He was lying, Gael thought as his thumb lightly traced the curve of Carlos' cheek. He didn't think Carlos had known Gael's skills with perception, but then why would he have? If he had, he wouldn't be sat there trying to lie about something as if it were nothing. And Gael was caught, between wanting to ease that pain to knowing that perhaps he couldn't do that. At least, not as he was right now.

"Yes," he said, answering Carlos' earlier question about caring. "Would you like me to count the ways? I could..."

Still, he didn't think Carlos needed him to. Or maybe would want him to. Either way, though, he needed the man to know he cared. Truly. "Am I a terrible person? That you would doubt such a thing? Does someone need to love a person to care?"