Page 79 of Assassin

Gamble’s lips were by his ear.

“If you’re smart, Doctor, you’ll just let me die. I don’t want to hurt anyone but myself. Don’t make me that desperate animal.”

His heart was pounding, and he was braced against Gamble’s chest, being held there.

Finally, he spoke.

“I can’t do that. I’m invested in you. We’ll either get through this together, or we both go out,” he said, trying not to move. His hands were on Gamble’s thighs, and he was praying for the man to let him go. “Going forward, Gamble, we’re partners. It’s not my success. It’s OUR success.”

At first, Gamble didn’t say a word. He just held the smaller man trapped against him. The doctor was still in his clothes.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, loosening the hold on the man, as he realized that the doctor wasn’t fighting him.

“No. I’m not hurt. It’s how I know you’re redeemable, Gamble. Had you not been, you would have killed me and yourself. You didn’t. Why?” he asked, still not moving.

This was one joint bubble bath he would NEVER forget. That was for damn sure.

At the question, Gamble couldn’t give him an answer. He thought about it, and finally found one.

“Because I don’t hate you. I hate her.”

Carefully, he reached for the razor, and Gamble didn’t put up a fight. He freed it from his fingers and was able to breathe again.

That had been a close one.

Gamble apologized.

“I’m sorry,” he admitted.

Truthfully, Poe was okay.

The only thing that happened was he had gotten wet and a little scared.

Moving, he turned, and Gamble’s face was still only half shaved. Kneeling in the tub in his soaking wet clothing, he worked on the rest of his face.

Not a word was said, but Poe kept staring into Gamble’s eyes. It was weird being in a tub with another man—well, a patient.

Oh, and all kinds of wrong.

Why?

Poe had liked the way he felt against his body, and that was going to make it tricky. He was a gay man, and Gamble was not.

He was also his patient.

There was no way he could use his job to further any kind of emotional connection to the man. It was all kinds of wrong for a doctor to start ANY kind of relationship with one of his patients.

As in ‘lose your license to practice wrong’.

Poe knew that he had to tread carefully, and that he had to keep the focus on one thing.

Healing Gamble.

That was it.

There could never be anything more.

“Do you always find yourself in a tub with a crazy man?” Gamble asked, as he let the doctor shave him.

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