monaboyd | Fatherhood, Football, and Other Contact Sports

Title: Fatherhood, Football, and Other Contact Sports - 14/16
Author:

dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: NC-17
Summary: When Billy get home from the clinic, the tables are turned on Dom, and as the holidays come to a close, Billy’s career takes a surprising turn.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to

frojane, for the beta. Credit for the banner goes to the very talented

Chapter 14 - Revenge is Sweet

Stepping inside the front door and closing it silently behind him, Billy listens and then smiles devilishly when he hears activity in the kitchen. Putting the plan into effect that he’d come up with after Dom left him hard and aching, Billy loosens his tie and slides the thin length of material between his small hands. Moving stealthily towards the kitchen, Billy peeks in to observe Dom checking on something in the oven. A moment later, Billy springs into action. Closing the distance between them with astonishing speed, Billy grabs Dom’s left hand and then the right as their lips meet in a hot, wet kiss. Dizzy with lust, Dom doesn’t realize what Billy is doing until the material is cinched tight, binding his wrists together.

“What are you - oh fuck,” Dom gasps as Billy all but rips open his jeans, his eager hand wrapping tightly around Dom’s arousal, squeezing and stroking.

Denim pooling at his ankles, Dom stumbles as Billy firmly manhandles him across the room and over to the kitchen table, yanking Dom’s t-shirt up to his armpits before pushing him down to lay flat. Realizing Billy’s intentions, Dom parts his knees as wide as he can and grins seductively.

“In a bit of a hurry there, Bills?” Dom asks teasingly.

Holding Dom’s bound wrists to his chest with both hands so he can’t touch anything, Billy leans down and slides his tongue up from Dom’s navel to his sternum, leaving a long, wet stripe in its wake.

Eyes widening, Dom gasps, bucking and writhing desperately, searching for contact on his neglected erection.

“Does that answer your question?” Billy replies in a low, throaty voice.

“Holy fuck,” Dom moans.

Not responding to Dom’s outburst, Billy braces his elbows on Dom’s bare hips and then begins tracing the circle of Dom’s belly button with the tip of his pointy tongue. Thrusting and withdrawing in a maddeningly teasing manner, Billy torments Dom with the sensuous tongue fucking of his navel, pausing often to lap and suck at his exposed nipples, and then returning to the highly sensitive circle. Mewling shamelessly, the damp tip of his arousal rubbing at Billy’s cloth covered chest, Dom struggles frantically with his bounds, wanting to run his fingers through Billy’s hair and stroke his back as their bodies slam together passionately.

Rocking his hips forward repeatedly, Dom sighs as he finds some friction for his hard erection, only to whimper when Billy’s small fingers wrap around him once again. Trying to kick off his blue jeans, Dom opens his thighs even wider, the invitation for Billy to do more crystal clear. Glancing up momentarily, Billy thrusts two fingers into his mouth to moisten them, and then he’s sliding them between Dom’s cheeks. For a brief moment, the tips of Billy’s fingers press against Dom’s entrance, and then they are yanked away, causing Dom to cry out in vehement protest.

“You’re wet,” Billy pants, looking at his glistening fingers.

“Stretched, too,” Dom murmurs seductively. “I wanted to be ready for you, in case you wanted me.”

“After what you did to me at the clinic?”” Billy fires back, his eyes smoldering. “You’re going to pay for that.”

Before Dom can reply, Billy’s fingers are breaching his entrance, and Billy’s wicked tongue has resumed its torment of Dom’s belly button. The sensation is overwhelming and intense, and Dom is helpless to do anything but lay there and whimper profusely as his body trembles wantonly, writhing uncontrollably. Pleas tumble from Dom’s lips almost endlessly, the need for Billy to take him shredding the remains of Dom’s strained control. A familiar feeling begins to build inside Dom as Billy’s fingertips tenderly pet the sensitive spot inside and his mouth begins to suck at Dom’s navel voraciously.

Dom is teetering on the edge of orgasm, thrashing wildly, when suddenly Billy’s fingers are gone, followed immediately by his tongue. Smirking with rosy, swollen lips, Billy folds his arms over his chest, extremely satisfied with himself.

“What are you doing?” Dom demands. “Why did you stop?”

“I had no idea that revenge could taste this sweet,” Billy replies smugly, and then turns on his heel and walks away.

“Get back here, you bastard,” Dom snarls, struggling to get up off the table and then find his balance on wobbly legs.

Hearing Billy laugh with amusement, Dom kicks one leg free of his jeans and then races after Billy, chasing him into the spare bedroom. Attacking Billy’s shirt as their lips meet hungrily, Dom manages to tear open the fabric to touch the warm flesh beneath, despite his still bound hands, and then pushes Billy down onto the bed. Laughing, Billy rolls over so Dom is beneath him and he’s laying comfortably between Dom’s bare thighs, then brings their mouths back together in a deep, wet kiss.

“Please, Bills,” Dom begs, fingers stroking Billy’s lightly stubbled cheeks as his tongue traces the bow of Billy’s upper lip. “Please.”

Reaching between their aroused bodies, Billy unzips his trousers, freeing his erection, and shoves the constricting material down below his knees. With one hand on Dom’s hip to steady him, Billy rocks his hips forward, slipping into the tight, velvet clench of Dom’s body and filling him completely. Sliding into the warm, welcoming circle of Dom’s arms, Billy thrusts deep, fingers wrapping around Dom’s erection, pumping it quickly as Dom whimpers and mewls with pleasure, writhing wildly beneath him.

Feeling the rhythm of Billy’s thrusts grow in speed and strength quickly, Dom’s legs wrap around Billy’s hips as their mouths meet and part in passionate kisses, Dom’s fingers lacing through Billy’s mussed hair. Crying out loudly as Billy pushes even deeper, Dom buries his face in Billy’s damp neck and feels his control shatter, Billy’s name tumbling repeatedly from his swollen lips as he comes hard and falls into the abyss of orgasm.

The slick wetness of Dom’s release between their bellies is Billy’s undoing, and then he’s spilling himself inside Dom, sinking into his embrace, limp and completely spent. For long minutes, they don’t speak, content to lay together, intimately locked, breath and heartbeats slowly returning to normal. Nose pressed against Dom’s tanned throat, Billy smiles as Dom’s long fingers slide gently through his hair and stroke his neck.

“I hope that wasn’t your way of giving me incentive to never kiss you at work again,” Dom says, finally breaking the comfortable silence. “Because if it was, you failed. Spectacularly.”

Looking up so their eyes meet, Billy smiles and tips his head to one side as their lips meet in a slow, lazy kiss.

“I can’t believe you did that,” Billy says softly, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you tied me up and shagged me through the mattress,” Dom retorts teasingly. “I was hoping that we’d have sex, but you left my expectations in the dust.”

“Liked it, did you?” Billy asks, almost shyly.

“Me running after you, practically starkers and attacking you isn’t enough evidence?” Dom inquires cheekily. “How about the screaming orgasm?”

“Speaking of that,” Billy says, settling onto his elbows and looking deeply into Dom’s eyes. “Can I ask you a question? A rather personal one?”

“Billy, we’ve just had sex and your dick is currently in my arse,” Dom replies dryly, arching an eyebrow. “How much more personal can we get?”

“I was just wondering, if you’re usually so, vocal, in bed,” Billy says, a blush coloring his cheeks. “I mean, I meant what I said earler. You’re rather loud.”

“Only when the sex is so amazing that I can’t keep it all inside,” Dom replies gently, gazing intently at Billy. “I can try to be quieter if you want.”

“No, I like it,” Billy says quickly. “I like it a lot, actually.”

“Can I make a personal observation?” Dom asks. “It’s kind of related to the subject here.”

“Sure.”

“I don’t understand why she cheated on you, Billy,” Dom says softly. “You’re smart, you’re funny, you’re gorgeous, you make beautiful kids, and on top of all that, you’re an incredible lover.”

Blushing deeply, Billy ducks his head, hiding his eyes. “Dom-”

“No, I mean it,” Dom insists, nuzzling his nose into Billy’s cheek, thankful that his arms are locked around Billy’s shoulders so he can’t escape. “If you were half as good in bed with her as you are with me . . .”

Deciding on another tactic for making Dom stop talking, Billy thrusts his tongue into Dom’s mouth, feasting on the pouty curve of Dom’s lower lip as he rocks his hips forward. When a cry of distress bubbles up from Dom’s throat, Billy’s eyes flash wide and he quickly pulls back.

“Oh my God,” he gasps. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, it’s just that I can’t undo these,” Dom explains, stretching his arms and moving them over Billy’s head so his bound hands are resting against his bare chest. “Can you untie me?”

“I’m sorry, Dommie,” Billy says quickly, his small fingers working deftly at the tight knot in his tie, brow furrowing as he sees the redness now marking Dom’s slender wrists. “I didn’t think-”

“Hey,” Dom interrupts. “I’m okay. I just want to touch you.”

“Oh.”

“That was torture, by the way,” Dom adds, wrinkling his nose and pursing his lips. “I wanted to touch you so much, but I couldn’t. That was punishment.”

“You deserved it,” Billy fires back with a grin as the knot finally comes loose, and Dom’s hands are free to move about as he pleases. “I had to see patients after you left.”

“You seemed to enjoy it, while it lasted,” Dom replies, stretching his arms above his head and rotating his wrists back and forth a few times. “Or maybe I was imagining your tongue in my mouth and your hands all over me.”

“Not. At. The. Clinic,” Billy says sternly. “Do you hear me?”

“Okay. I’ll behave,” Dom vows as he lowers his arms.

“Only when you’re at the clinic,” Billy corrects with a smile, dipping his head to press a feathery kiss to one of Dom’s wrists. “Here, is another story.”

“Good to know,” Dom says, sliding his hands around Billy’s waist. “Hey, Bills?”

“Yeah?”

“You do know that we’re still dressed, yeah?”

Glancing down, Billy grins when he realizes that Dom is right. Because of his bound wrists, Dom never removed his t-shirt, and his blue jeans are hanging off of one foot while Billy’s trousers and boxers are tangled around his ankles, his shirt nearly ripped open.

“Like you said, I was in a hurry,” Billy says once their eyes meet again.

Cupping Dom’s head in his hands, Billy feasts on Dom’s lips and tongue, hands sliding over warm skin until the intimate mood is shattered by the screeching of a smoke detector.

“Awww, shite,” Dom curses as he tears his mouth away from Billy’s. “Not again.”

Reluctantly separating and rising to their feet, Dom quickly discards his clothing before the lovers make their way back into the kitchen to investigate. Waving the haze of smoke away from his face, Billy cracks open a window over the sink while Dom grabs a pair of pot holders and pulls the charred remains of their dinner out of the oven.

“Feel like ordering some Thai?” Billy suggests with a shrug of his shoulders as he turns off the smoke detector and the room begins to clear.

“I will teach you to cook,” Dom retorts firmly, setting the roasting pan on top of the cooker before dropping the pot holders and placing his hands on his slender hips. “I’m not giving up, Bills.”

“Have you ever noticed that you keep ending up naked in my kitchen?” Billy asks, eyes dark with arousal as his gaze slides over Dom’s bare skin.

Closing the distance between them, Billy slides his arms around Dom’s waist, nibbling on Dom’s pouty lower lip and then trailing kisses down his throat as his hands stroke the small of Dom’s back. Humming softly, Billy fingers repeatedly trace the indentations of Dom’s back dimples, his breath hot on Dom’s neck.

“You’re trying to distract me,” Dom murmurs, letting his head fall back to give Billy more room to work.

“Want me to stop?” Billy whispers, hands sliding lower to cup the sweet curve of Dom’s arse.

Gasping at the sensation of Billy’s tongue lapping at the hollow of his throat, Dom grabs handfuls of Billy’s shirt and drags it off his shoulders, letting the material flutter soundlessly to the floor.

“No, but this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook about cooking,” Dom warns, his voice unsteady.

“Just for tonight,” Billy says, rocking his hips forward and rubbing their arousals together, grinning when Dom’s fingers fumble desperately with the fly of his trousers that he’d zipped up only a few moments ago.

“Yeah,” Dom agrees as the remains of Billy’s clothing drops to the floor. “Just tonight.”

Walking into the spare bedroom with their arms wrapped around each other and tumbling back onto the bed in a tangle of naked limbs, Dom snuggles into Billy’s body, entwining their legs and nuzzling his nose into the curve of Billy’s throat as his arm tightens around Billy’s waist.

“Comfortable?” Billy asks teasingly, rubbing his cheek against Dom’s tousled hair.

“Don’t sneak out of bed in the morning anymore,” Dom says in a low voice, his breath warm and moist against Billy’s skin. “Wake me up, even if it’s just to say goodbye.”

“Okay, I will,” Billy promises.

“Or I won’t be held responsible for my actions,” Dom adds suggestively. “Unless, of course, you want to christen your desk at the clinic.”

“You wouldn’t,” Billy gasps, heat pooling in his belly at the mere idea of Dom’s naked body laid out on the glossy surface, bucking wantonly and writhing in ecstasy.

Pushing himself up onto one elbow, Dom meets Billy’s smoldering eyes and then slowly arches an eyebrow, grinning devilishly.

“You would,” Billy corrects himself. “Wouldn’t you?”

“Call it an insurance policy,” Dom murmurs softly as he gently nibbles on Billy’s lower lip. “So I don’t wake up alone again.”

“You’re lucky I don’t just tie you to the bed,” Billy retorts, rolling Dom onto his back and settling between his thighs.

“Don’t tease me,” Dom replies, shaking his head.

Arching an eyebrow, Billy reaches across the mattress, blindly searching, finding his prize and then pulling it taut it between his small hands. Grinning, Billy lifts it up to show Dom. It’s his necktie.

“Who said I was teasing?” Billy murmurs dangerously, causing Dom to shiver with anticipation.

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

Admittedly, Billy is immensely relieved as his son’s phone calls become more and more frequent as the days pass, his homesickness quite evident.

“I don’t think Mum and Michael are very used to having kids around,” Cameron informs Billy as they make the trip home from the airport.

“Oh?” Don’t pry, Billy scolds himself. Just thank your lucky stars he came home without a fuss.

“Yeah, I made them a wee bit upset.” A guilty expression crosses Cameron’s young face. “Especially when I broke the window.”

Taking his attention from the road for a moment, Billy sends a quick glance in his son’s direction. “You broke a window? I’m sure it was an accident.”

Cameron colors vividly. “Of course it was. What do you think I am, a complete prat or something?”

Laughing, Billy reaches over and affectionately tousles his son’s hair. “Of course I don’t think you’re a prat, Cobby,” he responds instantly. “Never that. I was just surprised that they’d get upset over a little thing like that.”

“Well,” Cameron replies slowly. “It was a little bit more than that.”

Billy arches an inquiring eyebrow, inviting elaboration.

“Mum and Michael were busy, and I was outside in the back garden,” Cameron explains. “I wanted to practice bending the ball, just like Dom taught me. I was aiming at this tree next to the house.”

“And you missed and it went through the window?” Billy guesses, wincing internally.

“Exactly. It landed on the kitchen table, right in the middle of a tray of those smelly fish-egg things,” Cameron adds, his small nose wrinkling in distaste.

“Fish-egg things?”

Cameron shrugs and then shudders. “Yeah, you know, Dad. Caviar. Yuck.”

“Oh no. Your Mum was having a party?”

“A New Year’s Eve party. Gosh, Dad, you should’ve seen it. There must have been almost three hundred people there,” Cameron reports with awe. “Anyway, this was about an hour before the party started, and Michael got really mad because the goopy stuff slid right off the tray and down the front of his tuxedo.”

Billy has to bite the insides of his cheeks to keep from laughing out loud. “I can see where that might make Michael a bit unhappy, Cameron,” he responds in a voice choked with barely restrained mirth.

“Yeah . . . Well, then Mum and Michael got into this huge fight. He screamed at her, and said that she had a holy terror for a son.” Looking at Billy, Cameron’s smooth brow furrows. “Am I a holy terror, Dad?”

Pausing at a stop sign, Billy reaches over, slides an arm around Cameron’s shoulders and gives him a gentle, comforting squeeze. “Not in the least, Cobby. I think you’re pretty terrific, actually. I’m sure your Mum told Michael the same thing.”

A flush darkens Cameron’s face and then he suddenly displays an avid interest in the floorboards of the car.

“Cobby?” Billy says as he guides the Mini through the intersection and around the corner, turning onto their street.

“Yeah, Dad?” he answers with what Billy easily recognizes to be feigned casualness.

“Since you brought this subject up, may I ask what Abby did have to say?”

“She said that since the accident was just like some crazy stunt you’d pull, I obviously took after you.” The words spill out in a mad rush, and then Cameron shifts in his seat, looking decidedly uncomfortable.

“And?” Billy prompts gently, guessing that there is more.

“Then Michael yelled back that if she thought he was going to try to undo all the damage that had already been done, she had another thing coming.” Pausing, Cameron fidgets with the zip of his jacket. “I decided it would be a good idea to go upstairs, so I didn’t hear anything after that. Besides, the party started not too long after, and everything calmed down.”

“I’m glad,” Billy murmurs, silently fuming at the fact that Abby and Michael fought in front of Cameron, spewing such hateful things, about Cameron, no less.

“You know something?”

“What, Cobby?”

“They don’t fight like you and Dom. It’s kinda scary with them,” Cameron adds, drawing in a harsh breath and blinking rapidly.

Billy shakes his head, reaching over and gently rubbing the back of Cameron’s slender neck. “Well, it’s none of our business. I’m just glad to have you back. I really missed you.”

Exhaling a long sigh as they pull into the driveway, Cameron unbuckles his seat belt and then looks over at Billy. “Missed you, too, Dad. I missed our Sundays.”

“Yeah?” Billy says softly, meeting his son’s eyes. “So did I. I missed them a lot.”

“Can we go tomorrow?” Cameron asks hopefully. “I know it’s already Monday, but-”

“Absolutely,” Billy interrupts as he leans over and then kisses the top of Cameron’s head. “I’d love to. We’ll go after you get out of school.”

“Boy am I glad to be back,” Cameron says as he climbs out of the car. “Dad, are you going to Aberdeen with Dom?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Billy replies as he lifts Cameron’s suitcase out of the boot of the car. “Why?”

Once again, Billy is reminded of Cameron’s astuteness. “It’s because of me you’re not going to the match, yeah?”

Billy knows better than to lie to his son. They’ve forged a very strong relationship, and he’s certainly not going to risk that now, just moments after Cameron’s returned from London. “Hey, Cobby, you just got home. I’m not going anywhere.”

“But I want you to go, Dad,” Cameron protests. “We can make up the Sunday later, and I can always stay over at Ryan’s house for the weekend.”

He’s named one of his new friends, a cheerful and charming Irish boy that Cameron loves to play football with at lunch. Having met Shannon O’Malley at the school’s open house in September, Billy knows her to be a friendly, responsible woman with a very nice family, but it’s not in Billy’s nature to ask for favors from anyone.

“I don’t know,” Billy muses uncertainly.

“I think Dom would really like to have a friend close by,” Cameron presses, his ginger head tilting to one side, deep green eyes earnest. “He trusts you, Dad. It’s going to a tough match.”

“Cobby-”

“I’ll call Ryan right now,” Cameron offers with a grin, knowing that he’s winning the battle.

Catching Cameron’s arm, Billy makes his decision. “No, you unpack and put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper. I’ll call Mrs. O’Malley.”

Hearing a door open behind him, Cameron spins around and breaks into a wide smile when he spots Dom step outside and lift his hand in a wave.

“How’s my number one fan?” Dom calls out.

“Dom! I’m home!”

Dropping his backpack on the pavement, Cameron runs to close the distance between them, and when he draws near, he’s immediately swept up into Dom’s tight, welcoming embrace.

Cradling Cameron to his chest, Dom meets Billy’s gaze and smiles. Eyes glistening with excess moisture, Billy blinks rapidly, and nods when Dom mouths what they’re both thinking.

Home.

After months of waiting, Cameron has finally referred to Scotland as home.

Slinging Cameron’s backpack over his shoulder, Billy gives Dom a small wave and then walks inside, giving his son time to visit with his friend. In the meantime, he’s going to call Shannon O’Malley and see if she can take Cameron for the weekend.

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

“Right off the tray and down the front of that wanker’s tux?” Dom repeats in disbelief, body shaking with laughter.

Chuckling, Billy nods, fingers trailing down Dom’s bare arm, pausing at the inside of his wrist. “Yeah. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke, in my opinion. The phrase ‘Bulls-eye’ came to mind, actually.”

“But you restrained yourself, of course,” Dom adds, leaning in and nuzzling Billy’s neck while his long fingers slide through Billy’s chest hair, teasing a sensitive nipple into a rosy peak. “That’s very admirable of you.”

“I had to, for Cameron’s sake,” Billy protests, back arching as he presses into Dom’s touch. “Oh yeah, right there.”

“I can’t believe they fought in front of him like that,” Dom muses with disgust, lapping at Billy’s pulse point and then moving higher to nibble on his fleshy earlobe. “Anyone with half a bloody brain can tell he’s a terrific kid.”

“Thank you.”

Moaning softly, Billy’s head rolls back to give Dom more room to work while his hand clutches at Dom’s lean back.

“You like that, Bills?” Dom teases, sliding down to feast on the spot on Billy’s body where neck meets shoulder.

“Dommie-”

Bringing their arousals together, Dom wraps a leg firmly around Billy’s bare hip. “How about a second round?”

“I have to go,” Billy murmurs, the regret obvious in his tone. “This was supposed to be a massage. I’ve been over here too long.”

“Is that a no?” Dom asks, rocking his hips forward. “You said Cameron was in bed, fast asleep.”

Rolling over and pinning Dom to the mattress, Billy’s eyes smolder intensely as he hold’s Dom’s wrists firmly at his sides to prevent further teasing.

“I didn’t say no, now did I?”

“C’mon, Bills,” Dom whispers hoarsely, thrusting his hips in a blatantly sexual rhythm. “Don’t leave me all hot and bothered. I’ll be forced to think very dirty thoughts about you and wank.”

“Stop that. You’re distracting me and I need to talk to you about something,” Billy says, settling between Dom’s thighs and rocking back and forth, teasing him.

Curious, Dom arches an eyebrow. “There’s something more important than us having mind-blowing sex? Again.”

“How would you feel about me coming with you to Aberdeen this weekend?” Billy asks tentatively.

The question is asked very softly, and then Dom wrestles his hands free of Billy’s grip to wrap his long arms around Billy’s bare waist. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

Thinking for a moment, Dom’s brow furrows. “What about Cam?”

“He’s the one who suggested it, actually,” Billy replies, his cheeks pinking. “Not that I hadn’t been thinking about it.”

“So, both of you would come up?”

“No, just me,” Billy corrects. “I’ve already checked, and Cameron can stay with a friend from school.”

“But what about the clinic?” Dom inquires. “Don’t you have patients to see?”

“I thought I’d ask how you felt about it first, and then see about getting the time off.”

Pointedly, Dom clears his throat and looks down at his throbbing and leaking erection, trapped between their bellies. Following Dom’s gaze, Billy laughs.

“Well, I guess that answers my question,” Billy replies in a low voice before dipping his head and covering Dom’s swollen mouth with his own.

A soft whimper of enjoyment slips past Dom’s lips as Billy brings their bodies together again, filling him and overwhelming him with immense, erotic pleasure. With a bit of luck, Billy will be able to come with him, and that means after Rangers win, they can celebrate together. All night long.

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

Laying on his side, watching Billy pull his clothes back on after he had all but ripped them off earlier in his need to have Billy inside him, Dom swallows hard, forcing back the question he wants to ask.

They’ve spent every single night together while Cameron has been gone, and Dom doesn’t want that to change. He wants Billy to ask him to come back with him, sleep in the same bed with him. Since Cameron is already asleep, he could just sneak into Billy’s bedroom, and then stay there until Cameron leaves for school in the morning. Simple. But highly unlikely.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Billy pulls on his socks, and then looks over his shoulder at Dom.

“See you tomorrow?” he asks softly.

Pushing himself up onto one elbow, Dom nods before tipping his head to one side, wordlessly inviting Billy to kiss him. Obligingly, Billy leans down and brings their lips together for a long, lazy kiss, sighing when Dom’s tongue dips in for a taste.

“Good night,” Billy murmurs when they finally part.

“Sweet dreams,” Dom replies, plastering on a smile, even as his belly twists.

Dom’s calm façade only lasts until Billy leaves the bedroom, and then Dom rolls over onto his back to listen as Billy walks down the hall to the kitchen and slips out through the patio door. For a long time, Dom stares at the ceiling, remembering all the nights that he fell asleep, curled into Billy’s warmth, naked and spent. Cursing under his breath for letting himself get his hopes up, Dom reaches over and switches off the bedside lamp, only to discover that the pillow next to him carries Billy’s scent. Rolling onto his side and hugging the pillow to his bare chest, Dom finally lets his eyes close. With the Aberdeen match coming up, he knows that practice is going to be intense tomorrow.

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

“Dr. McKellan?” Billy says after knocking lightly on the open door. “May I speak with you for a moment?”

Looking up from the medical journal he’s been perusing, Billy’s superior beckons him to enter the room. “Dr. Boyd, your timing is excellent. I was just about to send for you.”

Suddenly perplexed, Billy walks across the room and takes a seat in a chair across from the older man. “Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing at all,” Dr. McKellan replies, shaking his grey head. “In fact, I believe you’ll find this is good news.”

Smiling to himself, Billy wonders how anything could possibly make him feel better than he has in the last two weeks, since he and Dom became lovers.

“I’d like you to consider taking on some additional responsibility,” Dr. McKellan states.

Managing to keep the expectant smile on his face, Billy doesn’t understand how this is exactly good news.

“What did you have in mind?” Billy asks.

Leaning forward in his chair. Dr. McKellan folds his hands in front of him.

“I’m offering you the position of chief of staff, Dr. Boyd.”

Billy’s head spins as the words sink in. “Chief of staff?” he repeats. “But I’m so new here. It’s barely been four months.”

“Length of employment isn’t the only standard for selecting a qualified physician,” the older man returns instantly. “Your athletic pursuits have obviously piqued your interest in your field far beyond that of simple, professional curiosity. I’ve yet to meet a doctor with more knowledge of sports medicine than you, Dr. Boyd. Now all you have to do is continue putting this knowledge to work in a clinical situation.”

“But surely others won’t want me as their superior,” Billy argues. “After all, I am the new bloke on the block here. All the other doctors have been here for years.”

Sighing, Dr. McKellan meets Billy’s distressed gaze. “Would it ease your fears in that regard to know that every doctor at this clinic offered your name to succeed Dr. Bean?”

Frankly, Billy is stunned by the news. “You know I’m a single parent. Doesn’t that bother you?”

Sitting back in his chair, Dr. McKellan arches an eyebrow. “No. Why should it?”

Fingers twisting in his lap, Billy forces them to stop moving before answering. “Well, frankly, I got the impression that you felt my focus was spilt because of my parental obligations.”

Dr. McKellan’s lips quirk. “Just testing your mettle a bit, Dr. Boyd. I had to make certain you could handle both demanding positions and not fold under the pressure.”

“Are you telling me that I’ve been under consideration for the job since the day I walked in here?” Billy asks in astonishment.

“Of course,” Dr. McKellan replies simply. “Dr. Bean recommended you very highly, and after watching you work, I concur with his opinion. You’re a fine physician, Dr. Boyd. You combine textbook knowledge with a human touch that’s needed when dealing with the ego problems of athletes. You’re perfect, in every possible way. Now, will you accept, or do you need time to think about it?”

Billy’s impulse is to cry out an unqualified yes, but even though they’ve avoided any discussion of a future together, Billy still wants to talk about the offer with Dom.

“I’d like a few days to think it over,” Billy says slowly. “Can I give you my answer on Monday?”

“After the Rangers match with Aberdeen,” Dr. McKellan offers with uncanny insight.

Nodding, Billy can feel a deep blush darken his fair skin.

“Of course that’s satisfactory, Dr. Boyd. I assume you’re taking the weekend off?”

Hoping that Dr. McKellan won’t think that he’s already trying to take advantage of the offered position, Billy nods. “Actually, that’s what I was coming to talk to you about, Dr. McKellan. You see, I hadn’t really planned on going until last night, and-”

Cutting Billy off, Dr. McKellan waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t give it a another thought. You go to Aberdeen and I’ll cover you here.”

“You?” Billy can’t help staring.

“I am a licensed physician, Dr. Boyd,” his superior reminds Billy pointedly.

“Of course, sir, it’s just that I didn’t realize you, that is, I didn’t believe-”

“What? That I enjoy treating patients? Are you under the impression that I much prefer sitting behind this vast expanse of an executive desk, wielding the reins of power over one and all?” Dr. McKellan inquires dryly.

“I suppose that’s pretty much it,” Billy agrees rather sheepishly.

“When I accepted this position, I believed it to be exactly what I wanted,” the older doctor states. “Power, prestige and an impressive income, but like everything else in life, there are tradeoffs. I found, to my later regret, I rather miss the direct contact with patients.”

Then, Dr. McKellan smiles encouragingly. “Fortunately for you, the chief of staff still maintains a patient load, although it’s admittedly less than you have now. I can assure you, however, the cases will be far more challenging and your surgery schedule will definitely increase. You’re much too talented to be putting ice on minor sprains.”

Rising, Dr. McKellan holds out his hand, indicating that their meeting is over. “I’m looking forward to returning to the treatment room this weekend, Doctor. And please give my best wishes to Mr. Monaghan. If the reports about Aberdeen are accurate, he’s going to need all the help he can get.”

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

Chapter 15

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Date: 2006-05-18 03:30 pm (UTC)

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