Page 285 of Affair
This man was home.
When he lifted his head, he smiled.
“I’m not crushing you, am I?” he asked.
Poe shook his head. He loved feeling Gamble over him. The scent of his skin was cathartic.
It called to him.
“No, please just stay here a second,” he whispered. “I need to feel you touching me. I need to take it all in.”
Gamble held him, leaving warm kisses on Poe’s pulse. The whole time, he shared that connection with him.
Because he loved it too.
When he knew the man had to get off of him, he sighed.
“Thank you, Gamble,” he whispered. “I needed that,” he admitted.
He also needed him in so many other ways but that didn’t matter. Poe would make the sacrifice for duty and love. He’d set this man free so he could have a fighting chance.
Gamble pushed off of him, and they were a sticky mess.
“Want to take a swim? I’ll keep you safe,” he admitted. “I’ll always keep you safe, Poe.”
The man wanted to sob.
His whole world had come undone, and this was breaking him into pieces. He genuinely found true love, only to be forced to set him free.
Life wasn’t fair.
“Okay,” he whispered, as Gamble pulled him to his feet, and then, he scooped him up to carry him to the water hole. “I have you, Baby,” he said, right before he jumped in, taking them into the water.
They sank, and once more, Gamble found his mouth, kissing Poe.
The man never wanted to come up. Poe would rather just disappear into the dark depths than ever be away from this man.
In the process of coming into his life, somehow, Gamble made him whole.
As Gamble kicked them toward the surface, he was happy. When they broke the water, Poe was wrapped around him, still kissing him.
This was a good day for Gamble.
He had a chance at life again. Now, he was trying to make that memory for both of them when they grew old.
When Gamble got them to the rocks, he let the man fuel that mating of mouths.
He was struggling.
Gamble could tell.
When he broke the kiss, he stared into his eyes.
“I’m sorry you’re struggling,” Gamble said. “I want to help you through this. Just tell me what you need me to do, and I will,” he offered.
Poe was honest.
“I just needed this moment with you. I needed to just be with you and in your arms.”
