Trucker and Pup

by Drew Hunt

  Joey opened his mouth to say that he’d be the one staying with Kevin, before realising how childish it would sound. “Pup, whatever you want to do is what will happen, okay?”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “What’d you just call him?” Peter asked in surprise.

  “Butt out, Peter,” Terry said, putting a hand on his partner’s arm.

  Their discussion was interrupted by a porter appearing in the gap left by the open curtains. “Mr Lawrence? I’m here to take you up to the ward.” Turning to the three men standing in the cubicle, the porter continued, “I’m sorry, but we only allow two visitors by a bed, and only during visiting hours. So I’m afraid you’ll all have to go.”

  “What time is evening visiting?” Joey asked.

  “Seven o’clock,” the porter said, trying to guide his trolley into the crowded space next to Kevin.

  “But that’s ridiculous,” Peter protested. “Kevin needs us—”

  Joey squeezed himself between a still arguing Peter and Kevin’s trolley. Quietly he asked Kevin if he’d be all right on his own. “I could try and persuade them to let me stay with you.”

  “It’s okay, Sir. All I want to do is sleep, then hopefully this headache will go away.”

  Joey gently stroked Kevin’s hair. “If you’re in pain, tell them. You mustn’t hide anything like that from them.”

  “I know, thanks.”

  “Do you want me to bring you anything when I come back this evening?”

  “A change of clothes,” Kevin said almost at a whisper.

  Bending down, Joey kissed Kevin’s forehead. “I love you. If you need me before tonight, just get them to call me, okay?”

  “Thank you, Sir. I love you, too.”

  Joey and Terry backed out of the cubicle, Terry pulling a still protesting Peter along with him.

  Turning his head towards Kevin, Peter said, “We’ll be here tonight as well. You’ll need a lift back to our place anyway. I don’t like the thought of you being on your own tonight.”

  “Peter, that’s enough,” Terry said.

  Peter immediately shut up.

  As the three men began to make their way to the exit, Terry continued. “Look, Joey here is Kev’s boyfriend. Kev will probably want to stay with him. Kev knows we’re here for him if he needs us.”

  Peter’s shoulders fell. “Yeah, suppose you’re right.” Turning to Joey, Peter held out his hand. “Sorry, it’s just I worry so much about him. You did well to get him in here. Lord knows he should have been examined a couple of times in the past after that bastard worked him over, but I couldn’t ever get him to agree to come in, much less press charges.”

  “It’s okay,” Joey said, taking Pete’s hand. “I had to order him to come in. I even carried him to the ambulance. And he’s made a statement to the police as well. I told him he didn’t have any choice.”

  “Uh, yeah. Look I’m not very comfortable about, well, how you and Kevin are with each other.”

  Joey sighed. What Peter thought or didn’t think was neither here nor there, but he was Kevin’s friend, so Joey bit back the comeback he was going to use, and took a couple of seconds to formulate a more acceptable reply. “It was a bit of a shock when he started calling me ‘sir’, I can tell you. But it fits in with his submissive personality.”

  “Yeah, I don’t know why he’s like that. I mean, that’s how Cal was able to walk all over him for all those years.”

  Joey blew his nose, even though he’d lost most of his sense of smell, the warm odour of disinfectant still managed to get through. “There’s nothing wrong in being submissive.” He didn’t really want to get into a big discussion. “Look, it’s wonderful that you care so much for him,” He stopped walking and turned to face Peter and Terry, “I do too, very much. I could never hurt him or cause him pain. When I saw Briggs punching him this morning, I lost it completely. I, well if I hadn’t have heard Kevin groan, I’d probably have killed the piece of shit.”

  “It’s just that Kevin’s been hurt before, and we don’t wanna see it happen again,” Terry put in.

  Joey nodded. “Me neither.”

  The threesome had reached the main exit. “Did you say that you came in the ambulance with Kev?” Peter asked.

  “Yeah, he wouldn’t have come here otherwise.”

  “We’ll give you a lift back to your bike, then.”

  Joey was surprised by the offer, it forced him to re-evaluate his opinion of Peter. The man was a bundle of nervous energy, and quite annoying at times, but Joey realised his heart was usually in the right place. Peter also loved Kevin, that much was obvious, so Joey decided he’d do his best to try and get along with the bloke.

  * * * *

  “Glad to be getting out of here, eh, Pup?” Joey asked as he walked along the main corridor of the hospital with his man.

  “It’s been a long day,” Kevin yawned. “They kept telling me that rest was the best medicine, but how could I rest when they kept prodding me all the time? There was a lot of noise on the ward too. And, well, you weren’t there, Sir, so I never got any sleep at all.”

  Seeing a dark alcove up ahead, Joey guided Kevin into it. Cupping his lover’s heavily bruised face in his hands, Joey kissed his swollen lips gently. “I missed you, too.” Putting his hands on Kevin’s shoulders, he stared down into those bottomless trusting eyes that were turned up to him.

  Throughout the afternoon Joey had tried to interest himself in housework, never a favourite occupation at the best of times. He’d wanted to go out for a walk, but thought it best to stay in, just in case Kevin or the hospital called. Though he had a mobile phone, he wasn’t sure if Kevin knew the number. So he’d done his best to while away the time until visiting. Finally the clock had ticked round till it was time to call for a taxi. He hadn’t thought it would be a good idea to take Kevin home on the back of his bike. Joey then found he had a half hour wait before visiting started.

  Waiting was something he hated. Being inactive allowed his mind to replay recent events, Joey becoming ever more angry with himself for not taking seriously Kevin’s fears concerning Briggs and his likely reaction to being investigated. Joey had failed Kevin big time, a fact which troubled him immensely.

  “You okay?” Joey asked, still gazing into Kevin’s eyes.

  Kevin broke eye contact and looked down. “I don’t know how you can kiss me, what with my face like it is. I managed to get a look at myself in a mirror a bit ago, and I look awful.”

  Joey gently lifted Kevin’s chin. “In both here,” he touched Kevin’s forehead, “and here,” he moved his finger to Kevin’s left upper chest, “You are beautiful. The most beautiful, giving and genuine person I’ve ever met.”

  Tears began to roll down Kevin’s bruised cheeks. Joey pressed his lover’s face to his shoulder and rubbed Kevin’s back comfortingly.

  When Kevin had collected himself, Joey wiped up the remaining moisture with a tissue. “Now let’s get you home.” They resumed their walk, Joey draping an arm over Kevin’s shoulder. “You hungry, Pup?”

  “Yeah, the food in here was crap.”

  “I know where there’s a fridge full of chicken soup that needs eating up.”

  Joey’s heart soared at the sound of Kevin’s laughter, as it echoed from the Spartan green-painted walls.

  Chapter 9

  “No, Sir, I can’t.”

  Kevin moved to the other side of his new bed. He could feel himself beginning to shake. Ever since the attack he’d been an emotional and physical wreck, the least little thing sending his emotions spiralling. Knowing he was going into another panic attack, Kevin tried to stop himself from hyperventilating.

  “Pup,” Joey’s arm reached out and pulled Kevin back towards him. “I know it’s scary, but it’s something you’ve got to face sometime, you know you have to. And I think it’ll only make things worse if you put it off.” Joey used his most tender tone of voice, but it did little to quell Kevin’s panic.

  “I, I can�
��t. Please, Sir, don’t make me.”

  Joey traced his index finger down Kevin’s cheek, drawing patterns in the sheen of sweat that had broken out. “I’ll be with you. I’ll never be more than a foot away.”

  Kevin looked at his lover’s face, which showed a mixture of strength, tenderness, understanding and love. Kevin took a deep breath. He knew he’d have to go back to the office at some point, it was where he worked after all. But he didn’t want to face it yet.

  “Cal’s in custody. He won’t be there. And even if he was,” Kevin felt Joey’s muscles tighten, “there would be absolutely no fucking way I’d let him so much as look at you.”

  Gazing into Joey’s green eyes, Kevin sought the sincerity he could hear in his lover’s voice. Finding what he needed in abundance, he spoke. “I’m frightened.”

  Joey gave Kevin a light squeeze. Nodding, he said, “I know you are. But if you can face this now, I promise that you’ll feel a hell of a lot better.”

  Kevin sighed. He knew his sir was right, but that didn’t remove the terror he felt at re-visiting the scene of the crime. He’d been holed up in his one-room apartment for the past couple of days, too scared to venture out. He didn’t want anyone to see his horribly bruised face. Each time someone let off a firework, he’d jump with fright. But through it all, his sir, his strong and loving sir, was there, never leaving his side.

  “Pup, I hate seeing you like this, all nervous and jumpy. Most of it’s my fault. I’ll never forgive myself for not being there for you. Fuck, if only I hadn’t’ve been talking to Greg!”

  “Sir, no. We’ve been through this loads of times. It’s not your fault, it’s partly mine, but mostly Cal’s.”

  Joey raised himself on one elbow. “None of it is your fault.” Pointing a finger at Kevin, Joey continued, “Got that?”

  Kevin looked down. If only he hadn’t been so weak and stood up to Cal in the early days, then none of this would have happened.

  “Pup,” Joey’s voice re-focussed Kevin’s attention. “I don’t like doing this, but I need to push you. I know I’m asking a lot, but it’s for your own good.”

  Kevin didn’t reply.

  “Please don’t make me order you to go.” Joey leaned forward and softly kissed Kevin’s thickened, bruised lips.

  “You won’t leave me, not even for a minute?”

  “Not for a single second, cross my heart.” Joey accompanied his words with the appropriate gesture. “If we go this morning, the place will be empty, so you won’t have to see anyone. And with your helmet on, no one in the street will be able to see your face, not that there’s anything wrong with it.” Joey put in quickly.

  God bless him, he knew what was on my mind, Kevin thought. “If you promise that we can turn back if I get too scared,” Kevin paused, “then, yes I’ll go.”

  Kevin saw Joey’s face light up. It caused a warm tingle to wash through his body.

  “That’s my brave pup.” Joey lifted himself over Kevin, surrounding him with his reassuring bulk. Kevin felt Joey begin to lick and bite on the side of his neck. He always felt especially comforted when Joey was on top of him, demonstrating his dominance. Although Joey had the power to cause pain, he was using that same strength to give love and reassurance.

  * * * *

  Kevin stared at the digital lock, the final barrier between him and his fear of what lay inside the office building of the haulage company. His hand shook as it reached out to key in the sequence. He’d hoped Joey would have opened the door, carried him inside and never let him go. But his sir had insisted that Kevin had to do it all himself. At first Kevin thought he’d been tricked, and it was on the tip of his tongue to ask Joey to take him back home, but one look into the green eyes of his sir gave him the courage to move forward and confront his fears.

  “Parker had the numbers changed for the lock and the burglar alarm,” Joey said, handing Kevin a slip of paper. “just in case Briggs or one of his mates, if he has any, tries to get in.”

  Kevin nodded; that made sense.

  After punching in the new code, the lock released and Kevin pushed the heavy wooden door open. The pinging of the burglar alarm seemed louder than normal. Kevin reached for the control panel and entered that new code, too.

  Kevin froze when he turned on the lights in the corridor and the closed door of the outer office came into view. His knees began to give way.

  Joey was at his side instantly. “I’ve got you, Pup. You can do this.”

  Kevin wasn’t so sure. Drawing strength from the calmness of Joey’s tone, plus the physical reassurance of his presence, Kevin took a deep breath and stepped towards the door.

  Pushing it open, Kevin walked inside. He could hear his blood pounding loudly in his ears, and his chest felt tight. To his surprise the darkened room bore very few signs of the events of two days earlier. He couldn’t make out any blood stains on the carpet. The side of the filing cabinet had a dent in it. This, Kevin realised, must have happened when Cal had thrown him against it. He began to shiver at the memory. Closing his eyes, Kevin relived the fear, the pain, the overwhelming sense of weakness. He spun to face the door. He had to get out. It was all too much. Joey was standing in the doorway blocking him in, Kevin started to panic, he felt trapped, he couldn’t breathe.

  “Pup?” Joey asked softly.

  Kevin ran for the door; Joey stood aside, allowing him to pass. Once they were back in the relative safety of the corridor, Kevin was able to catch his breath.

  “I’m sorry, Pup. I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard.”

  Drawing in a lungful of air, Kevin said, his voice sounding shaky, “It’s okay, Sir. Honestly I think it’s okay. It just…” Kevin swallowed, his mouth had gone dry. “It was a bit too much. Please, will you hold me for a minute?”

  Joey complied.

  “I’ll take you home when you’ve calmed down.”

  “Thanks, Sir, but I’ve come this far. I’m gonna give it another shot.”

  Joey kissed the top of Kevin’s head. “That’s my brave pup.”

  Letting out a breath, Kevin asked, “Why is Cal like he is?”

  “Try not to think about it.”

  “I can’t help it. Every time I close my eyes, I can see his face coming towards me. That’s when,” Kevin shuddered, “That’s when I pissed myself. Oh, God!” Kevin tightened his grip around Joey’s waist.

  “Don’t. Briggs can’t hurt you any more. He’s been given the sack. He’s not gonna be let out of jail for a long time. You were so brave when the policemen asked you all those questions.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you, Sir.”

  “Don’t know about that.” Joey kissed the top of Kevin’s head.

  The two fell silent. Gradually Kevin began to feel calmer.

  “I suppose I ought to go back in.” Kevin’s arms fell to his sides and he turned to the open door of the outer office.

  Walking inside the darkened space, he reached for and switched on the florescent lights. The now brightly lit room seemed far less terrifying than it had a few moments earlier. Kevin’s spirits rose. As he looked round the room, everything seemed normal, usual, not at all scary.

  “You okay?” Kevin heard Joey ask. He hadn’t realised he’d remained quiet for so long.

  Kevin nodded. “I feel a lot easier, um, in my mind I mean. It doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would, no blood or anything.”

  “That’s good.”

  Walking into the room, Joey sat down in a swivel chair and held out his arms. Kevin approached and allowed Joey to guide him onto his lap, positioning him so they were chest-to-chest.

  Kevin kissed Joey’s cheek. “Thank you, Sir. You were right about me coming here.”

  “Aren’t I always?” Joey asked, a cheeky grin lighting up his face.

  Kevin shook his head, but couldn’t help grinning back.

  Joey began to lick Kevin’s ear, resulting in the smaller man throwing wood. He had to reach down and adjust himself. Joey chuck
led.

  Growing bolder, Joey unzipped Kevin’s jacket, reaching under his woollen jersey and T-Shirt. His fingers slowly crept up Kevin’s chest, which made Kevin shudder. Finding Kevin’s nipples, Joey began playing with them. Kevin whimpered. He was lost in a fog of desire, his fears of a few minutes earlier sinking into the background.

  “Wanna take you home, and make slow, gentle, healing love to you for the rest of the day,” Joey whispered as he continued to lick the side of Kevin’s neck.

  Kevin began to moan with desire. Joey had been scrupulous about not playing around since the incident, telling Kevin he couldn’t do it for fear of hurting him. Though Kevin hadn’t been in the mood for much action, it had crossed his mind more than once that Joey’s real reason for keeping his distance was because of his hideously bruised face.

  Kevin gasped when Joey bit on Kevin’s earlobe. “I’m close.”

  Joey ceased his activities. “Can you wait till we get back to my place?”

  “Uh huh,” Kevin said distractedly.

  “I’ll pick up a take-away then. Indian or Chinese?”

  Kevin’s mind slowly returned to the here and now. “I don’t mind. I could easily knock something up back at your place.”

  Joey grinned wickedly. “I’m the one who’ll be doing the knocking up, and I’m not talking about food!”

  Kevin giggled. It had been the first time since they’d come home from the hospital that he could remember laughing, and it felt good.

  Realising he hadn’t answered Joey’s question, Kevin said, “Um, I prefer a Chinese take-away.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll have.”

  Then Kevin remembered his appearance. He didn’t want to be in public looking as he did.

  Joey must have caught on. “You can wait outside and keep your helmet on if you like, but no one will say anything.” Joey flexed his muscles in a show of protective strength.

  “Thanks, Sir. I…” He swallowed, “It’s too soon, you know?”

  Joey nodded. “Okay then, let’s go.” He Lifted Kevin and sat him on a desk, then spun round. “Want a piggyback ride?”

  Kevin laughed. He couldn’t see why not, so climbed onto his lover’s broad leather-clad back and made himself comfortable.