Page 27 of Stealing His Human

Brett thought about it as he took a swig of water and swallowed the meds. Then a deep yawn overtook him, and he shook his head. “Naw, I think I’m gonna go conk out.” He looked toward where his single-person tent had been and frowned. It wasn’t there.

“Sorry, Brett.” Nedrick grimaced from where he sat beside him, having obviously followed his gaze. “The ridgeline pole was broken. I suppose I could have used duct tape, but since Karissa was no longer here, I figured you wouldn’t mind just using the other one.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Brett nodded. “That’s fine.”

Brett didn’t have the energy to be pissed that Karissa had destroyed his property. Although, he probably would be once he was feeling better. It was a shit thing to do—throwing a tantrum like a two-year-old.

On instinct, Brett moved both hands to the armrests in preparation to rise.

“Whoa, nope.” Nedrick gripped Brett’s right upper arm, staying his action, while sliding his left arm behind his shoulders. “No pressure on that limb now.”

“Damn. Yeah,” Brett agreed.

Brett allowed Nedrick to help him out of the chair. The other man followed him across the campsite to the tent and unzipped it for him, holding the flap open. Climbing inside, Brett did his best to ignore the small smiles on his friends’ faces as they watched.

“Can I return these sweats to you tomorrow?” Brett asked as he eased to a sitting position on the sleeping bag, realizing he was still wearing Nedrick’s clothes.

“Whenever’s fine, Brett.” Kneeling, Nedrick leaned partway into the tent. He pecked a kiss to Brett’s lips before holding his gaze and asking, “Do you need help getting in the sleeping bag or anything?”

“Uh, no.” Brett licked his lips, and Nedrick followed the action. Feeling a little off-kilter, he whispered, “Um, night.”

Nedrick snapped his attention back to Brett’s eyes and smiled. “Night, Brett.” Then he eased back out of the tent and zipped it up.

Lying back, listening to his friends murmuring on the other side of the tent wall as he waited for sleep to once again take him, Brett wondered what it would be like to have someone who cared so much around all the time.

*

“No, really,” Brett encouraged, smiling at Tyler the following morning. “Don’t worry about me.” Indicating the tent, he told him, “I’m just gonna crawl back in there and doze all morning.” With Tabatha on the other side of their tent brushing her teeth, Brett lowered his voice and told Tyler, “Why don’t you take myEnvoyand go to that place you were talking about? The one with the waterfall?” He lifted his brows meaningfully. “And have that nice time with your girl.”

Tyler grinned. “Yeah. Okay.” He patted Brett on his upper arm. “Thanks. I’ll text you when I know when we’ll be back.”

“Don’t even worry about it.” Lifting his casted arm, Brett claimed, “Cast or not, I’m a big boy. I’ll be fine.”

With a snort, Tyler took his keys and grinned. “See you later.”

After they’d left, Brett made sure the fire was banked before he climbed right back into his tent.

Healing sure does take it out of a body.

Brett had just laid back down again when he heard footsteps and spotted a shadow moving outside his tent. At first, he thought it was Preall, but then he remembered that he and Trina had already left.

God, hopefully, Karissa didn’t come back.

To Brett’s relief, he heard Nedrick softly call, “Brett? You awake?”

“Yeah.”

The zipper opened, and Nedrick smiled at him. “Mornin’. Preall told me you were here alone.” He slipped into the tent and closed it up behind him.

“Uh, yeah.” Brett eyed Nedrick as he rolled out the sleeping bag he’d brought with him. He would forever blame his inane question on his meds. “What are you doing?”

Nedrick grinned and winked. “Relaxing with you.”

Brett could just watch, dumbfounded, as Nedrick laid back, stuffed a jacket under his head, and pulled out an electronic device.

“Ned?” Brett was trying to process what the hell was going on.

Flashing a smile his way, Nedrick reached over and squeezed his right wrist. “Relax and get some rest, my mate,” he encouraged. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”

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