“Donkey?”Why would they need a donkey?
Apollo rolled his head, looked to the ceiling, and let out a groan like a man who’d been through a battle.
“Yes.Ellen heard that the donkey needed a place to call home or its butt was headed to the dog food factory, and bippity boppity boo, we have an ass.”
Rocko burst out laughing, making Apollo smile.He liked the handsome man’s smile; he didn’t do it often.
“We all need a little ass now and again,” Rocko chuckled, making Apollo laugh even harder.It was deep and echoed through the room.Rocko liked it.
“So, I imagine I’ll be healed in time to leave.”
“There’s no need to rush it,” Apollo said.
“I thought we had decided on a two-week timeline?”
“That was before,” Apollo stated.
“Before what?”
As far as Rocko was concerned, they wanted his ass outta here as soon as possible.
“You risked your life for Renee, and—”
“And?”
“Now I’m positive your effect on me isn’t a trick or threat to my ability to function and protect my people.”
“So, even unconscious, I provided you with this calm.The same way you affect me?”
“Yes.”
Rocko wasn’t sure if he should be happy at this turn of events or even more offended that his word hadn’t truly been believed when they’d had their talk back in Rocko’s trailer.
“Get some sleep,” Apollo ordered while taking his tray, reminding Rocko of how Brick spoke to his team of SEALs.“Renee will be in later to work on you some more.”
Rocko was too exhausted to carry on this discussion, but he was damn sure he’d be revisiting it once he was back in fighting shape.As he drifted into a deep sleep, the memory of Apollo’s deep laughter filled his mind, betraying his internal struggle, but he didn’t fight it and let it lull him to sleep.
***
Apollo
He watched Rocko’s eyes close, waited a moment in case he woke up, and after several minutes forced himself out of his bedroom.Griffin was waiting for him a few feet down the hall, and he motioned for his friend to follow him downstairs before speaking.He didn’t want to chance waking Rocko with their talking.
When they were far enough away from the bedroom, Apollo turned to Griffin to find his friend smirking.
“Why are you so happy?”Apollo asked.“You’re never happy.”
“Because I haven’t heard you laugh like that in a very long time, my friend,” Griffin said.“Also, I now know why you’ve been behaving strangely around our visitor.”
“Strangely?”Apollo stepped back and thought about the last time he’d laughed before Rocko came to the compound.Huh.It’s been too long, I can’t remember.
“Yes,” Griffin answered.“At first, I was concerned you’d been compromised by thinking with your smaller head.”
“Fuck you, there ain’t nothing small about me,” Apollo growled as he reached down and readjusted his manhood.
Griffin broke out into a fit of laughter, bringing a smile to Apollo’s face.
“Has it been that long since either of us has laughed?”Apollo asked.
