Chapter 6 #2
A second later, his body stiffened, and his jaw went tight. “Hurts.”
He started sweating. Reaching out, I pulled the rest of his armor off him. Soon, his T-shirt was soaked with both perspiration and blood. I pulled that over his head, as well.
“You’re strong. You’ll be fine.”
Racing for the bathroom, I grabbed some cloths and wet them in the sink.
I raced back to him and mopped up the sweat. He thrashed on the mattress. I ran a hand down his arm, trying to calm him.
Time blurred as I kept wiping him down, returning to the bathroom to rinse the cloths out, then repeating. I tried to get him to drink more water, but he was drifting in and out of consciousness.
Finally, I lay down beside him. “Please live, Marc.”
He nuzzled into me.
“Please be okay,” I whispered. I closed my eyes and started humming.
It seemed to calm him. He nestled into me, settling.
I started to sing. It was a lullaby his mom had sung to frightened kids in the infirmary.
He shifted, pulling me closer, but the fever still raged.
Please, let him be okay.
Don’t let him die.
Marc
With a groan, I opened my eyes.
I stared at the concrete ceiling overhead, and frowned. Where the hell was I?
Shit.
Blue Mountain Base. I sat up, touching my side.
There was no pain. I traced the faint line on my stomach, and shook my head. It was healed. I felt like I had a hangover and was thirsty as hell, but other than that, I was very much alive.
I patted the makeshift nest of blankets.
No Colbie.
My heartbeat picked up a notch. Memories filtered through my head. Her small body tucked beside me, her fingers brushing mine, her palm on my brow, her singing—slightly off key.
She’d taken care of me.
“Colbie?”
No answer.
Fuck, where was she?
I pushed up, waiting a second to make sure I wouldn’t keel over. There was no dizziness. I had to find her. I scanned around for my shirt and weapon.
That’s when the door to the infirmary creaked open and my head shot up.
Colbie slipped inside, carrying a bag.
“Oh, you’re awake.” A brilliant smile crossed her face, her relief obvious. “How are you feeling?”
“Where have you been?” I snapped.
She stilled. “I scouted around, to look for some food.”
I scowled. “You should’ve woken me. There could have been monsters—”
“You needed the rest.” Her gaze dropped to my bare chest.
I liked the way it lingered on me. “Colbie?”
Her gaze jerked up. “You need food. I need food.” She sank down beside me.
I gripped her arms. “Don’t go out without me again. It’s too dangerous.”
“I didn’t see any monsters.” Her nose wrinkled. “I heard one. There are definitely some down here, but thankfully, we didn’t cross paths. I did find something to eat. No guarantee it’ll be good, but hopefully it won’t kill us.” She held up the bag.
I blew out a breath. “Don’t go out alone again.”
She rolled her eyes. “I must have missed when you got made the boss.”
“We’re in a dangerous situation—”
She grabbed my hand. “I know. I was careful, okay?”
I sighed. “Okay.”
We settled back on the bed. She tore open several packets. They were old, prepackaged food rations.
“You’re feeling better?” she asked.
I took a bite of a granola bar. It was dust dry, but it would do. “Yes. Thanks to you.”
“It was a risk giving you old nano-meds.”
“It paid off. I’m alive because of them.”
“It was touch and go.” She plucked at the blanket. “The fever was terrible. I was so worried you wouldn’t make it.”
I took her hand and squeezed. “I’m all right.”
She nodded. “In some good news, the shower through there—” she pointed at a doorway “—works. It’s not hot, but the water is clean.”
Good. I felt sticky and salty. A shower would help clear my head.
“I washed out your T-shirt the best I could.”
“Thanks, Colbie. For everything.”
She popped some food in her mouth and chewed. “You would have done the same for me.”
I’d do anything for her. “You shower first.”
She nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. A second later, I heard the water start, and a second after that, I heard her humming.
Colbie was naked under the water, just meters away.
Despite everything, my cock hardened. Yeah, it seemed I was feeling better.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Dammit. I’d worked hard not to notice her gorgeous little body for years.
Now, it was like the brakes were off.
I imagined her red hair wet, slicked against creamy, pale skin. Her high breasts, her small waist, her slim legs. Her round ass.
I blew out a breath.
“Get a grip, Jackson.” I needed to get her out of here safely, not think about fucking her.
My cock throbbed again.
“Fuck.” I took a long gulp of water and thought of the ugliest monster I’d ever seen.
Colbie returned wearing a fresh pair of cargo pants and a dark-green tank top. Her wet hair looked darker, and her face was scrubbed clean.
“I found some clothes in the medical storage. There’s nothing your size, sorry.”
I jerked my chin up. “It’s fine.”
She waved at the bathroom. “All yours.”
I walked in and closed the door. There was a large spiderweb in the corner. My T-shirt—looking very worse for wear but washed—was hanging over the towel rail.
I stripped off my gear. My cock was hard as a rock, rising up to brush my stomach.
A cold shower was just what I needed. My feelings for Colbie were mixing around inside me. I blew out a breath. All I had to focus on right now was getting her home safely.
I stepped under the icy spray. I washed off the blood and sweat, and the cold water helped me find my control.
I toweled off, then dressed in my gear again. When I returned to the other room, she was sitting cross-legged on the makeshift bed. Her hair was braided now.
“So, what’s the plan?” she asked.
“We need to find a way to get a message to Jameson and the squad.”
“You think there’s still active comms in the base somewhere?”
“I hope so.” I pulled my boots on. “I’ll go and take a look around. See what I can find.”
She made a scoffing sound. She rose, setting her hands on her hips. “Nice try. I’m coming, too.”
I scowled. “Colbie—”
She glared. “Marc—”
Standoff.
That stubborn look of hers arrowed into me. I looked at the ceiling. “Fuck.”
“We’re in this together, okay? If we see a monster, I’ll let you deal with it.”
“Fine.” I jerked my head. It seemed that I couldn’t say no to Colbie Erickson. “Let’s go exploring.”