“Looking after me. Ringing my boss.”
Kyrone smacked his lips together and opened his eyes. “You’re my man. Of course I’m going to look after you, babe.”
Babe. Jared felt a little lighter, just from hearing Kyrone call him that. He’d never met a guy who had called him anything other than his name, that he could remember.
“How are you feeling?” Kyrone asked, stroking his hair.
Even that gentle, caring touch was enough to make Jared melt. “Mostly better.”
Kyrone smiled. “I managed to get some sips of water into you. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Thank you.”
Jared would have probably felt a lot worse if Kyrone hadn’t been there, so he was glad he hadn’t been able to persuade him to take him home on Tuesday evening.
“Do you want me to make you some food?” Kyrone asked.
“Maybe later.” Jared turned onto his side so they were facing each other, and rested his hand on Kyrone’s hip. “Right now I’m happy here, with you.”
“Good to hear it.” Kyrone pecked him on the lips. “You had me worried.”
“Sorry.”
“No apologies. You can’t help it. It’s just a bit scary seeing you so dead to the world for so long, though.”
Jared’s chest clenched at Kyrone’s choice of words. He forced a smile. “Is it too much?”
Kyrone frowned. “What?”
“The migraines. I’d understand if—”
He was silenced with a kiss. Kyrone pushed him onto his back so he was leaning over him, stealing the words he might have said from him with passion. He gasped as Kyrone pulled back and stared at him.
“I don’t care how many jerks you’ve dated in the past,” Kyrone said firmly. “I’m not one of them. I’m not going to ditch you just because you get migraines.”
“Ky…” Jared began before closing his mouth abruptly.
“Ky?” Kyrone asked. He lowered himself so he could kiss and nuzzle Jared’s neck. “I like that.”
Jared ran his hands over Kyrone’s back, enjoying the feel of his strong muscles for several moments until the need to pee became too great. He tapped Kyrone’s shoulder. Even without words, Kyrone shifted so they were lying side by side again.
Jared pointed towards the bedroom door. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“I’ll put some food together,” Kyrone said. “You must be hungry.”
Jared sat and instantly regretted it, as the room swam around him. He pressed his hand to his eyes, breathing heavily until the dizziness faded.
“Are you okay?” Kyrone’s arms were wrapped around his shoulders, steadying him.
“Two days with nothing to eat,” Jared reminded him. “I’ll be fine.”
“Let me help you.”
Before Jared could say anything, Kyrone had hopped out of the bed. He came round to Jared’s side and helped him stand. It was a good thing Kyrone was there because Jared was too wobbly on his feet to have been able to balance alone. He hated feeling so weak and fragile. His mind flashed back to his days in the rehabilitation clinic, where he’d been forced to lean on nurses or Zimmer frames to get anywhere. He’d learnt that being reliant on others wasn’t a weakness but a necessary—if frustrating and sometimes humiliating—step to getting well again. This was no different. His body was fatigued from the pain and from losing two days. It would take time, food, and water to make him feel strong again. What amazed him was that Kyrone was helping him without questions or complaint. That he hadn’t made some snarky comment about how Jared was acting like a helpless baby. He was justthere.
“I’ll be fine from here,” Jared said once they reached the bathroom. “There’s plenty to hang on to.”
“Are you sure?” Kyrone asked.
