Chapter 10: Chapter 10

What the fuck?It took Joey a couple of seconds to process what had happened, he??d only been joking around. What the hell has this bloke been through to make him like this?

Getting down on his knees next to the shaking man, Joey gently reached out a hand.

Kevin flinched away.

??I??m sorry, Pup.?? Joey tried to sound as gentle and reassuring as he could. ??I??d never hurt you.?? Joey found his voice was cracking with emotion. It was true; he couldn??t imagine causing harm to the gentle soul he??d befriended. ??I??m gonna put my hands on your shoulders, okay? I??m not going to hurt you, I promise.??

Joey reached out his large, work-roughened hands and gently rested them on Kevin??s shoulders. He could feel the tremors coming from the smaller man, but Joey held still, hoping some measure of calmness would flow out of him and into the troubled younger man.