Chapter 22
Alexei had gone across the hall to sleep last night when Donal said he looked tired. He protested he could sleep in the chair, but Donal was having none of that. “Even Dr. Artis says I’m doing better. I promise I won’t run away.”
“You win, little mouse, I’ll sleep. If you need me, I’m across the hall. I sent the nurse home. Tomorrow Dr. Artis will examine your feet and see what can be done. Also, we’ll go to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned and any cavities filled.”
Donal jumped when he heard Alexei’s voice from the end of the bed. “Good morning, I see you’re getting your reading time in. Have you finished the book?”
“No, I just got to the part where Peter tells Richie what he is.” Donal fingered the pages of the book lovingly.
“Does Richie run off screaming into the night?” Alexei asked with seeming interest.
“No, he was getting used to the idea all along so when Peter told him, he wasn’t really surprised…skeptical, but not surprised. Until Peter changed right in front of him. That would be wonderful to have someone who loved you no matter what.” Donal stared of in the distance. What would it be like to have something special like that?
“Would you like that?” Alexei sat on the bed and held Donal’s hand.
Donal didn’t resist. He enjoyed the feel of Alexei’s strong, reassuring grip.
“You bet I would, but even if Colin’s stories were true, the gods wouldn’t choose me for such a gift.”
“Why not?” Alexei lifted his brow.
“Because I don’t deserve it. I let them turn me into an addict and a man-whore.”
“You did not choose this. It was forced upon an unknowing child. You tried to get away. You deserve all good things, my little mouse. Now, up with you. I expect Artis at nine.”
“Can I take a shower?” Donal asked, his brow creasing. Had he asked for too much?
“I’ll get a bathing suit and go in and help you. You are still a bit unsteady, and the shower door is glass.”
“Okay. You tell me when.” Donal gave Alexei an incandescent smile.
“I’ll get into my suit now. You get undressed.”
* * * *
Alexei took his bathing suit from the armoire and went across the gallery to change. When he returned, he found Donal waiting for him wrapped in a bath sheet.
“You look like you might have put on some weight.”
“Katya keeps feeding me.”
Alexei chuckled. “When I came home from the gulag, she fattened me up too.”
“I think I have a long way to go before I have to worry about fat.” Donal’s gaze slid down his body critically.
“You’ll get there. She fed me enough so that I regained all the weight I lost in the gulag within three months. After that, it was a matter of building my strength back up. Let’s go and take that shower.”
Alexei turned the water on so that the jets felt like rainwater dropping from the shower nozzles, too soft to hurt Donal’s bruised body. He washed Donal thoroughly. Alexei let Donal wash his own genitals, aware of what his mate had gone through and unwilling to invoke flashbacks. The rest of Donal’s body, Alexei washed tenderly, as if Donal was spun glass. Donal leaned into his touch.
After they had showered, Alexei dusted Donal with powder and got out underwear, a robe, and the soft, fleece-lined slippers. “Here is your toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. There is mouthwash on the sink. Katya will bring up breakfast in a few minutes.”
Donal surreptitiously wiped away a tear. Alexei grimaced. He hated to see his little mouse cry.
Katya came up with a tray full of breakfast foods. Donal didn’t even try to protest the amount of food this time, he just ate and ate some more. When he finished, he seemed surprised that everything Katya brought was gone.
“Your appetite is improving,” Alexei observed sipping a cup of the strong tea Katya brought.
“I spent years hungry, then after a while I didn’t even want the can of soup he gave us. It was the drugs, I think.”
“Most likely. At least you’re eating well now. Katya will bring you more food at ten,” Alexei promised.
“But I’m stuffed now…”
“You’ll be hungry by then. Dr. Artis will be here in about fifteen minutes. Let’s get you out of your robe and into some sweats. Leave off your sneakers and socks so he can examine your feet.”
Alexei helped Donal dress, and Boris announced Dr. Artis. Donal sat on a chaise with his bare feet up for the doctor to examine. Artis came into the room and after he greeted Alexei, approached Donal.