Page 58 of Perfectly Perplexing Zombie

“There are several more areas,” I conceded. It wouldn’t do either of us any good to ignore the issue. “Do you have your ointment?”

Wendall nodded while walking to the nearby kitchen counter. “At this rate, I’ll need to get another tube soon.”

“I am happy to purchase whatever you need,” I answered. Scooting forward on the couch, I pointed toward the coffee table and said, “Sit.”

Wendall gave me a slightly dubious glance before following my order. “I can get the ones on my front. It’s the areas on my back that are a little tougher.”

“I’m happy to do all of them, but let’s start with the areas troubling you more.”

Twisting on the table, Wendall sat with his legs crossed, his mottled back on full display. I swallowed a hissed breath. Wendall’s back was so much worse than the front. The areas of necrotic skin were larger than the healthier patches. I stared, and pressure built behind my eyes. It had been so long since tears had formed that I first mistook the pressure for flame. Only the wetness slipping down my cheek corrected me.

I was glad Wendall was looking away from me. I didn’t want him to see my weakness. I needed to be strong. I wasn’t the one who was dying. This wasn’t about me.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, careful to keep my voice devoid of the internal devastation lurking there.

“Not really,” Wendall answered. “It feels a little weird but not necessarily painful. You’re not going to cause me pain when you apply the ointment,” he assured.

“That is fortunate.” A tiny spark of relief filled me. I didn’t like the thought of Wendall in pain, and while his continued deterioration was bad, at least it didn’t come with physical agony. I could not speak to the mental toll it had to be taking on him.

We sat there in silence as I spread the ointment over his body. Wendall had given me several large Band-Aids and wraps to use. I strategically placed them, but it was impossible to cover all the areas. When I was done, I asked him to turn around.

Wendall did so and reached for the ointment. I pulled it away and batted his hand. Without a word, I liberally smeared it along his chest and arms. Wendall’s legs had a few areas, but not as many as his torso. Tilting his head, Wendall exposed the length of his neck, and I applied the ointment there also. Despite the patchy marks, Wendall was still beautiful. I could envision what his unmarked skin would look like and felt heat flow south, filling my cock.

Wendall either didn’t notice or ignored my reaction. When I placed the final bandage over his neck, I stared at Wendall’s covered groin and asked, “Are there other areas?”

If he’d been capable, Wendall would have flushed. “There are, but I think I can handle those.”

“I do not mind. I—”

“I mind,” Wendall softly answered. “Not that your touch would incite anything embarrassing.” His gaze drifted to the side, and his shoulders slumped. “That’s kind of the problem.”

My eyes grew dry as I stared. Before I could comment, Wendall asked, “How’s your shoulder?”

“My shoulder?” My brain couldn’t remember why that might be a problem.

Low chuckles of mirthless laughter escaped Wendall’s lips. “Must be okay if you can’t even remember it was injured. I kind of used you like a chew toy yesterday.”

“It’s fine,” I hurried to reassure. “It was healed before I left the bar.” That was a bit of an exaggeration, but not much.

Wendall’s answering grin was apologetically sad. “I’m glad. I didn’t even… I wasn’t even aware of what I was doing. That was the scariest part. If Muriel hadn’t been there and ordered me to release you, I’m not sure what I would have done. The hunger was all-consuming. It was all I could think of, and I wanted…more.” Wendall said that final word with a depth of self-loathing I hated.

“It is in your nature, and I do not judge you for it. At the time, I was happy to supply what you required.” There wasn’t a hint of dishonesty in my words.

Wendall’s eyes opened impossibly wide. “You don’t judge… I could have killed you, Ray. When I say I wanted more, what I wanted, what I craved, was up here.” Wendall tapped his head with his forefinger. “I would have done anything to crack your head open and spill what’s inside.”

“As if you could have done that.” I wasn’t being flippant, merely honest. “I am a fairy, Wendall. Had I wished it, I could have burned your body to a crisp. My fire no longer harms me. I was never truly in danger.”

Body snapping taut, Wendall glared at me before his eyes softened. “I get that. But what I also get is you wouldn’t have done that, not even to save yourself.”

An argument was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to scoff and tell him he was a fool. Fairies did not sit idly by while they became food for another. And yet, those words faltered. Would I have allowed Wendall to truly harm me? If that’s what he needed to sustain himself, would I have sacrificed myself?

The fact I wasn’t certain frightened me. With the exception of my queen, my answer would be a swift and sure no. And yet I faltered. Would I have allowed Wendall to kill me? I didn’t believe so, but not for the reasons there should be. When the hunger dissipated and Wendall’s senses returned, knowing what he’d done would devastate him. That, more than thoughts of self-preservation, would have moved me to action.

Wendall sighed. “That’s what I thought. Although, if you’d asked me that a couple of weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been able to figure it out.” Shifting closer, Wendall’s bare knees knocked against my clothed ones. I wanted to rip the fabric and bare my flesh. I wanted Wendall’s decaying body next to mine.

Grasping my hands, Wendall slid our fingers together. He had a patch of decay on the surface of his left hand, but his palms and fingers were still beautifully intact.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Ray.” Wendall’s words were whisper-soft and full of affection. “Even when I thought the only reason you wanted to bond with me was due to an order, I still didn’t want to hurt you. That hasn’t changed, although my reasons have. I like you.”

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