Page 51 of Broken Wheels
“He was a porn star, and the studio he worked for didn’t use condoms. They did, however, have a set of protocols for all their models. He shared it with me, and I’ve been following it ever since.”
Protocols was right up Josh’s street. “What does it involve?”
“I’ve already mentioned the first two steps. Step three is this.” Dixon opened a drawer in the nightstand and removed a small white pill bottle. He placed it in Josh’s hand.
Josh peered at the label and read aloud. “Doxycycline.” He frowned. “An antibiotic?”
Dixon nodded. Josh listened intently as he explained the science behind it. He couldn’t help but smile, because the chemical compositions and their effect on the body? Yeah, those were his wheelhouse. With the words Dixon was using, it was obvious he was knowledgeable about the subject, and Josh could tell he understood it. It wasn’t like Christopher, who tried to pretend he understood Josh when he clearly didn’t.
“Did you hear a word I said?”
Josh smiled. “Every word.”
Dixon grinned. “I have all the research saved. I figured you’d want to read through it.”
Josh laughed. “Wow. It’s like you know me.” He put the bottle on the nightstand, and Dixon took hold of his hands.
“It’s a lot to take in, I know, but doing all this has kept me bug-free. And once you get into a routine, it becomes second nature.”
He’d gotten one part wrong. This wasn’t a lot to take in—this was huge.
Dixon rubbed the back of Josh’s hands. “The whole point about sharing all this is to make sure you’re happy with it before we proceed. And if you’re not happy with my routines, then….” Dixon smiled. “I’ll go out now and find a drugstore that’s open, and buy a ton of condoms.”
He laughed. “You’re planning on using that many?” That quiet voice at the back of his mind piped up, and Josh’s stomach gave a roil. “This isn’t going to be a one-off, then?”
Tell me this isn’t just a fling.
Tell me we’re not going to go our separate ways once you get laid.
He thought he already knew which way Dixon would go, but he wanted to hear the words.
Gods, Dixon was so still, and it sent Josh’s heart plummeting.
Dixon took a deep breath.
“Listen to me. I haven’t had sex with anyone—other than my right hand—since I fell under the sway of this fucking adorable redhead.”
A rush of warmth surged through Josh, but Dixon wasn’t done.
“If you want us to continue the relationship—and I hope to hell you do—I’m not going anywhere. Not even thinking about anyone else.” He looked Josh in the eye, and that steady gaze sent shivers through him. “And I will never give you a reason to doubt me.”
Okay, maybe there was a God after all.
Josh squared his shoulders. “Thanks for the offer, but no, you don’t need to go out and buy condoms. I trust that you won’t put me in harm’s way. And maybe it’s time we see where this relationship is going.” He smiled. “So that’s the TED talk done with?” Dixon gave a nod. Josh leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. “That’s the theory part, then. Why don’t we put it all into practice?”
Chapter 16
Christmas had come early, and Dix hoped to God he wouldn’t. The possibility was there, he had to admit. The idea of sliding into Doc’s ass already had him so hard, his dick could’ve moonlighted as a flagpole.
How long have I thought about this? Wanted this?
That was easy. Since the day Gary had showed Dix around, and the cutest little redhead he’d ever seen stepped out of the lab, then peered up at Dix. His eyes were wide behind those glasses, and Dix was reminded instantly of an owl. Then Gary introduced him, and Doc grunted before walking away. Gary had to explain that he wasn’t being rude—he was probably working on something, and that took as much of his focus as he could spare.
But Dix didn’t think he was rude, not in the least. He was freaking magnetic, and Dix was already caught in his field. And in the present situation, he needed to keep a tight grip on his emotions, his desires, to keep uppermost in his mind that this was Doc’s first experience.
I’ve never been with a virgin before.
Lord, the responsibility. The pressure.