Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

fallen out of love with him and that he'd only been going through the motions for the last year of their relationship.
    Gabe thought he was going to die. He'd let himself fall in love with Colby only to let the man rip his heart out and trample it to dust. Gabe made a promise to himself that day—he wasn't going to allow anyone to have that kind of control over him again. He could take care of himself, he didn't need anyone.
    Soon after the breakup, he transferred to Kansas City, where he was promoted to detective. That was three years ago, and he enjoyed the life he lived in the big city. At times he was lonely, but better to be lonely than broken-hearted.
    The light tapping of rain outside his window pulled him from his dismal thoughts. Fall had settled in the Midwest and the days were growing shorter and becoming cooler. Winter would be upon them soon and he'd have a reason to be inside, locked away from the rest of the world.
    He heard someone enter his room, but he didn't have the energy to turn to see who it was. Movement caught his eye. Lucas walked across his room to stand by the window. He rested his shoulder against the wall and stood there, quietly staring.
    Gabe lay still, pretending to be asleep so Lucas wouldn't talk to him. He prayed that it would work.
    CHAPTER 2
    Lucas had seen Gabe Edgerton around the hospital before. The man seemed haunted and that intrigued him. There was a story behind those sad blue eyes, one he was dying to learn. He wanted to know all he could about the elusive detective, but no one knew anything about the guy. The man kept to himself; besides being friendly with his partner, that was it.
    Gabe was a large, intimidating man, but the way he went silent when Lucas talked to him spoke volumes. He chuckled to himself. It was always the big strong ones that wanted to be tamed. Made to surrender their control to someone else. By the look in Gabe's eyes, the man craved it. He wondered if Gabe even knew that was what he needed—someone to take his pleasure into their hands, control all his wants and desires. To give him a break from being in charge all the time.
    He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Just thinking about the man had his dick twitching in his pants. He loved the idea of bringing a strong, sexy man to his knees, to make him come undone with pleasure. To taunt and tease until he begged to be allowed to come. Yes, Lucas would love to have a few sessions with the good detective. It would probably help with the guy's attitude problem as well.
    "Isn't room one-twelve your patient?"
    Lucas looked up from the computer monitor where he was entering patient notes to see Connie standing next to him. "Yeah, what about him?" His heart skipped a beat. That was Gabe's room.
    "Dr. Perkins wants him to be checked on every so often to make sure he's okay. He said the bump to his head wasn't serious, but he said better to be safe than sorry." She held the chart out to him, then snatched it back quickly as he reached for it. "If you want, I'll go check on him for you. He's a cutie pie." Connie winked at him when he grabbed the chart from her hand.
    "No, I got this." A blush crept up his cheeks as she gave him a knowing smile.
    He'd moved to Kansas City after he graduated from college. The guy he'd been seeing lived here and he wanted to be near Samuel. He applied at Saint Christopher's Medical Hospital and got the position. A month after relocating, Samuel informed him he was moving to Tulsa. He'd fallen for another man and was moving to be with him.
    That pissed Lucas off beyond belief. He'd moved his whole life around to be with Samuel, just to have the man leave him for another. It hurt, but it didn't deter him from wanting to find someone to love. Just because it didn't work out with Samuel didn't mean it would never happen.
    Lucas believed everything happened for a reason; he just didn't know what the reason was at the time. Kansas City had grown on him and he had no desire to move away. And after getting his first glimpse of Detective Edgerton, he found a new purpose in wanting to stay.
    Finishing off his charting, he logged out of the computer screen and headed for Gabe's room. He didn't bother knocking. On the off-chance Gabe was asleep, he didn't want to wake him, and if he was awake, he didn't want to argue with the infuriating man.
    The room was dark, only lit when a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, brightening the room for a brief moment. Lucas walked over to the