“Yeah,” Hunter whispered.
Roman’s insides clenched as the helplessness snaked throughout his entire body. He could feel tears stinging his eyes and so it was more for himself than for Hunter when he said, “Baby, please let me see you.”
Hunter was silent for a long time and then his phone beeped and switched over to the video screen. He hit the button and smiled when Hunter’s tear-stained face came into view. “Hi,” he said softly.
“Hi,” Hunter responded, his eyes still watery as he wiped at his flushed face. Roman could tell by the tile at Hunter’s back that he was likely sitting in the bathroom, somewhere near the shower.
“What time’s your appointment?” Roman asked.
“Nine.”
“I’m coming home, okay,” Roman said as he began to run through the list of things he would need to do to get back in time. It would be tight but he knew enough people to get his plane readied, have a flight plan filed and deal with customs quickly enough so that he could get back to Missoula by morning.
“No, Roman, don’t,” Hunter said, his voice a little bit more even. “I need to be able to do this on my own.”
Roman sighed and went to sit down on the edge of the bed. “I could ask Luke or Gray to meet you…drive you there and back.”
Hunter smiled and shook his head. “It’s on campus in the health center – I’ll probably walk there.” Hunter wiped at his face again and then said, “Thank you, Roman. I feel better. I should let you get back to sleep.”
“Actually, I have to be up in an hour anyway so I’m thinking maybe you should keep me company for a bit,” Roman said as he settled back against the headboard.
“Okay,” Hunter murmured as he got up. The phone tilted a bit as Hunter moved but then settled again and Roman could tell Hunter had moved to his bed. That in itself was a relief. “What should we talk about?” Hunter asked.
Roman thought for a moment and then said, “What are you wearing?”
Hunter laughed. “You can’t be serious,” he said. “Phone sex? Really?” Hunter said, his voice dropping to a near whisper even though he was obviously alone in his dorm since his roommate was gone for the whole week.
“It’s either that or I read you the presentation I have to give in a few hours.”
Hunter seemed to think on it for a while and then finally said, “What’s the presentation on?”
“Running costs and revenue streams.” When Hunter remained quiet, Roman said, “Well?”
“I’m thinking,” Hunter quipped.
“Well, while you’re thinking, I’m going to get started,” Roman said huskily and then switched the view on his phone to reverse the screen. He let his hand slip into his boxers and then laughed when there was an audible indrawn breath followed by a curse as Hunter’s began fumbling with his phone in a desperate effort to get caught up.
***
Hunter felt completely wrung out as he left the therapist’s office but he was beyond relieved that he was doing it on his own two feet and not being carted out by two guys in white coats. Although he’d believed that Roman would move heaven and earth to get him out of any psych ward he could have potentially ended up in, the idea of having the freedom he’d worked so hard to finally gain taken away from him was overwhelming and had kept him up most of the night after he’d hung up with Roman. Of course, there’d been the brief time in between when he’d been nearly comatose after the orgasm Roman had wrung out of him with some incredibly filthy suggestions about what he was going to do to Hunter when they saw each other again tomorrow.
Calling Roman as he’d sat on his bathroom floor and stared at the lighter and spoon he’d rested on the edge of the sink had been one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. But there’d been no condemnation in Roman’s voice and when they’d finally hung up, Roman had told him he loved him and nothing in his tone or body language made Hunter think it was anything but the truth. When Roman had said he was coming home, the weakest part of Hunter had wanted to cry in relief but the little voice inside his head that had slowly started to grow louder these past few weeks had reminded him that he needed to able to stand on his own two feet…not because he didn’t want Roman’s support but because he needed to know that there was a part of him that hadn’t been completely lost to his fear.
The therapist hadn’t been anything like Hunter had expected. For starters, the man was built like a tank and both arms had been covered in tattoos. He’d had piercings in both ears and the only hair on his head was actually on his face. The Mr. Clean lookalike hadn’t even bothered to take notes as he casually asked Hunter about himself and when Hunter had balked at telling the man about his self-destructive behavior, the guy hadn’t pressured him in any way. In fact, it hadn’t been until the last ten minutes of the session that Hunter admitted to burning himself. There’d been no look of horror when he’d said it and the guy hadn’t reached for the phone to call someone to come take him away. And to Hunter’s complete and utter shock, he hadn’t even asked to see the burns. He’d simply asked Hunter if he was interested in learning about some alternative ways to cope with his stress. And then he’d been allowed to leave. No guys in white coats, no recrimination, no lectures.