14

Getting dressed for dinner while Bloom was on my mind shed light on how much of a mistake it was to go out with Nicholas. A date with Nicholas wouldn't fix what was wrong, because the problem was Bloom—him worming his way into my life and refusing to leave. Now that he had, an emptiness had grown inside me that no one else would fill.

No one else was Bloom.

No one else could be Bloom.

No one else made me feel desire like Bloom.

Nicholas, with his sunny smile and insatiable needs in bed, couldn"t fill Bloom's shoes. Not even in my dreams. Those too were full of Bloom lately.

How ironic that Bloom's over-the-top declaration of his feelings for me might be false while mine had developed into something genuine.

To be fair, I called Nicholas to cancel our date, but his phone was off. I felt bad about standing him up, so I went to the restaurant to have a platonic dinner with him and let him down for his expectations tonight.

Nicholas had made the reservation, but he was late. Not surprising, since I'd waited on him every single time in the past. Somehow I knew Bloom wouldn't have kept me waiting. On top of that, I was hungry. I'd only had a protein bar for lunch, so I dug into the complementary rolls while waiting for Nicholas to show up.

The rolls were warm and buttery, the tang of rosemary cutting through the richness. On a whim, I unlocked my phone and dialed Bloom's number, although I didn't expect him to answer. He didn't. I swallowed down my disappointment and called Nicholas.

"I'm so sorry," he answered, sounding out of breath. "I'm parking my car now."

"Good. I was about to eat without you."

"Very funny, Doc. See you in a bit."

He ended the call, and I opened my messaging app. Bloom had read the message I'd sent him a week ago. Why hadn't he responded? Dammit. I knew my blow job skills weren't good enough for an Oscar, but they were worth an honorable mention. He'd gushed about making my mouth his afterward, or had he just said anything he thought I needed to hear?

None of this made any fucking sense. Bloom wasn't devious like that. He was an open book and didn't mince words. One of the reasons I'd taken a liking to him. He was as real as they came.

We need to talk.

The message lacked something, so I added, I miss you. My mouth went dry, and my finger hovered over the Send button. I was being honest. What was the worst that could happen? I couldn't stop thinking about him and how interesting he made my life. Even Dr. Simms's words, which I'd taken to heart earlier, had faded into nothingness.

I hit Send, locked my phone, and slipped it into my pocket. My stomach was no longer churning from hunger but from what would happen when he read my message. What if he didn't respond? I would have no one but myself to blame, given all the times I'd pushed him away and said mean things to him. Could I let him walk away if that was his choice?

I downed my glass of water. What was taking Nicholas so long? The restaurant wasn't that crowded for him to not be able to find a parking space.

Where would I take Bloom for a dinner date? A little premature to consider, given I didn't even know if he still wanted to date me, but one thing was for sure. I would never take him to this restaurant—not to this generic place that was a default for all my hookups.

"Sir," the hostess who'd shown me to my table earlier said. "Your party has arrived."

I almost spat out the water. I swallowed and coughed into my fist. "Bloom," I croaked. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes were as hard as granite, even though he had a smile fixed on his face.

He was not amused.

"Is everything okay, sir?" The hostess glanced from Bloom to me. "Is this not who you were expecting?"

"Yes, of course. Just a temporary lapse in memory."

The hostess nodded and hurried away. Bloom took the seat across from me, and for a moment, silence reigned between us. His piercing gaze was steady and accusatory, so much I squirmed, even though I'd done nothing wrong.

I'd cut his balls off and keep them on the nightstand so he would not forget it. And if he cheats again, I'll cut off his dick. That way, I know where it is at all times.

Did he see this as cheating?

"How's your leg?" I asked.

"Fine." He picked up the one remaining roll and ripped it into half. "You weren't thinking of cheating on me, were you?"

"How can I cheat on you? We're not in a relationship."

He slapped his hands on the table, loud enough to startle the couple a few feet away from us. "I dare you to say it again."

Now wait one damn minute.

He didn't tell me what to do. "You're causing a scene. Lower your voice, and we can talk. I didn't cheat on you with anyone. It's just dinner."

"I know that."

"You do?"

"Yes, because I like your balls where they are, and I think you do too."

I rolled my eyes. "You have some nerve showing up here when you've been MIA for the last eight days. Do you know how worried I was about you?"

Shit, I'd raised my voice and spoke louder than Bloom had before. Only he could get me to act so out of character. Only he could rile me up this much, yet the second I'd seen him, color returned to my world. His raw energy, his impulsive reactions, his maddening reasoning—they were all part of the package that was Bloom.

And I was drawn to that package.

"You said you missed me." Bloom pushed the flower centerpiece on the table out of the way and pulled his chair closer. "Did you mean it?"

"Yes." The word was a nail I'd driven into my own coffin, but I couldn't lie to him. Better yet, I couldn't lie to myself anymore. I wanted him. I wanted the boy sitting across from me, his eyes heavily lined with black mascara and eyeshadow against his pale skin.

"How much?" he asked.

"Come on, Bloom. Isn't it enough to know I missed you?"

"No. You have to tell me how much."

"I couldn't stop thinking about you. If I wasn't a trained professional, I would be thinking of you while I was operating on patients."

Bloom pulled a face. "Then you didn't miss me enough."

"What?"

"Otherwise, you would have thought about me even while you were performing surgeries." Bloom got up from his chair, came to my side, and sat on my lap. I stiffened, glancing around me.

"You can't do that here."

"Why not?" He twined his arms around my neck. "I missed you too," he said, almost purring like a cat. "I kept thinking of what you did with your mouth and that I want you to do it again."

"Then why—"

Bloom kissed me. Not a chaste kiss either, one that was more suitable in private. He licked into my mouth, digging his fingers into my hair.

Oh, fuck fuck fuck.

I forgot where we were. His lips were so incredibly soft, and the way he kept threading his fingers through my hair was hypnotic. He moved on my lap—

"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave. You're making the other guests uncomfortable."

I tried to pull back, but Bloom wouldn't let go, tightening his hand in my hair.

"Sir, are you hearing me? This is not the place for this kind of behavior."

I tugged back Bloom's head, and he let out a sound of protest that went straight to my dick. I inhaled deeply and offered the manager, I assumed, a smile.

"My apologies. It won't happen again."

He nodded, his eyes straying to Bloom, who was petting my chest through my shirt. For a virgin, he was such a horny little devil. I took his hands in mine to still his movements.

"If you control yourselves, you're welcome to stay."

"Hey, buddy—"

I clamped a hand over Bloom's mouth. "Don't worry. We'll be on our best behavior."

He gave me a look that said he didn't believe me, but at least he walked away. Bloom bit my palm, and I snatched my hand away.

"Don't muzzle me." His lips pushed out into a pout.

Damn him. All I wanted to do was kiss him again, but we still had things to straighten out. "I was worried you'd say something inappropriate. You have a way of threatening people, and they might take you seriously. Now go back to your seat."

"They should take me seriously. Can't I sit here on your lap? I missed you, Logan. It was torture staying away."

"If you're going to sit on my lap, stop squirming."

"But I like the feel of your hard cock against my ass. You're hard for me, aren't you? You want me."

"Yes, I do. But we still have to talk first."

"Why not later? I passed a motel not too far from here. You can be inside me in five minutes."

I groaned, willing the mental image of making love to Bloom from my mind. "I won't take you to some cheap flea-infested motel. You deserve better than that."

Bloom widened his eyes. "But I don't mind."

"Well, I do. I'd never forgive myself for doing that for your first time."

"It doesn't matter as long as—"

"Bloom," I said sternly. "We're not having sex in a motel."

"Then let's go back to your place."

Him mentioning my house brought back memories of his night there. He looked so different now that the moment felt like a dream. Like it hadn't happened at all, but it had. The closet wall still had scratches from his nails.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Bloom got up, but I held him on my lap, afraid if I asked questions, he would run. He had a skittish look about him.

"You disappeared on me."

He bit his bottom lip and leaned forward so his hair hid his face.

"Bloom, talk to me. If we're going to do this relationship like you want—"

"Only I want it?"

"You're right. Like we want, then you have to be honest with me. Don't hide things from me."

"It's weird. I woke up in your closet and couldn't remember what I did the night before. The thought of you looking at me like I was some sort of freak made me run."

"I stayed the night in the closet with you. Didn't that say anything to you?"

"I'm not too good at reading cues, Logan. My mind tells me one thing, and it's hard to believe something else."

"Well, we're going to have to change that, aren't we? I need you to listen to me, okay?"

He nodded.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say I still have reservations about starting a relationship with you. You're a unique person, but I know it's not your fault. You've been through some tough times. Your psychiatrist said I'm bad for you, by the way."

Bloom's back shot up straight. "He said what?"

"We talked. I asked him about you when you went missing."

"My relationship is none of his business."

"But it is. He's your psychiatrist, and I need you to continue seeing him."

"But I don't like to. He makes me feel uncomfortable, and his methods differ from what I'm used to."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't like when he puts me under hypnosis."

"Have you told him that?"

"No. I mean, he's the expert, so he should know best, right?"

"There are different methods in psychotherapy, and if you're uncomfortable with one, your therapist should find another way. Next time you tell him you don't consent."

Bloom smiled. "You're like the smartest person I know." The smile dropped, and so did his gaze. "I've never been to school. I can't read well. Does that bother you?"

"No, but if you want to do something about that, I can help."

"I knew I wasn't wrong about you, despite what Crowe says."

"What did Crowe say?" I frowned. So many people were against this relationship.

"I don't think he likes you very much."

"Why? We haven't even met officially."

"Because he knows I want you to fuck me."

Jesus. He didn't mince words. Oddly, I found that attractive in him, even if half the things coming out of his mouth were offensive. Was I truly doing this? Being with Bloom would require patience.

"What you do and with whom you do it is your business. You're an adult."

"That's exactly what I told him, but he keeps treating me like the little boy he found years ago."

"He found you?"

"Yes. And brought me home. Besides you, he's the most important person to me."

"I see." A twinge of jealousy pierced the indifferent armor I'd been wearing for too long.

"Ahem, sir. Are you ready to order?"

Damn, I'd forgotten we were in a restaurant. That I'd come here to have dinner with Nicholas. Where the hell was Nicholas?

"Sir?"

"Give us a minute more, please. I'll signal you when we're ready."

"Very well." The waiter stomped away, but I didn't blame him. All we could do was leave him a generous tip for all the trouble. I picked up my phone.

"Who're you calling?"

"Nicholas was supposed to meet me. Right before you came in, he said he was parking, so he should have been here already. Did he see us together and leave?" Nicholas's phone rang without a response. "Something is wrong."

"Like what?" Bloom's facial reaction was odd. He looked like he was holding something in. Had he run into Nicholas?

James.

"What did you do?"

"Me?" He raised his eyebrows as if surprised I was incriminating him.

"Don't give me that innocent act. What did you do?"

"Nothing. He's outside in his car."

Oh, then… wait a minute. "Where in his car?"

"The trunk."

"You locked him in his trunk?" I sprang to my feet, blood rushing to my head. This impulsive boy was going to get himself put behind bars.

"I was going to let him out after we had dinner."

"No, we'll let him out now."

I prodded Bloom to his feet.

"Sir, are you leaving?" The server rushed over to us, looking confused.

"Yes." No sense in staying now. Our presence wasn't wanted, and the bread I'd eaten would hold me until we could get something else. This wasn't where I wanted my first date with Bloom anyway.

I reached for my wallet, but the waiter waved me away. "That's fine, sir. I think it's best for everyone if you just go."

Bloom went rigid beside me. I grabbed his wrist and held on to him. He leaned into me, pouting. "Are you always going to try to tame me?" he asked as we walked out of the restaurant to a round of applause. I groaned. As a respectable member of this community, I never had anything like this happen. As if we'd been chased out. Bloom only made it worse by firing the finger over his shoulder.

Good god, how much would he change my life? Would it be worth it?

He tilted his head, and his beauty hit me hard in the gut. It was shallow maybe, but he was fucking hot, especially dressed in black. There was something about the way the color complimented his paleness. "I'll keep trying."

"Even if it's a waste of time?"

"Even then. I don't believe you're wired to be a killing machine. Now which car did you stuff my date in?"