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“Thank you.” The stranger did a little flick of his head, somehow managing to toss that mass of wet hair over his large shoulder.

The gesture was oddly coquettish, and Luke fought back the urge to laugh. At least both of them were having equally inappropriate reactions to everything that was happening. United in ridiculousness, or whatever. “So, we need to call 911, right?”

The stranger blinked at him, still looking vaguely amused. “Call whom?”

“I mean—your feet. You can’t walk out of here.”

The stranger nodded. “It will be painful, yes.”

They may have been united in ridiculousness, but Luke suddenly felt like they were on completely different wavelengths, no matter how obvious the situation seemed on the surface of things. “But you need medical attention,” Luke said slowly. “A hospital.”

In an instant, that little hint of mirth drained out of the stranger’s eyes, and they turned cold and hard with a suddenness that was jarring. Luke may have topped six feet in his own right, but he was made aware again of just how much bigger this massive man was compared to himself.

“No,” the stranger said slowly as he rose even higher, crouched over Luke on his hands and knees now, his jacket-blanket barely staying in place. “I do not.”

“But—”

And then, just as suddenly, the stranger was smiling, a flash of white teeth in his wide mouth. “You can help me,” he said smoothly, in that lovely voice of his. “As you just did.” The man tilted his head to look up and away, toward the path off the beach. “You live close by, yes?”

They were losing the plot here, right? Luke wasn’t a doctor or a nurse or anyone with the skills to deal with this. “Um, yes, but⁠—”

“Take me there.”

“Well, I can’t really⁠—”

The stranger rested a large, cool hand on Luke’s cheek. “What is your name?”

Luke couldn’t have stopped himself from answering if he’d wanted to. “Luke. My name’s Luke.”

“I need your help, Luke. Take me to your home.”

There were so many reasons that wasn’t feasible, the number one of them being the small child Luke was responsible for. The number two of which was his complete lack of medical training. The number three of which was that he knew nothing about this man other than his alarming good looks and lullaby-rich voice.

So no, Luke couldn’t bring a naked, ravaged stranger to his own home instead of the hospital. It wasn’t happening. No way. End of fucking story.

But there was something about the man’s request that tugged at a string in Luke’s chest, like he couldn’t bear to say no to him. Which was stupid and crazy and something Luke needed to let go of right this second.

On the other hand, this man was massive and heavy and strong. What chance did Luke have to force him to get medical treatment? And could Luke really live with himself just leaving the guy here? He had to be on the verge of hypothermia already. What if he collapsed again and no one came around to help him in time?

“You can walk?” Luke found himself asking. “If I help you…you think you can make it to my car?”

The stranger graced him with that blinding, flashing smile again. “Yes, Luke. If you help me.”

Well, then. Luke supposed he didn’t really have a choice.

3

LUKE

Luke wasn’t sure how he managed to get the stranger off the beach and up the trail to the parking lot, other than sheer, stupid determination.

He’d tried to give the guy his boots as some sort of protection for his wounds, but the man’s feet were much larger, and there’d been no way Luke’s boots were going to fit him. So they were shuffling along together, one of the stranger’s arms wrapped around Luke’s shoulder as he stepped gingerly on bare, wounded feet, the man’s body weight a few pounds away from bringing Luke to his knees.

Luke had managed to tie his jacket around the guy’s waist in some semblance of a dignified cover-up, but maybe it had been unnecessary. The stranger seemed largely unbothered by his own nudity.

Probably because he has bigger things to worry about than some random guy ogling him, Luke chastised himself.

The man’s skin had initially been cold to the touch, and even pressed against Luke like this, he was barely any warmer. It was unsettling, but Luke supposed he should be grateful the guy wasn’t developing a fever. If he had some sort of infection, the hospital would no longer be optional, and then what the hell would they do?