LOVER FOR PAY: The Escort & The Teacher (M/M)

by A. J. Blake

  Progressing further across the floor, Marbell was on the verge of giving up until his fingertips struck a hard object, a shoe. “London!” he screamed fearfully, seeing the unconscious form of his lover lying inert upon the floor. When he caught sight of blood staining the tile, a constricted feeling overcame his throat. He wanted to scream but couldn’t. “Oh, my god,” he said over and over, “Oh, my god. Oh, my god.”

  Hovering over London, Marbell found the bloody wounds pierced into his shoulder and neck. “London!” he called out, “London, get up!”

  Everything was so hectic around him he didn’t think to check for a pulse. Tears and hopelessness overwhelmed him, and an irrepressible sob wrenched up from inside him. “No, please,” he closed two fists into the front of London’s shirt, knowing full well he wouldn’t be physically strong enough to carry his lover, especially up a flight of stairs. “You can’t do this. You can’t do this to us. Get up, get up, London.”

  Cupping the side of London’s face, the tears stinging Marbell’s eyes spilled down his cheeks and he pressed their foreheads together.

  “Two people down here!”

  Marbell’s hold on London’s shirt tightened when he felt a pair of hands take him by his arms, trying to drive him away from the tattooed boy. “No!” he screamed, forcefully being hauled upright. “Let me go!” He kicked out as he was carried away, crying as a mask was placed over his mouth. Losing his nerve, he watched as two heavy figures approached London’s body, flailing his arms and legs to get free. Before he knew it, he was outside on his knees, watching in horror as London’s limp form was carried from the blaze.

  XXIV – Home

  London was alive.

  He was suffering from a concussion and his wounds were still in the early process of heeling, but London was alive and that is only thing that mattered. Lain in a hospital bed for the past four days, he hadn’t woken up once, and nurses had said it was because of the heavy amount of drugs he’d been given to dull the pain. He should be waking up today, and Marbell wasn’t going to miss it for the world. It was seven o’clock in the evening, the teacher having brought Henry and Joyce along to see their brother.

  They were all inside the room, Joyce half asleep on Marbell’s lap as a kid’s game played on a tablet he’d brought for her, Henry sitting on the other side of the bed texting back and forth to his friend on a new phone that’d been purchased for him.

  The fear of that night was still so fresh in Marbell’s mind, he hadn’t slept properly, was tormented by the flames that’d engulfed the house, but he tried his hardest to put it all behind him. Not long after he and London had been taken here to the hospital, Vivian and her brother Theo had been caught trying to board one of his private jets to Australia. He was thankful the pilot had grown suspicious of the pair and notified police, having gotten word from his employer, Rolland Matthews, that he wasn’t to fly anyone but Marbell since Vivian would soon be out of the picture. He’d been reassured later that next evening they were both in custody, being taken care of by Rolland and his lawyer after hearing about the fire.

  Rolland guaranteed his son that he’d no longer be bothered by her ever again.

  Marbell glanced towards the bed when he saw London’s foot twitch under the covers. He’d move sometimes, but this was the first time London actually lifted a hand to rub his eyes. “Ugh...” the tattooed boy groaned lowly.

  Wanting to jump up, Marbell restrained himself, knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea to rush him so quickly.

  London’s awareness caught Henry’s attention too, and he stopped texting, “It’s about time you’re finally awake.”

  With his mind still spinning a little, London opened his eyes to the white room. The soreness of his upper shoulder and neck weren’t as bad as he’d expected it to be, what with being shot, but given his wooziness, only the morphine in his system was aiding in that department. He glanced in the direction of Henry’s voice, meeting the worried smile of his younger brother. “Welcome back,” the boy said, tucking the cellphone in his pocket.

  Voice groggy, London tried his luck at sitting up, part of his forearm wrapped in gauze. “Where’s–?

  Before he could get the entire question out, Henry pointed to the other side of the bed, and London looked over, comforted when seeing his sister and Marbell sitting down. Everyone was okay, he breathed out, thank goodness.

  Joyce slid down from Marbell’s lap and tapped London’s hand, “You all better?” she asked. “Okay, now?”

  London nodded with a weak smile for his baby sister, brushing her soft red curls when she smiled in return. “I’m fine,” he assured, although still able to feel that the morphine effects were starting to fade. When he switched his gaze to Marbell, it was obvious the teacher was trying his hardest to be strong. Not only did he look exhausted just from the faint shadows under the rim of his glasses, but his eyes had a hint of redness like he’d spent the last few days crying. London reached out and Marbell stood to take his right hand, “It’s okay,” he said, “Everything is going to be fine.”

  Marbell felt the tears blur his vision again, and he took London’s hand, pressing it to his cheek. “I’m supposed to be the one telling you that.”

  London almost felt bad for leaving him alone and burdened with worry. He’d always been the one to whine over never wanting to lose Marbell or his family ever again, yet it’d wound up being him on the brink of vanishing forever. Granted it wasn’t his fault some psycho bitch tried to steal his life away, but to think about what could have happened to the ones he loved as a result frightened him.

  Smoothing his touch down Marbell’s cheek, he guided the man down and received a kiss on his forehead, needing to feel their realness to fully accept that he was in fact going to be alright.

  Throwing the covers from him then, London glared down at the tubes and wires hooked up to his wrist. He slipped everything off, causing the heart monitor to flatline and alert the nurse’s station outside. “What are you doing?” Marbell said, “You’re not cleared to leave for another couple of weeks.”

  At that, London tried to move even faster, the white and blue gown falling as he discarded it, leaving him in his boxer briefs. “I’m not staying in this damn hospital for a lousy couple of weeks. We had plans and we’re going home. It was just a shoulder wound, anyways, and my neck is fine. So long as I’m not bleeding out, I’m clearing myself for discharge.”

  The door to the room flew open and a nurse with black hair rushed in, thinking London had passed on her watch. “Mister Dawncraft,” she said upon seeing him up and moving, relieved, “You’re not supposed to be out of bed.”

  “I’m going home, could you get me an AMA form, please?”

  “Sir,” she tried to stop him from getting to the bathroom just behind her. Thank god where was a fresh change of clothing Marbell had brought for when he was ready to go, and even a toothbrush and paste waiting to get this dry stench out of his mouth. As he stood scrubbing his teeth, the nurse said, “It is recommended that you stay until you’re fully capable.”

  London spit and rinsed his mouth out in the sink, and then reached around the woman for his change of boxers. He smirked as the nurse blocked the door and she looked away when he undressed from his boxers, pulling on new ones as well as jeans afterwards. When shimmying into his shirt, he tried not to disturb the bandages wrapped around his neck and shoulder. Stitches were underneath them, and after sitting in on Henry when he was hurt, the tattooed boy was confident he could change a few wraps and clean himself up on his own. “I understand the risks you’re worried about,” London said, “and I’m thankful that you guys here did everything to make sure I didn’t die, but now that I’m awake and stitched up, I want to go home.”

  “Mister Dawncraft, we’re afraid your stitches have a chance of coming undone. If a reopening of the lacerations occurs, you could obtain either an infection or not be able to clot it on your own. If you lose too much blood when that happens, and no one is around, you co
uld bleed out in a matter of minutes.”

  Marbell placed a hand at the small of London’s back when they exited the bathroom, “Maybe you should listen to her.”

  London shook his head, grabbing his wallet and stuffed it in his back pocket. “I want to go home to our house like we planned before everything went crazy. I want us to finally start how we wanted to. Please, I want to go home.”

  Not seeing a way or means to argue with London’s request, Marbell turned to the nurse, and said, “I can look after him to make sure he’s fine. If anything happens, I’ll bring him right back whether he wants to or not. Just get him the AMA form.”

  After another minute of trying to convince London to stay, the nurse called for the doctor on duty but ended up giving in, knowing they couldn’t forcefully make him stay at the hospital if he didn’t want to. Once the papers were signed, London was freed and they left, piling into a new SUV Marbell must have bought for them since London’s car was totaled, and they’d need something bigger now given his Fisker Karma wasn’t much of a family type vehicle. London hadn’t wanted to stay in that hospital for another minute, needing to be out of those cold white walls. As he sat in the passenger side, he rested back into the seat, staring out the window. He mused over everything that had happened over these past weeks since Marbell showed up in his life.

  Was it really so possible to fall in love in such a hectic circumstance, all while unintentionally searching for the person he truly wanted to be? Before Marbell, London had set his life down a path he never considered changing. Selling himself had seemed like an occupation he could only dream of being out of, and now here he was, not long after, heading back to a house of his own, with his family and the man of his dreams at his side. This life he lived, it had only ever existed in the movies, but, somehow, luck found refuge with him, and gave him something extra to cherish for the rest of his life.

  If he didn’t have Marbell, there was no telling where he’d be. Sure, probably not still recovering from a gunshot wound, but...things could be worse, right?

  Though there had been serious trials and tribulations in his way, the reality of being able to sit here and say he’d made it through was something worth celebrating. However, being too tired to celebrate with a night out on the town or even just a couple drinks, it was enough for him just to be surrounded by the only people who held a place in his heart.

  Given the few days he’d spent in the hospital, Marbell and Henry had already moved all their belongings into the new house, by now it was fully set to be lived in. Getting out of the vehicle sorely, London stopped Henry before he could head up towards the steps to the front door. He pulled his brother in for a gentle embrace, resting his chin on top of Henry’s head. “How do you like it so far?”

  “Oh, it’s fucking sick,” Henry smiled, “Do you mind if I invite my friends over here for Dungeons and Dragons nights? The attic at Daniel’s house is starting to get a little cramped.”

  “Yeah, of course,” London said, “Just keep it down when you’re arguing about who your favorite boybands are.”

  Nudging his brother in the rib playfully, the teenager tore himself away and scooped Joyce into his arms when she slid out her car seat. “Hey, princess, you want to go swimming?”

  London watched his brother and sister disappear into the house, joyful on the inside at being able to see both of them so happy and gratified by their current living conditions. Back then, he alone hadn’t been able to provide too much for them, and it felt so good seeing them comfortable and thrilled about where they were now...especially Henry.

  Feeling a soft tug on his hand, London turned to Marbell, the teacher’s light brown eyes were hidden behind the glare of his glasses, and he offered a grateful smile. “Please, don’t cry,” London said, “Now is not a time to cry over what’s past. I’m here. I’m okay. You’re here. You’re okay. We’re all going to be okay.”

  “I know,” Marbell said, tone small and light, “I just love you so much, and when I thought I was going to lose you, I didn’t know what to do.”

  “Marbell, look,” London waved a hand towards the house, and they could hear Henry and Joyce laughing in the back, “You have done enough. Everything you ever do will be enough. I don’t know how many times I can say thank you for taking care of me and my family, but one more thing I need from you, is for you to stop worrying. Together, this is where we start, this is where we’ll work on building that whole family we both wanted, because I sure as hell can’t wait for that.”

  Controlling himself, Marbell gathered up in London’s arms, making sure to be careful in the way he handled his tender lover. He savored London’s light embrace, how his arms closed around his body. Just thinking about not being able to stand here with the love of his life had terrified Marbell the most, but London was correct. Everything was right in the world concerning their relationship, and Marbell set his focuses now on always being able to provide London with the future he deserved. All by himself, Marbell would take care of him, take care of Henry and Joyce, and love each and every one of them until his last day.

  Finally, Marbell sighed, he found the one place he belonged, and never again would he let anyone try to take it from him.

  After checking on the kids in the pool outside, London went upstairs to him and Marbell’s master bedroom, the teacher following close behind. When there, London took in the comfy lavishness of the room as if it were his first time seeing it again. Being able to fall asleep within the walls of a house where bad memories didn’t reside, and wake up in them the next morning was going to be mighty refreshing. Never again would he be reminded of all the tortures his father put him through, look at or touch anything that held a link to his past. This house was going to be London’s place of sanctuary.

  Coming down on the edge of the bed, London let out a heavy sigh. Before he could be completely at ease, he felt there was one thing he needed to get off his chest. Marbell had the right to know this given it had once affected him the most.

  He pulled the teacher closer to him, Marbell standing between London’s legs. He looked up into his lover’s eyes then, and said, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  Marbell ran his fingers softly through London’s hair, pushing back his fringe with delicate hands. “What is it?”

  “It’s about Vivian.”

  Hearing the woman’s name sent a faint jolt through Marbell, and he shook his head in protest. “We don’t have to worry about her, baby. My father is taking care of her. I’m officially divorced as of two days ago and everything.”

  It was like music when Marbell mentioned not being married anymore, but London continued. He smoothed a hand up Marbell’s shirt, gliding his touch up the textured scar covering a large mass of the teacher’s torso. “She did this to you,” he confessed, “The fire at your university, it was all her doing. She told me. I wish you’d have been able to know that back then.”

  Marbell wanted to find it as shocking news that Vivian could do something like that, but she’d already proven herself capable of such things. He was just glad she was going to be punished with hard time for all the things she’d done. “I’m not surprised,” Marbell said. “But she’s gone now so it doesn’t matter. Now that you’re here, we should talk about things concerning us. Things like, what do you want for dinner tonight? When do you want to meet my father? How many kids do you want? Will you marry me?”

  “Well, I have been craving enchiladas for some reason, and–,” London stopped, his gaze flashing up at the smirking teacher above him. “What did you just say?”

  Marbell mulled for a moment, “When do you want to meet my father?”

  “No, the other thing.”

  “How many kids?”

  “The last one!”

  “Will you marry me?”

  London had never gotten to his feet faster in his life. There was complete shock behind his puzzled stare, and suddenly he couldn’t breathe. A wide smile curved his lips, and his heart fluttere
d within his chest. “Did you – did you just ask me to marry you?”

  “Yeah,” Marbell couldn’t help the laugh he’d been trying to keep in, “I’m pretty sure that’s what I asked.”

  A weakness came to London’s knees, and he had to concentrate on not collapsing from excitement.

  “London,” Marbell said to the frozen boy, “Ever since the day I felt myself falling for you, I knew there was something in you that I needed, and from there, I could feel that hollow space in my heart shrink over the time we spent together. The way you make me want to wake up every day to see what your love brings, has shown me what true happiness looks like, and it’s you, it’s always been you. Even when I was blind to your existence, all along I was searching for you, and now that you’re here, I don’t want to ever risk the chance of losing you or your love. I know I’ve said this many times before, but I love you, more than anything on this Earth, and what I want most is to the spend the rest of my life with you and only you. Please, will you do me the honor of being my husband?”

  Immediately London knew what he wanted to say, but he was in so much shock that the words couldn’t leave his mouth fast enough.

  “Oh, dammit,” Marbell cursed, rushing across the room to the top drawer of his wardrobe. From inside he withdrew a tiny box and hurried back to the tattooed boy, taking to a knee before him. “Forgot the ring, sorry.” Opening the small black velvet box, he said, “Marry me?”

  London gripped his hands over his heart, unable to stop the blinding tears of ecstasy from blurring his view. Wiping them away, he said, “You’re sure you want to jump into another marriage?”