Chapter Five
Sinclair
“Open your eyes, baby.”
That wasn’t right.
The voice was smooth as silk and as rough as rotgut whiskey.
It wasn’t mine so I couldn’t be dreaming.
I cracked my eyes open and saw Stone sitting on the bed beside me. Something that looked suspiciously like concern wrinkled the corners of his eyes and made lines appear around the edges of his mouth.
Okay, so I was dreaming.
“What are you doing here?”
I tried not to flinch when Stone reached out and brushed hair back from my face. If the frown that crossed his face was any indication, I didn’t do a very good job.
“I came to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” I said quickly, maybe too quickly.
The frown didn’t go away.
“I just have some sort of stomach bug.” It had been so long since I had actually laid eyes on Stone…hours…days…forever. He looked good. A little tired, but good. “Have you been sleeping?”
“You’re worried about me?” Stone snapped.
I prayed he hadn’t meant to use such a harsh tone, but I was pretty sure he had. It was obvious Stone didn’t want to be here anymore than I wanted him to be.
Okay, that was wrong.
I wanted Stone here more than I wanted to breathe, but I also knew his being here was the worst possible thing that could happen to me. As sick as I was, my resistance to Stone was practically nil. I was seconds away from begging him to stay when I knew he wouldn’t.
“I need to go to the bathroom. Could you get me my chair?”
When Stone grimaced, I thought he was going to deny my request, which would have been bad. I had to pee.
I might throw up while I was in there, too.
“What are you doing?” I shouted when he scooped me up and started carrying me toward the bathroom.
“What does it look like? I’m taking you to the bathroom.”
“Just get my chair. I can get there on my own.”
“This is quicker.”
Sure. It was a hell of a lot quicker.
It just wasn’t smarter.
“Do you need any help with this part?” Stone asked as he sat me down on the toilet.
I knew my face was flaming because I could feel the heat. “No, I’ve got it from here.”
There were just some things a man had to do on his own.
