That sat between them, and Gene could tell that Ethan was analyzing it. The biggest problem when you were analytical was that you weighed and measured everything by it’s context. Once Gene figured out that Ethan thought a certain way, he was able to adjust so there were no bumps in the road.
Literal people couldn’t help how they thought.
It was just their process.
Gene continued.
“He knew to give you space when you showed up there. He knew to come back and check on you when we were fornicating on the couch. He doesn’t hate you. The opposite is true. If you and I were both captured by some lunatic, I’d sacrifice myself to get you free. He’s throwing himself on his sword for you. That’s love, EJ. Plain and simple.”
He knew Gene wouldn’t mince words, and he would help him figure it out.
“Okay,” Ethan said.
Gene had given him the roadmap, and now, Ethan had to make the journey in his mind. There was no doubt in Gene’s that he’d work through it.
It had to be difficult to always try to protect yourself first and foremost, assuming everyone was gunning for you. That broke his heart for his man.
“Think about it. Now, you’ve got to work, so you really need to put this behind you, so we don’t die. A distracted investigator is a dead investigator, and I need a goddamn pain pill and a nap.”
That upset Ethan.
Greatly.
Not what he said, but that Ethan had forgotten that Gene had just been hurt less than a week ago.
This whole time, he’d not once put Gene and his injuries before his issues, and that wasn’t good. This was exactly what he meant when he said he was difficult to love.
He didn’t know how to reciprocate on many things, consideration being a big one.
Clearly.
“I’m sorry, my love,” he said, putting his hand over the cast on Gene’s arm. “I’ve made it rough for you. Let’s do this, and we’ll get to a hotel where you can have some pain meds and sleep.”
He laughed.
Oh, he needed a boatload of them.
Aspirin and Acetaminophen wereNOTcutting it. He’d only had surgery a few days ago, and the screws in his wrist were making his arm ache.
But for Ethan, he’d suck it up.
His man was worth it.
“Thank freaking God. I need a bottle of them,” Gene admitted.
Already, Ethan was calmer, and now, he had a way to focus—not only on the issue that went down with Callen, but also so that he could start taking care of his man.
Gene always brought that out in him. He knew how to soothe the savage beast by giving him a different perspective. Sometimes, Ethan was just too much in his head.
Like now.
There was no doubt this man was his soulmate. He knew how to navigate his world.
Truthfully, Ethan wanted to learn how to do that for him, and he promised that he would.
Bet.
On.
