Page 11 of Adored

Poe was honest.

He didn’t want Gamble to think he didn’t want him nearby.

Oh, he did, but there was one thing holding him back.

“What right did I have to ask you to uproot your whole life and take on my burden when this mess that got you hurt was my family’s fault?”

Gamble was to the point.

“You had every right. The moment I slept with you, and I told you that I loved you, you had every right to ask anything of me. We’re a couple, and we’re going to do this as one. That’s what people do when they find their other half. That’s what you do for the love of your life, Poe. You make sacrifices, and you don’t keep score. I would have returned here with you in a heartbeat.”

In that moment, Poe knew how lucky he was. Gamble had been damaged, and he was still stronger than Poe would ever be.

Gamble was a better man.

The bottom line was that Poe needed him, and not just to hold him up.

He needed his heart.

His love.

Poe rested his head on his shoulder and let himself lean into the man.

His world had been blown apart, but in the middle of it, the core of it all, there was one person.

This.

Man.

Poe knew that no matter what, he could always count on Gamble for his love and protection.

“I’m sorry that they hurt you,” he whispered as he ran his fingers over the vicious bruise on his cheek, and the healing wound on his lip. “I’m sorry that when they found us, they hurt your body.”

Gamble let him lean on him, and more importantly, touch him. For the last four days, he’d missed that feeling of tenderness, love, and affection.

Nothing felt as good as Poe’s hands on his body soothing that fear away.

He’d come to crave it.

He’d come to need it.

“Poe, I was hurt more by thinking you’d die than what they did to me. I can take a few punches. I can’t take losing you. You’re my person. I love you.”

Poe lifted his head and stared into his magnificent bi-colored eyes. They were crystal clear and incredibly sexy. This was his man, and he finally could just have what he wanted.

Gamble Holloway.

“And you’re my person. I love you too,” he admitted, grateful that he came for him. That loneliness was gone, and now, he had peace.

Gamble smiled.

“Thank you for being mine, Poe. Thank you for putting my heart back together again, and realizing it wasn’t a mess, but worthy of your love.”

Poe was honest.

“You’ll always be my Gamble, and it was a worthwhile one too.”

OOF.