Chapter 17

Aug 20, Sunday morning

Todd groaned and leaned against the doorframe while Loren unlocked the door. "Fuck. I'm hurting in parts of my body I didn't even know existed."

A week. A whole fucking week he'd been confined to a hospital bed, stuck in the most sickening, sterile environment he'd ever had the displeasure to be in. Granted, he was still alive, but Lord, he was glad to be home.

After opening the door, Loren pocketed the key, helped Todd into the house, and kicked the door shut. "And you better not leave your bed once I get you into it either. You know what the doctor said. No clients either."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Todd looked over and flashed him a lop-sided grin. "Thanks for calling my clients, by the way. I really appreciate it."

Once they reached the bed, he let Loren ease him down then set the crutches on the floor. As he stretched out on his back, he closed his eyes and just breathed in deep.

"Smells good," he said. He smiled slowly. "Smells like us."

"You know it was no problem, babe. I haunted the hospital as much as I could anyway." He began to undress Todd while he talked. "Let's get you comfortable. Then I promise you a home cooked meal to die for."

Todd hummed softly, then caught Loren's hand. He looked into Loren's eyes for a moment, then said, "Thank you, baby. For everything."

"No thanks are necessary. It wasn't that hard taking care of your place. And it won't be that hard to keep doing it until you're back on your feet." Loren pressed a light kiss to the back of Todd’s fingers.

It took a moment for realization to set in, and when it did, Todd just blinked. "What about work?"

"I got another week off. I really didn't give them a choice. I go back when I think everything is fine here." Once he got Todd's shirt off of him, Loren tried to shift Todd as little as possible and still get the rest of his clothes off.

Todd tried to help as much as he could while working out everything in his brain. Loren had spent nearly the entire week in the hospital with him, and now he was here until things were back to normal? Shaking his head, Todd just stared at Loren, thoroughly bemused. Then his stomach reminded him how much he needed something besides the bland hospital shit.

"Lord, I'm hungry. What can I do to help with dinner?"

"Absolutely nothing. You're going to rest here just like the doctor wanted you to. Now, you want anything to drink?" Loren pulled the sheet up over him and handed him the remote control for the TV.

Todd just kept his mouth shut. He knew Loren was right, but damned if it wasn't annoying as hell to be lazing about when someone else did all the work. The grimace on his face told Loren pretty much that. "How about a kiss? Then a Pepsi?"

All Loren did was chuckle when Todd made a face. As he leaned over, he brushed a soft kiss to Todd's lips. "One Pepsi coming up. And if you need anything else, just let me know. Don't you dare get out of that bed except for the bathroom."

Todd stuck his tongue out. "Yes, sir."

"Good thing you aren't arguing." He headed to the kitchen, then returned a moment later with Todd's Pepsi and set the can on the nightstand. "You love me bossing you around. Admit it."

Catching Loren's shirt in his hand, Todd tugged him back down. "Sure. Now fucking kiss me like you mean it, damn it. I haven't had any tongue from you since before the accident."

Loren hesitated for a brief moment. He'd tried to keep things light between them lately for obvious reasons. Still he did want a proper kiss. The flick of Loren's tongue slid between Todd's lips before delving into his mouth.

Todd groaned, fingers threading through Loren's hair. He plundered his lover's mouth, taking his own sweet time. Only when the need for air arose did he release Loren. "Damn. I needed that, babe."

"You and me both, Todd. Let me know if you need anything else. I'll go get your meds from the car in a few minutes. I'm going to start dinner first since I know you're hungry."

Turning on his heel, Loren went back to the kitchen. He'd already prepared the sauce for the spaghetti earlier so he put a pot of water on the stove to boil. Once he made sure he had everything he needed on the counter, he headed out to the car to get the hospital packet and Todd's meds.

Back in the kitchen, he set the stuff down. When the water began to boil, he added the spaghetti then made the garlic bread. Once it was in the oven, he got the sauce from the refrigerator and poured it into a pan to heat up. The recipe was a special one of his own, and generally required a bit of time to cook. Which was why he had made it before he went to get Todd from the hospital.

The whole time he kept an ear out for Todd as he finished making the spaghetti and preparing their plates. Twenty minutes later, he carried a tray to the bedroom. "Here's your meds, babe."

Loren set the bag on the nightstand before he sat down on the edge of the bed. He waited until Todd sat up before he set the tray across Todd’s lap.

"Oh, damn, babe." Todd closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "It looks and smells wonderful." He leaned over for a quick kiss, then sat back to start on his dinner.

"I figured you wanted something better than hospital food, babe. I'm going to bet I can put at least five or more pounds on you by the time I'm through."

Todd chuckled. "I wouldn't doubt it. I think I lost twice that much in the past week. This is excellent, babe. Thank you."

"I'm just glad to have you safe at home. There's still plenty left if you want more." He'd barely eaten half his plate in the time it had taken Todd to devour his own.

Spaghetti finished, he used the last of his bread to mop up the sauce on his plate. "No, babe," Todd said, pushing the tray away. "I don't want to overdo it." He reached over and opened up the plastic bag with his meds. "Shit. Fucking pharmacy in a bag."

Loren picked up the tray and stood to take it to the kitchen. "I memorized your med schedule. If you need a pain pill, you can go ahead take one."

Loren carried the tray to the kitchen and started washing the dirty dishes from dinner. It didn't take him more than a few minutes to have the kitchen clean again. Before he returned to the bedroom, he picked out a few movies from the entertainment center, then returned to the bedroom. "This should keep you happily occupied and not too antsy in bed."

Todd eyed him warily. "You realize I'm going to go insane regardless," he muttered, mouth full of pills. He took a big gulp of water and swallowed the pills down.

"Probably. But I'm still going to stay here anyway, babe. Just to keep you out of trouble."

Todd blinked, feigning a hurt look. "Are you suggesting I get into regular trouble, Loren Spears?"

"Considering I doubt you'd listen to the doctor on your own; yeah, you would." Loren gave him a knowing look. "You'd be letting clients visit you in your sick bed if I let you get away with it."

Todd opened his mouth to protest, but a single look from Loren had him snapping it shut again. "Bastard," he grumbled, a smile threatening to break through.

Snickering, Loren said, "For the next week or more, you're damn right I am. You're going to heal completely even if I have to tie you to the bed."

With a wink, Loren slipped into bed and rolled to his side, hand brushing back Todd's hair.

"Careful," Todd said, the grin coming out, purely wicked, "I might just have to test your limits."

Loren already had the feeling everything would, but he was willing to take it on for Todd's sake. "Do your best, babe. My time will come."

***

Aug 23, Wednesday afternoon

By the third day, Todd was nearing insanity. He was sure of it. He'd managed to convince Loren to at least give him his laptop and the cordless phone. Things were still achy, but at least he was able to sit up longer and work from the computer. For the first time in six hours, he glanced at the clock.

"Fuck." He'd missed his damn medication time. The pills were still sitting where Loren had put them nearly three hours before.

He could hear Loren in the kitchen, putting all the groceries away. But before he could take his meds, Loren walked into the bedroom, carrying the Godiva chocolate he'd promised Todd. From Loren’s pointed look at the pills still on the night stand near Todd, Todd figured he’d noticed.

Holding out his hand, he said, "I know, I know. I'm taking them now. I had some spreadsheet work to take care of and then I got caught up on the phone with a client."

"Todd, you need to take more care of yourself than your damn clients." The snap of sound when he set down the chocolates betrayed Loren’s annoyance. He picked up the pills and the glass of water to put them in Todd's hands. "Take the damn pills."

"Bills don't care either way," Todd muttered, tossing the pills back before taking a drink.

"You're fine on the bills for the time being, babe. So don't give me that excuse. Now put away the damn laptop and call it a day. You've been on it for six hours. Too damn long."

Todd scowled, but set the laptop to the side. "It's closed." Then he sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I need a damn shower." He tossed off the covers and started to slide his legs off the bed, steadying himself.

"Do you want me to start the bath for you, babe? Remember you can't get your leg wet. So either I give you a sponge bath or you bathe with your leg hanging out of the tub."

"Bath then," Todd said as he reached for the crutches. "I need to soak. I'm fucking sick to death of the bed."

Loren said nothing, but lately Todd had become more temperamental. When he headed into the bathroom, he said over his shoulder, "Do you want to sit outside on the porch after dinner tonight?"

"Yeah." Todd grunted as he stood, half leaning on the crutches, watching Loren start his bath. "Anything but the bed. Never thought I'd say that with you around." He gave Loren a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry I've been crabby, babe. I'm just…" Trailing off, he just sighed and shook his head as Loren undressed him.

"Stir crazy? I know, Todd, but you still need to be careful. You're recovering from a serious accident. The only reason you got to come home early from the hospital was because I promised Dr. Linsom I would take care of you."

After getting his lounge pants off and settling into the tub, Todd waited until Loren knelt beside the bathtub before pulling him close for a kiss. "Thank you, baby," he whispered before kissing him.

Sometimes it wasn't so easy not to want more, but Loren managed to keep it under control for the time being. When he broke off the kiss, he smiled as he teased, "For what, babe? For taking care of your lazy ass?"

"Hey." Todd pouted. He flicked a tiny bit of water on Loren. "Watch it, hot shot. I'll beat you with my crutches."

"And you think I would object? Why?"

Todd tried to say something clever and witty in response, but all that came out was a soft groan. Resting his head back against the edge of the tub, he closed his eyes and drifted in the sensations of his lover's hands gliding over his slick skin. "Feels good," he whispered, voice lowered an octave with the slow building of arousal.

The wash cloth and Loren hand glided over Todd’s chest in a gentle touch, soaping him up before Loren moved lowered. Loren badly wanted to touch Todd, needed the contact as much as Todd did.

For Todd, the world shorted out, faded away as Loren kissed him. He reached up and slid his fingers through Loren's hair, tongue playing over his lover’s. The muscles in his stomach tightened with every inch of descent, his hips lifting slightly, seeking more.

A hungrier element crept into the kiss, but Loren tried to stifle the rush of desire. He knew what Todd wanted, he wanted the same. As he washed over Todd's stomach, he felt the nudge of Todd's hardening cock, brushing against the side of his hand. Instead of ending the kiss like he should, Loren's tongue pushed against Todd's before sliding into his lover's mouth.

As his hand was brought down to Todd's cock, his fingers circled to the rigid flesh. If he stopped and thought about it, it would probably be the last time he gave Todd a bath.

"Loren…babe…oh, sweet fuck, don't stop…" The words were gasped, said between breaths against Loren's lips, Todd's eyes wide open and staring into Loren's.

After cupping water in his other hand, he rinsed the soap off of Todd before he lowered his head. He teased over Todd’s skin with a series of soft kisses and nips as his hand tightened slightly, alternating the speed of movement.

Todd groaned, head falling back against the tub. He stroked Loren's hair and down his back, reaching as far as he could. "Loren…"

"I need to taste you, babe. Been so long." Loren murmured against his skin as he descended to Todd's cock. He circled the head, tongue probing gently over the slit to taste the small drops of saltiness. His other hand unzipped his own pants and reached beneath the material to free his cock.

Quickly, Loren's fingers worked over himself as he swallowed Todd's cock, letting his throat muscles relax to take him fully in. A second later, the slide of his mouth and tongue matched the strokes of his own hand.

Loren's mouth tightened around the head of Todd's cock as his tongue flicked rapidly beneath the sensitive head. He kept that up for a long moment until he felt the jerk of Todd's body. With the demanding movement, he engulfed Todd in a tight suction. His body began to tremble at the same time Todd’s seed filled his mouth.

For a long moment, Loren savored the flavor as he carefully cleaned Todd off. Finally, he lifted his head, took one of the towels, and cleaned the mess off of his jeans and skin. A smile firmly plastered on his lips, he said nothing as he continued giving Todd his bath.