Page 43 of Lust in Translation

He sets him down in front of the dumpster and I fall to my knees next to him. His eyes are closed and his breath is pushing clouds of steam from his mouth. Black ash mars all of his exposed skin. “Can you hear me?” I ask, shaking his shoulder.

“Stay here. The bomb squad is sweeping the area. I need to find a medic.”

I nod, and take Leo’s hand in both of mine. I blow on it as it feels frozen. He opens his eyes and looks at me, and his gaze flicks to the fire. “Are you okay?” Those are his first words. He narrows his eyes after he speaks, confused.

I choke on emotion and release his hand to cup his cheeks. There’s no blood on him anywhere that I can see. I release his face to pat his arms and legs. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

He doesn’t respond to my question. He sits, dazed and staring at my face.

“Kendall.” He grabs my hand on his leg. He repeats my name twice more.

Tears stream down my face. Now the emotion is from relief. Relief that he’s whole.

“I love you,” I say, meeting his gaze.

He smiles weakly, his chin dropping to his chest. It looks like he might pass out. “Say it again.”

I confess it again, but this time his gaze locks on my mouth.

I clear the tears from my eyes, waiting for him to reply. His chest rises and falls more hurriedly. I don’t expect his reply.

“I can’t hear you.”

---