Page 97 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“How did you do this?” Gray asked as he motioned to the IV.

Luke’s eyes shifted away from him for a moment before finally meeting his and holding him with an intense, almost heated look. “I asked Dane for the IV supplies.”

All the warmth Gray was feeling disappeared and his throat closed up with despair. “No,” he whispered.

Luke’s hand came up to palm his cheek so that he had no choice but to look at Luke. “Gray, I had no choice.”

“I didn’t want him to know…I didn’t want any of them to know.”

“I just told Dane you were sick – I didn’t give him details. But he’s a smart guy…”

The rough skin against Gray’s cheek felt good and Gray wished like hell he could lean into it, even if just for a moment. Or better yet, wrap his arms around Luke’s neck and bury his face against the man’s strong body where nothing could touch him anymore.

“Gray, I had no choice,” Luke whispered again and it was the desperate tone that had Gray forcing himself to nod.

“I’m sorry, it’s okay,” he finally said and he realized it was true. “I trust Dane – he won’t say anything.”

“He said the press were trying to find you to ask you about some story.”

Shit, that was something Gray had absolutely no interest in discussing with Luke because then he’d have to admit to a mess of crap he was trying to forget. And luckily, his body was cooperating with him and he didn’t have to lie when he said, “Luke, I’ve really got to take a piss.”

Luke chuckled and the sound washed over Gray’s whole body like a caress. Luke glanced up at the nearly empty IV bag and said, “Okay, let me take this out.” His expert fingers made quick work of removing the needle from his arm and covering the area with a Band-Aid. Gray quickly climbed to his feet and was grateful for the hand that wrapped around his elbow to steady him until he got his bearings.

“Take it slow,” Luke murmured.

“Really not going to be able to do that,” Gray gritted out which earned him another laugh from Luke. God, the guy’s voice, touch and that fucking laugh were turning him inside out.

Luke helped him to the bathroom but blessedly didn’t follow him inside. When he was done, Luke was waiting for him. “You up to trying to eat something?”

The thought of food instantly brought back the dreaded metallic taste but it wasn’t as strong as it had been the day before so he nodded. He managed to make it to the kitchen on his own two feet but stopped when he took in the sight of the doorless cabinets. “Wow,” he said.

“Yeah, that,” Luke mumbled. “Been trying to keep busy,” was all he said. “Sit,” he ordered gently and Gray turned to go to the table. As soon as he sat, things started appearing in front of him. Various glasses and bottles full of liquid, a banana, a peach, some crackers and what looked like a container of pudding.

“So I did some research while you were sleeping and I think there’s a couple things we can try that might not taste as bad to you,” Luke began. “Instead of plain water, you can add some citrus flavor – the acid will help balance out the metallic taste.” Luke pushed a couple of glasses forward.

Caught off guard, Gray could only stare at the first glass.

“Gray…”

The way Luke whispered his name had a knot of something drawing tight deep inside of Gray’s gut but he managed to take a sip of the first glass. The awful taste was there but it wasn’t as pronounced. He tried the others. The last one actually tasted decent and he ended up taking several long swallows that had Luke smiling widely.

“Good?” Luke asked excitedly.

Gray was so overwhelmed by how light the man’s expression looked that he could only nod.

“So for food, they say soft, mild tasting fruits are good…”

Gray only heard half of what Luke was saying because it was finally hitting him what this man had done for him. Not only had he taken the time to research the foods and drinks that would be easier on Gray’s body, he’d also gone to Dane looking for the help that Gray had no idea he’d even needed. The implications were stunning. Luke hadn’t just risked his own safety by leaving the cabin, he’d gone to the home of a police officer who could have easily detained him and discovered who he was.

“Why did you do this?” Gray heard himself ask.

At the interruption, Luke looked at him like it was a ridiculous question. “Because you needed it.”

Gray couldn’t manage to say anything after that and it was all he could do not to lean in and brush his lips over Luke’s so he forced himself to start trying the different foods Luke had laid out. Most of them didn’t taste like metal but they didn’t taste like anything else either because all Gray could focus on was Luke’s soul shattering statement.

Because you needed it.

ChapterSix

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