Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

give up control now.
    Maybe there could be some event that threatens their relationship in terms of one person possibly getting seriously hurt. I don't mind angst as long as there is the HEA.
    Oh and please, don't write this in first person POV. I don't usually like first person.
    Sincerely,
    Penumbra

    genre: contemporary
    tags: law enforcement; medical personnel; BDSM; masturbation; grief; tearjerker
    content warnings: light BDSM
    word count: 21,446
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    STAY WITH ME
    by AJ Jarrett
    CHAPTER 1
    Gabe lay, staring up at the ceiling, as he waited for the doctor to come check him out. His side ached with every breath he took, causing his eyes to water from the sharp pinch of pain. He knew he was in bad shape but he hated hospitals, and the more he sat there waiting for the doctor, the more he wanted to grab his shit and leave. But he couldn't inhale deeply and he felt a bit lightheaded from lack of oxygen, so he decided against a break-out attempt.
    His day started like any other. Arrived at work, had his first cup of coffee, then headed for his desk. An arrest warrant he'd been waiting on sat in the inbox. Gabe and his partner Eric went to pick up a man implicated as the ring leader in a car theft operation they were investigating. The guy's buddy had turned over evidence that pinned him as the man in charge.
    When they arrived at the suspect's house, all seemed to be under control. The man didn't resist; he came willingly, a cut and dried arrest. But what they hadn't planned on was for the man's girlfriend to lose her shit and drive her car up into the yard. Gabe had been a detective for the past three years, and a patrolman nine years prior to that. He was trained to handle any situation—or so he thought. A fight or flight instinct takes over when faced with a car barreling toward you.
    Eric pulled out his gun in an attempt to scare her into stopping—it didn't work. Gabe ran up to Eric and pushed him out of the way just seconds before the car would have run him down like a dog. But in his efforts to save his partner, he got thrown up onto the hood of the car. His shoulder hit the windshield; then he bounced to the ground. The woman ended up plowing right into the front porch of her house, rendering her unconscious.
    Even with the pain coursing through his body, Gabe didn't regret it. Eric was married, with three small children. He had way more to live for than him. Gabe's body hurt like a son of a bitch, but he wouldn't have changed a thing.
    "Hey man, how you feeling?" Eric entered the room and sat in the chair next to his bed.
    "Oh you know, not too bad. I just would really like to get out of here." He sighed as he rubbed at his side.
    "You want to leave?" Eric barked out a laugh. "Gabe, you got hit by a car. I think you need to have the doctor check you out."
    When he tried to laugh, his breath locked up and he curled to the side, trying to take the pressure off his ribs. "Any other time I'd disagree with you, but this time I think you're right." He hissed out a shaky breath as his side pulsed with every beat of his heart. "Where's that fucking doctor?"
    The door to his room swung open and a man entered, but not just any man—Lucas Jacques. Gabe had noticed him a few months ago when he came to question a victim on a domestic violence case. He'd admired the nurse from afar, too afraid to ever approach him.
    The sexy, young nurse had blond hair that was cut short on the sides and back, long on top. He styled the longer strands into artistic-looking spikes, messy yet perfectly arranged. His skin was covered by a golden glow; Gabe just bet it was an allover tan.
    His scrubs fit loosely around his body, but Gabe could see the cut of muscles on Lucas's upper arms and he had to wonder what the lower half looked like.
    "Mr. Edgerton," Lucas said as he turned around, gifting Gabe with a bright smile. "My name's Lucas. The doctor will be here in a minute. I'm just going to get your vitals before he gets here." Gabe nodded, in too much pain to respond.
    As if just noticing Eric, Lucas turned to him. "Mr. Shaw, I didn't see you sitting there." He held out his hand.
    Gabe watched the exchange, unclear of how the pair knew each other so well. Eric wasn't gay, but a small spark of jealousy flared its ugly head at the familiarity between the two men. He cleared his throat, bringing the focus back to himself.
    "Oh shit, sorry Gabe." He pointed to Lucas. "I have to say Lucas is one of the best damn