Page 6 of Chasing Secrets

The skin of Theo’s arm coming into contact with the back of my neck gave me the push I needed to get us moving. His skin was so fucking cold despite the fever that was burning through him.

I glanced at the closed door that led to Theo’s bedroom but then quickly turned and hurried to my own room.

“No, I want to go back to my—” was all Theo got out before I cut him off with a terse shake of my head. Since I was too tense to get any words out, I had to hope the motion would be message enough. When Theo fell silent, I had to assume it was.

It took only seconds to get Theo to my room and settled on my bed. Thankfully, my nurse brain had finally taken over and my moves became smooth and efficient as I covered Theo’s too-skinny legs with the blanket. I switched on the lamp next to my bed, ignoring Theo’s softly spoken protest. Even if I hadn’t needed the light to do my work, I would have insisted on it anyway so I could take in everything about Theo’s physical state.

I snagged my medical bag off the floor next to the nightstand and set it by my feet as I settled my weight on the bed so that my ass bumped up against Theo’s leg through the lightweight bedding. I rummaged through my bag and began pulling out the things I would need. Surprisingly, Theo remained silent, though he seemed well aware of what was going on around him.

Good, that meant the fever might not be as bad as I’d feared. I grabbed the thermometer and watched as Theo obediently opened his mouth enough to let me slide the instrument beneath his tongue. My body chose that moment to remind me that the line between caring for Theo andcaringfor Theo was razor thin.

I tore my gaze from Theo’s lush lips and pressed my fingers against his wrist. I managed to count the beats beneath my fingers as I watched the second hand on my watch tick by.

“Too fast,” I said more to myself than anything else. The thermometer chose that moment to beep.

The second I took hold of the instrument and gently took it from Theo’s lax lips, he said, “I’m fine. I want to go back to my room.”

I was ready for it when Theo tried to climb out of the bed. The sorely mismatched struggle lasted just seconds but ended with him nearly pressed up against my chest.

My naked chest.

Jesus, how had I managed to forget to put my shirt on? I slept in boxer shorts but always kept my T-shirt handy in case Walter needed me in the middle of the night.

“Lincoln, let go,” Theo demanded, his harsh breath washing over my collarbone. Our height difference meant his lips came to right around my shoulder. If his order had carried any real weight behind it instead of just pure desperation, I might have done as he asked.

But I didn’t release him.

I couldn’t.

Thankfully my body wasn’t imploding like it could have been, given that Theo’s mouth wasright therefor the taking.

I reached for his chin and tipped his head back enough that I could look at his eyes.

God, he looked so fucking tired.

And lost.

Broken.

Sobroken.

I must have been staring for too long because Theo tried to escape my gentle grip.

“It’s me or the hospital, Theo. And honestly, even if you pick me, I’m not going to make any promises I can’t keep.” I glanced at his injured arm and just as I’d expected, blood was beginning to seep through the material of his sweatshirt. “Based on what I’m seeing, that arm you’re trying to keep hidden is infected… badly enough that you’re running a fever because of it. Sepsis is next and that’s nothing to mess around with. If I think for even a second that you’ve crossed that line, I’ll wake up this entire fucking house if it means getting you to a hospital even a minute faster. So make a decision, Theo, and do it quick because your pride or fear or whatever the fuck got you into this position can’t help you anymore.”

I held his gaze for a long moment before softening my voice and adding, “Me or the hospital, sweetheart. What’s it going to be?”

CHAPTERTWO

THEO

One word.

One syllable.

So simple and yet so fucking hard too.

I knew the man wasn’t messing around. He’d do exactly what he’d threatened and wake up the entire household in the process of getting me medical attention. Fuck, why the hell had Ford put me in a room next to the handsome nurse?

---