Ruthless, irrational jealousy started whispering in Erik’s head. Not only did Paul take away Ace from him, but now Ace was getting his friendship fix elsewhere too. Erik was being doubly replaced.
“Oh yeah?” Erik asked, his throat tight, trying desperately to mask his hurt.
“Yeah, we’ll have to figure out a time to all get together,” Ace said. “She loves playing matchmaker. I might have to sic her on you.”
“Great,” Erik said with false brightness. Wow, absolutely the last thing I want right now. “So, the reason I called. Can you pull yourself away from your hot chiropractor for a night so we can catch up over dinner?”
Ace paused, obviously weighing his options. Come on, don’t make me beg, Erik thought.
“Um, of course, yeah,” Ace said. “What works for you?”
“Tomorrow night?” Erik said tentatively. “I know it’s a traditional date night, but it will leave you the rest of the weekend to crawl back into the boyfriend cocoon.”
“Yeah,” Ace said slowly. “Let me check with Paul real quick.”
Erik heard only the muffled conversation from his end. Tanner popped his head in the door to Erik’s office, and Erik silently motioned for him to wait.
“I think Friday will work,” Ace said, returning to the phone. “Pick me up around six?”
Erik let out a breath. “Six will be great. And thank Paul for me for letting you out for a night.”
“Har har.”
“See you tomorrow.” Erik hung up and waved Tanner in. “Well, that too entirely too much effort,” he grumbled.
Tanner plopped down into one of the guest chairs. “Trouble with Ace?”
“Same thing happens every time,” Erik sighed deeply. “Your friend meets someone, and then disappears from the face of the Earth. Gotta move mountains to pry them apart.”
Tanner leaned forward. “Oh? Ace met someone?”
“Can’t blame him, really,” Erik said, mostly to himself. “Super hot guy. If I’d known he was on the menu …”
“And his name is Paul?” Tanner said casually.
A warning bell sounded in Erik’s subconscious. He looked up and found Tanner eager to hear more.
“Um, yeah,” Erik said.
“Yeah, I overheard you talking.” Tanner put on an appropriately sympathetic face. “Sounds like Ace dumped you for this hot Paul guy.”
“No, no,” Erik said quickly. “We were never I mean, it’s not like we-”
“No, I get it. It feels like you’re losing him, doesn’t it? It actually explains a lot,” Tanner murmured.
That doesn’t sound promising.
“Look, Tanner,” Erik began. But he stopped himself. What should he clean up Ace’s mess with this student? Erik didn’t need to do all the heavy lifting in this friendship.
“Um,” Erik shook his head and continued, “so, what did you need?”
“Oh, right. Need you to check my pages and make sure they’re good to go.”
“Of course. I’ll be right there.”
Tanner headed back to his computer station, and Erik missed the calculating grin on the younger man’s face.
*****
“Tanner Caldwell? Doctor Z is ready for you.”
Tanner stood and ran his hand through his hair. He had been able to get a last-minute appointment with Dr. Paul McDonnell after laying on the charm with the perky secretary.
Bat those eyes all you want, sweet cheeks. I don’t go for breast meat.
“Thanks, babe,” he winked at the blonde chick at the desk. She giggled, and Tanner fought the urge to roll his eyes. Man, chicks were so easy. It was almost a waste that he couldn’t use his superior sexual power on such easy prey.
Then he caught a glimpse of his intended prey.
Well, not really a waste.
Tanner had heard most of his boss’s side of a phone call with Ace, and it had been very useful. He put “chiropractor” together with the name “Paul” and came up with Dr. Z, the dude most of his intramural frat buddies went to see when they jacked up their backs.
Tanner had no idea that Dr. Sex on a Stick played for his team. It was almost enough of a temptation for him to abandon his plans with Ace.
Almost.
Just thinking of the two of them together gave Tanner half a stiffy, and he started envisioning threesomes, sucking and fucking until they all passed out.
Tanner wasn’t prepared for how delicious his competition was. All that dark hair, tanned skin, sexy beard. Damn. Initially, he’d wanted to size him up and figure out how to steal Ace away from him. Now, though, he’d be happy with either guy as a consolation prize.
“Mr. Caldwell?” Dr. Z’s deep, smooth voice brought Tanner back to the present. “Let’s see what we can do for you today.”
“Oh, I’ve got some ideas,” Tanner cooed, and the doc gave a little start as he shut the office door behind them. “I assume I need to take this off?” Tanner asked sweetly, fingering his shirt buttons.
Paul cleared his throat and checked his chart. “You said the pain is in your lower back?”
Tanner pasted on a grimace. “Yeah, it’s been like this for a couple of days. My Delta buddies said you were the guy to see.”
“Okay.” Paul put down his chart. “Go ahead and take off your shirt and climb up here on your stomach, please.”
Tanner slid into place and made sure to wiggle his tight butt more than strictly necessary.
Dr. Z began examining his lower back, touching Tanner’s bare skin with his fingertips.
“I don’t suppose an appointment with you comes with a happy ending, does it, doc?” Tanner grinned.
He heard Paul clear his throat. “Sorry to disappoint, Mr. Caldwell,” Paul said dryly. “All I can offer is a slight spinal adjustment.”
“What a shame. A hot doc like you? You could really pick up some business,” Tanner purred, wiggling his butt again. “I’d be happy to spread the wuuuuuh!”
Paul abruptly applied pressure to Tanner’s spine, rendering his patient temporarily nonverbal.
“How does that feel?”
“Good,” Tanner grunted breathlessly. “I think?” he squeaked.
“Did that take care of the pain you were feeling?”
“Uh, can you do some more maybe? A little lower?” Tanner readjusted his head and neck. “The top of my ass, really. That would be great.” He moved his hand to his shorts to show the good doc exactly where he wanted those hands.
“That won’t be necessary,” Paul said quickly. He lightly probed that area, testing for signs of problems. Tanner let himself enjoy the feeling for a moment. But then it was time to step up his game plan.
“So, I hear we have a friend in common,” he said casually.
“Mmmm?” Paul said, distracted. “One of the Deltas who referred you?”
“No, I was thinking of someone a lot closer to both of us. Ace Hoffman.”
Paul dug sharply into another muscle, and Tanner grunted at the sensation.
“Oh?” Paul said, his voice a touch higher than normal.
“Yeah, I do some Web work for him. And other things.”
Paul’s hands stilled. “He, uh,” Paul cleared his throat again. “He said we knew each other?”
Tanner smirked. “Well, you do, don’t you?” He craned his head around. “I hear you know each other really well, actually.”
Paul’s face was carefully screened to neutral, so Tanner resettled himself face down. “You know, since we’re on the subject, I’m surprised my Delta bros didn’t tell me about you. I mean, they aren’t all gay or anything, but I’ve taught them how to spot the signs.”