Page 35 of Adored

“This is my boyfriend, Arthur Doyle. He’s going to be living here with me. He’s as much in charge of this place as I am. I want you to make him comfortable, and if he needs something, there is no reason to ask me. This place is his home now too.”

Those words hit Gamble in the feels.

He had a home.

With Poe.

This was all he wanted a month ago, but he never expected it to bring him to a castle in another country.

Not.

Even.

Close.

They all smiled, and then went back to doing their prep work for the castle without batting an eye. It was clear they weren’t shocked Poe was gay, or they didn’t give a shit.

Good to know.

Poe focused on his man.

“Can I ask you something?”

Gamble glanced over.

“Always, Poe. What’s up?” he asked.

Keeping his voice low, he went there.

“Is it weird that I’m having a memorial wake for my parents, and then a party right afterward? I wanted to get both over with, and this was in the will. If anything were to happen to my mother and father, then I have this wake for them. Well, both of the functions.”

Gamble thought about it.

“Is it unusual? Yes, but these are unusual circumstances. If they retired, tacking a party onto someone’s wake is strange, but your parents, both who held the title passed. It’s not odd to move onto a new person as quickly as possible.”

Poe was honest.

“I don’t plan on being that kind of Duke. I’m going to just exist here. I don’t want to be out and about, making a stir in the media. I like privacy. I wanted to get it over with.”

Gamble touched his cheek.

“That’s understandable. You’re still in mourning. No one is going to find it odd, and if they say shit, I’ll smack them around for you.”

Poe laughed.

“Why I found that incredibly hot, I have no clue, but I did,” he joked.

Gamble grinned.

Oh, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t thinking about Poe and the last time they had sex. He had an erection, and the man beside him was the reason.

He smelled so goddamn good.

“Want to see more?” Poe asked.

Of Poe naked?

Yes.