Page 11 of Simply Perfection
“Dorchester.”
Trevor felt Matt's annoyance. He wouldn’t apologize for taking care of himself, though. He did the best he could with what resources he had. Although he didn’t have as much disposable income as the good doctor, as evidenced by his sleek black Mercedes coupe, he lived comfortably and managed to save a little each month.
Matt let out a pent-up breath. He couldn’t believe that Trevor had been going to make his way home by walking and public transportation and not say a word. It was freezing outside and nearly eleven o’clock at night. There was no way Matt was going to let Trevor find his own way home. Dorchester was in the opposite direction of his own place in Back Bay, but the extra drive was worth it if Matt was certain Trevor made it home safely.
As soon as Matt’s eyes had landed on the smaller man with the shaggy blond hair and wide blue eyes, he instantly thought of Niall’s description of the man supposedly destined to be theirs. The moment Matt’s hand had clasped Trevor’s at police headquarters, a feeling similar to the one he’d encountered with Niall had swept through him.
Unlike the feeling he associated with Niall, Matt experienced a rush of protective instincts for Trevor. He didn’t know if that protectiveness came from Trevor’s smaller stature and build, his younger age or something entirely different. Matt didn’t feel as if Trevor was less of a man. From what Matt had learned tonight, it sounded as though Trevor was mature beyond his years.
At this moment, half of Matt wanted to wrap Trevor up in his arms and shield him from the world, and the other half wanted to throw him to the floor and ravish his lithe body till they both screamed.
Oh boy, I need to talk to Niall about this.
“Trevor, I’m asking you to let me take you home. I understand being self-sufficient, and I’m glad you can take care of yourself. However, indulge me tonight. I would feel better knowing you got home safe.”
Trevor narrowed his eyes at Matt. “Just tonight?”
Matt shook his head. “I can’t make that promise. I know we met only tonight, but I feel as though there is something brewing here. You should know that I tend to be a caregiver for people important to me.”
Trevor’s eyes went wide. “Are you saying I’m important to you?”
“I’m saying you could become precious to me. I hope that our date tomorrow night will help that feeling progress.”
“I’m not sure what to say. I admit I kind of thought you’d see me as an easy trick. I … well I like you, Matt, but there’sa sizeable gap here.” Trevor waved his hands back and forth between them.
“Is it my age? I’m thirty-eight, and I’m guessing you’re around thirty.”
“Close. Twenty-eight. I’d make some foppish comment about you saying I appear older than I really am, but I happen to be an unusual gay man in that I don’t plan to hyperventilate the day I turn thirty. I look good. I know I do, so that’s all I care about. But I got off track. What about the difference in our education? I only have a high school diploma; you’re a doctor. I make less than fifty thousand a year, and you … Well, I do not know how much you make, but I know that car out there costs a smooth seventy grand easy.”
“Fine, let’s look at this one issue at a time. First, I’m glad you’re not caught up on the age factor. I’d be shot down before I even got my foot in the door otherwise, and Trev … I’m looking very forward to getting more than my foot inside. Second, the education thing. We come from very different backgrounds. I had the backing and expectations of my family to attend both college and medical school. You’ve made a fascinating and challenging profession out of nothing but guts, determination, and hard work. That counts double in my book. Finally, the economic disparity between us is nothing more than numbers on a bank statement. My income does not make me the man I am, and neither does yours. While I know there are men out there looking for a sugar daddy, I can see that is the last thing on your mind, and frankly if I got that vibe from you I’d never have invited you here tonight or asked for a second date tomorrow.”
Trevor glanced down into his long-empty coffee cup. Matt waited to see what Trevor’s next words would be. For a man with only a high school education, Trevor was articulate, and the younger man’s self-confidence impressed Matt.
It seemed like an eternity passed while Trevor decided, and Matt got an idea of what Niall must have felt the other night when Matt had placed him in this same position.
He’d have to call Niall and give the man thanks for his serene patience.
Then he saw Trevor smile.
Matt pressed the button on his key fob to start his car engine, then stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
They disposed of their trash and left the brightly lit interior. Matt unlocked and opened the door of his car. Once Trevor got settled, he closed the door and jogged over to the other side. It was freezing outside, and Matt didn’t want to be out there any longer than absolutely necessary.
Matt made his way down Massachusetts Avenue with Trevor beside him. Soft music played from the speakers of his car. He couldn’t wait to tell Niall all about Trevor, and what Matt had learned tonight. He hoped Niall would be fine with it. They’d never set express rules for their search, and Matt had never been in a situation where there was the expectation of someone else out there somewhere, already designated in his partner’s mind. Maybe Niall expected to be the one who would find their third. Hell, he and Niall hadn’t even consummated their relationship, what if everything went to hell?
When Matt made the turn onto Dorchester Avenue from Columbia, he started to get nervous. All night he’d been confident that Trevor was the one, and he’d been ecstatic that he could go to Niall and say “I found him.” Then he, Niall, and Trevor could skip down the yellow brick road and find their way home together. Was Matt kidding himself? The Seaport District wasn’t far from Dorchester. Maybe Matt should stop by Niall’s place tonight and talk things out before tomorrow.
“Make a left onto Greenwich, then a right on Duncan. My building is the Victorian-ish looking one on the left.”
Matt did as instructed. The vacant lot across from Trevor’s building caused him worry, but Trevor’s building appeared sound. It had a well-maintained exterior with white trim. The front had a certain Victorian feel with the two spindle balconies protruding from the second and third floors, but the side of the building was flat and plain, stretching to the back of the property.
Trevor turned to Matt and unfastened his seatbelt. “Thank you for the ride.”
“You’re welcome.”
Matt stretched across the console between the driver and passenger seats. He cupped the back of Trevor’s neck and pulled him in closer. Their lips touched for the briefest of seconds, but it was all Matt needed to know his first impressions earlier that night had been correct. He knew deep inside him Trevor was the one for him and Niall. Trevor braced himself on the padded barrier and pushed into Matt’s kiss. Their heads tilted and mouths opened. Matt nearly moaned at the taste of Trevor on his tongue. The tastes of coffee and sugar and Trevor all mingled together. Matt had a hard time pulling away, but knew they couldn’t take things any further tonight. When they separated, Matt almost caved as Trevor licked his lips with hunger burning in his eyes.
“Your lips should be illegal,” Matt said huskily.
