Even the nicest of guys can decide to cut loose at some point, especially if he's at college and a frat brother invites him to a party. Unfortunately, that can end quite badly. Luckily for Dante ap Owen, it doesn't -- until he keeps needing to piss every few minutes and he sees blood in his urine. Another stroke of luck for him is the substitute professor, also a medical doctor he’s been crushing on, who happens to be there when he passes out in class and pushes him to come to his clinic.<br><br>But Dante and his beloved, critically ill mother are under the control of his bitter uncle, who also provides health insurance. If his uncle finds out Dante is being treated for anything, let alone what Dante fears is an STD, he's ... Dante doesn't want to think about that. So he flees the clinic before he has to make a follow-up appointment.<br><br>The good doctor shows up at his uncle's farm when phone calls do nothing. And when Dante's uncle invites the doctor to dinner and serves a meal worthy of Medea, the doctor urges Dante and his mother to leave. But will they? And will Dante realize the doctor wants him as much as he wants the doctor?

So Let Us Rejoice

Leo strolled to the seat I had for visitors, sat, and crossed his legs. “So. Have you had any luck with young Mr. ap Owen?”


I gritted my teeth. Whatever had possessed me to ask my friend about that particular student of his?


“You’re not his professor, you know,” he reminded me. As if I needed reminding. “You can date him if you’d like.”


I would have scowled at him, but we’d been friends for too long, and I valued his input. “You do realize he’s a good deal younger than I?”


“Mind over matter, my dear Micajah.” Leo was the only one who called me by my full name. Everyone shortened it to Cage, a nickname I detested intensely, most likely because it started with Ron.


Meanwhile, I knew only too well to what Leo was referring—if a person didn’t mind, then age didn’t matter.


“However, you said two reasons, and that’s only one.”


Chapter 18