Page 21 of His to Unwrap

As I drift off to sleep, the only thing I know for certain is that nothing has changed.

Chapter Eleven

Ezra

I wake with Madison’ssoft breasts pressing into my chest, her warm breath fanning my skin, while one creamy thigh is slung over my hips, keeping me from going anywhere. Last night was incredible. I woke her twice more to make love, unable to sate my need for her. Having her in my arms should be heaven.

Instead, there’s a throbbing behind one of my eyes and the fatigue I’m feeling is so severe that I’m not sure I have the strength to crawl to the bathroom, which I definitely need to visit. I blink slowly, feeling the familiar fog come over my thoughts. It’s not too bad. Maybe this spell won’t last long.

These attacks come and go at random times and with different levels of severity. The docs say they should stop as my brain finally heals. The operative word in there is “should”. They don’tknow for certain. The brain is a sensitive thing, and it’s possible the shrapnel caused too much damage.

“Mmm,” Madison murmurs, stirring against me. She places a kiss to my chest and slowly opens her eyes. “Morning.”

“Morning.”

“You okay?” she asks, propping her head on her arm.

“Fine.”

Madison squints at me. “You don’t look or sound fine. What’s going on?”

“I just…” The right words seem to disappear into the fog filling my head. “Need some time.” Until I can move. Think straight.

She falls silent. “I think it’s still snowing. You might be stuck with me.”

From the tone of her voice, I can tell she’s feeling awkward, but I don’t have the brain power to explain. It takes all my effort to reach for her. I’m too slow. She slips from the bed and disappears into my closet. When she comes out, she’s wearing another of my flannel shirts.

“Angel.”

“I’m going to go make some coffee.” She flees the room. She fleesme.

I swear at myself using every word I can think of. This is why I tried to keep her at a distance. The damage is done though. I’ve tasted Madison. Claimed her body and given mine in return. Maybe she thinks the words we said last night were just heat of the moment. She’s wrong. Madison is mine, and like everything else I’ve ever had in this life, I have to fight for her. Only this time, I’m fighting my own body.

I push myself up and stagger out of bed. My knees hit the ground hard. Pain shoots up my thighs, but helps to clear my head a little. I hate feeling like there’s not an ounce of energy in my body. Every movement threatens to drag me back to the floor but I push through.

It takes several more minutes to use the bathroom and put on my robe. Mustering the last dredges of my energy, I head for the stairs. Fortunately, the railing is still sturdy enough to keep me from tumbling down them and breaking my damn neck.

Half way down I have to stop to rest. I can hear the coffee pot gurgling in the kitchen, but the rest of the cabin is silent. Did she go outside?

I push on, slowly making my way down the last of the steps.

Madison opens the front door, letting in a swirl of snow and a wet dog. Cooper barrels past her, heading for the living room. No doubt to lay by the fire. She shakes her head and comes back into the kitchen, stopping when she spots me. “Ezra?”

I lean against the wall and hold a hand up. I need a second to gather my thoughts. Figure out how to explain this so she won’t leave.

She drops her phone on the counter and hurries to my side. “You’re white as a ghost. Are you okay?”

“No. Give me… a second.”

“You need to sit down. Let me help.”

I don’t have the energy to protest. She slings my arm over her shoulder and helps me to a dining chair. I’m ashamed that I collapse into it. She’s worried, and I’m ashamed of that too.

“Should I call someone?” she asks.

“No. This is—“

Understanding dawns on her face. “Your injury.” She sits in the chair beside me and takes my hand. “What can I do?”

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