost in Ryker’s mesmerising spell,
Daniel found he didn’t care.

The intense sensations and

feelings were all too much for
Daniel—he gasped, sobbed, then
climaxed, his body shuddering out

his release. Ryker soon followed.

Finally the coldness of the

water flowing down upon them
broke Daniel out of his post-
orgasmic reverie. As Ryker slipped
out of him, Daniel turned around,
waiting for his reaction to their
lovemaking.

However,

Ryker

avoided his gaze and instead
reached around him to turn off the
water, remaining in the shower
stall.

Silence reigned.
Ryker was running away again.

Locking himself up—avoiding the
big pink elephant in the room…
their lives.

Finally, Daniel spoke uneasily,

tired of the game. “Sorry, but I have
to go. You can finish getting ready.
Just lock up when you leave.” As he
opened the glass door and stepped
out of the shower stall, Ryker
halted his escape with a firm hand
on his arm.

His blue gaze pierced the

distance between them. He could
see the uncertainty in Ryker’s eyes.

“Daniel, you know I wish

things were different. If I could
change my situation…”

He sighed then gave a resigned

shrug. “I know, Ry. Believe me, I
know.”

Daniel pulled away, then

grabbed a towel off the rack on the
wall,

throwing

his

parting

comment over his shoulder as he
left his lover alone in the shower.
“See you later.”

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About the Author

Noelle Keaton has bounced

around the United States,
including stays in California,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia, but
she now resides in Florida.
Although she works as a tax
associate

for

large

corporation, her first love is
writing. When she isn’t jotting
down ideas for new stories,
you can probably find her
reading a book from an ever
growing

stack,

debating

politics and current events
with friends, or experimenting