Page 32 of Soren

His mom had been too out of it. Danny had been too young. And Gabe had been…lost. Too old to have a meltdown the way he wanted, too young to have any idea what was really going on. When a doctor had taken them aside and explained his dad’s injuries, Gabe had been so grateful that here was anadult, someone competent and capable and in charge.

Gabe hadn’t gone into medicine for the same pure reasons Danny had gone into nursing. Gabe didn’t have the compulsion his brother had to save everyone, tocarefor everyone. Gabe had just… He’d wanted to be that person. The competent, capable adult. The one with the answers, for once.

He’d wanted the world to make sense. To cover his messy emotions with his own version of proficient authority. But somewhere along the way, he’d come to like being a source of comfort for people. Most patients didn’t care that Gabe wasn’t naturally warm and fuzzy—his skill set in and of itself made them feel safe.

He was just finishing up his notes when a familiar figure filled the doorway of the dictation room.

“How’s it going in here?”

Gabe looked up, trying to hide his annoyance. “Monroe. What are you doing working tonight?”

All the ICU fellows had to work night shift at some point, but Monroe’s and Gabe’s schedules didn’t usually overlap. A fact for which Gabe was very grateful.

Monroe dropped into the chair next to him. “Filling in for Dr. Birch. Lucky you, huh?”

“Mm.” Gabe turned his eyes back to his computer. He wanted to get all his notes and charting done. He didn’t want to run late today. He wanted to get back home and…sleep.

Hell, who was he kidding?

He wanted to get back home to the little monster. Somehow Soren had become the highlight of his day. Not just because he could make Gabe come with a force that had his eyes rolling to the back of his head either.

Gabe had friends, sure. At least, sort of. He had…acquaintances. Superficial bonds with people he’d known since high school. But none that he opened up to about deep, emotional stuff. The last person probably would have been his ex-girlfriend, a woman he’d dated briefly during residency, but any moments of vulnerability from him had seemed to turn her off more than anything. As if she expected Gabe to be the strong one and hated if he fell out of that role.

And Danny… Danny had enough he’d been dealing with—partlybecauseof Gabe and his denial over their mom—he didn’t need Gabe dumping his own shit on him too.

But Soren listened. He comforted. He teased a little, yes. But he didn’t make Gabe feel lesser just for having feelings.

“I saw your friend the other night.” Monroe’s too-smooth voice broke through Gabe’s thoughts.

“Which friend?” Gabe asked without interest.

“The pretty blond one.” That got Gabe’s attention. “Soren. He’s a wild one, eh?” Monroe waggled his eyebrows.

“Yeah, he’s a riot.” Gabe’s stomach churned at the implication in Monroe’s words. When had this been? He didn’t want to give Monroe the satisfaction of asking any follow-up questions.

It didn’t make sense. He and Soren had been staying in together on all Gabe’s nights off.

Except… Gabe had worked the night before.

Had Soren gone off and, what…fucked Monroe?

Gabe tried to curb his rage at the thought, spots flashing in his vision. Soren was a vampire. He had to feed. Gabe knew that. And if vamps mixed sex and blood, it only made sense.

Then why did the thought make Gabe so miserable?

He tried to make himself take a full breath. He was jumping to conclusions; he knew that.

“You’ve hit that?” Monroe didn’t seem to realize how close he was coming to getting decked in the face. “Didn’t mean to step on your toes, man. He was desperate for it though. Little minx.”

Well, never mind the whole “jumping to conclusions” thing. Gabe logged out of his computer, leaving the room without another word, ignoring Monroe’s calls behind him. His orders were in. His notes could wait.

He needed to get home. He needed answers.

Gabe tried his best to get his emotions under control on the drive to Danny’s, but his hands were clenching on the steering wheel hard enough to hurt.

He knew he was being unreasonable. He and Soren weren’t anything to each other. Temporary roommates who’d taken to getting each other off. And Soren wasn’t even human, for fuck’s sake. He probably had no concept of fidelity, monogamy.

Roman worships the ground Danny walks on.Gabe pushed the unhelpful thought aside. Roman and Danny were mates. Tethered souls. Gabe was just…convenient for Soren.

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