A small part of him was flattered that someone like Christopher Ansley wanted to be with him, if only to warm his bed until something better came along. Even that first time, he didn’t understand why Ansley picked him above everyone else. Ansley was outgoing and good-looking, he had obvious admirers, yet he set his sights on the man who sat quietly in the corner. When no one else wanted him for more than release, that sort of attention was alluring. But now, Oliver wanted nothing more than to slam the door in Ansley’s face and curse him for coming back and reminding him of his existence after three blessedly peaceful years. He should have known that civility would be wasted on Ansley.
At the hall door, Ansley hesitated with his hand on the molding and turned back to Oliver. A look between disappointment and wistfulness crossed his features as he held his gaze, but it disappeared as quickly as it came beneath a smirk.
“Well, I’m glad to see you’ve kept busy in my absence, but do be careful not to run afoul of your friend there.”
“You don’t know him.”
“Perhaps, but I know how you can be. It’s all fun and games until everyone is off their best behavior and the real you begins to show. If Galvan’s patience finally runs out or if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
At Ansley’s wink, Oliver shut the door in his face. How had he ever fallen for that man? Ansley didn’t know him then, and he didn’t know him now. He and Felipe had a good relationship, the best Oliver had ever had, and he wouldn’t do anything to ruin that. Ansley was just trying to get under his skin to spite him. Closing his eyes and drawing in a deep breath, Oliver tried to banish Ansley’s words from his mind as he returned to Felipe’s side.
Chapter Six
Stress Fractures
Felipe stared downat the notes he had taken in the archives, but the words passed across his vision in a meaningless blur. Once upon a time, he had been proud of how many monsters he killed, creatures he vanquished, criminals he caught, but after twenty years of inadvertently cultivating a reputation as a ruthless killer, he found his life far emptier than when he started. People respected him the same way they respected a well-honed blade, and weapons didn’t need love or friendship.
The tension dropped from Felipe’s shoulders as Oliver’s arms wrapped around his chest and pulled him close. Felipe smiled softly as Oliver drew in a breath against his neck and released a contented sigh. Turning, he caught the taller man’s mouth in a kiss. Their fingers tangled as Felipe leaned back, letting Oliver kiss him until he could scarcely think or breathe. He needed this. He needed to be reminded that he could do more than be a weapon. The tether tightened beneath Felipe’s heart as Oliver steadied him. Swallowing hard, he pulled back a fraction and rested his forehead against Oliver’s.
“Are you all right?” Oliver whispered, his fingers trailing into Felipe’s curls.
“I heard what Ansley said about me.”
“Don’t listen to Ansley. He’s an ass.”
“He isn’t wrong, Oliver, and it isn’t like others don’t agree with him.” Resting his hand where the wound had been, he said, “You of all people should know what I’m capable of.”
“That doesn’t matter. I love you, and—”
“That doesn’t change who I am.”
“I’mnotafraid of you, Felipe.”You should be, he wanted to whisper, but Oliver wrapped his arms around him and kissed him again as if to silence all doubts. As he pulled back, Oliver held Felipe’s face in his hands and locked eyes with him. “I trust you with my life, and nothing can change that.”
The backs of Felipe’s eyes burned against his will. “Oliver...”
“We have lived very different lives up until recently, but you aren’t dangerous. You aren’t something to be feared. No one likes to consider it, but we’re all capable of killing if push came to shove. Ansley never considered that I have a closet full of chemicals at my disposal, many of which are poisons, that I could have used when he pushed my buttons. I could have poisoned him a hundred times over, and he would have been none the wiser. And learning how to be a good doctor means learning all the ways you could kill people and all the ways you could inadvertently harm someone while thinking you’re doing good. I don’t dispute that you have killed. I’ve seen you do it, but it’s your job to stop others from coming to harm, and sometimes that means causing harm to make things better.”
