Chapter Text
“Okay, let’s see how it looks, yes, that’s better, it looks really good. Here, see for yourself.”
Matthew looked at his reflection, there was still a scar, but the surgeon was right. It was far less noticeable and would eventually become a white line, just like the other one on his other cheek. Not that he was seeing clients at the moment, and he didn’t know if he would again...well, not on the scale he had been.
That was Craig’s influence, and he’d been living and sleeping with Craig for the last six months. He cared for Craig, would even admit that he felt affection towards him, but he stopped short of saying that he loved him.
Love was not for people like him, people like him knew that love was for fools and greeting cards.
“Now, why don’t you let me try and improve that scar on your back.”
The surgeon’s words brought him back from his thoughts.
“No, leave it as it is.”
“But you told me that it’s painful at times, don’t you want the pain to stop?”
“No, the pain and it is a reminder of something.”
“All right, then I will see you in three month, Matthew.”
He nodded and before he left, he made the next appointment, then stepped out of the clinic and into a waiting car.
“Mister Sanderson says he will meet you at the usual luncheon spot. He is running a few minutes late and asks that you chose something for him,” the driver said.
He nodded and remained quiet until the car stopped . He thanked the driver and walked the short distance to the brasserie and greeted the front of house person, before being led to the canal-side table that they always sat at. He sat watching the people walk by, enjoying the summer sun. He watched a small group of canoeists glide past, so different from the frenetic Dragon Boat Races that Craig had taken him to.
Craig...yes, he cared for Craig, would even go so far as to say that he felt affection for Craig...but love..no love was for fools and greeting cards.
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Dominic sighed and put the photograph in the file. It joined the other photographs and reports; he closed the file. It had been six months sine Matthew had gotten into that car; had made his choice.
He hadn’t told Matthew’s family where he was, he only told them that he was safe. Yes, not only safe, but he looked happy...well he did in the latest photograph of Matthew and Craig Sanderson enjoying lunch at the Bank Brasserie in Brindleyplace.
Oh, he’d found out who owned that Bentley, one Craig Sanderson, successful and very wealthy business man, with connections in all the right places, and the man he’d also being living with as it happened.
He had to admit that Matthew looked healthy; whatever else Craig Sanderson was, he was making sure that Matthew stayed away from drugs, and the game, as well, so it seemed.
That raised another question...was Matthew just staying with him until his injuries healed, or was he actually with him? That thought made him sad, but as the saying goes...you don’t miss it till it’s gone.
James had been gone for twenty years and Matthew had been gone for six months. God, that sounded odd, but James and Matthew were two different people within one person. James had been shy and a talented musician, and Dominic now knew he would have loved James; if he hadn’t been taken.
He loved Matthew, he’d known it from their first meeting in that hotel room...all that attitude, wrapped up in a beautiful body, and finding out it had been James had made him fall even deeper. But that chance had gone, when Matthew had gotten into that car, and now he was reduced to photographs and reports that he got from Chris and his team.
He sighed again and placed the file in his private draw and locked it. He picked up another file, a file on someone who his foundation cold help.
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“You don’t want this scar gone?” Craig said, as he traced the ‘M’ with his finger, smiling at the way Matthew’s skin twitched at his touch.
“No, it’s a reminder.”
“A reminder of what?” he asked, trailing the same finger down Matthew’s spine.
“That letting your guard down only leads to pain.”
“Matthew, why won’t you tell me how you got it. Someone must have really hated you to do this.”
“Just leave it, Craig,” Matthew said and moved away from his touch.
Craig let out a long breath; he was under no illusion that Matthew loved him, like he loved Matthew, no matter what he wished. He just wished that Matthew would confide in him. All he wanted was to look after him, give him the security that he was pretty certain he had never had.
He was about to speak again when Matthew turned to face him.
“I don’t want to argue, not now and not here.”
“What do you want?” Craig asked.
“I want to forget....please, make me forget....just for while.”