All for Love
Warnings: None that I can think of.
Comments: This is the story of how Nelson and Zach got together. I’ve had several requests to write this so here it is. It’s a long one so I’m posting it in two parts. This isn’t a Thanksgiving holiday story, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Let me know if you do.
“I’m nervous,” Ben said shifting slightly from foot to foot, in line beside Zach. He wasn’t sure if he was sweating from the thick sweater he was wearing under his coat or from his nerves.
“Just act natural,” Zach replied as he studied his fake ID. “If we don’t act funny, we should be able to get through without any trouble,” he paused, “I hope.”
“Don’t even say that. Do you think they’ll call the cops if they know these things are fake?”
“Don’t say THAT,” Zach said with a roll of his eyes. The line was moving rather quickly toward the door of the bar and both boys could easily see the bouncer checking IDs and firmly securing wristbands to those allowed to enter. Just as their turn was nearing, three larger young men stepped into line in front of them.
“HEY!” Zach exclaimed hotly. “Get the fuck in back of the line like everyone else!” he said to the back of the larger man in front of him. The young man turned around slowly and Zach was sure he grew another six inches easily. Either that, or Zach was melting into the sidewalk.
“You got something to say, little boy?” he said towering over Zach.
Zach swallowed hard and tried not to shrink in front of the guy. His throat clicked when he swallowed and he said as courageously as possible, “Yeah, tough guy. You can’t break in line.”
One of the guy’s companions decided to pitch in his two cents’ worth. “You stupid kids. You two are obviously too young to be here. We’re just helping you out by taking your places.”
“We are TOO old enough to be here,” Ben said, rising to his friend’s defense. His face was quickly reddening with the rise of his temper.
“Bullshit,” one of the bullies replied and the three laughed together at Ben and Zach. They had all obviously been drinking somewhere else before breaking line. “Why don’t I just help you out of line before you embarrass yourselves at the door?” he said menacingly.
Ben was already nervous about handing over his fake ID and the taunting from the bigger young men caused his temper to flash. He jammed his ID in his back pocket and reached out quickly shoving the guy whose veiled threat was hanging in the air. His shove barely moved the human rock in front of him and before he knew it, a fist connected solidly with his chin, felling him to the ground. Everything after that happened both extremely quickly and in slow motion. Zach didn’t see what hit him as he quickly found himself alongside Ben on the ground being equally pummeled by the bigger boys. Zach and Ben fought valiantly to defend themselves but they were no match for the other three, although they managed to get in a few good licks. Suddenly, Zach felt the heavy presence crushing him disappear as the bully on top of him was pulled away.
Ben was seeing stars and was grateful when his attacker was yanked off him. He tried to focus and not pass out while looking for his rescuer. Another foreboding man was standing with at least two of the bullies in his grip.
“What the hell do you guys think you’re doing?” he growled at the bullies. “I saw the whole thing and before you ask what business it is of mine, I’ll tell you. I’m a cop; off duty. But, don’t think for a minute that doesn’t mean I can’t haul your sorry asses downtown. In fact, it would be my pleasure.”
The bullies shrank against the man, no longer the big and bad men they were when their foes were Zach and Ben. “Do you boys want to press charges?” he directed to Ben and Zach. “Please, make my day and say ‘yes’,” he implored. Zach’s nerves were in over-drive and laughter threatened to spill out of his lips at the “make my day” reference. He found it comical in spite of the tense situation.
The boys were trying to get to their feet when Zach saw blood dripping onto the front of his sweater and spreading through the fibers of the yarn. They glanced at each other, taking in their war wounds and wondered how they each looked after seeing the other’s injuries. They both began to shake their heads at Dirty Harry, not wanting their enemies to come looking for them later.
Harry turned back to the bigger boys and said, “Do you want to get the fuck out of here or do you want to go for a little ride? They may not want to press charges but I can think of one or two that would stick without their cooperation.”
The three were no longer so bold and muttered several versions of “we’ll leave”. While they were shriveling under the glare of the cop, another man came over having seen the exchange. He was every bit as tall as Harry and looked like he could help if needed.
“Got everything under control here?” the blonde mystery man asked.
“I think so,” the cop responded. “These guys aren’t nearly so tough when faced with someone their own size.”
Zach bit back laughter again as he sized up their attackers still in Harry’s grip. The bullies were nowhere near the size of the towering cop, who looked like he could easily handle all three with his hands behind his back, with or without a .357 Magnum. The blonde looked from the cop to Zach and Ben and saw the damage left in the wake of the fight. “I’m not sure I’d be much help with those three, but I can help with these two. I’m a doctor. Nelson Jameson,” he said, extending a hand to Zach. Zach’s hand slipped into the doctor’s and loosely shook it. Ben was more hesitant to shake his hand, never having been fond of doctors and not at all interested in his help.
“Thanks, but I’m fine,” Ben said stubbornly refusing treatment.
The doctor gave him the once over and his eyes narrowed before he spoke. “You might not want my help, but you aren’t fine. You’re going to be feeling that tomorrow,” Nelson said reaching out to gently touch the tender area around Ben’s eye. Ben reflexively pulled back and Nelson smiled easily. “You don’t like doctors do you?” he asked instinctively.
Ben’s eyes dropped slightly at being found out and he said, “No offense.”
“None taken,” Nelson said before eyeing Zach. “But, you need help whether you want it or not,” he said. “That gash needs attention.” Zach had a cut on his temple where one of the ringed fists connected with the side of his head. “My office is not far from here. I’ll be glad to help you out if you want to meet me there. It will save you a trip to the Emergency Room.”
Zach considered it and feeling the blood continue to ooze down the side of his face, decided he’d better go with the doctor. “Okay, where is it?”
“It’s about five miles from here. Are you able to drive?” he asked Ben who was obviously the less injured of the two.
“Yeah, I can drive.” Nelson quickly spouted off directions and they said their goodbyes to the officer who had taken charge.
*******
“If I didn’t feel like a truck just ran me over, I’d say that guy is pretty damn good-looking,” Zach said as he and Ben drove toward Nelson’s office.
“I don’t care if he looks like a god. There is no way I could ever be with a doctor. They make me nervous.”
“Pathetic,” Zach said shaking his head. He never understood his friend’s fear of doctors. “He doesn’t make me nervous.”
They pulled in behind Nelson and saw him disconnecting a call on his cell as he stood from his car. He glanced over at the tattered boys and said, “I had to call my friend. He was meeting me at the restaurant across the street when I saw you brawling on the other side. Come on in.”
The office was dark since it was after hours and the boys watched as Nelson typed in the security code and unlocked the door.
“So, this is your office?” Zach asked, taking in his surroundings as they passed through behind Nelson.
“Yes. One of my buddies from medical school and I opened this place about a year ago. It’s been tough just getting started but I had some money from investments and he had a stash. Between us, we were able to get funding to open the office.” Nelson changed the subject to the earlier fight as he slipped his coat off and hung it on the rack in the waiting area. “You boys are lucky that man pulled those guys off of you. They did a lot of damage in a short time.”
“He was a cop,” Zach said, pulling off his own coat. “The Dirty Harry-type.”
“Really? You were very lucky, then. Sounds like he was in the right place at the right time.”
Nelson started down the corridor off from the waiting room and the boys followed. Ben paused at the door to the examining room, eyes wide and stopped, having no intention of following beyond that point. “Um, I think I’ll wait in the waiting room,” he said and turned quickly to get away from any instruments, needles or other intrusive objects that might have a home in the examining room. Nelson couldn’t help but laugh at Ben’s discomfort as he watched him disappear from the doorway.
“Hop up on the table for me,” Nelson said. He pushed up his sleeves before turning to the sink to wash his hands. Zach obeyed and watched the doctor pull several items from the cabinets before heading back over to check out Zach’s injuries.
“You’re going to be sore tomorrow,” Nelson predicted surveying the injuries. He began to clean the wounds and was giving extra attention to the cut over Zach’s eye. He paused when Zach inhaled through his teeth. “Sorry. I’m trying to be gentle, but I need to clean it some so I can see.”
“It’s okay,” Zach said bravely, and braced himself for more cleaning. “I’m fine.”
Nelson continued to check him over, and then after assessing him thoroughly, he said, “I think the only major problem you have is this cut beside your eye. It needs a couple of stitches, I’m afraid.”
Zach’s eyes grew large and he said, “Are you sure? Can’t you put some Band-Aids across it to hold it together?”
Nelson continued to peer at the cut while listening to Zach, and then he placed a piece of gauze over the wound to catch the blood. “Hold that there,” he said. “No, you really need stitches. Not more than 4 or so. Let me get some things,” Nelson said, dismissing Zach’s protests.
Zach’s mind scrambled for an excuse that would suffice enough to provide an escape from the dreaded stitches. “But, how much is this going to cost me?” Zach tried, hoping the doctor would fall for him being broke. It should have been easy to pull off given he was a young college guy. College was plenty expensive and the lack of money should have made for a good argument. “I can’t afford much…”
“We’ll talk about that after I’m done. I promise you can afford it,” Nelson said with a pat to Zach’s leg. He continued to ready the supplies and instruments needed to perform the procedure in spite of Zach’s protests, which continued.
“I’m not sure about this,” Zach said, shrinking away when Nelson returned to his side with a tray full of unwelcome instruments.
“You’ll be fine. Lie back,” Nelson said, ignoring Zach and starting his work. He tried to focus on the doctor’s handsome face rather than what Mr. Wonderful was doing to him. It was totally quiet in the examining room while Nelson concentrated on what he was doing. Zach could hear him breathing, he was so close. It was over quickly but Zach still didn’t like it. He tried to wipe the sweat from his hands against his jeans without disturbing what Nelson was doing.
Zach finally breathed when Nelson straightened up after putting a bandage over the area. “There, done. Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Nelson asked.
Zach grimaced and said, “Compared to what?”
Nelson laughed at the boy’s comment and found his sense of humor refreshing. “You never told me your name,” Nelson commented as he cleaned up the supplies.
“Oh, sorry. Zach Bartholomew,” he said sitting up. He gingerly touched his fingers to the new bandage on his temple. “My friend’s name is Ben Monroe. Or, Benji.”
Nelson nodded his head and turned toward the cabinet again, looking for something in particular, obviously. “So, how old are you?” he asked, retrieving what looked like a hypodermic from where Zach was sitting.
“What are you going to do now?”
“Stop trying to avoid the question. How old are you?”
“Nineteen,” Zach said, fully focused on the needle Nelson was pulling from a container. He quickly remembered where Nelson met him and backed up. “I mean, 21. I’m 21.”
“Nice try. You’re obviously NOT 21, I’m sorry to point that out to you. Are you and Ben the same age?” Zach took on a sheepish look and nodded. “I thought as much. When was your last Tetanus?”
“I don’t need a Tetanus shot.”
Nelson put a hand on his hip and held the needle with the other hand. He stubbornly refused Zach’s answer and asked again, “When did you last have one?”
Zach swallowed hard. He had already had enough of skin puncturing for one night and didn’t want any more. “Not long ago…”
“Don’t lie to me to avoid it,” Nelson said sternly.
Something about the firmness in Nelson’s expression prompted Zach to tell him the truth. He sighed and slumped slightly. “It’s been too long ago to remember,” he conceded.
“That’s what I thought. I’ll be right back,” Nelson said as he exited to get a vial of the needed medication. He decided to check on Ben before heading back to the examining room and poked his head through the waiting room door. He saw Ben flipping quickly through a magazine and he asked, “You okay in there?”
“YES,” Ben answered sharply, with his head snapping up. He didn’t even want to mention his throbbing headache and pain in his hand in case Nelson decided he needed attention. “I mean, yes,” he said more calmly. “Thanks. I’m fine.”
Nelson nodded before heading down the hall and pushing through the door to the examining room where Zach was waiting. “You’re going to need to soak that sweater when you get home. The blood will stain,” he said casually, trying to take Zach’s mind off the shot.
Zach nodded miserably as he eyed the vial Nelson held. He watched him walk back over to the counter and retrieve the needle he laid down before he left. Nelson said, as he worked to fill the syringe, “Okay, hop up and drop your pants. You can lean over the end of the table down here.”
Zach’s eyes grew significantly, as he watched Nelson flick the air out of the needle. He said, “I don’t want a shot. I especially don’t want one THERE.”
“Where? The end of the table?” Nelson said with a smile. “You can roll over if you’d rather do that.”
“That’s NOT what I meant,” Zach said, not at all amused.
Nelson watched as Zach licked his lips to try to moisten his suddenly dry mouth. “Listen, I’ve seen more butts than you’ll see in a lifetime. Hurry up, now. This is the last thing we need to do,” Nelson said firmly.
“Can’t you put it in my arm?” Zach asked hopefully. “What difference does it make?”
“I could, but it would hurt a lot more. It’s better this way. Come on. I promise I won’t look,” he joked.
Zach rolled his eyes as he slipped from the table. “If you’re going to be jamming a needle in my butt, I’d rather you look.”
Nelson laughed softly and waited while Zach faced the end of the table and lowered his pants. He stood on the little ledge jutting from the base of the table and leaned down, presenting his firm cheeks to the doctor behind him. He couldn’t help but flinch when he felt the alcohol swab swipe across the intended target area and he squeezed his eyes shut while reflexively tensing his cheeks.
Nelson said, “Okay, try to relax down here and it won’t hurt as much.”
“I’m trying,” Zach said through clenched teeth. He suddenly felt the sting of the needle pierce his skin and the ache of the medicine entering his muscle. “OW!” he exclaimed.
Nelson planted a small Band-Aid on the area before announcing he was done. “You can pull your pants up.”
By the time Zach had his clothes straightened, Nelson had disposed of the hypodermic and was waiting for Zach. “Let’s go out with Ben. I’d like to talk to the two of you.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I’d rather tell you both at the same time,” Nelson responded. He held the door for Zach and let him lead the way back to the waiting area. Benji looked up as Zach came through the doorway and noticed him rubbing at his butt. Ben almost shivered at the thought of getting a shot, and he was pretty sure that was why Zach was rubbing his bottom.
Ben started to get up and Nelson held up a hand to stop him, “Keep your seat Benji. I want to talk to you and Zach. Zach?” he said and motioned him to a chair beside Ben. Zach settled cautiously into the chair and tried to put his weight on the cheek that wasn’t punctured. Once Zach was settled, Nelson drew closer and towered over the two young men as he spoke. “I understand the two of you are 19.”
Ben cut his eyes over to Zach and said, “Big mouth.”
“Shut up! He was getting ready to give me a shot!” Zach said in his own defense. “I couldn’t think.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Nelson said interrupting the two. “You asked how much this was going to cost you, Zach. It’s going to cost you those fake IDs.”
Both boys’ eyes grew wide and their mouths dropped. Ben was brave enough to say, “What fake IDs? We don’t have fake IDs. Do we, Zach?” he asked looking hard at his partner in crime.
“Uh…” was all Zach managed to stammer. After Nelson had been good enough to patch him up, he was struggling with lying to the man.
“You don’t expect me to think you were planning on getting into the bar using your library cards for ID, do you? Hand them over or I’m sure I can locate that cop who pulled the gorillas off you tonight.” Nelson’s eyes didn’t waver and his outstretched hand remained in a position to accept the IDs.
Giving in, Zach sighed and reached into his back pocket for his ID. He almost lost it in the scuffle outside the bar but had managed to snag it off the ground before it got away from him. Zach looked down as he laid the ID in Nelson’s waiting hand. Nelson’s gaze went to Ben and he said, “Benji?”
“I don’t have to give you mine,” he replied bitterly. “I don’t owe you anything because you didn’t do anything for me, just Zach.”
“No, I didn’t. But Zach’s treatment costs both your IDs. Hand it over.” Nelson tenaciously held his ground.
“I don’t want to.”
“You’re lucky all it’s costing you are your IDs. If you got what was coming to you, you’d each have a stinging rear end, which is more likely what you need.”
Zach gave him a pitiful look and said, “My rear end IS stinging.”
“That’s not what I meant. You both know you’re too young to be trying to get into a bar. You need your butts spanked.”
“But, we’re old enough to fight in a war. We should be old enough to drink,” Ben complained, totally dismissing Nelson’s comment about him needing a spanking. “We can risk our lives but not have a drink?”
“I don’t make the laws, Benji. Are you going to give me your ID or do I track down the cop, young man?”
Ben rolled his eyes and shook his head while fishing in his back pocket for the fake ID. “Thank you,” Nelson said, placing both cards in his own pocket. “Now, I think the two of you need to go home and rest. Doctor’s orders.” Zach was disappointed the encounter was drawing to a close because he wasn’t quite ready for the evening with the doctor to be over. “I’m going to try to catch up with my friend and see if we can salvage some dinner. Zach, I need to see you back in a week to get the stitches out, okay?”
Zach’s stomach fluttered slightly at the chance to see the doctor again. “Okay. Do I call and make an appointment or just come in?”
“I could fit you in, but you’d be better off calling. That way, you won’t have to wait. All right boys, time to go,” Nelson said, ushering the wayward brats toward the door and to their car. “Ibuprofen and rest, understand? Both of you.” Both brats nodded in response. “Buckle up and drive carefully.”
As they pulled away, Ben glanced at Zach and said, “He sure is bossy.”
“I like him,” Zach said with a smile.
*******
Nelson pulled out his cell as soon as he was back in the car and listened for Vic to answer. “Hey, I’m done. Is it too late to try for dinner again?”
“Not at all. I’ll meet you in 10 minutes or so.”
Shortly after arriving back at the restaurant, Nelson glanced in his rearview mirror to see Vic’s car pulling into the parking lot. He slipped from his car and locked it before heading over to meet Vic.
“So, you’ve had a little drama tonight, huh?” Vic said smiling at his friend.
“You might say that. I’ll have to tell you about it,” Nelson answered as he held the restaurant door open for his friend.
Once they were seated with drink orders on the way, Nelson said, “Now, about the drama. I had just parked the car and I was little early. I thought I’d go into the restaurant and just have a drink while I waited for you when I saw a fight break out across the street. Three big guys were beating up on these two young men and I rushed over there to help. By the time I waited for traffic to clear and got over there, this off-duty cop had things under control, but one of the guys was bleeding pretty badly.”
Vic shook his head. “Who was bleeding? The attacked or the attackers?”
“The attacked; both of them,” Nelson said, and paused while the waitress sat two frosted mugs in front of them. “Thank you,” he directed to her before continuing his story. “So, anyway, one of them wouldn’t let me touch him but the other one needed stitches and I patched him up. I’ve got to tell you, he was cute.”
“Ah, Cupid went with you to the office, I think,” Vic said over his beer with a smile toward his friend.
“I don’t know about that,” Nelson said, but couldn’t repress a smile himself. “He was cute is all. And, he made me laugh. He had the biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen,” Nelson laughed remembering the evening, “and they got even bigger when I pulled out a needle with his name on it.”
“Sadist,” Vic said noticing the humor Nelson saw in the young man’s reaction to getting a shot. Nelson laughed at the comment and Vic continued. “He’s cute and funny, huh? Then, you got your reward for being a good Samaritan?”
Nelson laughed, “I guess so. Not bad on the eyes, not bad at all.”
The conversation turned to general banter between the friends and Nelson tried not to focus on the young man he had worked on earlier in the evening, although his thoughts kept wandering back to him.
*******
Five days later, Zach showed up for his scheduled appointment to have his stitches removed. His stomach was fluttering with excitement to see the handsome doctor again. He slipped from his chair when his name was called and he followed the blonde nurse down the hallway toward another examining room. She had his recently completed chart in her hand and proceeded to do the usual pre-exam work-up. Temp and blood pressure normal; he watched as she marked the readings down in the chart.
“This visit should be better than the last one,” Zach said grinning at her. “There’d better not be any needles this time.”
“Well, if there are, you’ll be seeing me again,” she said with a smile.
“If you’re going to give it to me, I guess that’s okay. You wouldn’t hurt me, would you?” Zach had a friendly manner and quickly won over the young nurse.
“Never, not on your life,” she said as she got up to leave. “Dr. Jameson will be in shortly. Take a seat on the examining table.”
Zach jumped up on the table as she left and he tried to keep his feet from swinging. He was nervous and excited about seeing Nelson again. As the clock ticked away, he started to get bored with the wait and busied himself glancing around the room. He leaned over the end of the table, balancing precariously over the edge, and saw three drawers built in. Glancing up at the door, he quickly slid the top drawer open to see what was inside. There were all kinds of weird looking clamp-like things of varying sizes, and Zach wasn’t sure he wanted to know what they were used for. He slid the drawer closed and moved to the second drawer. He had just opened it and was sliding things around when Nelson opened the door and caught him, red-handed.
“Snooping, are you?” Nelson said upon entering the room.
Zach froze mid-shuffle and gave Nelson a guilty smile before quickly closing the drawer. He said, “Sorry, I was tired of waiting.”
“I’m sorry you had to wait. My last patient had some other issues going on that took longer than we expected. How are you?”
“Okay.” He hazarded a question since he had already been caught and asked curiously, “What are those things in the top drawer?”
“What? These?” Nelson asked, pulling a speculum out of the top drawer.
“Yeah.”
He smiled at Zach before dropping it back in the drawer. “You don’t want to know.”
Zach’s nose curled up as he grimaced. “I’ll trust you on that.”
Nelson started laughing and gently pulled the bandage away from his handiwork of a week ago. “Looks good. Have you been in any more fights this week, young man?”
“No, not one. It’s been a quiet week,” Zach replied. Nelson quickly removed the stitches and replaced the larger bandage with a simple Band-Aid.
“Almost as good as new,” he said patting Zach’s leg. “We’re all done here.”
The brief encounter was too short for Zach and he tried to think of a reason to stay longer. Coming up with nothing, he jumped off the table and thanked Nelson for his help.
“Um, it was nice meeting you, Nelson,” he said quickly before Nelson reached the door.
Nelson turned from the door and walked back over to Zach, sticking his hand out. “Nice to meet you, too, Zach. Try to stay out of trouble, do you hear me?” he said smiling.
“Yes, sir,” Zach said, raising his hand to salute before putting it into Nelson’s offered hand. Nelson’s large hand folded over Zach’s.
Zach went to the desk on the way out and stopped to see what he owed for the visit. The receptionist looked at the sheet before her and said, “No charge.”
“Are you sure?” Zach asked.
“Yep,” she said and folded her fingers together smiling at him. The cute nurse walked up beside Zach and handed the receptionist a folder.
“Are you all done?” she asked.
“That’s what I hear.”
“Good for you,” she said, patting Zach on the shoulder. “And, I didn’t even have to give you a shot.”
“I’m glad I didn’t get a shot, and seeing Nelson isn’t so bad. He’s a nice guy when he isn’t sticking me with needles or sewing up my face.” The receptionist and nurse laughed at the comment.
“Yes, he’s a very nice guy,” the nurse agreed.
Zach saw an opportunity to learn more about the man from these ladies who obviously knew him better than he did. “I guess his wife is lucky to have him,” Zach said and carefully watched the expressions on the ladies’ faces.
They exchanged knowing glances and the nurse said, “He’s not married. Not seeing anyone either.” She did her own assessment of Zach’s expression trying to read the intent in his comment.
“Oh?” Zach asked as conversationally as he could. “So, some lucky lady is missing out?”
The women exchanged glances again. “Um, not exactly his type,” the nurse tried to say without being too blunt.
Zach’s face burst into a smile, “Really?”
“What are you grinning at? Are you interested?” she asked boldly.
“I might be,” Zach responded. “Can you hook me up?”
“Oh, no. You’re on your own there, my friend. He’s my boss. There’s no way I’m getting involved. I guess you’ll just have to get sick or something and come back,” she said and winked at Zach.
“I think I can manage that,” Zach smiled at her and returned the wink. She laughed and patted his shoulder. “Thanks for the info,” Zach said before turning to leave.
The nurse leaned over the counter with her mouth open laughing with the receptionist when Nelson walked up jotting notes in a patient’s chart. He leaned over the counter and handed the chart to the receptionist. “What are you two up to? I can tell it’s no good.”
“Well, if you must know, you have an admirer,” the receptionist said, although she had just vowed to stay out of it.
Nelson looked from her to the nurse who was grinning and nodding her head. “Yep. You sure do.”
Nelson looked between the two of them again from one to the other. “Who?” he asked curiously.
The nurse leaned in to tell him their secret, “The cutie with the stitches in his head.” She raised her eyebrows quickly a couple of times and watched Nelson’s face. He smiled but said nothing, just shaking his head.
Nelson grabbed a piece of hard candy from the candy dish on the counter and looked at the receptionist as she spoke. “He was asking a lot of questions about you.”
“Is that right?” Nelson asked, popping the candy in his mouth. “So, from that you surmised he’s interested in me? Not just curious?”
“Well, we might have thought that, but he actually said he’s interested,” the nurse revealed. She reached across the counter and pulled Zach’s chart off the stack lying on the desk. “Let’s see…yep, there’s a phone number…”
Nelson took the chart from her hands and gave it back to the receptionist. “I have work to do, ladies,” he said turning away from them.
The nurse called after him as he retreated down the hall, “You’d better use that number. He said he’d just have to get sick again to see you.”
Nelson paused in the hallway and turned back to the nurse who was still beaming. “Did he say that?”
“Yes, he certainly did. You don’t want him getting lovesick, do you?” Nelson waved a hand at her and turned around shaking his head. He couldn’t suppress a smile as he walked the corridor and it was all he could do to clear it from his face before entering the exam room.
*******
Zach saw Ben at school later that day and Ben looked at the new bandage on Zach’s head.
“You saw him today, right?” Ben asked.
“Yeah. I think he is so good-looking. I wish I had the nerve to ask him out. The nurse told me he’s single and available.”
“No, way! You should call him or something.”
“I think I’m not feeling too well. I might just have to make another appointment,” Zach said with a conspiratorial grin on his face.
Ben started shaking his head. “You have GOT to have it bad. There is NO way I’d fake an illness to see the doctor. I don’t care what he looks like.”
“Small price to pay, if you ask me.”
“A HUGE price in my opinion,” Ben said before changing the subject. “We’re going out tonight, right? Tim’s place?” Ben asked.
“Yeah. That should be a good time,” Zach said. He turned toward his car and waved goodbye. “Catch you later. Do you want to pick me up or what?”
“That’s fine. See you around 9:00.”
*******
Zach’s head was pounding the next day from the after effects of his long night of drinking. He hugged the toilet once again and retched inside, gagging from too much alcohol. He washed his face to try to get some color back and a coherent thought hit him through the fog of the hangover. If he saw Nelson that day, he wouldn’t have to fake being sick. He certainly looked the part.
He checked the clock and saw that the office should be open then he grabbed the phone. Quickly scanning the yellow pages, he found Nelson’s office number and dialed.
The receptionist answered and thanked him for calling before offering to help him. “Hi, I’m Zach Bartholomew. I was in there yesterday?”
She grinned into the receiver. “I remember you,” she said. “Anything ‘wrong’?”
“Yeah. Can I come in sometime today?” He heard papers rustling as she quickly flipped through appointments to see if there were any available time slots.
“How’s 2:00?” she asked.
“That’s fine. I’ll see you then.” Any time would have been fine since Zach had no intention of going to class that day. Zach hung up the phone and smiled to himself in spite of the wicked headache pounding in his head. He stretched out on the sofa and tried to get some sleep before he went for his appointment.
*******
Zach headed over to the nurse, whose name he still didn’t know, when she called for him. She wore a bright smile as he strode across the waiting area. “Sick again so soon?” she asked and nudged him with her elbow.
“Hung over, really, but sick enough,” Zach said. She showed him into the examining room.
“What’s supposed to be your ailment, Zach?”
“I’m throwing up and my head hurts. The usual hangover symptoms. But, he doesn’t need to know it’s a hangover.”
“Got you. He’ll want you in a gown if your stomach is bothering you. Are you sure you don’t want to have something else?” she asked playfully pulling a cotton gown out of a cabinet.
“What’s your name, anyway?” Zach asked, taking the gown.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m Sandy.” She laughed as Zach opened the gown and stared quizzically at all the ties hanging off it.
“How the hell does this thing work?” he asked.
“Let me show you,” she said, then demonstrated how it was done. She handed it back to him and said, “Everything off and get into that. He’ll be in shortly. I’ll be back first to get your vitals so I’ll see you in a minute.”
“Why do I have to take all my clothes off? Can I keep my socks and underwear on?”
“Socks are fine. I don’t think he’ll be looking at your feet for a stomachache. I’m supposed to tell you to take off everything but I can’t make you. Just don’t get me into trouble.”
“I’ll tell him I didn’t want to if he asks.”
“Get changed. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Zach quickly disrobed and slipped the odd gown on and tried to figure out the ties again. He was struggling with it when he heard a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” he said and Sandy reappeared. She started laughing at the way his gown was tied and helped him get it right.
“Who designed these damn things?” Zach asked.
“A man, I’m sure,” she said teasing. Zach was glad he chose to leave his underwear on since Sandy would have had a good view of his backside in helping get the robe adjusted. She proceeded to take his temperature and check his blood pressure.
“The drill’s the same as yesterday,” she said. “On the table and he’ll be in shortly.” She waved goodbye and left the room. Zach bumped his sock-covered feet absently against the examining table and waited for Nelson to show. He didn’t rummage through the drawers on this visit having been thoroughly embarrassed to be caught the day before.
Nelson grabbed Sandy as she walked past him after having read Zach’s chart. “He’s back?” he asked curiously.
She looked at him from the corner of her eye and smiled. “He’s sick, apparently.”
“Is he faking?” Nelson asked. “Did he tell you?”
“I can’t tell,” she said. “Patient/nurse confidentiality,” she said as she crossed her heart with her finger then held up her hand to vow secrecy.
“I think that sufficiently answers my question. He’s supposed to have a stomachache today?”
“That’s what he said.”
Nelson nodded and a devilish look crossed his face. Nelson said, “He might not appreciate some of the treatments we have for stomachaches.”
Sandy laughed at the comment and walked on down the hallway. She called over her shoulder, “Be nice. I like him.”
Nelson opened the door to find the handsome young man looking more vulnerable in the loosely fitting gown. Nelson stuck his hand out and Zach shook it. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“I know,” Zach said, moving his hand to his stomach. “I’ve been throwing up and my stomach hurts.”
“No fever,” he said, glancing at the chart. Nelson noted the bloodshot eyes and asked, “Headache?”
“You’re good. How’d you know?”
“Lucky guess,” Nelson said. “Lie down for me, please.”
Zach stretched out on the table and tried to look pitiful. Nelson began pressing against his stomach, kneading it in different locations. “Tell me if anything hurts.” Zach began to try to figure out what should hurt other than his head.
He took a risk and said, “there” as Nelson touched on the lower left quadrant of his abdomen. He said it again when Nelson covered the right upper quadrant. The inconsistent answers confirmed to him that Zach was indeed faking, or at least exaggerating, his symptoms.
“It hurts both here and here?” Nelson asked, touching both locations.
“Well, um, it kinda moves around or something.” With that comment, Nelson KNEW Zach was faking and he decided to give the boy a scare to teach him a lesson.
Nelson’s hand moved over the gown and he felt the underwear in place underneath. “I need you to slip your underwear off for me,” Nelson said, moving to the cabinet. He quickly retrieved a rubber glove and KY from the shelf and made sure he worked so Zach could see him.
Zach’s eyes grew large and he propped up on his elbows. “Why? What are you going to do?”
Nelson dramatically wiggled his long fingers into the glove holding his hand up for Zach to see. “I need to do a rectal exam if you’re hurting in your lower abdomen. Slip your shorts down and roll over on your side.”
“NO! I’m feeling better now.” Zach used one hand to start pressing on his stomach imitating Nelson’s earlier ministrations and said, “See? Doesn’t hurt at all now. I swear.”
“That’s quite a recovery, young man. Are you sure you don’t hurt any more?”
“YES. I’m quite sure.”
Nelson put his gloved hand on his hip and looked at Zachary. “Why were you faking being sick?” Zach blinked and his mouth opened, but nothing came out. “I’m waiting for an answer.”
“I…um…I wasn’t TOTALLY faking. My stomach did hurt – this morning.”
“From the looks of your eyes and knowing you also have a headache, my diagnosis would be you had an overindulgence of alcohol last night.” Zach was still propped on his elbows and his eyes fell away from Nelson’s. “That’s what I thought,” Nelson said. “I’m still waiting to hear why you faked being sick to come in here today.”
“I…I wanted…” Zach sighed and rolled up on the table to sit up. “I can’t tell you.”
Nelson took a chance and asked, “Zach, did you do this to see me?”
Zach’s face turned crimson and he smiled a little, “Maybe?”
“You don’t have to pretend to be sick to see me. Why didn’t you say something rather than come in here acting like you were sick?”
“I didn’t know what you’d say.”
“What was your plan? To just keep coming up with phantom illnesses and never say anything?”
“No, not at all,” Zach said earnestly. “I was just going to do that until you asked me out or I got up the nerve to do it myself.”
Nelson couldn’t help a chuckle at that one. “Well, we can’t have that now, can we? What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Zach’s big blue eyes shone with glee, “Nothing, what about you?”
“I thought we might get dinner and a movie. It would be more pleasant, at least for you, than the alternative,” Nelson said, holding his gloved hand up in front of Zach’s face.
Zach pulled away and asked, “You were never going to do that, were you?”
“No. Mean, huh?”
“Not funny, Nelson,” Zach said, but still he smiled.
“I’ll pick you up at 7:00, tomorrow night,” Nelson said. Zach scribbled down directions to his apartment and gave Nelson his phone number. He was beaming like a Cheshire cat on his way out the door and he gave Sandy a “thumbs up” when he passed her in the hallway.
*******
Nelson arrived at Zach’s apartment five minutes early. Zach tried not to rush to the door when he heard the bell but found he couldn’t help himself. He opened the door and saw the tall blonde standing in his doorway.
“Hi,” he said, smiling warmly as he pulled the door open for Nelson.
Nelson returned the greeting and stepped inside. “This is your place, huh?”
“Yeah. It’s not much, but it will do. Sorry for the mess.”
Nelson surveyed the simple apartment and frowned slightly at the junk lying around. It looked as if Zach left whatever he was using right where he had been using it. Dishes were on the coffee table and there were some clothes scattered about. He obviously enjoyed magazines as there were several on the chairs and coffee table.
“No time to clean?” Nelson asked.
“Too busy having a good time.” Nelson didn’t like the sound of that but pushed it to the back of his mind not wanting to focus on anything negative. Cleaning habits could be changed and he really wanted to give Zach a chance. Zach was checking his pockets for his keys making sure they were there before he went back to the door. “You ready?”
“Sure. Don’t you think you need a jacket?” Nelson asked.
“No, I won’t get cold.”
“I think you should get a jacket,” Nelson responded. He made no move to leave and Zach shrugged his shoulders.
“If it will make you happy,” he said walking over to the closet. He pulled a jacket from a hanger and slipped it on. “Ready now?”
“Now, I’m ready,” Nelson said.
They arrived at the restaurant and had no trouble carrying on a conversation. It came easily to them and they seemed to hit it off in a hurry.
“So, what are you studying in college?” Nelson asked.
“Everything. Just the ‘must have’ courses right now. I’m not sure what I want to major in. I thought about Psychology. I like that sort of thing.” Nelson was nodding as Zach spoke.
“How are your grades?” Nelson had a sneaking suspicion Zach’s grade point average was not his main concern.
Zach scowled and said, “I’m not in any danger of getting kicked out or anything.”
“Could they be higher?”
“I guess they could.”
“I figured. I’m sure you could have been studying the other night rather than drinking. Do you really think it’s a good idea to be partying during the week when you have school the next day?”
“Probably not. But I had a good time.” Nelson bit back a lecture and focused on his dinner.
The rest of the conversation was spent getting to know one another and they shared many general likes and dislikes. They were having such a nice time talking together, the time almost slipped up on them. Nelson glanced at his watch and said, “Wow, Zach. We need to hurry up if we want to make the movie.” The waitress had long ago come with the check and it had been paid. Nelson drove the posted speed limit in spite of the fact they were late.
“Can’t you go any faster?” Zach asked. Then, noticing the cars whizzing past them, he said, “I think we’re going backwards.”
“I can, but I won’t. I’d rather us get there late in one piece than not at all. I’m not speeding to get us there.”
They walked into the dark theater and managed to only miss a couple of previews. “Crap, I like the previews,” Zach complained. “Wonder what we missed?”
“I don’t know,” Nelson said. He was waiting for his eyes to adjust so he could find them a place to sit. Zach’s heart nearly skipped a beat when he felt Nelson’s hand intertwine with his. Nelson led him down the aisle and found a relatively empty row in a decent location. He continued to hold on to Zach even after they sat down. Zach felt as if his hand was being swallowed by Nelson’s and it felt good.
He leaned over and whispered to Nelson, “You have big hands.”
“I’m a big man.” That fact hadn’t escaped Zach’s attention.
“I know. I was just thinking how glad I am you didn’t do what you SAID you were going to do to me yesterday.”
Nelson started laughing but tried to keep it quiet so as not to disturb those around them. He was quickly growing attached to this young man and his easy wit. He took his other hand and closed it over the hand he was gripping, his two hands totally enveloping Zach’s.
Zach was more interested in the man beside him than in the movie. He hadn’t been so attracted to anyone as much as Nelson in a long time. He was afraid to hope things would work out for fear of jinxing things.
After the movie, Nelson drove him back to his messy apartment and walked him upstairs. Zach was fumbling with keys and was having trouble getting the door open with his mind on his fluttering stomach. He finally felt the tumblers give way and the door unlocked.
“Are you coming in?” he asked hopefully.
Nelson glanced at his watch and said, “I’d love to, but I have to work tomorrow. I’d better get home and get some sleep.”
Disappointed, Zach’s eyes dropped and he mumbled, “Oh.”
Nelson’s finger found the underside of his chin and tipped his head up to look at him. “But, I had a wonderful time tonight. I’d like to do it again if you want to.”
Zach nodded against the finger and said, “I’d like that, too.”
Nelson began to lean down and Zach’s breath caught in his throat as he anticipated a kiss from the doctor. Instead of kissing his lips, Nelson brushed a gentle kiss against Zach’s forehead. The barest hint of a frown flashed across Zach’s face and Nelson caught a glimpse of it.
“Next time,” he said with a wink. “I’ll call you. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t call me.”
“You’re sure?”
“No problem. I’d like to hear from you. I really did enjoy tonight,” Nelson said, reinforcing his earlier sentiment.
“Thanks for everything,” Zach said and Nelson released him to his apartment.
Zach sank into the sofa and laid his head against the back. He sighed deeply and put his hand to his nose slowly inhaling the fragrance of Nelson’s cologne where they had held hands.
*******
The weeks seemed to fly by and Zach felt like he had known Nelson all his life. He was quickly becoming more than just a lover; he was also a best friend. Zach’s habits didn’t change except for adding Nelson to his life. He continued to maintain a cluttered apartment and partied every chance he got. His grades were an afterthought and he attended the classes he had to.
Deciding his time was better spent with Nelson, he purposely missed the class before his lunch break to go to the clinic.
Sandy was standing at the desk as Zach pushed through the waiting room door. “Hi, Zach,” she said as she saw him come in. “Looking for Nelson, I guess?”
“How did you know?” Zach said playfully.
“He’s in with a patient, but he should be out soon.”
Zach hung out with the receptionist while Sandy went about prepping another patient. “Hi, Zach.” Zach turned to see Nelson’s partner, Daniel standing in the hallway. Everyone at the clinic was well-used to seeing Zach around by this time and Zach enjoyed getting to know them all in the short time he and Nelson had become an item.
“Hi, Daniel. How’s it going?”
“Busy, my friend. You here to take Nelson to lunch?”
“I hope so.” About that time, Nelson emerged from the back and walked toward the front of the office where Zach was.
Instead of the warm welcome Zach expected, Nelson frowned at him and said, “Aren’t you supposed to be in class, Zachary?”
“Not today,” Zach answered.
“Why? Was it cancelled?” Nelson asked.
“I cancelled it,” Zach responded.
Nelson glanced around and noticed they had an audience. “Why don’t you come on back to my office while I write this up?”
Zach followed Nelson to his office and Nelson closed the door behind them. “Have a seat,” Nelson said, indicating a chair in front of the desk. He waited while Zach got settled then he made himself comfortable leaning against the edge of the desk. “I don’t like you skipping classes, Zachary.”
“It’s not a big deal, Nel…”
“It IS a big deal,” Nelson interrupted. “Your parents are paying big bucks for you to go to school and it’s irresponsible for you to take your studies so lightly.”
“God, it’s ONE class. Besides, I’d rather be here with you. I wanted to take you to lunch.”
“It’s the attitude behind skipping class, Zachary. You have absolutely no regard for missing it.”
Zach sat silently for a moment. “You’re mad at me,” Zach said simply.
“I am NOT mad at you. I just want better for you, that’s all.” Nelson paused after making the comment and watched Zach’s face.
“I’m not going to fail because I missed one stupid class,” Zach said with a pout.
“That is NOT the point. The point is, you are supposed to be in school. As much as I like seeing you, I don’t want it to happen at the expense of your education. Is that clear?”
“You ARE mad.”
Nelson folded his arms across his chest and said, “Zachary, in the two months we’ve been together, I have yet to lie to you. I’m not starting that today. I said I wasn’t mad.”
“It’s not been two months yet.”
Nelson shook his head. The only thing Zach seemed to notice out of his few sentences was the length of time they had been together. He agreed, “Not quite, but close enough. What time does your class end?”
“Eleven fifteen,” Zach said. Nelson glanced at his watch and saw that Zach would only catch about 10 minutes of class if he left immediately.
“It looks like you would still miss the class if you went back now.”
”I don’t want to go back. I want to go to lunch with you.”
“Zachary, this is NOT to become a habit. I’ll go with you to lunch today but I won’t if it happens again. Understand?”
“Ben’s right. You’re bossy.” Nelson narrowed his eyes and glared at Zach. “But, I love you anyway,” Zach said quickly.
“I asked if you understood me. Do you?”
“Yeah, I understand. I won’t do it again.”
“I’ve got one more patient to see and I should be done in about 15 minutes. BUT, I want you to know if you could have salvaged more than 10 minutes out of that class, you’d be going back, young man,” Nelson said sternly.
“Okay, okay,” Zach said.
“I’ll be right back,” Nelson said as he exited the office.
*******
Later that night, Nelson spoke with Vic on the phone.
“So, you haven’t said anything yet?” Vic asked.
“No, I don’t know how to bring it up. But, I definitely think it’s something we need to talk about. He’s skipping classes, staying out late during the week. I know he’s drinking.”
“It isn’t an easy thing to bring up the first time. It could make or break your relationship.”
Nelson sighed heavily, “I’m going to talk to him tomorrow night when he comes over. If he isn’t willing to have discipline in his life, we’ll have to think of something else. I’ve talked to him about different things until I’m blue in the face and he doesn’t change his behavior.”
“Just because he needs discipline and boundaries, doesn’t mean he’ll be at all open to it.”
“We’ll find out tomorrow night.”
“Good luck,” Vic said as they discontinued the conversation.
*******
Zach was cuddled up to Nelson on the sofa and said, “I might as well live here, since I spend so much time here.”
Zach’s comment made Nelson realize just how serious they had become and he knew the discussion he had been putting off needed to happen. Nelson leaned up and switched off the television then took Zach’s hands in his own. Zach asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, but we need to talk about something.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” Zach’s stomach was twisting as he started to worry Nelson was going to dump him.
Nelson saw the uncomfortable expression on Zach’s face and quickly tried to reassure him, “Don’t worry, Zach. I want to talk to you about something that I think will make us a better couple.”
“Better? How?”
Now that the door was cracked, Nelson felt the only way to discuss it was to push right through. “I love you, Zach. I want what’s best for you. The very best for you. I think with the right kind of boundaries in your life, you can be even better than you are today.”
“Boundaries? What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about your behavior. Some of the things you do…well, they are downright destructive. I love you too much to watch you place yourself in dangerous situations and not do anything about it.”
“Destructive? Like what?”
“Take the first time we met. You had no business being in that line to begin with. Somehow, you managed to get yourself into a fight resulting in injury to yourself. That’s what I mean by destructive.”
“So?”
“So, I think you need rules and consequences. Clearly defined lines drawn in the sand. If you aren’t willing to control your behavior for yourself or us, then I think you need another reason to control it.”
“What do you mean?” Zach realized everything he had contributed to this particular conversation were follow up questions in some form or other.
“I mean that you should have clear boundaries and know what will happen if you step over the line. Like school, for example. You shouldn’t be skipping classes. You know that without me or anyone else telling you. You also know how I feel about it. But, just yesterday, you did it again. You need a rule about school that says there is to be absolutely no skipping of classes. If you still ditch school, knowing that you have a rule not to, you would be punished.” There, he said it.
“Punished?” Zach answered with yet another question. “By whom? By you? Or, are you going to tattle to my parents?” Zach asked, obviously not taking the conversation seriously.
“I would see that you are punished when you need it. My role would be to help you stick to the rules and make sure the consequences for breaking them are enforced.”
“What? Do you have a little spanky kink? I had no idea,” Zach said, suddenly overtaken with the giggles in light of the tense conversation.
Nelson shook his head and failed to laugh at Zach’s joke. “There is nothing sexual about it, Zachary. It is discipline, plain and simple.”
Zach noticed that Nelson didn’t say that spankings wouldn’t be a part of the package when he addressed Zach’s comment. “You wouldn’t really spank me, would you?” Zach said with the grin still on his face.
“Zach this is serious. And, yes, I would.”
Zach didn’t know what to say so he just looked back at Nelson. Nelson tried to read his eyes but was unable to tell how Zach was processing the information. He finally continued after the silence grew thick. “Another example would be how you go out partying during the week when you have school. That’s irresponsible as well, and you shouldn’t be doing it.”
Zach was having a hard time with the conversation and turned to his usual crutch of humor to respond. “That’s what 19 year olds DO these days. It’s different for me than it was for you when you were 19. What, with no electricity and all…”
“Zachary, I said this is serious! You don’t just go along with friends without regard for the consequences of your actions.”
“I know you want to be serious, but if you say the old ‘if all your friends jumped off a cliff’ thing, I’m going to burst out laughing.”
Nelson glared his disapproval at Zach and Zach’s eyes wavered. Nelson said, “The simple fact is, you need boundaries and discipline. I love you dearly, Zach. I think this will be good for us.”
Zach finally broke the silence and said, “I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this discipline thing you’re talking about.”
“Basically, I would make the decisions for our relationship and you, with your input, of course. If we disagree, though, I have the last say. Then, you agree to let me punish you when you go against those decisions.”
“And you would spank me?”
“Among other things, but not for everything. We would work out the consequences ahead of time. Bigger things would warrant a spanking but not every little thing. You’ll never get a surprise spanking.”
Zach thought back to the first night they met and remembered something Nelson said. “That first night we met? You were serious when you said we needed a spanking, weren’t you?”
“As a heart attack,” Nelson replied bluntly.
Zach’s face took on a worried frown. “But, spankings hurt.”
“Yes, they do. That’s why they typically work.”
“I haven’t been spanked since I was seven or eight.”
“Maybe it’s time you were spanked again.”
Zach shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. “I don’t know…”
Nelson asked calmly, “Zach, do you trust me? Do you trust me to make good decisions for us and to do what’s best for you?”
“Yes, but…”
“No, buts. Either you do or you don’t.”
“I do, but what if I don’t like it and change my mind? Would you leave me?”
“Zach, I love you. I wouldn’t leave you, but we’d have to find a way to deal with your behavior. It’s destructive not only to you but to us.”
“I didn’t know you thought I was so bad…” Zach said with hurt in his eyes.
Nelson pulled him to his chest and held him close, “I don’t think YOU are so bad, love. I think you need to change some of the things you do but I wouldn’t change YOU for the world.”
“I’m just trying to have a good time. I’m not trying to destroy anything.”
Nelson caressed Zach’s back as he spoke, “I know. But, you can have a good time without all the drama and ungodly hours. Without the drinking…”
“But, I like to drink. I don’t know if I could give all that up.”
“I’m not asking for an answer tonight, Zach. It would be a big change for us, but a good one, I think.”
“What’s in it for me, besides getting spanked? It sounds like you get the winning end of the deal here. The spanking end doesn’t look so good.”
“Do you think I’ll get any pleasure at all out of spanking you?”
“Some guys would.”
Nelson increased his embrace around Zach, “I don’t plan on being just ‘some guy’ to you.”
Zach sat up and looked uncertainly at Nelson. This was a decidedly unusual proposition. He had never been in a relationship with anyone nearly as settled and strong as Nelson; strong emotionally and physically. Zach slipped his hand back in Nelson’s and Nelson wrapped his fingers around it.
Zach looked at the large hands covering his and couldn’t resist asking, “What would you hit me with?”
Nelson saw him looking at his hands and assumed he was seeing them against his rear end in his mind’s eye. “I wouldn’t be ‘hitting’ you. I would spank you and it would depend on the severity of the offense what you’d be spanked with. You might get a handspanking but it could be something like the paddle or the belt. But, I promise you, I would never harm you or give you more than you deserve.”
Zach considered what Nelson said but was in no way ready to succumb just yet. “When do you want an answer?”
“Take your time. Think about it and we’ll talk again in a few days. If you need more time, you can let me know then.”
Zach settled back under Nelson’s arm and leaned against his shoulder trying to focus on the television Nelson turned back on.
*******
“He wants to WHAT??!!” Ben exclaimed from across the table.
“Yep, you heard me. He thinks I need ‘boundaries and consequences’. What do you think I should do?”
“What?! You’re not actually considering it, are you?” Ben said with his mouth hung open.
“I don’t know,” Zach said to his plate. He was pushing his food around, not too interested in eating at the moment.
“You are, aren’t you?” Ben pressed.
“I think it would be nice in a way to have someone sort of watching out for me. He’d have my back, that’s for sure.”
“And, your backSIDE,” Ben pointed out.
“I don’t really think he would actually DO it, anyway. Even if he did, he wouldn’t do it hard. He’s too nice.”
“That is whacked. No pun intended.”
Zach looked up from his plate and found Ben’s eyes. “He really loves me, Ben. This just goes to show how much he loves me. I trust him.”
Ben cocked an eyebrow at Zach. “What lengths you won’t go to for a piece of ass.”
“It isn’t for a piece of ass!” Zach responded heatedly. “I love him! It’s not up to you anyway. I never should have said anything. I just needed to talk to someone about it.”
“Fine. You asked for my opinion. You don’t have to listen to it.”
Zach grumbled, “No, I don’t.”
Ben could tell despite Zach’s request for advice, he had made his decision.
*******
“Hi, sweet pea.”
Zach smiled at the voice on the other end of the phone. “Hi, Nelson.”
“Do you know what today is?”
“Tuesday,” Zach answered playfully.
“Is that it?” Nelson asked.
“Um, no. It’s the 10th, I think.”
“Zachary…”
Zach started laughing into the phone and Nelson laughed with him. Zach said, “Happy two month anniversary, doc.”
“Happy anniversary to you, too. You want to go out for dinner to celebrate? Come back to my house and cuddle a bit?”
“Oh, gee, I don’t know. I was really planning to wash my hair…”
“I’ll wash it for you,” Nelson said. “In the shower with me if you’d like.”
“Hmmm. When you put it that way…”
“Six o’clock okay with you?”
“I’ll be ready,” Zach said.
“Make sure you get your homework done.”
“Bossy.”
“Brat.”
“I love you, Nelson. See you at six. WITH my homework done so you won’t be all over my case. It’s worth getting it done to save me from a Nelson Jameson lecture.”
“Good, whatever it takes. I love you, too. See you later.”
********
Cuddled together on the sofa at Nelson’s house, the men were enjoying each other’s warmth in the after-sex glow of their recent lovemaking. Nelson was leaned back against the pillows on the sofa and had Zach wrapped against him in his arms. He leaned down and kissed the top of Zach’s wavy brown-haired head.
“Have you thought any more about what we talked about the other day?” Nelson asked.
Zach cringed. He had thought about it, but didn’t want to actually say he agreed to it. It was hard. “I…I thought about it.”
“What did you decide? Are you willing to give it a chance?”
Zach touched the gentle fingers attached to the hand holding him close and listened to Nelson’s breathing through his chest where his head lay. He couldn’t imagine those hands causing him any pain or harm. “I’m scared.”
“Scared of me?” Nelson asked.
“Scared to say ‘yes’. I just…I mean…I know you’d never hurt me and you only want what’s best for me, but it just seems weird.”
“Zach, I’d never punish you severely. The worst would be if I had to spank you, and I would spank your butt only. I’d never strike you in any other way.”
“Why would you have to spank me at all??” Zach asked.
“Because I know it will work. I’ve tried talking to you about things but it doesn’t change your behavior. I would bet money that if I spanked you, things would change.”
Zach gave a wry smile and said, “I’m sure they would. I’m thinking of changing my ways right now, just to AVOID a spanking.”
“You see? I told you it works and I haven’t laid a hand on you.” Zach laughed softly. Nelson said, “Does the fact that you’re trying to avoid a spanking mean you’re willing to trust me enough to try this?”
“It’s still hard to say ‘yes’. But, I think I’m willing to try it.”
“Really?” Nelson asked.
“Yeah,” Zach said more easily once he had admitted his willingness to try Nelson’s approach. He still wasn’t convinced Nelson would actually follow through with his threats.
Nelson gave him a firm hug and said, “Good, I’m glad. Maybe we can go over what I expect from you and what you can expect from me after you move in.”
Zach’s heart squeezed and he sat up to see his lover, “Really? Do you mean it?”
Nelson smiled at Zach’s response. “I always mean what I say, Zach.” He leaned down for a full-mouthed kiss. “How about we get your things tomorrow?”
“Sounds good to me!” Zach settled back against Nelson and thought for a minute. He asked, “Would you have asked me to move in if I had said I wouldn’t try your idea?”
“Zach, I love you. I had planned to ask you to move in with me tonight no matter what you answered. I don’t want you around just to have your butt available to spank when necessary. I can think of other more fun things to do with your rear end.”
Zach smiled at the man he loved and told him how he felt. “I love you, Nelson.”
*******
Zach had been living with Nelson for a week and hadn’t been happier. He tried to abide by the rules Nelson had laid down and had managed not to get in any trouble. Even though he wasn’t sure Nelson would actually try to spank him, he still didn’t want to make him mad after just moving in. Despite his efforts, his trouble-free existence ended when they were on their way home from the grocery store.
Zach was driving and tapped the brakes when he saw a woman attempting to cross the street from his left. He stopped in the road and motioned her to continue in front of his car when he saw her hesitate. As soon as she was directly in front of the car he blew the horn and she jumped a mile or so out of her skin, clutching at her chest. Zach died laughing in spite of the evil glare he received from the woman.
“Zachary! Why did you do that?” Nelson admonished from the passenger’s seat.
“What? It was funny,” Zach said as he continued to laugh. He touched the gas as the woman got out of the way.
“It most certainly was NOT funny, young man. You could have given her a heart attack. She’s at least 70 years old.”
“Yes, it WAS funny and she’s fine,” Zach disagreed.
“I didn’t see anyone laughing except for you,” Nelson replied pointedly. “I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior, Zachary.”
Zach’s stomach clenched and wondered if this would be the kind of thing Nelson thought was deserving of a spanking. “I’m sorry, Nelson. I was just playing around.”
“At some unknown woman’s expense. You’re going to be facing the corner for a while when we get home.”
“What?” Zach asked.
“You heard me.”
Zach wasn’t at all sure he liked the idea, but it was better than finding out what a spanking from Nelson felt like. They were quiet on the way home and Zach pulled the car into the garage. He sat still in the driver’s seat in no hurry to get out.
“Come on, Zach. You have an appointment with the corner when we get inside.”
Zach pulled off his seatbelt and clicked the trunk button to open it; he went around to the back of the car to get the groceries when Nelson stopped him.
“Inside, Zachary. I’ll get the groceries once I have you settled.”
Zach followed Nelson wordlessly into the house and Nelson took his hand once they were inside leading him to the dining room where there was an empty corner. He let go of Zach’s hand and faced him to the juncture where the walls met at a 90-degree angle. “You are not to turn around or talk while you’re here. Hands by your side. While you’re here, I want you to think about why what you did was wrong and what you should have done. We’ll talk about it when I tell you to come out.”
“But, Nelson…” Zach said turning from the corner.
“I said to be quiet,” Nelson said, gently turning him back to the wall. “And, don’t ask to come out or you’ll get extra time.”
Zach obediently faced the corner and quickly became bored with the pattern of the wallpaper. He felt embarrassed to be reprimanded and punished so he basically spent the time feeling sorry for himself. He listened to Nelson moving about the kitchen putting the groceries away and wished he could be included in helping. Anything would be more exciting than staring at the wall.
Finally, he heard Nelson’s footsteps approaching and he spoke from behind Zach. “Come here, Zachary.”
Zach turned around and faced his lover with a downcast expression. Nelson repeated, “Come here, please.” Zach shuffled over to where Nelson was standing and Nelson gripped him in a hug. “Tell me why you were in the corner.”
“Because…because…I don’t know… you can’t take a joke?”
“Do you need more time there?” Nelson asked, indicating the corner behind Zach.
“NO! I don’t know…” Nelson turned him around and walked him back to the corner. “NO! Nelson! No, don’t make me stand here any longer!” Zach whined.
“You obviously didn’t use the time wisely. It doesn’t do any good if you don’t learn from this. When I come back, I want to know why you’ve found yourself in the corner and how you could have avoided it.” Nelson kissed the back of Zach’s head and left him another ten minutes.
Zach was ready with an answer when Nelson called to him again, determined not to be facing the boring wall again. “I was in the corner for being mean to that woman and scaring her by blowing the horn at her on purpose.”
“And, how could you have avoided being punished?” Nelson asked.
“By not blowing the horn at her and letting her pass by, I guess.”
“Very good,” Nelson said and he hugged his young lover again.
“I didn’t like that,” Zach said pitifully.
“You aren’t supposed to like it. You’re supposed to learn from it,” Nelson said softly. “Did you learn anything?”
Yeah, not to blow the horn at people with Nelson in the car, Zach thought. “Yes. I won’t be mean to people even as a joke.” Nelson had no idea how many times in the future they would deal with that issue, despite Zach’s pledge.
“Thank you, sweet pea. Now, how about you help me with dinner?” Zach nodded and let Nelson lead him by the hand to the kitchen.
*******
The rest of the weekend went without a hitch and Zach didn’t blow the horn at any other unsuspecting pedestrians. He and Nelson were having breakfast together on Monday morning.
“Don’t forget to cut the grass today,” Nelson reminded Zach.
Zach scowled. “I hate to cut grass.”
“It’s your week, Zach. You’re the one who wanted to take turns instead of doing it together. I did it last week.”
Zach sighed over his plate and didn’t argue. He had all day to find a way out of cutting the grass.
Nelson pulled into the driveway after work and wasn’t happy to see the grass was still as it had been when he left that morning. He went into the house to find Zach and see why he had failed to do as he was told. He found Zach at the kitchen table with his books and papers spread all over.
Zach looked up with a smile and said, “Hi, Nelson.”
Nelson leaned down for a kiss and said, “Hi, sweet pea. Working hard?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a test tomorrow on all this stuff,” he said dramatically waving his arm across the many papers scattered about.
“I noticed the grass hasn’t been touched.”
“I know. I decided to wait until tomorrow because I know you think school is more important than the grass.” A perfectly good argument, in Zach’s humble opinion.
“Did I say you could wait until tomorrow?”
Here we go, Zach thought, wondering if Nelson had any bark to his bite. “No, but you don’t want me to fail this test, do you?”
“You shouldn’t wait until the night before to study for a test, Zachary. If you had started preparing earlier, it wouldn’t have conflicted with your chores.”
“I never study until the night before. I retain it better that way.”
“No, you retain it in your short-term memory that way.”
“Whatever it takes to pass, huh?” Zach said with a grin.
Nelson didn’t smile back but responded by pulling out a chair and moving it close to Zach. “Zachary, I told you I would never surprise you with a spanking. Now, you are still learning what I expect, but one thing I will ALWAYS expect is for you to do like I tell you. Failing to do so will ALWAYS end you up over my knee.”
“But, I had to study!” Zach was nervously anticipating Nelson’s next move and wondered if it would be to spank him. Even though he was intentionally pushing, he was suddenly sure he didn’t want a spanking, whether Nelson spanked hard or not.
“Let me finish. I won’t spank you for it this time, but the next time you disobey me, expect it to happen.” He paused and looked at Zach. “If this yard isn’t cut tomorrow, you will be getting your first spanking from me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Zach said. Adding “sir” just seemed like the right thing to do.
“All right. Get your studying done.” Nelson left him to do his work in peace while he changed and got dinner ready.
The next morning Nelson awoke to rain pelting the glass and thought about the grass. There was no way Zach could get it done if rain was in the forecast all day. He slipped out from under Zach to get his shower and dress for work.
He turned on the radio in the kitchen when he came down to make breakfast and heard the weather for the day. Rain. Heavy at times. All day. Zach was getting out of cutting the grass again. He had just put the coffee on when he heard Zach padding through the living room and dining room.
“Morning, sweet pea.”
“Morning,” Zach answered as he went to the cabinet for cereal and a bowl. He shuffled past Nelson, pausing for a good morning kiss, to get the milk out of the fridge. He said, “I hate going to school in the rain.”
“I know, sweet pea.”
“Is it supposed to rain ALL day?” Zach said, grumbling and yawning.
“I’m afraid so,” Nelson answered, grabbing a bowl for himself. “Looks like you’re off the hook on the grass again today.”
Zach was suddenly more awake than he had been seconds ago. Perhaps the rain wasn’t a bad thing after all. “Is it supposed to rain tomorrow, too?”
“Don’t look so excited. It’s supposed to be sunny tomorrow. So, I’ll tell you again: if the grass isn’t cut tomorrow by the time I get home, you’ll be getting a spanking.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll cut it tomorrow, I promise.” Zach jammed a spoon into his bowl and started eating his breakfast.
“Thanks. I really don’t want to have to spank you when I get home tomorrow.”
Zach just glared at Nelson. He still wasn’t convinced Nelson would spank him hard if he spanked him at all. He was just too nice and easy going. Besides, if he loved Zach as much as he said, he wouldn’t hurt him but so much, would he?
Zach said, “Whatever.”
Nelson’s eyebrows went up, “I mean it, Zachary.”
“Have you noticed you always call me ‘Zachary’ when you lecture me? Never ‘Zach’?”
Nelson smiled, “No, I hadn’t noticed. Thanks for pointing it out.”
Zach just shook his head and continued eating.
*******
Ben asked Zach the next day, “What are you doing this afternoon? Want to go to music store?”
“I’m supposed to…” Zach started then changed his mind.
“What?”
He decided he would see just how serious Nelson was about the spanking thing. “Nothing. I’ll go with you.”
They went to the music store in the mall and ended up at the candy shop for some jelly bellies. After spending several hours wandering the mall, Zach looked at his watch. It would be five thirty by the time he got home. Not at all long enough to cut the grass before Nelson got home. “I’d better go. My lover awaits…”
“See ya, Romeo,” Ben said.
Zach pulled into the garage and saw that Nelson was already home. “Showtime,” he said to himself.
He walked into the kitchen from the garage and yelled for Nelson, “NELSON! I’m HOME!” He wandered through the house looking for his partner and heard him in the master bathroom. Zach quickly changed into grass cutting clothes in an effort to persuade Nelson he had every intention of doing the chore. He was just pulling on a t-shirt over his cut-off sweat pants when Nelson came out of the bathroom studying him intently. He had already changed from his work clothes and was in jeans and a t-shirt.
“Hi, Nelson,” Zach said as sweetly as possible when his lover emerged.
“Hi, Zachary,” Nelson said then kissed his young lover. “Have a seat on the bed.”
Uh, oh. Zach was beginning to think Nelson might have a little bite in him after all. “What’s wrong?”
“Sit down.” Nelson drew himself up with his arms folded and waited for Zach to have a seat. “What did I say would happen if you ignored the grass again today?”
“I wasn’t really ignoring it. I was going to do it when I got back. Really. I went with Ben to the mall…”
“What did I say, Zachary?” Nelson pressed, choosing to pay no attention to Zach’s excuses.
Zach tried for a perfectly angelic expression, “You won’t really spank me, will you, Nelson?”
Nelson suppressed the feelings the blue innocent eyes conjured up and continued, “Is that what I said I’d do?”
“Yes, but…”
“And, that’s what I intend to do.” Since this was Zach’s first spanking, Nelson didn’t want to spend a lot of time lecturing about it. He took Zach’s hand and stood him to his feet before taking a seat on the bed in his place. He pulled Zach around to his side and helped him across his lap, allowing him to rest his upper body on the bed.
“Come on, Nelson. We don’t have to do this,” Zach was saying from the bed.
“Yes, we do,” Nelson responded. He looked at his lover whose body language indicated he was not taking this at all seriously. Zach was nestled against Nelson and he had his elbows on the bed, resting his chin in his palms as if calmly lying there to read a book or something. Nelson knew the posture would change soon enough.
“Fine,” Zach mumbled. “Knock yourself out.”
Nelson shook his head. Zach had a lot to learn and he was about to get his first lesson. “Why are you getting a spanking, Zachary?”
Zach sighed heavily as though thoroughly bored with this routine and said, “Because you need to show me you’re the boss.”
With that answer, Nelson reached into the elastic of Zach’s waistband and grasped both his underwear and shorts pulling them down at the same time.
“HEY!” Zach yelped indignantly when his bottom was bared. He dropped his forearms to the bed and let his elbows support his full upper body weight. “What are you doing??!” he asked twisting around.
“I’m getting ready to give you a spanking,” Nelson said calmly. “I thought I was clear on that.”
Zach was trying to see what Nelson was up to and not at all convinced he had made the right decision to push the man at this point in time. Nelson brought his hand down hard against Zach’s cheeks and tightened his grip around his waist. “Why are you getting a spanking, Zachary?” Nelson asked again. Zach’s bottom exploded with the sting from the first swat and he barely registered the first before the second one fell.
“OWW! Watch it!” Zach exclaimed as he tried in vain to get out of Nelson’s firm grasp. The gentle hands he had grown to love obviously had a set of evil twins that were busily preparing to work his butt over.
“I’d suggest you answer the question, young man. I have all day.” Zach’s breathing was increasing as he suddenly realized just how serious Nelson was about the grass.
“Because I didn’t cut the grass like you told me to!” he answered quickly hoping the two stinging smacks would be all if he answered appropriately.
“What should you have done?” Nelson’s inquisition continued.
Shit. The sting from the first two swats was still fresh and Zach answered, “Cut the grass and not gone to the mall.”
“That’s exactly right. I told you I would never surprise you with a spanking. You were told this would happen and you didn’t believe me. I hope this will help you to make a better choice next time.” Nelson began to bring one of the evil twins down against Zach’s rear end in a slow steady rhythm while holding him firmly in place with the other one.
“OW!! Stop it, Nelson…that hur- OW!” Zach complained against the onslaught. Nelson totally ignored the pleading and waited to hear the tears he knew would come. Zach’s throat was closing against them as they lodged in his throat; he was trying desperately to control them. If he had to take a spanking, he wanted to do it like a man and not give Nelson the satisfaction of seeing him cry. His bottom was on fire and he tried futilely to wiggle his bottom out of the way. When that didn’t work, he flung his hand back in an effort to protect his hind end.
Nelson’s left arm was lying heavily against Zach’s waist and he easily grabbed Zach’s hand before it could interfere and held it firmly out of the way. The pain in Zach’s bottom was building with intensity and Nelson continued to spank him long after Zach thought he had been spanked quite enough. His voice began to crack and it was all he could do to breathe, much less plead. Nelson listened again for any sign of tears and finally heard the barest hint of a sob. He pressed on knowing Zach was right at the edge of where he was taking him and soon he heard him crying openly for all he was worth. Nelson continued to spank him delivering several more sharp swats before stopping. No longer was his errant lover lying calmly on the bed, but now he was collapsed against the covers, his head resting on his unrestrained free arm while the tears flowed.
As soon as it registered that the spanking was over, Zach suddenly pushed against the bed and sprung to his feet. He was dancing slightly from foot to foot holding his stinging bottom gingerly in his hands. He didn’t look at Nelson, not able to meet his eye. Nelson stood up and began the task of calming Zach down, which he knew needed to be done with great care given this was his first spanking. He slipped Zach’s shorts back into place and heard the tears increase as he pulled the fabric over his red bottom. Nelson pulled him into a tight hug and rubbed Zach’s back, whispering soothing words in an effort to console his young lover.
Once Zach had calmed somewhat, he pushed Nelson away. With tears still in his voice he said, “Go away, Nelson. Just go away.”
Nelson pulled him back into another hug and said, “I’m not going away.”
“I don’t want you,” he cried, but remained where he was against his lover.
“Come on,” Nelson said and took Zach’s hand. He led them down to the living room and gathered Zach in his lap in the big armchair, thus beginning a tradition. He held Zach close and let him continue to cry until he was out of tears. He snagged a couple of tissues from the end table and tried to mop at Zach’s face, but Zach snatched the tissues out of his hand and worked at the cleanup job himself.
For the first time since they met, Zach seemed to be at a loss for words. Nelson said, “We need to talk about this, Zach.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. You hurt me,” Zach replied pitifully.
“Spankings are supposed to hurt,” Nelson whispered gently and kissed Zach’s head. “This would have never happened if you had cut the grass like I told you to.”
“But, that’s not fair. I didn’t want to cut the grass.”
“I know you didn’t. After you cut the grass this week, we’ll work on the yard together from now on. No more of this ‘your week’ and ‘my week’ stuff.”
They were quiet again for several minutes then Zach said, “You saw me cry. I hate it.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your tears, sweet pea. It’s perfectly natural and expected during a spanking. I don’t think any less of you for crying.”
Zach pushed himself away from Nelson and tried to get up but was unable to move against his iron grip. “I want to be alone!”
“You’re not going to be alone,” Nelson said gently. “You don’t need to be alone right now.”
“I do, too! You don’t know what I need!” Tears threatened to fall again in frustration.
“Zachary, calm down,” Nelson said gently and pulled him back to him.
Zach gave up his struggles and put a hand to his still throbbing backside. “It still hurts.”
“I know it does. I’m sorry I had to do it. I’d much rather you had cut the grass like you were supposed to.”
Zach took a heavy hitching breath and sat quietly for minute before speaking again. “I didn’t think…”
“You didn’t think what?”
“Nothing.”
“Talk to me, Zach.” Zach began to relax under Nelson’s touch but he was still uncomfortable with the topic. “You didn’t think what?”
“I…I…didn’t…I didn’t think…I didn’t know it would be like this,” he finally admitted.
“What did you think it would be like?”
“Not so painful, I guess. Or, so embarrassing. I didn’t know you were going to pull my pants down,” he said, his face flaming with the memory. “I didn’t think you would really spank me and if you did, that you’d do it so…hard.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t believe me and had to learn the hard way. Now, you know what to expect, don’t you?” Zach nodded against him and Nelson kissed his head, caressing it softly. They sat like that for an hour or more and Nelson finally shifted Zach to stand up. “We need to get something to eat. I’m hungry, how about you?”
“I don’t want to eat.”
Nelson pushed Zach from his lap and put his arm around his shoulder. “Come in the kitchen with me.” Zach followed - as if he had any other choice – and Nelson settled him at the kitchen table. Zach popped up quickly when his buns connected with the hard chair and he eased himself back into it. He wondered to himself just how long it would hurt.
It was late and Nelson decided a quick dinner was the best choice. He fixed sandwiches and put them and some chips on the table. Zach eyed the sandwich with no appetite and made no move to eat. Nelson saw the hesitation and said, “I know you don’t feel like eating, but you need to eat. Try to eat your sandwich, please.”
Zach focused on Nelson’s shirt and wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m not hungry.”
“I didn’t ask if you were hungry. I want you to eat, please,” Nelson said in a tone that communicated he would not put up with any arguments.
Zach looked back at the sandwich lying on his plate. “I think I’ll throw up if I eat.”
“Then, eat slowly, but I want you to eat. I’ll wait until you get finished. There’s no rush.”
Zach continued to watch his plate avoiding Nelson’s eyes and finally relented, picking up the damn sandwich. He did as Nelson instructed and ate slowly somehow managing not to puke the sandwich back up. Once the sandwiches were gone, Nelson busied himself cleaning the kitchen. He gathered up the trash and was headed to the door when Zach suddenly said from the table, “Where are you going?”
“I’m just going to toss the trash in the bin. I’ll be right back,” Nelson was glad for the question because it showed Zach didn’t want him gone. He hurried with the trash and returned to his pained lover as quickly as possible. He walked over to Zach and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Come on, sweet pea.”
“Where are we going?”
“Come on,” Zach looked toward Nelson, still not meeting his eye, and hesitated before he stood. Nelson’s heavy arm landed across Zach’s shoulders and he led them back to the big chair. Zach, once again, found himself gathered to Nelson and propped in his lap. Nelson turned on the television for a distraction and they simply sat together until bedtime, neither saying a word.
*******
Lying embraced together in bed, Nelson worried about how Zach was handling having been spanked. He had said very little but was no longer pushing Nelson away. It was an improvement over his earlier reaction, at least. Nelson tried to sleep and shoved the uncomfortable thoughts away that Zach might be unable to come to terms with what happened in spite of thinking he was prepared for it. He listened for the steady breathing he was learning to associate with his lover’s sleep and knew Zach was still awake while lying against him.
Hoping the darkness would give Zach the cover he needed to talk more openly, Nelson asked, “Are you okay, Zach?”
Zach couldn’t respond right away as he tried to decide the appropriate response to that question. His feelings were torn between outright embarrassment and the sure safety and love he felt from Nelson. This man who hurt his backside, who actually spanked him, did it because he cared. Zach tried hard to reconcile the pain with the love and was struggling. He didn’t know exactly how to voice what he was feeling. “I’m not sure,” he replied honestly.
“What are you feeling?”
“My butt is still sore.”
“I don’t mean physically. Are you mad at me?” Nelson asked. As much as he wanted to teach Zach a lesson, he hated the thought of being pushed away by his love.
Zach was surprised he didn’t have to think about the answer to that question. “No.” Nelson’s question made him realize the basis for part of his own mixed emotions and he asked, “Are you mad at me?”
Nelson mentally kicked himself for not recognizing that issue sooner. Of course, Zach would think he had disappointed or even angered him. “No, Zach, not at all. I’m not disappointed in you, I’m not mad at you. This was a simple case of a broken rule that had consequences. You’ve been punished. That’s the end of it. I think no less of you in any way whatsoever.”
“Really? You aren’t mad at all?”
“Not at all. I wasn’t mad at any point about your behavior today.”
“Then, why did you spank me?”
“I would hope you wouldn’t need to ask that question…”
“I mean, how could you do it if you weren’t mad?”
“I don’t have to be mad to punish you, Zach. In fact, I’ll never punish you in anger. You broke a rule. You disobeyed me and that will always result in a spanking. I am NOT nor was I ever, mad at you. I haven’t been mad or disappointed in you since I met you.”
Zach pressed against him more closely after hearing those words. “You really aren’t mad?”
“No, sweet pea. Not at all. Not in the least,” Nelson wrapped both arms around Zach and Zach thought he might lose his breath in the tight embrace. “I love you, Zach.”
Nelson thought he would finally be able to sleep when he heard Zach whisper, “I love you, too. I’m sorry about today.”
“What about today?”
Zach was confused with the question. Surely, Nelson couldn’t have forgotten what happened. Maybe he didn’t understand what Zach had said. “I’m sorry about what I did today,” he repeated.
“That’s forgotten. Over. A thing of the past.”
Zach’s heart squeezed at Nelson’s gentle yet strong voice. How could he not be mad when Zach had been so awful? His words were convincing and Zach loved him for loving him. “In that case, I just love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The end.
