Page 14 of Love Under Protection

I shrug it off. “I’d do it for anyone.” And I would, that’s a fact.

“That’s a rarity in my world,” she says with a sad smile. The thermometer she’s holding to her forehead beeps. “Ugh. 101.1, I guess I’ll be needing that Tylenol after all.”

I don’t push her to tell me more. Instead, I open the box of meds and hand it to her along with the Gatorade. She takes a sip and pops two pills in her mouth.

I toe off my shoes and pull my shirt over my head before taking up residence on the sofa near the balcony. “Get some rest. I’ll be here if you need anything at all. I’ll wake you in a little bit and see if you’re up to drinking.”

“Harley,” she starts to protest, but I cut her off with a hard glare.

“Rest.”

“Yes, Sir,” she teases and damn if my cock doesn’t jump.

“Christ,” I hiss and Raylynn lets out a small laugh.

“I’m sorry. That was cruel,” she says as she gets settled in bed.

“I’ve endured worse,” I tell her from my new perch.

A yawn escapes her mouth then she holds out the TV remote. “If you want to change the channel.”

I shake my head. She’s got some chick flick on, so I’ll scroll through my phone and check emails or something while she rests. Let her keep the TV on whatever she wants.

Her eyes drift closed and a few minutes later she lets out a soft snore.

I’ve got a funny feeling that I’m never going to live this down.

Chapter 8

Raylynn

I’m off in dream land when I feel someone’s hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me and a deep male voice echoes.

Harley.

I smile and think about our night together, I can’t be sure, but I think a moan brushes past my lips and then I jolt upward. My heart is beating out of my chest as I rub my heavy eyes.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Harley’s voice soothes.

“You’re real,” I blurt out.

He lets out a hearty chuckle. “Last time I checked; I was.”

Shaking the cobwebs from my head, I flip him the finger. “Don’t make fun of the sick. It’s bad karma.”

“Pfft. I’ve earned plenty of bad karma in my lifetime and I’m still standing.” He helps me scoot back against a pile of pillows. “You should try to drink a little.”

“You’re bossy.”

“You didn’t seem to mind before.”

My cheeks flush and I swear it’s only because of the fever. Nope, not blushing because I loved how he bossed me around when we were in bed, and against the wall, and again in the shower. Where’s the thermometer? I think my fever is rising.Good Lord.

Harley holds out a small cup. “It’s warm, but my mom always swore that room temperature ginger ale worked best to cure any ailment.”

The first sip is like heaven on my tongue. “Thank you.” I take another drink. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this bad.”

“At least you picked a good place to get rest?” he offers.

---