"Here's your prescription. Apply twice daily, and make sure he doesn't scratch too much. The rash should be gone in a few days." Riordan nodded at the young mother, who hitched her baby higher up on her hip and left with a shy smile.

There were no other patients outside in the waiting room. It had been another long, but satisfying day. Much as he had suspected, Anders had a policy of treating poor people for free, and word had gotten around. The clinic was pretty much always busy. Normally Dr Wynne would have helped out for a few hours each day. Anders had been full of praise for the skill and devotion of the formidable old lady, who had chosen to spend her retirement years here on the islands. But she had been called away on urgent family business a few days ago, so it was fortunate Riordan had been there to help.

Carefully, he washed his hands and took off the white coat Anders had given him. He hadn't worn one in years, but Anders had insisted; apparently the patients would feel safer if he wore the familiar garb.

"That's it for today." As if summoned by his thoughts, the younger man had appeared in the doorway. "I've locked the door."

Riordan yawned and stretched. "Oz should be here to pick me up in about half an hour."

"Good." Anders nodded. "I'm really grateful for your help, you know. Most people wouldn't-"

"It's fine." He shifted uncomfortably. "Actually, I enjoyed myself."

Anders raised a surprised eyebrow, but he didn't reply. Instead, he shrugged off his own coat and placed it neatly on a hanger, next to Riordan's. He was wearing faded jeans underneath and a simple white T-shirt, well-worn and frayed at the edges. The jeans were riding low on his hips, leaving a strip of soft, golden skin exposed.

Once again, Riordan was struck by how thin he seemed, long and lanky, with his hip bones sharp as blades, as if he never took the time to get a proper meal. He needed a shave, too, and a proper haircut. That little ponytail he wore was absurd. Riordan was struck by a sudden urge to untie it, to tousle Anders' hair, to see what he would look like then. Get a grip on yourself, man. He's fifteen years younger than you are, at least. And far too intense for a quick fling.

Though, if he was honest, that was probably part of the attraction. They had talked quite a lot during the past two days, in between patients, and Anders reminded him a lot of his own younger self. So impetuous, impatient even, full of hopes and dreams, but also seething with anger at the many injustices he witnessed on a daily basis. Full of passion.

"So, what do you do in your free time?" Riordan smiled tentatively at the young doctor. "You do have some free time, right?"

"I do." Anders chuckled softly. "I play the guitar. Not particularly well, but I enjoy it, and the girls fall for it every time. And I-" He hesitated, clearly embarrassed at what he'd been about to say.

"Oh, come on. How bad can it be?" Riordan couldn't resist teasing him. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the comment about the girls, though. Anders didn't strike him as all that straight.

"I do magic tricks." Anders seemed to gain confidence while talking. "You know, disappearing rabbits, producing coins from thin air, the lot. It's fun, and it comes in handy as a distraction when I'm treating kids."

"Well, that is… unexpected." Riordan leaned back a little, raising his chin in a challenge. "Show me."

"Really? What's next? Do you want me to do a little dance for you while I'm at it?" With a roll of his eyes, Anders stepped closer, running his hand lightly up Riordan's neck and behind his left ear. He pulled it back with a quick twist of his wrist, and sure enough, there was a coin in his palm. "Here you are. Keep it as a souvenir."

"Wow. How did you-" Involuntarily, Riordan raised his hand to check behind his ear, but flinched slightly as he tilted his head.

"Are you okay?" Suddenly, Anders' face was right before him, warm brown eyes gazing into his. Such beautiful eyes. And that mouth, so mobile, his lips so soft and inviting…

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired." Riordan took a deep breath, trying to gather his wits, but failing miserably. I bet he'd close his eyes if I kissed him, and he'd moan, deep in his throat. I bet he-

"You could send Oz home and stay here for the night, you know?" Anders was still so close, and he sounded nervous, speaking quickly, as if afraid he would change his mind. "Plenty of empty beds. You wouldn't be in the way at all."

Riordan's heart fluttered. He hadn't expected this, and he was tempted to say yes. Sorely tempted.

"Gods, I'm knackered." Duncan gratefully sank into the rickety chair, eyeing his surroundings with a fair amount of distrust.

It had been Oz who'd recommended the little restaurant to them. They had been tired and hungry on the way back from the little cay where they'd spent the day snorkelling. Oz had dropped them here, and pointed the way to a water taxi that would take them home, before setting off to pick up Riordan at the hospital. We're keeping the poor guy busy, that's for sure. Duncan almost felt bad about it.

Then again, he had thoroughly enjoyed the day, much to his own surprise. It had been Isabela's idea to explore the lagoon, and she had persuaded him to come along. He'd been sceptical; after all, water wasn't really his element. But he'd heard so much about the beauty of the underwater world and the coral reefs where you could spot fish and crabs, and even octopus, if you were lucky.

Isabela had been incredibly patient, making sure his mask fit well and his fins were just snug enough, practicing with him in shallow water before they ventured out from the beach.

"You need to relax. Calm and slow, that's it." It hadn't been easy, but in the end Duncan had managed to let go and let the salt water support him.

They hadn't actually gone far, but she had picked a good spot where the coral came within just a few feet of the surface. And it had been amazing to watch all those strange and exotic creatures, their colours vibrant and iridescent, their movements slow and graceful. He hadn't recognized half of the fish that had passed him, ignorant of marine life as he was, but it had still been an amazing experience.

He was exhausted now, though, and really hungry. When their food arrived, he tucked in eagerly, pleased to find that it was everything Oz had promised. Isabela smiled indulgently at him before focussing on her large seafood platter. They were quiet during the meal, content to enjoy each other's company and the food without talking.

Finally, Duncan leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach contentedly. "What a glorious day. I can't believe Riordan missed it."

Isabela laughed softly. "I don't think he'd mind. He told me he'd tried diving once and hated it."

"Well, he wasn't lucky enough to have you with him. Thank you so much." Duncan was sincerely grateful, and curious besides. "How come you know so much about snorkelling, anyway?"

"Ah, it's a long story." Isabela's tone was light, but she avoided looking him in the eye. "One of the many things I learned during my misspent youth."

He didn't really know much about Isabela, Duncan realized. Just that she was gorgeous, fantastic in bed, and easy to talk to, since she was a great gossip and they knew pretty much the same people. Lots of trivial stuff, too, the way she liked her coffee, her favourite music, her taste in movies. But he had no idea where she came from, what she wanted from life, what she'd been through. For all her relaxed attitude, Isabela wasn't in the habit of talking much about herself.

"Your 'misspent youth'? Was it really that bad?" He reached across the table and took her hand.

"Worse." Isabela made a face. "I was a different person back then, literally. I made so many dumb decisions when I was younger. There was never enough money, and I had debts to pay off, so I worked all kinds of odd jobs to make ends meet. And Luis, my husband-"

"You were married?" Duncan could have slapped himself the moment he uttered the words. Way to sound judgmental.

But, Isabela just shrugged it off. "I told you, it was a long time ago and in a different country." She smiled mirthlessly. "Really, I was just a stupid kid. Stupid and short-sighted. I couldn't wait to get away from home, so I left school and got married the moment I turned eighteen. Never saw the point in getting a proper education. And now it's a bit late for that."

And yet you quote Shakespeare at me. Duncan tightened his grip around her fingers. "Stop putting yourself down. It seems to me you've made a good life for yourself. And I wasn't born with a doctorate either." Quite the opposite, in fact. His foster parents had simply refused to believe it when they'd learned he had won a scholarship for med school. "You're awesome, Isabela, just the way you are."

"Of course I am." Her smile turned a shade more relaxed. "Thank you."

He reached for his wallet. "It's getting late, and Riordan will be waiting. Let's head home."

Anders was stretched out on the hospital bed, his hands fisting in the clean white sheets, trembling all over with want. Riordan had two fingers inside him already, and he was so warm, so incredibly warm and tight, so willing, so full of abandonment. He was utterly gorgeous like this, his eyes large and feverish, his hair tousled, his lips half open, a creature of raw need, writhing on the bed and begging for more.

"Riordan, please, I can't wait any longer." It was irresistible, the way he was looking at Riordan, begging for his cock, too far gone to care what he sounded like.

"Shhh." Riordan's pants were gone already, though he couldn't remember taking them off. All he knew was that he was hard, hard and eager, and so was Anders, his cock weeping and flushed against his belly.

"Damn it, Riordan, please fuck me already, I can't-" Anders' voice was strangled with lust, his hips lifted in a clear invitation.

There was no way to resist, so he did as Anders asked, pushing slowly inside that wonderful, tight heat, taking his time, savouring every moment. Propping himself up on his arms, Riordan closed his eyes in bliss and was about to start moving in earnest, when a voice behind him made him falter.

"Riordan?" Duncan's voice. But what was Duncan doing here?

Automatically, he pulled back, twisting his head to look, and yes, there was Duncan, looking puzzled and a little angry.

He didn't say anything else, just repeated Riordan's name, over and over, but he was grabbing him by the shoulder now, shaking him, and…

"Riordan? Are you all right?" Duncan didn't sound mad, just… worried? And Anders was gone, suddenly, inexplicably gone. Where-

Riordan awoke with a start, blushing to the roots of his hair when he realized it had all been a dream. An exceptionally vivid dream at that, and one that had left him hard as a rock.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but you were groaning and-" Duncan broke off as he glanced down and realized his mistake. It was his turn to blush.

Fortunately, before things could get even more embarrassing, Isabela was there, at Riordan's other side, her soft peal of laughter right next to his ear. "Mmmhmmm. Must have been one hell of a dream."

She was unbuttoning his pants, and Riordan was too dizzy to stop her, even if he'd wanted to. Already, her clever hand was wrapped around his cock, stroking him swiftly, tightening on each upstroke, and before he knew it he was coming, hard and without any refinement. It was crude and it was awkward, and it was also incredibly hot.

"Damn it, Riordan…" Duncan was breathing fast, but the expression in his eyes was unreadable.

Isabela ignored him, pulling back her hand and licking her fingers clean with every sign of enjoyment.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Duncan frowned. "Falling asleep in your chair like this… It's not even ten o'clock."

"I'm fine." Riordan cleared his throat. "But I guess I'm going to call Anders and tell him I can't come in tomorrow. Seems I need to rest." And put some distance between me and him, before I end up doing something I regret.

Anders wouldn't be happy, of course. He'd been civil enough about it, when Riordan had refused his offer to stay earlier today, but there'd been no mistaking the flash of frustration in his eyes. But it couldn't be helped. There were more important things than Anders' hurt feelings. And it wasn't as if the whole thing had any kind of future anyway. Much better to stop it now.

"That would probably be best." Duncan sounded massively relieved. "Come on, I'll take you to bed. You need a good night's sleep, and a few quiet days here with us."

"Yeah." Riordan gladly accepted the arm his friend offered him. "You're right. That's exactly what I need."

Huge huggles to my wonderful and patient beta suilven.