Page 38 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

A freezing cold foaming spray hits the fiery flesh. Jamie shudders as chilling shivers climb through his body and the pain fades instantly. His whole thigh goes numb. Pure ecstasy.

“Accident at work.” Jamie lets out a long sigh of relief. He tugs down the hem of his t-shirt and pulls a shredded flap of fabric over his crotch, holding it in place.

“You don’t need to be modest with me. I’ve already seen it. Remember?” Nathan makes brief eye contact, winks, and goes back to work tending Jamie’s leg.

“Shut up.” Jamie doesn’t want to, but can’t help laughing and blushing all the shades of red.

Nathan smiles, satisfied with himself, focusing on the task at hand.

“That spray is magic.” Jamie squirms into a more comfortable position. Laid out on his back feels too vulnerable.

“Better than sex.”

Is he serious? Charming fucker. Jamie bites his lip. Watching Nathan’s hands work on his leg. Applying salves and padded bandages. His dark curls shine under the harsh clinic lights. The artery in his thick neck is pulsating under milky cocoa skin. The side of his face looks like it took the impact from a Mack truck. “What happened to you?”

“Don’t move.” He dodges the question.

Those hazel eyes meet Jamie’s and he’s melting again. “Okay.” He can’t look away.

“I’ll be right back.” Nathan slips past the curtain. Returning after a few minutes with two tiny paper cups and a syringe of clear fluid. One cup holds two pills. The other is half full of water. “Take these. The numbing spray won’t last very long. “They’ll help.”

Jamie swallows the little white tabs on a swig from the water cup.

“Are you allergic to any medications?“ Nathan sweeps a strand of hair off Jamie’s forehead.

“Not that I know of.”

Nathan squeezes his forearm and slides the tiny needle under his flesh. Expressing the liquid that feels icy in his vein.

Jamie looks up into the nurse's enchanting eyes.

“Sorry.”

“Thank you.” Jamie smiles. The medicine is already going to his head. “Wow. What was that?” He giggles.

“Something for the pain. Prepare for a fun ride.” Nathan smirks. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.” He lays a thin white blanket over Jamie and tucks the edges under his body.

Chapter 15

Nurse

Jamie rouses from sleep. Feeling foggy and intoxicated. Hovering in and out of consciousness for however long. The ceiling lights over his cubicle were dimmed at some point. He’s covered in an extra blanket and his thigh is throbbing.

The curtain slides open, then shuts again. Nathan appears over the bed. “Hey.” His voice is subdued and expression tender. Leaning with a hand on the bed rail and head tilting on a shoulder.

“Hey.” Jamie's smile is sleepy. He wants to reach out and caress that beautiful face, if his arms weren’t tucked so snug. Whoa! He wasn’t kidding about the drugs.

“How are you feeling?”

He ponders the question for a minute. So many potential answers. He’s nauseous, but starving. His leg is throbbing, and his back is getting there. Hospital beds are torture devices. There’s also a strange sense of comfort in the nurse’s presence. The same enigmatic force that had him throwing his morals aside days ago, in the Sanctuary. This magic man and his cunning ways. He’s also really high. “I’m good, I think.”

The curtain opens wide. A supermodel in a white coat walks in. “Hi James. I’m Doctor Kline.” Floppy golden hair tucked behind an ear, sultry eyes and sleeves pushed to the elbows, showing off long athletic arms. A god damned Norse god.

Nathan steps around the opposite side of the bed. Letting the doctor take his place.

“What’s your pain level, one to ten?”

“Five?” Jamie isn’t really sure how to answer. He can feel stiffness in his muscles and heat on his skin. The meds are keeping it tolerable. It’s worse than he’ll let on but he doesn’t want to seem weak in front of the two men.

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