I hurried through the door to catch the guy in the back hallway and in my rush, bumped into a brick wall coming out of the bathroom. Well, he wasn’t a brick, but he was solid. And tall! He had to be at least six-foot-three because he was taller than me and I was five-ten in four-inch heels. I couldn’t tell much else about him in the dim hallway, but he was definitely big enough to help.
“Hey, sorry about that, but can you help me really quick? I need you to follow me out to the alley.”
I could feel the guy giving me a once over even though I couldn’t see it very well. When the door to the bathroom opened right then I knew what he’d see. A slender person with long hair, eyeliner, lipstick, tight tee, tight jeans, and kick-ass boots. Yeah, not butch’s usual cup of tea I bet, but I wasn’t cruising the guy. I just needed help.
“Uh, I’m not really into your type, but thanks.” With that, he turned and walked back to the bar.
“Goddammit!”
Well, fuck. I just needed some help, not a hookup for Christ sake. I yelled at the dude’s disappearing form.
“I’m not trying to hook up, you asshole. There’s someone who got knocked out in the alley that needs some fucking help!”
My words hung there in the empty hall because the guy was already gone.
“Hey, can I help you? I heard you say there’s someone who got hit?”
I stilled at the deep, smooth voice that washed over me in the dark, coming from somewhere behind me. In the darkness I could imagine a voice like that telling me all kinds of dirty things to do to him, and I’d do them all gladly. A voice like that had to have a body made for sin to go with it, but that was never how it worked in the real world. I shook those thoughts from my head to get back to the task at hand and turned around.
And yep, the voice was just the beginning. Apparently, the real world had given this guy the whole package, voice and body to match from what I could tell. He was tall and looked strong, not muscle-bound like the asshole a minute ago, no this was strong in a more natural way. I really, really wanted to see the rest of him, in the light, so I could fantasize about him properly later. The guy took a step forward, and I got my head out of my fantasy time and finally answered him.
“Uh, yeah, that would be great. I saw the guy get hit and his head hit the brick wall. He’s out there on the ground knocked out. I can’t pick him up by myself. I think he's a street kid, so I don't want to call the cops if I don't have to.”
Like I would have actually done that anyway, but I needed to let the guy know I wasn’t an idiot. Normal people called the authorities unless you knew better—no need to scare the normals.
The guy started down the hall and out the alley door before I’d even finished. I rushed after him, and he was already down the alley, slowly running his hands along the kid's face and neck. His hands were large, but not meaty like Marcus’s. No, his hands were long and finely made, almost like you’d imagine a surgeon or artist. I loved the look of a man’s hands and forearms. They were my weakness even though they weren’t the usual things that turned someone on. A nice pair of hands and strong forearms made my cock twitch every time. I couldn’t believe I was checking out this guy’s hands after nearly coming hearing his voice. What the fuck was wrong with me tonight?
“Are you an EMT or something? What are you checking for?”
“No, I’m not an EMT. I’m an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. I’m checking to make sure his jaw and the orbital bones in his face aren’t fractured before I try to move him.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline, and my jaw hit my chest. This guy was a surgeon?
“You’re a surgeon?”
Way to be original, asshole.
“What the hell are you doing in a gay dive bar, man?” I immediately slapped my hand over my mouth so I would shut the fuck up. Good God, I was such an asshole!
The big guy made a rumbling noise, and I realized he was laughing. Huh, maybe I hadn't made a terrible impression after all. As long as I could keep hearing that velvety voice, I’d take him laughing, even if it was at my expense.
“I happen to like the Swallow when I’m in town. It reminds me of when I was younger.” Then he sighed and mumbled under his breath, “And happier.”
Even though they were faint, those words hit me in the feels. For a second the guy kneeling in the filthy alley taking care of this strange kid seemed so alone and lost. I wanted to hug him and tell him it would all be okay. But who the hell was I kidding? I was being stalked now by psycho-cop. I couldn’t help myself, let alone a stranger. But even still, I was drawn to this man for some reason.
As soon as the feeling of melancholy entered the alley, it disappeared, and the guy was all business again. The kid started to come around now, and I leaned down to help him sit up. I finally recognized him as Donnie, one of the boys who worked the street around the club. His face was bruised, and his eyes were filled with the pain he must have been in. The guy checked his eyes and felt his head while asking him questions like what had happened and what year was it.
“Look, man, I’m good. I just got into a fight with my boyfriend. I’m good, really.”
Donnie shrugged off the guy's hands and started trying to get his feet under him to stand.
“Do you want us to call the cops?” the guy asked, and I could see Donnie turn a few shades paler than he had been a second before.
“You don’t have to put up with this, son. You deserve better than to be left in the alley by someone who’s supposed to care about you.”
Donnie had managed to stand now, but further mention of the cops made him lose his balance, and he leaned heavily back against the wall. Donnie’s brown eyes met mine and begged me to help him. I knew that calling the cops would be the worst possible thing to do. If they did, he might never make it to the precinct alive. On the streets it was known that you did not go against Marcus. I was so fucked, but I had to help Donnie out of this.
“Hey, it’s fine. I’ll take him home and make sure his boyfriend doesn’t touch him again tonight.” It was the best I could come up with, and I prayed it went over.
