(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Past the boiling point

"Captain, I’m fine. You don’t need to do this." Kellen told him. "Plus, we are still supposed to have our guiding session with Taylor later today." Kellen watched as the Captain’s jaw tightened, and so did his grip on Kellen. It was bruising, and Kellen was sure he was going to have five fingers bruised into his thighs.

"Don’t worry about that. Missing one day isn’t going to be the end of the world." He said that, but Kellen thought differently. They were steadily working towards a safer guiding level for them. One day could be the difference there. Even in this situation, Kellen felt his duty override his own personal feelings. He did not want to put the hard work they had done into jeopardy.

"No. I don’t want to miss a day. It’s important to me to keep things consistent. If we’re going to leave the photo shoot, fifteen minutes isn’t going to hurt us." Kellen felt the Captain’s chest rumble, and he swore he heard a soft, feral growl coming from him. The Captain’s strides became longer as they moved.

"Fine. We’ll go to our guiding session. Then you can’t complain after, alright?" Kellen was surprised by how genuinely upset he was, all because Kellen insisted on them doing their guiding session. He worried that the Captain wasn’t stable at all, and wanted to check his levels, but knew he wouldn’t take to that too kindly.

"O-Okay." He agreed.

"Brent, make sure that the rest of his things end up in his office. He can grab them tomorrow." Captain ordered over his shoulder as they swiftly left the room, and Kellen heard Brent confirm over his shoulder. The two of them moved down the hallway towards the elevators.

"Captain, is everything alright?" Kellen asked, confused since this whole reaction stemmed from his tears, but the Captain seemed to be taking it personally. Kellen knew that today had been a rollercoaster for himself emotionally, but he didn’t know how the Captain was holding up.

The Captain came to a stop once they were at the elevators. After pressing the button, Kellen was still in his arms, he stood waiting, impatient. Kellen could tell from the way his jaw was clenched.

"I’ve never been better, Mr. Woods. Why are you asking?" Kellen couldn’t believe him. He wasn’t looking down at him, and instead was staring straight ahead when he responded. He was even tapping his foot. Kellen had never seen him like this before, even when he’d been angry at Hill for compromising a mission on the front lines. The one that ended with her getting the shit beat out of her.

"Well, you seem to be in a foul mood, and you won’t put me down." The Captain’s lips turned down in a frown, but he didn’t drop his gaze to Kellen. Now flustered, Kellen wasn’t sure where to put his hands. It felt dangerous to touch him, but also dangerous to not touch him.

So, making a decision, he kept his hands tucked towards his chest. He covered his nipples, since he was still in the leather straps without a top getup. The crew had really seemed to like that look for him. He had no idea why he was getting shy now, since just moments before he had been pressed up against the Captain like a, like a...Kellen swallowed.

Well, it didn’t matter now, since he was clearly upset. The sigh that escaped his lips did so without his knowledge, and he felt the Captain tense.

"I’m not in a foul mood, I just...I’m thinking about a lot of things. Granted, I usually do, but I clearly need to change the way I’ve been doing it." He finally looked down at Kellen, and he realised it wasn’t just anger. The Captain had a terribly sad look on his face, in his eyes. "It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone else in my life, Mr. Woods, and I fear in all of the chaos of the last three weeks that I have done something I shouldn’t have. I don’t even feel like I have the right to ask you for forgiveness, because I’m not even sure you know what I’ve done wrong or even understand why it is wrong." He snorted, and looked up as the elevator doors opened.

Strolling towards them, Kellen tried to wrap his head around what he had just said. The Captain had wronged him? How? He’d said that before too. It had to be something to do with a pair, but Kellen wasn’t sure what it was. The elevator doors closed after the Captain had selected the Medical Bay.

"I’m not an idiot, Captain." Kellen wasn’t sure why, but he did feel insulted slightly by the Captain’s words. He chuckled.

"Oh, I know you aren’t, and I’m sorry if you felt that I was implying that you were. It’s more accurate to say that you are inexperienced, and I’m the idiot for forgetting that because of my own hang ups." Everything he said only made Kellen more confused, and also concerned. His tone was self deprecating, and it really concerned him.

"I’m fine, Captain, please. You’re only making me worried with the way you are speaking right now." He blinked, before looking down at Kellen with a smile.

"Ah, sorry for worrying you then." He didn’t say anything else as the elevator continued to move. Even as they got out at the Medical Bay, the Captain held his tongue. It seemed he really didn’t want to worry Kellen anymore, so he just remained quiet.

Taylor was surprised, when after a knock, the two of them entered her office. She had been busy typing away, a few piles of documents piled up around her.

"Oh, I didn’t expect to see you two, at least not so soon. I heard Pamela was planning to continue this shoot late into the evening." Captain gave her a tense smile.