Page 20 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
“It might work, for a moment, sir, but what about tomorrow or the day after? What about when I need to pay bills or pass my tests? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but…you don’t have the problems I have, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth’s hands threaded through Collin’s hair. Tears, undesired, crept into Collin’s eyes. “You want me to rest, sir. Damian wants me to rest. Mr. Moreau wants me to rest. That’s all well and good, sir. But people like me don’t get to rest. We don’t get to get sick. That’s not how the world works.”
“I haven’t forgotten how your world works.” Mr. Reevesworth sighed, and Mr. Moreau looked up and seemed to meet his husband’s eyes over Collin’s head. “I wasn’t born to my station. Today is Sunday. Monday, Ellisandre will reach out to your professors. Likely you will have an extension on all your classes. The doctor has already provided you with a letter of medical recommendation. The bar where you work was contacted two hours ago. They won’t pay you for shifts missed, but your job will still be there when you return, if you return.
“Rent.”
“You likely earned enough Saturday alone to cover most of the rent on your space.”
“You’re still paying me?”
“Technically, my sister is still paying you.”
Collin pushed himself up. His head spun. Mr. Reevesworth caught him by the shoulders.
Collin forced his head to lift so he could look Mr. Reevesworth in the eyes. “Isn’t she letting me go?”
“Why would she?”
“I was out of line, sir.”
“Collin, having you naked and limp on the floor only concerned me because of the amount of blood that was collecting around your body.”
“Sir.” Collin put his hand to his head. It throbbed, but this had to be said. “Sir, one is not supposed to be naked in public.”
Mr. Reevesworth shook his head. “I do believe you had reason to believe you had privacy. Were you stripping to be lewd?”
“Lewd? No, sir! I?—”
“You were stripping because you were distressed with the state of your clothes. Because you were wet, and tired, and you had not eaten and drank enough. We will be discussing the reasons you reached that semi-incapacitated state when you are more well. But no, Collin. You are not being fired. You will be paid.”
Collin’s arm buckled. Mr. Reevesworth caught him and turned him, putting Collin’s back against his chest and pulling the covers up around him. He held him with one arm around his chest and soothed his head with his other hand.
“You’re shaking, Collin.”
“I don’t think this can be real, sir.”
“It’s real, Collin.”
“I don’t think I can accept that it is, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth lifted his leg and drew Collin down under it, pinning him to the mattress. Collin’s cheek rested on the sheet, his face pressed against Mr. Reevesworth’s other leg, the top of his head nestled practically against the man’s loins.
Mr. Reevesworth put his hand on Collin’s face, blocking most of the light. There was nothing in Collin’s senses now except for Mr. Reevesworth’s warmth, the weight of his thigh on Collin’s back and shoulder, the blankets, and the smell of the man’s hands.
“Settle, Collin.”
Collin woke Monday morning to the flick of a tail and a purr. He reached up, swiping at whatever was up against his face and met supple muscle and slender limbs.
“Artemis, that is exactly where you were not supposed to go.”
Collin peered through his sleep-encrusted eyes. Damian stood in the doorway, arms folded, staring at Collin’s chest.
Collin’s chest that was currently supporting a small black feline.
“Is this Artemis?”
Damian nodded and sauntered to the bed, disapproving eyes on the cat. She hissed and dug her claws into the blanket. “You’re not allergic, are you?”
