Page 58 of Burn It Down

“Is that what you—”

“I didn’t go to him for comfort, Jonah.”

He grimaced. “Yeah, I know.”

And I could see that he really did. Their talk had clearly included that part, Caleb had told him what had transpired. Well, at least it had served its purpose and quelled his upset and anger concerning it.

He stared down at my hand on his wrist.

His need to respond to it, to touch me back, to feel me, was all over him.

I tried to hold on, to reach out with my other too, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

It had me releasing his wrist altogether.

He tried to school his reaction the way I’d taught him, but I knew him too well to not see through it, to not see the dejection there, and the upset that I was in such a fucking state that I couldn’t do it.

It had a loaded silence that I couldn’t stand and, thankfully, it didn’t last too long, because Jonah finished up quickly, then stepped back. “Good to go.”

“Thanks,” I said, rising back to my feet.

Without the dressings, every movement had me feeling each of the biting injuries. And that had unfortunate imagery slamming into me as I recalled how they’d each come about.

I slapped my hand to my head.

Way too suddenly.

It had me wavering, then stumbling.

Jonah reacted quickly, throwing out his arm for me to grab at the last moment.

I clung onto it, despite the skin-to-skin contact sending a shudder through me.

When I’d managed to stabilize myself, I eased back and turned toward the shower.

“Not happening,” he called after me, pulling me up short.

I held onto the outside of the shower wall, as I carefully stripped off my boxers. “It sure as fuck is.”

“You need the help, Asher.”

As I went to step inside despite his warning, I faltered again, weakness hindering every fucking thing.

The next thing I knew, I was being lifted into the shower and placed down carefully inside, just shy of the running water.

I turned around, hating that I had to do it so slowly, and by the time I managed it, Jonah was stepping in fully-clothed in his white tank and jeans.

“What are you—”

“You need the clothing barrier between us, so you’ve got it. But you can’t do this alone.”

“Jonah, that’s not—”

“The longer you’re up, the more it’s draining you. If you remember, Caleb advised you to stay in bed for at least another two days until you even began to get up and about. And even then, it was supposed to be just ten-minute spurts.”

“Well, I’ve never been one to conform.”

“That’s not what this is about.”

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