Max woke up next to Slade. He stretched and moaned as his body relaxed. He never slept so well. He heard the alarm and almost forgot where he was. He had slept with Slade. Oh, right. He looked over as Slade opened his eyes and smiled.

Slade moved to turn off his alarm. "Good morning."

"Morning. I didn't mean to sleep here!" Max sat up. That was a lie but he was trying to cover. He wanted to sleep in this bed with Slade. He couldn't even stop it. He went to the bathroom and deliberately laid back down in the same bed. No one needed to know that though. It was his secret. One of many.

Slade smiled softly at Max. "Me either but it was fine. I slept so great." Max's bed head looked so sexy. His soft brown hair was sticking up everywhere and his eyes were soft. His smile was set on his face and his eyes even crinkled on the sides. Max looked so sexy.

"Me too." Max felt a little embarrassed as he rubbed his face and ran his hand through his hair. It didn't help his hair. He knew he didn't look pretty in the morning.

Slade's phone rang and he picked it up. "Hey, Graham. What's up?" His eyes went to Max. "No, he's here." He waited. "No. We were clothed. We slept in the same bed but...shut up. So, what's up?" He waited. "You don't have to do that, Graham..."

Max watched Slade with concern in his eyes.

"Fine. I am not telling you anything. Later." Slade hung up. "Graham isn't coming today. He ate some bad food last night."

"Food poisoning?" Max was worried.

"Yes. I think he will be fine." Slade smiled.

"Just make sure he stays hydrated if he is puking. A sports drink or something with electrolytes in it." Max wanted to help. 

"Oh, right! You are a doctor, he should have talked to you!" Slade watched Max nod. "Alright, let's go. I know a great place to eat and we are hitting some stores!"

Max smiled. "Okay."

"I am buying you some jeans!" Slade glared at the man in his bed. How did he get this man in his bed? This was a huge step forward for sure. Max was in his bed!

"Like yours?" Max looked concerned. Slade wore jeans with holes in them or they were hacked up by a slasher. It was a good look for Slade.

"Hell yes! You need some sexy jeans." Slade cheered. His mind went wild with thoughts of Max in jeans. He needed to see that. He was sure that would be an event. Max in jeans.. mmm.

Max enjoyed every second of the day. The food was good, the shopping was fun and the museum was nice. Everything seemed perfect with Slade. Max hated to leave.

Max sat at breakfast with Slade and ordered a light meal of fruit and oatmeal. Slade ordered a heavier meal. He was very hungry from the performance last night. He was still recovering. They talked about small things. Just daily things... likes and dislikes and favorite books. It was small talk and Max was good at small talk. He did that with his patients every day.

Slade watched Max at the art museum. He loved art and it was clear that Max did as well. There was a painting of a tornado swirling around a field of wheat. The clouds were dark gray and black, the rain looked like it was 3-D, the painting was stunning and Max noticed. He stood in front of it for a while, staring. 

"It's my favorite too." Slade stood next to him and made sure their shoulders touched. 

Max nodded. "It's gorgeous. The motion of the wind.. the colors... all the grays and blues. The paintbrush stokes... this is a very passionate painting. Someone was going through something while they painted this! It's beautiful and wild!" 

Slade nodded. "It is. It reminds me of.. you. Now that i know you. I feel like this is you." He paused. "Or am I wrong?"

Max sighed heavily. "Oh.. it is me! You're so right! I feel this on a personal level so that means it's time to leave the museum!"

Slade chuckled. "Right! Let's head out to lunch! I'm starving."

Max agreed. "I want a cheese soy burger!"

"I'm getting a salad this time. I had a heavy breakfast." Slade took Max's hand as they left the building. It felt so natural to hold his hand. They took the city bus so they walked to a nice restaurant close by. They had shopping to do later.

Lunch was calm and Slade needed that. No chaos. No one forced him to a party or anything. This was pleasant being with Max. It made his crush even more obvious. But he ignored it and they went shopping for jeans. Max needed sexy jeans.

They talked for hours and it didn't feel like that long. Max left three hours after he wanted to even though he still didn't want to. He realized they never once mentioned Brooke. He never gave her a  real thought.

Max left Slade with like five large bags of clothes that he didn't need. Slade loved shopping for him. Slade hugged Max as he said good bye. 

"Until next time?" Slade rubbed Max's back and released him before he did something stupid. He wanted to kiss this man... so badly.

Max nodded. "Yes. And thanks for the clothes. It wasn't necessary though, Slade. but I had fun! I hope we can do this again sometime!"

Slade nodded. "Wild horse couldn't stop me!" He winked at Max as Max blushed for no reason.

I hope you are enjoying this story so far! Vote and Comment if you want to and thanks for reading!