Page 102 of Adored

Because all that he could muster was a simple meal, Gamble went with the most logical thing in his cooking repertoire.

Eggs.

It would fill Poe up, and keep him going. Today, he picked at his toastie and soup, sharing half with Gamble.

It was time to feed him.

Moving around the kitchen, he made his man an omelet and some toast. It was kind of sad that he couldn’t do much more for him, but this simple meal would get some nutrition into his body so he could fight another day.

Looking at his watch, he’d spent enough time away from his man, and now, he had to get back to him. All that was left was making something for Rufus.

Thankfully, that was easy.

When he found a steak in the fridge, he swiped it and put it on a plate. He still owed the dog for what happened to him back in the States when he left him behind.

This would be part of making up for it.

Carrying the plates upstairs, he found his man on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

It was crystal clear that he’d been crying. Not far away, Rufus was watching him and on self-imposed guard duty.

Yeah, he loved that dog.

“I got it from here, buddy,” he said, as Rufus saw food and headed his way. It was an awkward jump to the floor, but he made it.

When his steak was put on the floor, the dog had a new fixation.

And so did Gamble.

Heading toward Poe, he put the food on a little table not far away, and went to deal with the pain his mate was carrying.

“Hey,” he said, sitting beside him to lovingly brush some hair from his forehead.

“I’m sorry,” Poe whispered. “I thought I could do it, but I saw his glasses and...”

Gamble kissed him.

That one act helped chase a little of the chill from Poe’s body.

“Baby, it’s okay. A wise doctor once told me that it takes time to get past the damage. You’ll be okay after that wound heals. I’ll do the search on my own when you can’t. Don’t worry about it. You just heal, and take as much time as you need.”

Poe looked over at him.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he said. “I have moments where I’m okay, and then the pain comes back. It’s overwhelming.”

Oh, Gamble was well aware.

He’d been in that same boat.

At first, it was all pain, and then, it was moments of stark terror of flashbacks of his daughter dead in the tub followed by numbness.

To that day, when he closed his eyes, he still saw her lifeless body floating in the water, eyes open, staring up at him in condemnation.

The dreams eventually stopped, but the reality never went away.

So, he understood.

This was exactly why he didn’t want Poe viewing his parent’s bodies. The bullet holes and skull damage weren’t something he’d ever forget.