When the Dead Speak by Bailey Bradford (books to read to increase intelligence txt) 📗

“There ya go, all debris free from what I can tell. You need to let me check again after you take a bath.” Brendon stood and sauntered over to the bathtub, turning the taps on. “You want it hot, cold, or just right?”

“Hot. Hot would be just right.” Sev wasn’t sure the cold he felt was a physical thing. Every time he thought about Laine being hunted by some sick bastard, another layer of ice seemed to coat Sev’s veins. Brendon made the appropriate adjustments and came back to Sev.

“Okay, off with the clothes—or shirt, rather.” Brendon waggled his eyebrows and leered, looking so goofy Sev couldn’t hold back his laughter.

“I can undress myself and get to the bathtub. My feet don’t hurt as bad as they did when stuff was still buried in them. Unless”—Sev dipped his head down a little and looked up at Brendon through his lashes—“you just want to see my hot bod again.”

“Now you’re trying to get my ass whooped, though you do have a hot little body. Poor Zeke was trying to sneak a look when he thought I wasn’t watching.”

Sev felt the tips of his ears grow warm even as he grinned. “What? You can look but he can’t?”

“Nah, he can look. I just like him to think he can’t. Come on, off with it.” Brendon reached for the T-shirt and Sev let him. “Shit, you are scratched all over, Severo. We’re going to have to play doctor again once you get clean—and when the water hits those spots, oh man, I am glad I’m not you.”

“Sev, please. Despite all the damage, I’m glad you’re not me, too,” Sev muttered as the shirt came off. He would put up with scratches and a little discomfort for Laine. He’d put up with a lot of things for the man. The realization nearly sent him into a panic. Sev looked up to find Brendon studying him intently.

Sev reached up and fingered his silver necklace. He fought against the urge to look away from Brendon’s brown gaze, fought his fear of commitment and fear of exposure with one overpowering thought—he wanted Laine. Period. And why was Brendon staring at him like that?

“What?” He sounded defensive, a little angry and wished he’d thought before he’d spoken.

Brendon didn’t so much as blink at Sev’s tone. “What’s going on in there?” He tapped Sev’s temple with a finger.

“Nothing I feel like sharing.” Sev smiled to take the sting out of his words. “I have a lot to think about, that’s all.”

“Like what’s going on between you and Laine?”

Sev groaned and rolled his eyes. “God, you are one of those guys who likes to share, aren’t you?”

Brendon snorted and shook his head. “Not particularly into sharing, but I am worried about my friend.”

That told Sev where he stood with Brendon, didn’t it? “I’m worried about him, too, Brendon. Someone wants to hurt him, and that isn’t me.” That was as much as he’d offer about…whatever it was that was going on between him and Laine.

Brendon’s mouth tightened, and for a minute, Sev thought the man was going to tear into him, but he didn’t. Instead, he took Sev’s arm and guided him to the bathtub. “Okay. Let me just say that, while you might not want to hurt him, he’s very… He’s a special guy.” Brendon huffed out a breath. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say, but I can tell I’m pissing you off, and that wasn’t my intention. Let’s get you in the tub.”

Sev let it drop for now, sure that Brendon would circle back around to it again soon. Maybe when he did, Sev would have a better idea how to answer. He didn’t know himself how he felt, except that he wanted Laine. What that meant, where it would go, was a question he couldn’t answer.

Sev lifted one foot and yelped when he stuck it under water. Brendon held on to him, not letting him back away.

“Nope, get in there, Sev. I would advise you do it as quickly as possible, get it over with. You seem to be a tough li—ah, a brave guy.”

Why not, Sev thought, glaring at Brendon. He’d already emasculated himself with that damned yelp, and he knew good and well what Brendon had stopped himself from saying. And if Brendon made any more remarks about him being a brave little man, he’d find his nosy butt taking an involuntary dunk in the tub.

* * * *

The need to see Severo, to ensure himself that his lover was okay then fuck the man until they were both unconscious had been building in Laine ever since he’d learnt Sev was in danger. By the time Zeke pulled up to the house he and Brendon shared, Laine was ready to snap from the tension inside him. He figured it was a good thing Zeke, after a hushed phone call from Brendon earlier, had insisted Laine and Sev stay with them until Laine caught the bastard who’d broken into his home. Laine would have argued Sev into agreeing if he’d had to, but luckily Sev hadn’t protested at all when Laine had spoken to him about staying with the other two men. Laine certainly wasn’t too proud to accept the help or the safety it offered, not when it could mean saving Sev’s life. Right now, however, he just needed to get inside—first the house, then the man.

Zeke put the truck in park and Laine was out of the vehicle and halfway up the porch before he remembered Zeke’s injury. He started to turn, but Zeke’s firm, “Go ahead,” had Laine knocking on the door with a trembling fist. Barely sparing Brendon a glance when the door was opened, Laine found himself instead brushing by his friend and zeroing in on the man sitting on the couch, who looked at Laine with the same need, the same ache that was pounding in him.

His intent