Chapter 49
He must have napped on the drive back home because the next thing Jamie knew, he was staring out the front window of the truck at their farmhouse. Aiden killed the engine and glanced at him worriedly.
“Stay right there,” Aiden said before exiting the truck.
Stay right here, huh? He could do that. He didn’t feel like doing anything except climbing into bed and going to sleep.
He blinked, and Aiden was standing beside the now open passenger side door, holding his hand out to him. Jamie unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out, placing his hand in his mate’s. He was so tired and cold. He let Aiden lead him into the house.
Aiden brought him right to his favorite of the two chairs in the cozy living room. “Here, sit down just for a few minutes. I’ll run you a hot bath.”
Jamie sat down. He was still trembling, but the big rigors had stopped on the ride home. Aiden had blasted the heater in the truck so that must have helped.
Aiden grabbed a thick fleece blanket from the back of the nearby sofa and covered Jamie’s body with it. He even wrapped it up around Jamie’s head like a hood.
Jamie sighed. “I just want to go to sleep. I don’t need a bath.”
“I think it’ll make you feel better and help you warm up. I’ll also put the heating pad in between the sheets of your bed so it’ll be nice and toasty when you’re done in the tub. How about it?”
He searched Aiden’s face, who was trying so hard to be supportive. Who knows? Maybe it would help. Whatever. “OK.”
Aiden kneeled next to the chair and placed his hands on either side of Jamie’s face. He gazed intently into his eyes for a minute as if searching for something. He finally leaned up, gave him a lop-sided smile, and gently kissed his forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
Jamie closed his eyes and tried to stop his body from shaking. Why was he still so freaking cold?
“You’re in shock, human,” his beast said.
Shock, huh? He had been fine after his trip into Terris’s memories; it hadn’t been a great experience, but he was alright. Having Aiden there with him had helped for sure. When Mac told him about that abandoned building, though, something had changed. Having Heath and Jasper find the lab made it real to him. He couldn’t pretend it hadn’t happened now that his friends had seen where he’d been kept. It was as if he were back there alone in his cage again. In his head, he heard the metals doors banging shut, the emotionless orders given by the laboratory staff, the screaming and moaning. He wanted the noise in his head to stop. His chest ached.
Wait. Why couldn’t he breathe?
“Hey, hey, hey.”
He opened his eyes.
Aiden was on his knees in front of him again. He was cradling the left side of his face with one of his large hands. He placed the other on the center of his chest. “I think you’re having a panic attack. I need you to slow your breathing down.”
“I can’t,” he choked out. His breaths were coming faster. He couldn’t get enough air. “Too fast.”
“Focus on me,” Aiden commanded. “Breathe in a nice deep breath just like me. I want you to move your chest so I can see it. C’mon, big breath.” He kept his hand against Jamie’s chest.
Jamie tried to take a big breath. Aiden had those worry lines between his eyebrows again.
“Now, out slowly.”
Somehow Jamie managed to do as Aiden asked.
“Good, good. Now again do it with me.”
Jamie again was able to do as Aiden instructed.
After several minutes, his panting slowed until his breathing was back to normal. Aiden seemed much less tense; that was good. Jamie hated that he was occupying Aiden with all his baggage when he should be up in the sky training in his beast form to protect the town; he didn’t need to be stuck at home babysitting him. “Sorry,” he blurted out.
Aiden tilted his head. “What for?”
Jamie’s gaze dropped. “For this. For me. You shouldn’t have to take care of me.”
Aiden frowned. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I want to take care of you. I need to take care of you. You would do, and have done, the same for me.”
“I’m still sorry.”
Aiden shook his head. “Nope. I won’t hear any more sorries from you. Now, the bath should be almost full. Let’s get you in there.”
Minutes later, Jamie let himself be lowered into a steaming bubble bath by a fully dressed Aiden.
“Now sit up and let me take care of you. Just close your eyes and relax.”
Jamie closed his eyes.
“Is the water warm enough?” Aiden asked.
“S’good.” It did feel good. He started to lay back.
“Wait a sec. Let me just clean your back and then you can rest. You’re all sweaty from all the tremors.” Aiden proceeded to run a soapy washcloth across his back from his shoulders down close to his ass.
“Feels so nice,” he murmured. His cock stirred to life. Woops.
Aiden chuckled. “Now, don’t get too excited. I just want to warm you up. No funny business.” He finished scrubbing his upper arms. “OK, now lay back and rest.”
“’Fraid I might fall asleep.”
Aiden chuckled. “I’m not done cleaning you yet. Besides, I’m not going anywhere so you can sleep if you want. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“M’kay.”
Jamie didn’t fall asleep. He kept his eyes shut and let his mind wander as Aiden washed his neck, chest, upper arms, and abdomen. Would he go lower?
“Alright you. That’s enough for now.”
Jamie groaned.
Aiden huffed a laugh. “Nuh uh. No cleaning below the belt while you’re half asleep. That wouldn’t be too gentlemanly now, would it?”
Jamie sighed. There was no need for him to be a gentleman, but he was too tired to argue the point. He would tell him tomorrow.
“I’m going to let the water out and get you out and into bed.”
Shortly after, he lay in his bed, clad in a pair of boxer briefs and a T-shirt, as his mate fussed about him. The sheets had been pre-warmed with a heating pad as promised. Aiden tucked the covers up to his chin. The bath idea had been good. His shaking had finally stopped. But he still felt numb inside and kept hearing those sounds—the screams, the shouts, the moans. He didn’t want to be alone. Aiden stepped away from the bed.
Jamie’s chest tightened. “Can you stay?”
Aiden bit his lower lip. “You need to rest.”
He gave him a small smile. “I will. I just want you to keep me warm. And I… I just keep hearing the screaming in my head. I don’t want to be alone.”
Aiden’s eyes softened. He kissed him on the lips. “Let me jump in the shower real quick, and then I’ll be back.”
“Hurry,” Jamie mumbled. He turned on his side, closed his eyes, and listened as Aiden took a very brief shower. He heard him pad down to his room, presumably to grab some clothes, and then head back.
Aiden climbed in next to Jamie and immediately wrapped his right arm around his waist. He pulled him against his body into the little spoon position.
Jamie sighed and snuggled back against his mate. “’Night.”
“’Night. Get some sleep. I’ll be here all night.”
After an utterly terrible day, he finally felt safe enough to let his guard down completely. “Aid?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks for everything.”
Aiden kissed the side of his neck close to his ear. “It was nothing you wouldn’t do for me. Nothing you haven’t done for me.”
Aiden must have sensed he had more to say despite his silence. “What?” he asked gently.
Jamie grunted and closed his eyes. “I just hate feeling weak.”
Aiden leaned over and tugged his face toward him. “Oh, no. None of that. You can’t cry in bed with me. I’ll end up with a complex.”
Jamie chuckled. “You’re terrible.”
“I know, I know.” Aiden swiped the tears that Jamie hadn’t even felt from his cheeks then kissed his lips. “You are the strongest person I know. You are not weak.” He enunciated every word very clearly. “No one insults my mate, even you. Next time I hear those words from you, I’ll have to punish you.”
Jamie gasped and blinked at Aiden. Was he really mad? He was so mentally exhausted that it was hard to tell. He looked for signs of anger on his face and relaxed. He wasn’t pissed at him. The look he gave him was… heated. But that couldn’t be right, could it? He swallowed heavily. “You want to punish me?”
Aiden kissed him again on the lips. “Sometimes. More importantly, I think you want me to punish you.”
Jamie sucked in a breath.
Aiden’s eyes widened. “You know I would never hurt you, though. Not for real, right?”
Jamie nodded. “Of course.”
“It would be only for fun. If you wanted. Whatever you want, I want to give it to you. Whatever you need. Just me. Just me and you. Forever. I want to make you happy. No fun punishments for now, though. Once this is all over, OK?”
“Yeah,” Jamie croaked.
Aiden grunted. “OK, then.” He kissed his forehead. “Now, go to sleep. I’m sure tomorrow’s going to be a shit show, so we need to rest. Goodnight, mate.”
“’Night.”