by E. M. Leya
Tevon pushed back the blankets and sat up. It was pointless to try to sleep. There was just too much on his mind. He put on his robe and left his chamber. He turned down the long stone hallways to where the cave opened to the ocean. He watched the water lap at the edge of the cave. He lifted his robe, sat down at the edge and let his feet soak in the cool water. Maybe a long swim would help. He could feed and work off some of the energy that coursed through him.
"Tevon?"
Tevon stood quickly and turned, knowing from the voice who called to him before seeing him. "My King." He bowed his head.
"I'm not here as your king, I'm here as a concerned brother." Heath moved beside him. "I was leaving my office when I thought I heard someone come this way. Everything okay?"
"Just couldn't sleep." Tevon nodded to the water. "Was debating on a swim."
Heath smiled. "Want company?"
Tevon glanced up at the king. "I don't want to keep you from your sleep."
Heath shrugged and pulled his robe over his head. "I don't get a chance to go out as much as I used to."
Tevon nodded as he pulled his own robe off and set it aside. "Then I am glad for the company."
The two of them dove into the water, both shifting as they dove deep. Tevon watched as Heath swam in front of him. He tried hard not to notice how much Heath's tail fin looked like Randy's, but the gold and silver colors were almost exactly the same it just missed the blues.
Heath clicked his tongue and glanced back, speaking to him in merman. "I wanted to thank you for saving my brother."
"I was only doing my job." Tevon pushed through the water, careful to stay a few feet behind Heath.
"You do it well, but Randy mentioned you could use help." Heath dove deeper into the ocean as they swam farther out from the caves.
Tevon was surprised that Randy had mentioned anything. "I worry what will happen as I grow old if we do not bring another doctor in."
The sharp click of their tongues drew dolphin to them as they talked. Both men welcomed them and allowed them to swim alongside. Tevon reached out and ran his hand over one of the dolphin.
"I'm planning on having a clinic inland as well as here. I will need staff for both places." Heath glanced over at him.
Tevon didn't try to hide his surprise. "Inland? Really?"
Heath nodded. "Randy said you could do more if you had access to more modern equipment."
"Yes. To even be able to do a simple x-ray or ultra-sound would give me a big advantage."
"My father should have thought of all this." Heath slowed his pace. "You should have come forward sooner. There is no reason our men shouldn't have the best care."
Tevon blinked and looked away. "You have been so busy and I didn't think you would want us working away from the caves."
"Much is changing. I'll let you decide where you wish to work once we open the new clinic. Of course, you will still be our only doctor for a while. I'm going to see if anyone will be willing to go to school, if not I will have to seek another doctor from other clans."
"I will do whatever is best for the clan." Tevon meant every word.
"I know you will. You have always been loyal. What I will need from you is to make a list of the equipment you desire, then when you have time, I will send you inland with Everest or Sage and we will find a location for the clinic. I want your approval so that we are sure there is enough room for what you will need."
Tevon loved the idea of a new place with a ton of fancy equipment, electricity, and the ability to put his skills to work for a change. He thought about Randy and how different things might be for him if he had the equipment needed to treat him correctly. "I will be glad to help with anything."
Heath stopped swimming and floated in place as the dolphin circled them. "Now on to the real reason I wanted to speak with you… How is Randy really recovering?"
"He is healing faster than I could have imagined. His body rapidly recovered from the minor injuries. The more severe ones I thought would keep him down longer, but he had amazed me with how well he is doing."
"I spoke to him in his room after you transferred him yesterday, but I can't always trust him to tell me the truth. I don't want him doing more than he should."
"I've recommended he not move around too much. He must not go back to training yet. His body is too weak still." He remembered how strong Randy felt in his arms and his face heated. Not wanting Heath to see, he turned toward one of the dolphin and focused his attention on it. "Is he asking to return to work?"
"No, but he has offered to help in the office, paperwork and such." Heath swam around so they were face to face once again.
"That is fine. I know he is going crazy with nothing to do. I've asked him to use a cane to walk for a while, but he didn't seem to like the idea."
"I will make sure he uses it if he wants to leave his room." Heath grinned. "There are advantages to being king."
Tevon laughed. "You think your brother will listen?"
"You know, for the first time in our lives, I think he just might." A dolphin nudged Heath and made several high-pitched squeaks. "Our friends wish to hunt. You game?"
Tevon nodded, his stomach grumbling at the thought of fresh fish. "After you, My King."
Heath nodded and took off through the water, the dolphin following close behind. Tevon shook his head as he watched, smiling to himself as he arched his body and raced after them. Maybe hunting with others wasn't so bad, but he couldn't help wishing it was Randy he was out hunting with.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Randy glanced through the papers in front of him as he sat at the desk beside Heath's in the royal office. Heath had left about an hour before, leaving Randy alone. He missed his brothers company, but it was nice to have something to focus on for a change, to feel involved in things and see what was happening in the clan. It might have only been a couple weeks, but it was as if he had been gone forever.
There were two new clan members, and he read their bios and the reports his assistants had made. He already could tell where their strengths and weaknesses were and longed to get out in the ocean and help teach them survival skills.
He sighed as he thought about how nice it would be to swim again. Not just in the small pool, but to race through the ocean. He wasn't meant to be stuck in a room like this. He was made to swim, explore, and train others.
"Found you."
Randy glanced up and smiled as he saw Tevon standing in the doorway. "Hey."
"Dropped by your room to visit. Wanted to see how you are holding up." Tevon moved into the room and leaned a hip against Heath's desk.
"My ass is sorer sitting here than it was in bed the last few weeks." Randy set the stack of papers aside and stretched out his legs as memories of what he and Tevon did in the pool raced through his mind.
"Just your butt? Not your hip?" Tevon raised a brow.
"No, it's tight. I want to stretch and try to ease the tightness, but I know I can't. It really isn't pain though. Just need to get used to using it."
Tevon eyed the cane that leaned against the desk and nodded toward it. "I hope that's not just for decoration."
Randy reached for it and laughed. "You must have talked to Heath. He showed up in my chamber this morning with this. Said I was going to use it or he would set a guard at my door and refuse to let me leave."
Tevon looked as if he was trying to hold back a laugh. He failed and grinned. "I didn't think he would take it that far."
Randy held the end of the cane and shook it at Tevon. "I knew it was your fault."
Tevon reached out, grabbed the end of the cane and tugged. "It's for your own good. Unless you miss lying around the medical center all day with nothing to do, and if that's the case, by all means, go ahead and walk around without it."
Randy let go of the cane and Tevon stumbled back.
"Don't tell me you miss me already." Randy winked.
"Melan has gone inland. It's quiet over there without your snoring."
/> "Oh? First I growl in my sleep, now I snore?"
Tevon grinned. "It's a mix of the two."
Pushing the pile of papers on the desk back, Randy slowly stood, trying to hide the pain from his face. "Have to admit I slept hard last night finally back in my own bed."
"I figured you would. Being in your own comfort zone goes a long way to help you relax." Tevon handed the cane back to Randy. "I need to examine you, and thought you might like one of those massages we discussed."
"Hell yes." Randy moved slowly around the desk before placing the cane on the floor. He wanted Tevon's hands on his body and it had nothing to do with a medical issue.
Tevon stepped beside him. "Want my arm instead?"
Randy turned and met his gaze, pausing a moment before hooking the cane on his forearm and taking Tevon's arm in his hand. "Thanks."
Tevon nodded as they started to move. "How was your first day back at work?"
"Honestly?" Randy glanced over at him. "I'm feeling a bit unneeded. My assistants have everything under control. Training has continued without me. It's like I'm not even missed."
"You know that's not true. This is what you trained them to do. You should be pleased things are running so well."
Randy sighed. "I know. Still, would have been nice to have something go wrong they needed me for. I'm starting to wonder if I should go back."
Tevon's eyes went wide. "You're not serious."
"I don't know. I've been sitting in that damn office today, questioning everything. I know I'm healing, but will I ever be able to keep up with the younger men now? Will I ever be fully healed and able to do all the stuff I was?"
Tevon ducked his head and that told Randy all he needed to know.
"See what I mean. I might be more of a hazard out there. It might be best if I don't return." Randy turned into his room.
"What would you do?"
"Salvage with my brothers, I guess. Haven't really thought about it. I don't know anything but training." He let go of Tevon's arm and set the cane down beside his bed before sitting down. He met Tevon's worried eyes. "I'm sure Heath has something I can do."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"Nah, not yet."
Tevon nodded. "Well, let's see how you're healing. You have any sharp pains? Anything unusual?"
Randy stood and lifted his long robe over his head. "Not really. My hip pulls at times, but it really feels like tight muscles more than anything else. I get it after I've been sitting or not moving for a while."
"Where is it the worst?" Tevon stepped to the side of the bed as Randy laid back.
"Here." Randy traced a line from his hip to his groin. "It's like the muscle is too short and trying to expand."
"That's probably exactly what is happening. There was so much damage I was forced to cut away the worst of the muscle." Tevon placed his fingers along the line that Randy traced and pushed gently.
Randy closed his eyes. He'd spent all night thinking about what he did to Tevon in the pool. Remembering the way he felt pressed against his body. His cock might not have shown his arousal when he brought Tevon off, but his body felt it. He opened his eyes to stare up at Tevon, who was intently palpating the scars and skin around his hip.
Randy wished things were different. He wished he was whole and could offer Tevon more. For the first time in, well, forever, he wanted more from someone. Not just quick sex or a one-night stand. He wanted to try for a relationship.
He sighed and covered his eyes with his arm.
"Am I hurting you?"
"No. Just thinking." Randy lowered his arms and met Tevon's worried stare.
"Your cock?"
"Yeah." No point in denying it.
Tevon moved his hand close to Randy's limp shaft. "May I?"
Randy sucked in a breath, but nodded. "Sure."
Tevon wrapped his fist around Randy's cock. "You can feel my touch, right?"
"Yep, I can feel it. I feel it when I try and jack-off, but I just can't get it to react. My body is aroused. I feel just like I should if I'm turned on, but there is no physical reaction down there."
Tevon ran his fingers over the shaft and then around the head. He seemed to be looking at the small scar that ran from the head down toward his balls. "When we were in the pool yesterday, was there any reaction to what we did?"
Randy smiled. "Everything was normal. Just like you would expect it, only I couldn't get hard. I wanted you, wanted more, but it was as if my body wasn't… No, not my body, just my cock. The rest of me was onboard, but my cock wasn't."
Tevon continued to move his hand over Randy's cock. "Not even a jerk or pulse of reaction?"
Randy shook his head.
"Any precum when you jack off?"
"Not that I've noticed." Randy glanced down and watched Tevon's hand on him. "I like that. It feels good. I don't know why it won't harden."
"Could be several things." Tevon rubbed his thumb over the head. "Will you let me make an appointment with the urologist I know?"
Randy bit his lip.
"If he can help you, isn't it worth it?" Tevon pulled his hand from Randy.
Randy didn't want him to stop. "You really think he can help me?"
"I honestly don't know."
"At least you're honest." Randy sighed.
"I thought about it all night, wondering if I could have done something different."
Randy reached out and took Tevon's hand. "Don't blame yourself. I'll survive."
"You believe that?" Tevon linked their fingers.
"Hell, I don't know. I ain't going to lie. It fucks with my head when I think about never having sex again." Randy glanced at their joined hands. "I enjoyed what we did yesterday, but it left me…" He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"Unsatisfied?" Tevon gave his hand a squeeze.
"Yeah."
"We'll get you fixed up right, Randy. I promise."
Randy pulled his hand free. "Don't. You can't promise that. We both know I might be like this forever."
Tevon looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry."
Randy tried to smile. "Don't be. If this is my fate, so be it. At least I'm alive, right?"
"You're taking this better than I would be." Tevon reached into his robe pocket and pulled out some oil. "Let me work that muscle while we talk."
Randy rested his head back into his pillow and lowered his arms to his side. "Thank you for doing this."
"It's my job." Tevon poured some oil on his hands and rubbed them together.
"You could have passed it on to Melan."
Tevon rolled his eyes. "And ruined his trip inland? I'm glad to do this." He pressed his hands to Randy's hip and gently started to work the muscle. "I can feel how tight it is."
"That feels good." Randy closed his eyes and focused his attention on Tevon's fingers. "I might hire you to do this after I heal."
"You wouldn't have to pay me to do this." Tevon's voice lowered and Randy opened his eyes to find Tevon watching him.
He wondered if he was mistaken, and just maybe Tevon did feel something toward him. Was this more than just a doctor caring for a patient?
"I could return the favor once I'm better." Randy hoped Tevon wouldn't be offended.
"I've never had a massage," Tevon admitted.
"Never?"
"No."
"None of your lovers did this for you?"
"I've never been in a serious relationship. A one-night stand here or there, but nothing long-term. It was just sex."
Randy longed to give him more. "Then let's plan on it. Once I am able to move better, we can trade massages."
"You wouldn't mind?" Tevon moved his hands to Randy's stomach and up to his chest, working the muscles.
Randy gasped as Tevon's fingers worked over his nipples. "I'd never turn down a massage."
Tevon grinned. "Good. Now relax and let me do my job."
Randy frowned as he closed his eyes. Was this how Tevon thought about things? That this was his job
? He wanted more. He relaxed as Tevon worked his muscles, easing the tension and helping him relax. If he couldn't have more, he would at least enjoy this little bit he could have.
"Roll over." Tevon pulled his hands back.
Careful to not twist, Randy rolled to his stomach, resting his head on the pillow with his arms at his sides. He closed his eyes as Tevon started to work his feet, pressing his fingers into the pad of his foot, rubbing and pressing the tightness from his body. "What else did you and Heath talk about?"
Tevon moved his hands up the back of Randy's legs. "He talked about a new clinic inland and wants me to go with your brothers to find a location, and then help get the equipment we will need."
"Are you okay with that?" Randy glanced over his shoulder at Tevon.
"Yes. It's needed. He is going to put word out we need more doctors and people to train. It will help the clan. I'm not sure I want to live inland, but if I need to, I will until we find another."
"You're not mad at me for mentioning it to Heath?"
"No, not at all. I would have eventually. I'm glad you did it." Tevon worked up the back of Randy's thighs and then worked his injured hip. "He also was worried about you. Wanted to find out how you were healing and if it really was okay for you to be moving around and work with him."
Randy stiffened. "You didn't tell him about…"
Tevon's hands paused on his ass. "No. I would never share that information with anyone. I only told him you were to take things slow and that I wanted you to use a cane when walking for a while. You don't think I would tell anyone about your issue, do you?"
Randy turned to his side, hearing the hurt in Tevon's voice. "No. I know you wouldn't. I just get paranoid. Get thinking about it and how others would react. I didn't mean I thought you would…" He turned back to his stomach and sighed. "I didn't mean to make you think I didn't trust you."
Tevon started to move his hands over Randy again. "It's okay. I understand your nervousness." His hands cupped his ass, kneading the cheeks under his palms.
Randy moved, his body reacting to the feel of the other man's hands on him. He moaned softly, and tried to focus on keeping things professional. He concentrated on keeping his breathing even, while at the same time, a part of him hoped that his body would react fully and he would grow hard.
