Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

be quiet until I tell you otherwise. Do you understand?"
    He watched as several different emotions flickered across Gabe's eyes, but the one that lingered was lust. Gabe nodded his head slowly, and he could see the arousal in every small movement. From the way his nose flared, to the way his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed. Gabe was under his spell and Lucas had to admit it was a heady feeling. Gabe was a rather large man and he'd taken charge of him in a matter of seconds. Gabe craved to be submissive to another and Lucas was honored to be that man.
    Going about getting Gabe's temperature and blood pressure, he could feel the man's eyes tracking his every movement, as if quietly waiting for the next order.
    After writing down Gabe's vitals, he went to sit beside him again. Gabe had his hands balled up into tight fists at his sides. Tension rolled off him in waves; Lucas wondered why that was.
    "Are you ready to speak calmly to me?" Gabe nodded, but didn't speak. Lucas smiled on the inside. Gabe was a good listener. "Then you may speak now."
    "What do you want me to say?" Gabe whispered.
    Lucas placed his hand over Gabe's legs and rested across his lap. "I don't know." He shrugged. "What do you want to talk about? You, me, us?" He couldn't help winking at Gabe.
    Gabe's eyes widen at his question. The corner of his lip started to curve upward, only to fall when the thunder cracked outside the window. Gabe dropped his gaze to the bed and never looked up when he spoke. "I think it would be best if you left."
    "Why's that?" Lucas sat up and crossed his arms across his chest. It drove him crazy how one minute Gabe accepted what he wanted to give him, but in the next instant he turned cold, like he was bugging him.
    "Lucas, I don't know what kind of game you're playing here, but there is no us." He looked up. "Just get the fuck out of my room, now."
    He let out a frustrated sigh, but he did as Gabe requested. He stood up and headed for the door. "I'll have Connie take over your care until you're discharged in the morning. Good-bye, Gabe."
    Gabe didn't say another word and Lucas knew he'd been dismissed. He couldn't figure Gabe out—the man ran hot and cold. When he told Gabe what to do, he did it. But as soon as he'd try to get the man to open up to him so they could get to know each other, he slammed the door shut. If Lucas had to guess, someone had fucked Gabe up on the inside. Be it a parent or a lover, he didn't know, but he knew Gabe was scared to let his true nature surface and trust someone.
    Lucas returned to the nurses' station and got back to work on his charting. His feelings were hurt, but he wouldn't force himself on Gabe. That was one of his rules. If he wanted to get to know him better, it was up to Gabe to come to him. The man was holding back and it would do neither of them any good to force a connection between them.
    He had time, and deep down he knew Gabe would be worth the wait.
    CHAPTER 3
    The next morning, in the light of day, Gabe felt like a complete ass for the way he'd treated Lucas. And he hated to admit it to himself, but he loved the way Lucas talked to him. Telling him to be quiet and to relax in a tone that had a direct link to his cock. He damn near creamed his shorts when he called him a good boy.
    But then Lucas had to go and ruin it by saying he wanted to talk about them. He wasn't a fool. Lucas was young, attractive, and could get anyone he wanted. He probably had all kinds of lovers and Gabe would be just one of many.
    Fuck that!
    Gabe wanted a relationship. Wanted to trust someone with his deepest desires, but the thought of sharing that part of himself with another, just to have that man leave him, was too painful to think about. He wanted to believe Lucas was sincere, but he didn't know the man that well. Gabe couldn't trust Lucas not to hurt him.
    A knock on his door was followed by Eric walking into his room. "Hey there, partner. I came to drive you home. You ready?"
    "Just about." He smiled at his friend as he finished buttoning up his shirt.
    The nurse came walking back in with his discharge papers. He filled them out as she went over his follow-up care. When done, she left the room. Lucas had been true to his word and had another nurse see to his care. He couldn't blame the man for passing him off; he hadn't been too nice to him. But it didn't keep him from wishing Lucas was there now.
    A frown marred Eric's face as he watched the nurse leave. "Where's Lucas?"
    Gabe got