Othello smirked,not responding to the doctor’s curiosity. If only he knew how right he was. Conti owed him close to two million dollars plus interest. He’d needed money to open his restaurant, and since he couldn't get a loan from the bank, he turned to Othello, who practically owned half of the restaurant with how much Conti still needed to pay. Conti would pay him for the rest of his and his children’s lives on the weekly interest alone. He had never forced Conti to take his money; the man practically begged him, and even Othello had told him to think things through. If anyone asked Othello for the shirt off his back, he’d give it to them, but that didn’t mean it came for free. Someone would have to pay.
“Thank you,” the doc said, getting his attention.
“For what?” Des placed his menu down on the table.
“You could have said no to hanging out with me tonight after it seemed like I ghosted you. But honestly, I was getting my life together after I quit my job and dealing with some family shit. Also, I know going to an amusement park wasn’t what you had in mind, but another truth, other than hanging out with my best friends, Gray and Bianca, I’ve never been on a date before. Wait, is this a date?”
“Do you want it to be?” Othello stared into the doctor’s pretty green eyes. He watched the doc chew on his bottom lip as if he was nervous about saying what was on his mind, so he said it for him. “I don’t put out on the first date.”
That brought a smile to the green-eyed man’s face, and not for the first time that night, Othello thought his eyes reminded him of the angel he saw the night he was shot. He hadn’t thought about that in a while. Knowing that it was all a figment of his imagination, he pushed the thought aside and focused on enjoying the rest of the evening.
“You also don’t have to thank me. Your text came at a good time.”
“How so?”
“My mother was nagging me that I work too much. Since my brother’s having a baby, she’s hoping I’ll see the light and find a guy to settle down with.”
Doc shook his head. “Well, at least you know she cares.”
Othello sighed. “I do.” He smiled. "So, you quit your job?"
“Yeah, in a roundabout way, I took your advice,” Doc said. "I didn't like being a surgeon. I'm following my dream to be an artist. I'll probably be in school for the rest of my life with all I want to do, but I don't care."
"Good for you, Doc," Othello said.
"You shouldn't call me that anymore. I'm no longer a doctor."
"What would you prefer I call you, then?" he said in a low voice that surprised even him, but he didn't show it. The look in the other man's eyes flashed a few ideas in his mind.
"I..." the little doc started but stopped when the server came in with the antipasto, a tray filled with Italian cured meats, bruschetta, cheese, marinated vegetables, and basil paired with a dry sparkling wine.
“I hope you don’t mind. This menu was already preselected for any time I come here,” Othello told him.
“No, it’s fine. I haven’t been here before, so I’ll let you take the lead for the rest of the night.”
Othello paused for a second at the doctor’s words. If the other man knew just how enticing those innocent words were to a carnivore like him, the little carrier would probably run for the exit. Instead, he opted to watch the doctor as he ate and sipped on the wine, savoring the crisp acid taste of the alcohol. Othello didn't need to see the man's mark to know the man could carry children; his instincts about people were never wrong, and usually, he'd stay far away from guys like that, but there was something about Des that called to him.
He couldn’t tear his gaze away as the doctor licked his lips, relishing every bite he took. Othello felt the doctor didn’t trulyknow how alluring he was. The man was pure in every sense of the word, and if he stuck around him, Othello would surely ruin him, whether it was as a friend or more.
One of his reasons for agreeing to go out with Doc Des was that he was hoping to find a fuck buddy for a bit. But he couldn’t use the man sitting across from him, especially after reading the information Tallen sent him. Des was an only child forced into a career he didn't want, with parents who only cared about being in the spotlight. The man in front of him should be protected from all the wolves in society, he being one of them. If anyone knew his thoughts right now, they’d laugh at him. Othello had no qualms about fucking someone just to relieve stress, and he thought about doing the same with Doctor Desmond, but now it seemed he was having second thoughts.
“This is really good. Aren’t you going to eat?” Doc Des asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
Othello set his glass down and started eating. “So you were saying before the server came in.”
“Oh, I...I...forgot,” he stuttered, cheeks and neck flushing red. Othello knew it was a lie, but didn't call him out on it.
"Hmmm...if it comes back to you, let me know."
Scooping up some marinated vegetables on a toasted slice of bread, Othello sprinkled some of the cheese on top and then brought it to Des's lips. "Open," he instructed, watching as the doctor followed his instructions without any objections.
"Oh, this is so good," Des moaned, licking his lips, with a little oil lingering on them. Othello grabbed his napkin to clean off his lips, but froze when he realized what he was about to do.
Fuck, he's not my baby boy. But it would be so easy to make him mine. No, I can't go down that road again. Giving himself a mental shake, Othello searched for something to talk about.
"So, when are you going to paint something for me?"
"Is there something particular you're looking for?"
