Catlin's Appaloosa(8)

“You’re not upset that I turn into an appaloosa instead of a paint?”

Catlin truly had no clue what Gallo was talking about, but he knew that the man needed reassurance, and probably a lot of it.“No, baby. You could turn into a purple hippopotamus with pink spots and I wouldn’t care. You being safe and healthy are what I care about.” He smiled at the wonder in Gallo’s expression, pleased and relieved he’d figured out the right thing to say. “Now, do you need anything? Water? Juice?”

He watched Gallo nibble his lip for a few seconds before realizing his lover would need just a little more encouragement.“Whatever it is, if I can provide it, I will.”

“Do you have any hot chocolate?” Gallo asked, staring shyly through his lashes.

“I think I have some,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Gallo’s lips. Gallo gripped his shoulders, his body rising as he tried to press closer, but Catlin eased the kiss to an end.“Stay here this time. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

After getting a nod from Gallo, he headed toward the kitchen. He found Brock standing at the counter, two empty beer bottles in front of him, and the man was working on a third. Walking by, he waved a hand toward the downed alcohol.“What’s this?”

“Are you telling me you don’t need a couple beers after what just happened?” Brock asked incredulously.

Catlin shrugged and pulled the canister of instant hot chocolate mix from the cupboard then the milk from the refrigerator.“I guess it hasn’t hit me yet,” he admitted. “I’m more worried about the man in my bed.”

“What the hell is he doing in your bed anyway? Since when do you bring home strange men from the hospital and fuck‘em, man?” Brock downed the rest of his beer and slammed the bottle down. “And now you’re cooking for him?”

Catlin paused from where he was buttering a piece of bread in preparation for making a grilled turkey and cheese for Gallo. Brock had a point. His behavior that afternoon was completely out of character, from cuddling a patient in the hospital to ordering his release, to taking him home and fucking him. And even he had to admit, his culinary skills were nil, but still, here he was trying to feed Gallo.

He shook his head and put the sandwich on the stove to cook. “There’s just something about him,” he replied, trying to think of how to explain the possessive protectiveness he felt every time he was near Gallo.

“You got that right,” Brock muttered, pulling another beer from Catlin’s fridge.

Stirring the chocolate powder into the heated milk, Catlin glared at Brock.“Is it because he’s a guy? Or would you be this big of an asshole if it were a woman, too?”

“Awe, fuck, man!” Brock barked, the bottle halfway to his lips.“You know I never cared that you’re gay.” When Catlin just continued to stare at him, Brock dropped into a chair at his small wooden table and sighed.“Come on. Even you have to admit that a man turning into a horse is weird!”

“I’m not arguing that with you,” Catlin admitted, scooping the sandwich from the pan to a plate. He knew the strangeness of this situation would hit him soon, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it at the moment. Catlin needed to take care of the abused, traumatized man in his bed. Maybe after Brock stopped whoever had mugged his man he’d think about the fact that his lover could turn into a horse, which brought another scary question to mind that he didn’t want to deal with. At least this one, he could pass on.

Picking up the glass of hot chocolate, he turned to Brock and smiled evilly. “Here’s something to boggle your mind. If Gallo can turn into a horse, what the hell is tough enough to take him down?”

“Awe, shit,” Brock muttered.

Catlin smirked and headed back to Gallo, but his mirth faded when he thought about the question he’d posed. What had happened to Gallo to land him in the hospital with amnesia? Again, he pushed the disturbing thoughts from his mind. Some things were just more important.

He entered the bedroom to find Gallo sitting up, his back against the headboard and his arms wrapped around his knees. When he looked up at Catlin, the tears in his eyes sent an unfamiliar ache through Catlin’s chest.

“Hey,” he whispered, settling on the bed next to him. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Does it hurt you to change into a horse and back?” It sure as hell looked and sounded like it did. Why hadn’t he thought to bring some pain killers?

“Your friend thinks I’m a freak,” Gallo whispered miserably.

Catlin pressed the mug into Gallo’s hand, not liking how cold and clammy his lover’s fingers were.“Your ability just took him by surprise,” he said. Brock wasn’t the only one surprised, but he couldn’t add that.