It probably hasn’t kicked in then. “Go sleep,” I order.
“Okay.”
I leave him behind, heading to the shower and hoping he doesn’t faint during the minutes that I can’t see him. There’s a pack of Advil on the counter, and I grab it and count. There’s enough to last through the night. Good.
As much as I detest the guy, he really does look like he’s suffering, and even I’m not apathetic enough to not feel bad forhim. With that thought, I move quickly—in case he’s passed out on the floor.
When I get back out there I find a shivering, Ellis-sized lump on the bed. He’s all bundled up in the single comforter like a burrito.
“Ellis,” I say with sigh. “Don’t wrap yourself like that. You’ll overheat and you’ll feel worse.”
“No, I’m freezing,” he grumbles. “I think I’m dying.”
I snort. “That’s dramatic.”
Ellis grumbles more things under his breath that sound like curses, but they’re muffled and inaudible. I switch off the lights and walk toward the other side of the bed, staring down at his shivering form. There’s only one comforter and he’s hogging it. I could call room service and have another one sent, but at this point, I just want to sleep.
Besides, once Ellis passes out, I plan to take that comforter from him—not only because I want it, but also because I truly meant it that it’ll only make him overheat if he’s all wrapped up like that. I should set alarms to check on him throughout the night, too. I don’t have a thermometer, but I should be able to wing it.
God.
What’s happening?
Apparently, I’m turning into his goddamn nurse.
4
Damon
Something catches on my foot, jolting me out of my sleep. I inhale sharply and sit up, freaked out that someone broke into my apartment.
Then I remember I’m in a hotel, sharing a bed with none other than Ellis Donlan. I clutch at my chest and slow down my breathing before glancing around. The snowstorm must have gotten stronger because the wind’s howling. The sound of snow hitting the glass grates on my nerves.
Glancing at the digital clock, I see that it’s almost midnight. We’ve been out for a few hours, and the alarm I set should go off soon.
I unrolled Ellis from the comforter hours ago and slipped it down to his chest so he wasn’t so bundled up and had waited until his fever went down. He was so deep in sleep that he didn’t seem to care and didn’t make a sound when I slipped myself under the other side of the comforter.
I stayed a respectable distance away from him though, maximizing the comforter as much as I could.
But he must have moved in his sleep because he’s much closer now, his ankle pressed against mine.
Ellis is curled to his side, facing away from me, and his shoulders are shaking. He lets out a soft, pained moan, and I ignore how my dick takes an interest in that sound. Now’s not the time for a hard-on. And I tell myself that when it comes to Ellis, it will never be the right time.
But, God, does my heart drop when I see him shaking. Do I wake him up? It should be time for him to take medicine again. I rub my hands against my thighs, trying to think of a game plan.
I don’t think I can leave him like this, as much as he pisses me off.
“Ellis,” I say softly, nudging his shoulder.
“Nrgh…”
“Ellis, wake up. Take some medicine.”
He makes another soft sound. It sends a rush of warmth through me, but I can’t even be thankful for it—not when my dick just won’t read the room and behave.
“Hey. Wake up.” I grip his shoulder and turn him to his back, and he flops without any resistance. There’s barely any light in the room except for a faint glow from the city lights outside the window, but it’s enough for me to see how pale he is.
Fuck.
