Page 147 of The Blame Game

Seriously. When had Shea called him that before?

Dom asked and Shea blinked for a moment before looking away, glancing down the empty hallway.

“It was the night when you mixed up your meds,” he admitted softly, his voice going a little hoarse. “I was so fucking terrified of what might happen to you and I … I don’t know. It slipped out.”

“Shit.” Without thinking, Dom reached out and pulled him close. “I am sorry I scared you that way. I never meant to.”

“I know.” Shea was tense for a moment before he softened, ducking his head a little to press his lips to Dom’s cheek. “I know you didn’t, baby.”

He said the ‘baby’ hesitantly, like he was testing it out.

Dom stood there a moment, soaking in Shea’s warmth and the feel of his arms around him and the sound of the nickname echoing in his ear.

It felt a little silly. He was a 6’2” forty-year-old hockey player for fuck’s sake.

But he didn’t hate it.

“That’s weird,” Dom admitted, pulling back far enough to look Shea in the eye. “Being called baby.”

Shea lifted an eyebrow. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No.”

“Yeah?” Shea gave him a crooked little grin, like he was surprised and pleased. “Okay.”

Dom glanced down the hall to be sure no one was around and when he was satisfied they were alone, he cupped Shea’s cheek, pulling him in for a kiss. He felt Shea’s breath catch when he slipped his tongue between Shea’s lips for a brief but thorough hello and they were both smiling as they drew apart, Dom’s hand lingering on his waist.

Dom swallowed. “I mean it. I’m glad you came today. I’m glad you asked to come.”

Some emotion flickered across Shea’s face, too quick and complicated for Dom to read. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he said hoarsely. “Yeah, I am.”

“Good.”

“We should get going though,” Dom admitted. “C’mon, I’ll give you the five-cent tour on the way and then maybe another time I’ll show you around the whole place.”

“Sounds good.”

Dom stepped back, already missing Shea’s touch.

His nerves returned as he led Shea through the maze of hallways. “Locker room’s there,” he said, pointing at the closed doors. “Training and medical stuff is this way.”

Dom was a few minutes early for his appointment but Dr. Strickland’s office door was open. He was working on something on his computer.

Dom knocked on the doorframe and he glanced up with a smile. “Hey, Dom.”

“Hey. Are you ready for me?” Dom asked.

Dr. Strickland nodded. “Yeah, come in. Let me just finish my thought and I’ll be right with you.”

Dom stepped back to let Shea go in before him, then pulled the door tightly closed behind him. Dom’s heart sat somewhere in his throat, beating so fast he felt a little light-headed.

Fuck. He simultaneously wanted this meeting to already be over with and to never happen. The next twenty minutes or so would change the rest of his career.

Probably the rest of his life.

After Dom was done introducing Shea to the team doctor and vice versa, they took their seats.

---