Page 46 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
They didn’t speak until Mr. Reevesworth was satisfied the entire set of new scratches, elbow to wrist, had been tended.
“Do you need to go back to sleep, or would you like to sit in the living room?”
Collin swallowed. As much as he didn’t want to face Mr. Reevesworth disapproval, he didn’t want to be alone.
“Living room, sir.”
“Then we’ll put the healing cream on after you shower.” He lifted Collin up under the armpits and eased him to the floor. “Strip. The doctor will be here in an hour.”
Collin swallowed. Mr. Reevesworth was standing right there, giving him no space.
“Do you need help, Collin?”
“No, sir.”
Collin put his hands on the waist of his pajamas and pushed them down, underwear and all. Mr. Reevesworth moved to the shower and turned on the water. He tested it on his wrist, once, twice, and then a third time before turning and motioning Collin forward.
“In.”
He didn’t leave the entire time Collin was in the shower, just leaned against the counter, long legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest, sometimes watching, sometimes studying one article or another in the room.
Collin’s face burned. He showered completely, including his hair and his pubes. His routine included cleaning his ass thoroughly. He hated to be dirty there at all. He glanced up. Mr. Reevesworth was watching him.
He swallowed and dropped his eyes. If he could skip this part, he would.
But this was also the man who had said he fully intended to have sex with him and more. But would he think Collin was trying to be forward if he cleaned himself there? He was already in trouble. He didn’t want to seem like he was trying to seduce his way back into Mr. Reevesworth’s good graces.
“Stop dithering, Collin.”
“Could you…could you turn around, sir?”
“Why?”
“I…I need to clean myself…there.”
“Are you shy, Collin?”
“Yes, sir, but…I’m trying to be appropriate, sir.”
“You’re in a shower, Collin.”
“I’m trying to not be…” Collin blew air out of his mouth. “I don’t want to look like I’m trying to be a goddamn tease when I know I’m in trouble, sir. That’s not the kind of person I am.”
Mr. Reevesworth’s lips stretched in his first smile of the morning. “Collin, you were a goddam tease on the floor outside of my bedroom door before you even woke up. You’re a goddamn tease standing in that sad excuse of housing that was your former apartment. You’re a goddam tease fully dressed expounding on the virtues of local produce production. Now clean your ass.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
“Don’t be. A male who can’t enjoy a tease without sticking with his plans shouldn’t call himself a man.”
Collin’s cheeks tingled deeper. He put soap on his fingers and closed his eyes, trying to pretend he was alone. If he imagined Mr. Reevesworth watching this, his knees would give out. And one concussion was enough for the decade.
He rinsed and turned off the water. Mr. Reevesworth handed him a towel. “Dry off and come out. I’ll get you clothes.”
Collin obeyed. A moment later, he dressed in soft pants and a long-sleeve sweater under Mr. Reevesworth’s watchful eyes. Then and only then was he allowed to go out into the living room.
A knock on the front door signaled breakfast. Mr. Reevesworth summoned him to the kitchen to eat at the table. The doctor arrived just as they finished.
The exam was short and consisted mostly of a physical check on Collin’s eyes, range of motion, any tender places on his head, and a series of questions for both Collin and Mr. Reevesworth. The doctor closed his bag with a smile for Collin. “Well, young man. Looks like you’re making a full recovery. I’d be more concerned about the exhaustion and malnutrition than the concussion at this point, but it seems that you’re working on that already. Just keep taking it easy. No significant physical exertion for at least five or six more days, and make sure you’re eating well.”
