Page 54 of Always Mine

“It’s fine,” he says, even though it’s clearly not. I can see how much it’s hurting him, and even though I might have rejoiced at that days ago, I find that I fucking hate I’m the cause right now. “Really, don’t worry.”

“Yeah, he has physical therapy today, anyway. They can look at it,” Bryan throws in with that monotone voice of his. I’m beginning to think he’s turned into a robot.

“God, do you think I messed it up?” My voice rises and I step closer, grabbing at his open flannel and pushing it down past his arm so I can see. I don’t know what exactly I’m trying to do, maybe verify there’s no bone sticking out or something. It’s completely irrational but the thought of injuring his healing arm freaks me the hell out.

“Wyatt.” He says my name, but I ignore him, grabbing the sleeve of his white undershirt and sliding it up. “Wyatt.” Then his other hand comes to rest over mine, stopping my movement. Our eyes meet again as he gives me a reassuring smile. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.” I breathe out, relief washing over me. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

His expression shifts and his eyes dance around my face as if looking for something. “You didn’t.”

The words feel heavy, and I break our eye contact only to realize I’m still gripping his bare forearm. I jerk back, stumbling over my chair and almost falling onto my ass just before Paxton grabs me. “Careful.”

Now we’re touching again.I need to get out of here!

I step away from him, taking out my wallet and pulling out a twenty. “I have to go. I forgot I’m supposed to be doing stuff.”

What exactly that stuff is, I’m not sure anymore.

Throwing the twenty down, I say my goodbyes and get out of there as fast as I possibly can. It doesn’t escape me that we had everyone’s attention the whole time. I can practically feel all their stares as I hop into my truck and peel away, almost taking out the fire hydrant in the process. I hope they enjoyed the show.

I’m going to have to move.

NINETEEN

Paxton

I swear Wyatt is going to kill me.

He’s been plaguing my mind since I got back, and even more so since the incident at the diner. My self-control is dwindling with every second we spend together.

I refuse to admit that when we stopped at home before heading to physical therapy, Iboltedto the bathroom. I hadn’t even been thinking. All I had known was that Wyatttouchedme. Christ, I sound like a horny teenager, but he did. He touched me, and showed so much concern at hurting me, but he didn’t realize that his touch also took all the pain away.

So, I locked myself in the bathroom, yanked down my pants and underwear, and took care of myself.

I closed my eyes, remembering his slightly spicy breath ghosting my lips, and I stroked myself to the memory of him practically undressing me. I twisted my hand around the head of my cock as I thought about him doing more. Would he feel the same? If he lifted my shirt and splayed his hand across my bare chest, would the touch still give me that same feeling of being alive? That tongue that swiped out against his bottom lip, how would it feel trailing down my neck?

It only took the simple idea of my lips on his to make me burst, completely out of breath and coated in cum as Bryan called for me to hurry the fuck up.

I’m a bad man.

“Slow down, you don’t want to injure your shoulder again,” Dr. Dylan scolds, causing me to drop the pulley I’m tugging on.

I flush red, cursing myself as I do a slow roll of my shoulder, hoping my semi is concealed by my jeans. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was going so hard.” The burn in my arm lets me know just how much I was overdoing it. I’m so over this.

“Everything okay?” he asks, motioning for me to sit so he can start my cooldown.

I’ve been doing therapy for weeks now, and I’m glad to be getting my full range of motion back. I just wish it wasn’t such a long process. I’m not a patient person, and the waiting game is making me antsy.

I sit, giving him a half-shrug, not wanting to dive into the chaos that is my brain. “I have a lot on my mind.”

Dr. Dylan hums, working his fingers into the tender skin of my shoulder. “All related to your shoulder? Or something else?”

Isn’t he all-knowing?

I wish it was just about my shoulder, then I wouldn’t feel like I was ready to jump out of my skin every damn day. I’m not good with slowness, and taking it slow with Wyatt to not scare him off is testing every bit of patience I have. I’m supposed to be in my charming phase, where I show him I’m the same guy he’s always loved, but that’s not easy when there’s always prying eyes around.

“I’d say both, but I’m leaning more toward the something else.”

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