Page 10 of Ensnared
Four
Jack
I wakeup to find pale light streaming through the window. The sky outside is overcast, so I have no idea what time it is. My mouth tastes terrible, and my eyes are grainy with sleep. I stir, trying to remember what I have to do today. Then I realize I’m not alone in bed.
Fully dressed and lying on his stomach, Ty breathes softly in his sleep. The pillow half conceals his face, and his black hair is disheveled. I peer down at him, at his short black eyelashes and lips that are softly parted, and feel a stirring in my mind.
What happened yesterday? I don’t remember Ty crashing in my room… Despite my fuzzy head, I don’t think I’m hungover. Besides, it would take a whole vat of bourbon to get hammered enough to pass out like that. Sea dragons aren’t exactly immune to alcohol, but normal quantities don’t—
A flash of memory slaps me in the face.
Ty, naked on the beach, his body pressing mine against cold rock.
My body heats up, and I shake my head to clear it.Wow. So did that really happen or did I have some fantastically realistic dreams?
My dick stirs and alerts me to how badly I need to use the toilet. I ease myself from bed and shuffle to the bathroom. I’m only wearing my boxers, but it’s warm in the room, which is why I don’t bother with clothes. My balance is wonky, so I put out a hand to trail it on the wall. This isn’t like me. I don’t remember the last time I had the flu, but maybe I’m coming down with something. It’s rare, but it could happen.
I use the toilet and brush my teeth, then splash cold water on my face. By the time I return to the room, I’m feeling halfway awake. That’s certainly an improvement. My stomach growls with hunger. Maybe I could make Ty breakfast for a change. He’s always feeding everyone, and if he’s so tired he crashed in my bed, still clothed, he clearly needs a break.
I find him sitting up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “You’re awake!”
With a lunge, he hugs me, and I lose my balance from his weight slamming into me. We stumble back, and I crack my head on the wall.
“Ow.”
Ty releases me instantly. “Oh, shit, sorry. Here.” He pulls my hand and leads me back to bed. “You shouldn’t be up. Why didn’t you wake me? You could have fallen in the bathroom.”
“Uh.” I sit, but I’m getting more and more confused. “Relax, I’m fine.” My stomach rumbles again, and I put a hand over it. “Hungry, though. Do you think we have any of those sausages left?”
He stares at me, then sits heavily beside me and buries his face in his hands. His shoulders shake, his entire body trembling.
“Ty?”
I place a tentative hand on his shoulder, and he sort of leans in, collapsing against me with all his weight. I put my arms around him and hold him tight, alarm surging through me.
“What’s wrong?”
He’slaughing, I realize a moment later. Laughing so hard, tears are streaming down his cheeks.
“Sausages,” he gasps.
I shake him a little because I’m pretty sure he’s in shock. I’ve never seen him act like that. “What’s going on?”
“You nearly died, and now you want sausages?” He instantly sobers up, his laughter cutting off, and stares into my face. “Are you serious?”
I gape at him. “What?”
He grabs my face between his palms and brings his forehead to mine. “I was so fucking worried.”
I take his hands and gently lower them to my lap. I don’t let go, though, and this newfound intimacy leaves a warm glow in my chest. “You’re not making any sense.”
“Do you know what day it is?” Before I can answer, he continues, “You’ve been out for almost three days, Jack. Unresponsive. Out cold. If you hadn’t woken up today, we’d have had to put you on an IV, or you’d have dehydrated.”
“What?”
He heaves a sigh. “You don’t remember?”
“Remember what?”
