Play It Again, Charlie (54 page)

He put his head on Charlie's leg and left one foot dangling over the other arm of the couch. He let out a long sigh. It seemed... not unhappy. Charlie hesitated with his arm in the air, but he was tired and still buzzing from orgasm. He let it rest over Will and blinked when Will pushed back against it, letting out another sigh that was definitely happy.

He still needed to come. “I could— ”

Will cut him off. “Nope.” His head was heavy, and after a while, Charlie would have to make him move or be in more pain, but he didn't say anything yet. “Later, Charlie. Later.”

“Are you sure I'm the daddy here?” Charlie wondered, aware he sounded a bit cranky, and Will's laugh was hot against his leg.

“I'm sure. Trust me.”

“That... .” He felt stupid just for saying it out loud, again. But... . “My name in your phone isn't Spankdaddy, is it?” It was alarming how that
didn't
make Will laugh.

“Oh no,” Will answered with heat, as though whatever Charlie's name in his phone
was
, it was better than that. Or possibly worse. Charlie opened his mouth and immediately got shushed before he could do more than breathe in. “Now be quiet, the movie is on.”

The movie. Which, if Charlie hadn't seen it before, would have made no sense at all at this point, as he hadn't even attempted to pay attention. But he stared straight ahead, trying diligently to focus. He sincerely doubted that Will was able to, no matter what he said.

Sam jumped back up on the back of the couch. Charlie spared a moment to look at the tail twitching with disdain and then looked down at Will. His fingers went to Will's shoulder, stroked a circle.

“Not helping, Charlie,” Will chided breathlessly and then wiggled when Charlie pulled his hand away. “But go on.”

Charlie puffed out a laugh despite himself, then resumed his slow motions over Will's shoulder. “So.” Will was so warm, relaxed despite his arousal. Charlie realized he was whispering but didn't raise his voice. “Tell me what I missed,” he said after a minute, listening to how Will's breathing slowly changed, becoming even, steady, not quite a purr but close enough.

No wonder Sam was angry with them.

“Okay,” Will agreed easily, with a smile in his voice that made Charlie swallow, “that handsome hunk of detective there is... .”

He woke up to the sounds of the Marx Brothers coming from the TV and Sam pushing his food dish across the kitchen floor. Charlie turned his head and winced at the stiffness in his neck, the stabs of pain down his back, and the alarming numbness in his leg.

Will stirred as he did. The room was bright, too bright, early morning light working with the overhead lighting to make Charlie very aware that he'd spent the whole night on the couch.

He opened his mouth, feeling slow and dry-mouthed, aware that his stomach was rumbling, and Will jerked himself up to a sitting position then fell to his feet.

“What time is it?” His clothes were wrinkled, his hair flat. Half his face was red, but he hardly seemed to care. He pulled out his cell phone while Charlie was trying to think and then swore and tossed it to the couch. “That battery's about dead. I'll have to charge it in the car when I... . Oh my God, Charlie.” Will froze. “Don't you have work?”

Charlie was suddenly wide awake. He put his hands down and pushed to get up until his back and neck protested and he dropped quickly back down. He thought, vaguely, that he was too old to fall asleep sitting up on the couch, but he knew it was mostly the way he'd messed up his posture the day before. The couch just hadn't helped.

Will was spinning on his heels, waving behind him as he disappeared into the bedroom.

“Just let me take care of a few things, Charlie, and I'll be out of your way so you can get ready,” he called out just before the bathroom door closed, and Charlie shut his eyes.

He pushed down again, gritting his teeth as he got up and then flailing for a moment when he got to his feet and the leg that had gone numb because Will had used it as a pillow abruptly and sharply regained feeling. He leaned on his left leg and nearly fell until he caught himself on his chair. His whole back felt twisted, tight, and there was no way he was going to be able to get dressed in a hurry. He wasn't sure he'd be able to get dressed at all. Not like this.

If he took his prescription, he couldn't drive. Maybe a hot shower would loosen his muscles enough to let him move. He just had to... .

“Hey, aren't you— ?” Charlie snapped his head up at Will's soft, shocked question. “Oh no, look at you.”

“I was more tired than I thought,” Charlie tried, wetting his lips as Will came forward. He stopped at Charlie's side and ran one hand carefully down his back. “I shouldn't sleep on the couch.” Charlie's small smile got him a puzzled frown.

“Is this all your hip?” Will pushed out a breath that smelled like mouthwash. Charlie stared at him for a moment, searching for anything on Will's face that wasn't that high-energy concern that Will was trying to control, then shook his head.

“It's what happens when you move to avoid feeling pain and end up putting a strain on the rest of your body. It's not as bad as it sounds.” He'd had lots of practice at playing it down, though he wasn't sure Will was fooled. At the moment, Charlie was about as pathetic as he could get, unless of course Will wanted to look at pictures of him in the hospital.

“Really? Because it looks pretty bad.” Will scooted in but seemed afraid to do more than brush his hands over Charlie's clothes. “You aren't going to work like this, are you?”

He was, actually. “It's no reason to call in,” Charlie started, only to blink when Will snorted and rolled his eyes. “It will get better.”

“Or worse. You should be in bed, Charlie. No way are you getting ready right now.”

“I might be a little late— ”

“Are you kidding me?” Will threw up his hands.

“It's not a big deal.”

“The fuck?” was Will's answer to that, along with a flat stare. “You can barely move.” His hands flew out. Charlie scowled and caught one. Green eyes met his, then flicked away before Will's fingers curled over the side of his hand.

“You should have said something, like a sane person who would take the day off and rest.” Will's tone stayed light, though he dropped his head and leaned in. “Some people, not you, Charlie, obviously, talk about themselves sometimes. It helps other people understand them.” Will's words made Charlie's face burn, but then Will was also pressed against him, pulling up to get him more on his feet.

Charlie didn't fight it, though he didn't put all of his weight on Will as he wrapped one arm around him. Pain aside, his cheeks were stinging. He tried to imagine telling Will something that wouldn't make Charlie seem even stranger in his eyes. “You're kind of a brat.”

“Too bad you can't do anything about it right now,” Will whispered back, soft and minty. “Now, where I'm taking you? To bed, I hope.”

“The bathroom,” Charlie corrected him and ignored the pointed sigh. “I can... .” He could do it himself, but he cut himself off when he saw Will's hurt sideways glance. “I'll just take a shower.”

“Mmm.” Will was trying to drive him crazy with embarrassment. It was almost enough to take Charlie's mind off the pins and needles in his leg and the increasing pain in his back when he tried to correct his posture. “Anything I can do to help?” Will offered as they slipped into the bathroom, letting go when Charlie moved to take off his shirt.

He nearly fell again the moment he did, had to grab the sink and spent a second glaring at his red-faced reflection. Will was behind him, his hands fluttering before he touched Charlie's shoulder. Charlie watched Will bite his lip in the mirror, then frown.

“Am I not supposed to comment on that?” he wondered, so snippy that Charlie snapped back and immediately regretted it.

“I don't need a babysitter.”

Will raised his chin. “Oh really? Well, if you knew what was good for you— ”

“You don't understand.” Charlie's voice was too loud in the small bathroom, and he turned away when he heard himself, shutting his eyes to block out his reflection, though he remembered it. Flushed and tired, leaning on his sink to stay on his feet. He opened his eyes, but Will was still there, watching him. “I don't expect you to act like my
ninera
— nanny,” he corrected, gentling his voice.

“You can hardly move, Charlie.” Will spoke before Charlie could, regarding him seriously. “What
do
you expect me to do, leave you like this?” His eyes went wide a second after he asked. He moved like he might walk out of the room, the apartment, and knowing it couldn't possibly help, Charlie didn't stop the words that shot out of him.

“I'm just... I was talking out of pain. Will. I'm sorry.” He made himself straighten up, even if he couldn't stand on his own yet, so Will could see that he was serious, that he'd be fine and the pain was only temporary. Will stopped moving, but his frown only got deeper.

“
Everyone's
a bitch when they're hurt, Charlie.” Will seemed confused, but wasn't moving or looking away. Charlie shook with the effort of staying on his feet and knew he'd sounded too desperate.

“I know that. It's a lot to ask.” When he spoke, Will's expression got more confused, and then went blank. “Which is why I don't want to bother you. I'll be fi— better soon, so you shouldn't feel like you have to be here.”

“Like I have to be here,” Will echoed flatly, and too late Charlie recognized the pissed-off note in his voice.

“Will— ” Charlie tried reaching out, but Will turned and left the room.

Fuck. Charlie couldn't move but his pulse was pounding in his ears. He stared at the doorway, the empty doorway, and realized his arm was still extended. Then Will was back, back to fill up all that empty space and coming forward to push his hand into Charlie's chest.

“Get into that tub,” Will barked, and Charlie swallowed. He'd made Will angry, clearly, though he'd been trying to do the opposite. “You can't take a shower, but you can at least have a bath. If you can walk when you're done, I'll leave. I"— he paused dramatically—"am not an asshole, Charlie.”

“Will... .” Charlie tried to think, or at least apologize. “Will, I'm... .”

“Don't.” Will jerked his head toward the bathtub. “Just take your bath. Get ready for work. I don't even care.”

The fact that he was being pissy said otherwise. Charlie studied him, his stomach turning, and then reached out. Will's jawline was slightly rough, but Charlie didn't stop and Will didn't move away.

“I'm sorry.” He wanted to tighten his hand so he pulled it back, but he couldn't stop staring into Will's eyes.

“Of course you are.” Will raised his eyebrows and got superior. “You know there's no way you can go to work today, right?” Charlie hesitated, then shut his mouth and gave a slight nod.

Will blinked. The ferocity left his face as he stepped back. “So.” He was winding down, just like that. “So call in and I'll go feed Sam.”

“Will, you... .” Will held still, the tension that normally made him restless just apparent in his shaky indrawn breath. “You're kind of a brat, you know that?” Thank God it made Will laugh. Charlie felt some of the knot in his gut unravel.

“Next thing you know, I'll be calling you ‘soldier'.” Will rolled his shoulders, looked uncomfortable, and then waved Charlie away when Charlie tried to go on.

“You don't need to take care of Sam, I can— ”

“Charlie.” Will leaned in, muttering something under his breath. “Shut up. I'm not going to hurt your cat.”

“I don't think you're going to hurt my cat,” Charlie called after him, moments too late, when Will was out of the room and he was standing against the sink. “I just don't want to bother you.” After another minute of feeling itchy and embarrassed, Charlie pulled out his phone from his pocket and called to say he'd be late. When he tried to say why, the head office admin told him he had enough built-up sick days and to use one before hanging up on him.

He set the phone on the edge of the sink, then moved carefully to the shower, using the wall to stay up. He had the water on and his pants down when Will reappeared. Charlie's breathing slowed again, but he didn't think Will noticed. He glared at the water and then at Charlie.

The water was running hot by now, but Charlie hadn't been able to bend down to stop the drain yet. Will looked at him some more, then at the tub before moving.

“That is
it
. I don't care if I'm a poor man's Jezebel,” he mumbled, stopping the drain and testing the water.

“Will, I'd never ask you to— ”

“I know, right?” Will snorted but didn't look up. He didn't sound any less pissed, either. Charlie had calmed him down and riled him up again in minutes and obviously wasn't thinking clearly or he wouldn't be in this mess.

The room was starting to fill with steam. The water was going to be searing hot, but that was what he needed. Charlie stripped off his shirt and then shivered in surprise at the feel of Will's hands sliding over him to ease down his underwear. Will knelt down to get them from Charlie's feet, and Charlie moved for him without managing a word.

“The water's really hot,” Will warned, seemingly calm until he was standing up again and putting his arms around Charlie to help him down. “Is that okay?”

Charlie still couldn't speak. He nodded, then cleared his throat. “I called in.”

“Sounds good. I wish I could spend the day with you.” Will surprised him, then shifted as Charlie stepped into the water. He grunted a little. It almost hurt, but he couldn't hesitate now, and just clenched his teeth as he lowered himself down.

Even with Will helping, worrying out loud in a strained voice, Charlie landed hard. The burn of the water was distracting enough that he barely felt the jarring pain through his back and hip. He just sat very still, shaking his head when he realized Will was talking. His hands were once again flying everywhere.

Charlie grabbed one, not quite ready to speak yet, but it was enough to get Will to push away the curtain and sit tentatively at the edge of the tub. The water was making the room uncomfortably warm and putting pink in Will's face. Charlie tried to focus on that, and the feel of Will's hand, until the water was up to his stomach and all he could feel was heat.