Thawed Out (Merry Everything #4)

Chapter 13

13

K iren frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. This was going to be another very tight month with the Christmas bills coming in, and Flynn still not working full time. And the damn washer had died this morning, because of course it had. Why should they have one easy month? He’d been playing with the numbers for an hour.

He sighed. He’d figure it out. He wouldn’t sleep tonight, but he’d figure it out.

Flynn was beginning to pull hospital shifts again. First there was one a week, then there was a double here, a double there. The upset lines around Flynn’s mouth were getting deeper, and the last two counseling sessions had to be rescheduled.

They just needed to get through a few more months, right? And they needed to talk. That was all. He’d get Flynn to sit with him for a bit after this shift, which ended in—he glanced at his watch—oh. It was just ending now.

Great.

It was late, but he hopped up to get a plate put together for Flynn. Everyone felt better after a meal. Then maybe they could talk.

He started to get up when he caught sight of the pile of essays he still had to read and sighed. He’d spent too long trying to figure out the budget, but it had to be done.

He pulled the stack of papers over and started flipping through them. Something caught his eye, and he pulled the essay out and picked up his trusty red pen.

Before he knew it, he was balls deep into dangling modifiers when the back door opened, and Flynn came in, stomping the snow off his boots.

“Hey, babe.”

“Hey, love.” Shit. He was supposed to be warming up dinner. He hopped out of his seat and moved toward the kitchen. “Cold out?”

“Yep, but it’s not snowing. How’s the grading going?” Flynn shrugged off his coat and hung it up, suddenly beginning to cough, deep and hard.

He stopped and turned around, watching Flynn bend over a little with the force of the cough. “Hey. That doesn’t sound good.” Flynn didn’t get sick often.

“Yeah. I tested. It’s just a cough. Irritating as fuck though. Grr.”

“Are you hungry? I made dinner. I meant to warm a plate up for you before you got home, but I lost track of time.” He stuck a hand out and felt Flynn’s forehead.

“What did you make?” Flynn was burning up. Dammit.

“Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Sit.” Before kids, he hadn’t even owned a thermometer. Now, they had one in every bathroom and one in the junk drawer in the kitchen. He pulled it out and beeped Flynn’s forehead.

“I’m fine.”

He showed Flynn the thermometer. 101.9.

“Uh-huh. Fine. Mashed potatoes sound amazing.” Flynn gave him a wry grin.

“Mashed potatoes and Tylenol.” And then he’d put his husband to bed. He put the thermometer away and got out the mashed potatoes. They were easy on the stomach and carbs were good for a cold.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry. You are the one that works in a petri dish of teenagers.”

“I’m not worried. I don’t want the kids sick though, so you’re going to our bedroom after you eat.” He warmed up a plate of carbs and set it in front of Flynn. He used his mother’s recipe, and Flynn was a fan, but he doubted his husband was going to eat much right now. It was worth a shot though.

“Bossy old man.” Flynn’s voice was rough, but the tease made him smile.

“Bossy. Not old,” he teased back and set two Tylenol and a glass of water on the table. It was good that Flynn had a sense of humor, but that didn’t stop him from worrying. “Try to eat a little.”

“Yeah. It was a long day.”

Flynn had worked from seven p.m. last night to eleven p.m. tonight, between the office and the hospital.

“Too long. You can’t keep doing that. You just… I don’t know. I’ll figure this out, but you can’t. It’s ludicrous.”

“I know, but we need the money, so—” Flynn shrugged. “What else can I do?”

“I don’t know, babe. I don’t know. Get better for starters.” He’d tutor after school maybe. Ask his mom to watch the kids. Flynn had given his pound of flesh.

“Yeah. I’ll mainline Dayquil and vitamin B tomorrow.” Flynn winked at him. “It won’t be much longer, I promise.”

“I think you should stay home tomorrow and rest.” One day. Flynn could take one day to get better at least. “I don’t want you to get worse.”

“Oh, love. I can’t. I’ll wear a mask, but I have to put the hours in, you know? I’ll stay away from the patients, but I can’t mess this up, not now.”

He sighed. He had to wonder if everyone worked as hard as Flynn did. “Okay, but school stuff only. Do not pick up a shift.”

“Can we make the bills if I don’t?” Flynn looked so fucking exhausted. “I mean, I’m trying hard to help our budget.”

“If something needs to be late so that you don’t end up a patient instead of a nurse then so be it.” That was that. The mortgage was paid this month. The utility bill could wait a week.

“It’s going to get better, I promise.” Flynn’s voice was raspy, bordering on frustrated.

“We’ll figure it out. It’s only a few more months, right? You can maybe grab an extra shift when you’re feeling better. Okay? Does that work? If you’re not going to eat, let’s get you to bed.” Food could wait. He could get Flynn water or tea or something.

“Oh.” Flynn frowned down into his potatoes. “I really wanted them, but I’m worn.”

“It’s okay. I’ll clean up. Come on.” He offered Flynn a hand up. The longer they sat here, the worse Flynn looked.

“I’m going to jump in the shower. Are you coming to bed too?”

He started to say yes, but did he want what Flynn had? They definitely couldn’t both be down with it. “Uh. Maybe? Let me clean up and think about it. Go take your shower.”

Flynn sighed, frowned, and nodded. “You can have the bed. I’ll take the sofa. You need your rest.”

He felt his blood pressure rise. “Would you stop? I’m not the one who’s sick. Jesus, Flynn. I appreciate it, but this isn’t the time to be all gentlemanly. You’re sick. I need you healthy, okay? Take a shower, take some Nyquil, and go to bed.”

“I was just trying to be nice, man. Jesus. I thought that was part of my job?” Flynn growled softly and turned to stomp down the hall.

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Sorry.” That wasn’t one of his better moments. “I’m sorry!” He called after Flynn, then dragged his ass back into the kitchen to clean up. He still had an hour of grading to do too. He couldn’t go to bed yet anyway.

Too hot hands landed on the back of his neck, rubbing. “Me too. I don’t ever want to relearn how to sleep without you. Can we both sleep in the living room?”

He snorted, then turned around and gave Flynn a hug. “We’ll sleep together. In bed. Fuck the germs. Why is this so hard?”

“Because we’re exhausted and broke? Because we don’t want to fuck up again? Because we love each other really bad?”

“Really, really bad.” He kissed Flynn’s cheek. It was still burning up. “Okay. You shower, I’ll clean up. I have an hour or so of grading to do, so you can nap on the couch and then we’ll go up to bed together. Deal?”

“Perfect. I’ll take Nyquil before I come back in so you don’t have to hear me gagging over the taste.”

He didn’t point out that taking Nyquil now might make it hard to get him up to bed later. They’d manage. He wanted Flynn to sleep. “I appreciate that because, ew.”

“I totally agree. Love you, hottie.”

“I love you, sicky. Right now, you are definitely hotter than I am.” He winked at Flynn and sent him on his way.

Cleaning up wouldn’t take him five minutes. He was just going burn everything Flynn had touched.

“Come have a beer with us?” One of the pretty new ER doctors asked, and Flynn shook his head.

He had paperwork to do, kids to love on, and he was coming off another double and heading into a Sunday night with a grumpy husband who just wanted help putting the kids in bed. “I can’t. I got to get home.”

“It’s a bitch, isn’t it? Having kids?” Penny swatted his arm as she walked by.

“Every day,” he teased back.

Actually, it was one of the few things getting him through all of this.

“You need a break, man. Come have one beer on me. It won’t kill you.” Gray sat with him, just plopped right down like he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “This can wait.”

“No, it can’t.” He wanted to kiss Cassie goodnight. He wanted to hug Jasper. He wanted to spend an hour with his husband.

Gray sighed. “Do you need help? You look pretty rough. Is it paperwork? I can do it for you.”

“I need a break.” He shocked himself by damn near bursting into tears, but he was at the end of his rope, and he was scared that he was going to fall.

Hard.

“Hey. This is stressful shit without a family at home. School and work—here of all places? It’s hard. I’ll tell you what. I will finish your paperwork if you promise to go home, hug your kids, and then get some sleep. And before you protest, you can owe me. I’ll call in the favor sometime.”

“Seriously, honey.” Penny shook her head. “You have to breathe. I know. I have one kid, and she’s a teenager. You have two little ones, school, an internship. You are burning yourself up.”

“See? Listen to the mother. She knows best.” Gray took the pen right out of his hand.

“Go home. Eat. Snuggle babies. Sleep.” Penny encouraged him to start moving, heading for his truck, and he stumbled his way over, crawling in and closing his eyes for ten minutes before he headed out.

He woke up to his phone ringing, and he fumbled around for it in the dark. How was it already dark? He didn’t find the phone before it stopped ringing, but when he did, he scrolled through his missed calls.

There were four, all from Kiren.

And a line of text messages.

Kiren:

Working late?

Coming home soon?

Hey, pick up. Is everything okay?

Babe?

Flynn please call me

Ok I see your truck is still at the hospital. Would you please call? I’m going to assume you’re stuck with an emergency

Ok now I’m worried

CALL ME

“Fuck.” He dialed, starting the truck and pulling out of the spot. “Hey, you. Sorry!”

I fell asleep in the truck.

“Flynn. Thank God. Are you coming home? Are you okay?” Kiren sounded frantic. “I was about to call your Dad and—just come home. Are you okay to drive, babe?”

“I am. I’m on the road. I got into the truck and closed my eyes for a second, and it was a hell of a lot longer, I guess.”

There was a long pause before Kiren spoke. “You were sleeping? In your truck?”

“I just closed my eyes a second. I came out to head home and—it was just for a second.” It was just supposed to be for a second.”

“Come home. We’ll talk when you get here. Please be careful.” There was a sigh before Kiren hung up the phone.

Fuck, he hated starting out in trouble.

Hated it.

Still, he didn’t speed—he did sing really loud—but he was safe, and he pulled into the driveway and parked, heading in to take his medicine.

Pun intended.

The door opened before he’d gotten both feet on the ground, and Kiren stood there in the doorway waiting for him. When he reached the door, Kiren stepped out of the way, closed it, and pulled him into a hard hug. “Fuck, I’m so mad at you.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” And he could say that part. “I was just so tired, I guess. I just closed my eyes for a second, but?—”

“I know. You’re exhausted, and I totally understand; I was just worried. My stomach has been in knots for two hours, and I have a huge headache. You know it’s bad when I seriously consider calling your dad.” Kiren hadn’t let him go yet.

“Two hours?” Oh fuck. No. No way. “I missed kissing Cass goodnight?”

Kiren let him go. “She’s been asleep for ages. But you should go up and kiss her anyway. I promised her you would.”

“I will. I’ll be right back.” He ran up and tucked her back under her covers, kissing her forehead. “Love you, baby girl.”

“Daddy.”

“That’s right.” He checked on Jasper, putting Mr. Moo up on the bed next to his son before dropping off his shoes in their bedroom.

Kiren was in the kitchen when he got back warming up a plate for him. “I’m sorry I’m neurotic. I was really hoping to spend some time with you tonight. Sit. I have dinner.”

“I was too. I promise. I swear to God, man. I didn’t do it on purpose. Let me order us a pizza?” Surely they could afford that…

“I ate, babe. Your dinner is almost ready. We’re having pizza with the kids this weekend, okay?” Kiren came to him and kissed his forehead. “But thank you.”

“I just—” He was so fucking tired. Everything hurt, and he couldn’t keep it together.

He needed to quit whining.

“I made myself work to distract myself, so my grading is almost done. You eat, I’ll finish up, and then let’s crawl into bed, hm? We can talk until we crash.” Kiren set his plate down. More leftover meatloaf, fried potatoes and green beans. He’d seen this meal a lot.

Still, it was better than most everything at the cafeteria, so he’d eat it. “Thank you. It looks good.”

“Thanks. Boring, but cheap, and it saves time. The kids love it. That’s the end of it though. You might wind up with mac and cheese and hot dogs tomorrow.” Kiren’s smile was tired. In fact, he hadn’t really noticed how worn out Kiren looked until now.

“I’m not working a shift tomorrow, so I can cook.” It might still be hot dogs and mac and cheese, but at least Kiren didn’t have to cook it. “I think I’m home in the evenings for most the rest of the week.”

He’d have to check.

Kiren studied him for a minute. “Let’s see how tomorrow goes.”

“Okay. Okay, sure. I’m sorry, Kiren. I swear to you, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“Of course you didn’t. I know that. I just…making plans doesn’t seem like the best idea right now. I think we’re in day-to-day mode.”

“Okay. I’m going to figure supper though, okay?”

“Sure. That would be nice. Thank you.” Kiren started cleaning up. “Do you want to head up for a shower?”

“With you?” It was worth a shot, right? Just a moment of adult time with his man?

The smile he got this time was less tired and a lot happier. “That sounds like a brilliant idea.” Kiren dried his hands and pulled him out of his chair. “Now?”

“Now. Please.” He dragged Kiren in and kissed him hard. “I love you.”

“I love you.” Kiren backed out of the kitchen. “Take me upstairs, babe.”

“Take you upstairs. In the shower. On the bed. Wherever you want.”

“Fuck, yeah.” Kiren took the steps two at a time and tugged his shirt off as he hit the bedroom.

“You are still the finest motherfucker on earth.” He had to touch, loving how his hands looked on Kiren’s skin.

“I need you, babe. Fuck sleep. This is what I need.” Kiren tugged at him, fingers tangling in his shirt.

“I’m yours.” He grabbed Kiren’s hair and demanded another hard kiss. He was going to remind Kiren why they’d given each other another chance.

Kiren returned the kiss, tongue shoving past his lips asking for even more before Kiren turned and pushed him down onto their bed. The look on Kiren’s face was determined as he wrestled Flynn’s scrubs down and his briefs along with them.

They weren’t going to make it to the shower. Not yet. Maybe for round two, if they were enthusiastic.

He stretched up tall and spread wide, letting Kiren see everything.

“That’s my man. Fuck, you’re just everything right now.” Kiren climbed up between his knees, lips dropping to his chest for a taste, one hand opening the drawer in the bedside table. “Shower next. I want all of you first.”

“Works for me. I’m yours. I want you.” All the time. He was all Kiren’s.

Kiren produced the lube and wasted no time using it. Flynn pulled his knees back and shivered at the first touch of the cool stuff that eased the way for two fingers.

He loved the way Kiren watched him, wanted him, loved him.

Kiren’s fingers worked him gently but purposefully. “How much warm up do you need, babe? I’m so ready for you.”

“I want you to fuck me. I’m burning up inside.” He pulled his knees up higher.

Those fingers disappeared, and Kiren quickly replaced them with his hot, hard cock. “You make me ache.” Kiren eased in, giving him a minute to adjust before groaning and sinking so deep no light could pass between them.

“Love you. God, I love you so much.” He smashed their mouths together, shutting himself up. The last thing he needed was to wake up one of the kids.

Their kiss was endless, only breaking for gulps of air until they were both sweating and out of their heads, just feeling, giving and taking, working toward making each other fly.

Kiren bit his lips closed and tossed his head back, hips driving hard and sending that cock deep inside him.

Flynn’s body convulsed, spunk pouring out of him, heat spraying over his belly as he tightened around Kiren’s cock.

Kiren shuddered and went rigid right after him, muffling a cry against his shoulder as more heat filled him. “Love you,” Kiren whispered roughly. “Love you so much.”

“Thank God.” He held on, clinging to his husband, swallowing hard as he focused on the aftershocks buzzing through him.

Kiren slid to his side with a sigh but let him stay close and curled an arm around his back. “Yeah. The rest is just noise. As long as we have this, we have everything, babe. Everything.”

“You know it. It’s…more than most have, you and me.”

“In the half an hour or so that I was worried you were dead in a ditch, I actually thought, how the hell am I going to do this without him?” Kiren huffed out a soft laugh.

“I’m sorry, honey. I swear to you, it wasn’t on purpose.” And he felt like shit about it.

“Oh, I know, babe. I was just joking, I’m sorry. I was worried, but I never thought you were dead. Honest.” Kiren kissed him to make the point. “We’re good. You’re here. And I don’t have to make mac and cheese tomorrow.” The little raspberry Kiren blew on his neck made him feel better. “Shower?”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll lather you up, nice and easy, so you’re ready to sleep.”

“I’m ready for sleep, but somebody’s spunk is all over me.” Kiren winked and sat up with a groan. “I think I’m creaking though.”

“You did a great job, for a creaky guy…” he teased.

“I’m pretty sure I can fully stand up for a whole shower. Are you?” Kiren winked and offered a hand as he slid out of bed.

“Not even close.” He winked at Kiren, goosing that sweet butt.

Kiren stepped just out of reach and wiggled it for him, then sauntered away toward the bathroom. “Come on, love. You owe me a lathering.”

“I owe you way more than that, lover. Way more.”

“Well, this will be a good start, then.” Kiren held his hands out to Flynn. “We’ll both sleep well.”

He nodded. That wasn’t a problem. He was going to sleep like a baby.