Reverb Read Online Free PDF Page B

okay?” He reaches up to John’s face where he’d hit him, but in doing so it must have hurt because he sucks in his breath sharply, brings his hand to his ribs and holds them, again struggling to breathe.
    John studies him. “I’m going to check out your ribs, okay?” He moves slowly, gently probing James torso. “Can you stand?”
    James stares back at him blankly.
    “Come on, man. Stay with me, James. Focus on me.”
    He does, squints at John then flashes his infamous wily, single dimple grin.
    Martin smiles, can’t help it. Even totally ravaged, James is still magnificently adorable.
    “You need to lie down before you puncture a lung, if you haven’t already.” John glances up at Martin. “Let’s take him to the guestroom. He’ll be more comfortable than in the clinic. Get his left side, I’ll get his right.” He looks back at James as Martin takes position. “I’m going to take your arm and put it around my neck. And Martin is going to do the same with your other arm. Ready?”
    “Hey, Martin.” James says casually as Martin kneels down beside him. His usually stunning green eyes were now black marbles. His hair is longer than Martin has ever seen it—hangs just past his shoulders in soft waves, framing his slightly stubbled cheeks and accentuating his square jaw.
    “Okay. Here we go. Ready?” John takes James’ hand and draws his arm around his shoulder and nods at Martin to do the same.
    James sucks in a gasping breath just this side of a scream as John and Martin help him stand.
    John looks at Kate as he guides them forward. “What happened to him?” James takes a few drunken steps but for the most part, Martin and John carry him.
    “We were in a car accident up near Tahoe.” Kate follows them. “He wouldn’t go to a hospital. He wanted me to just drop him off at a motel but I wouldn’t, so he told me to take him here.”
    “Was he unconscious most of the time, or was he in and out?”
    “In and out, but more out after a while.”
    “What was his longest period unconscious?”
    “The half hour before we got here.”
    James’ dark flannel shirt ripples in the fierce wind. He looks absolutely gaunt. He’s easy to carry, surprisingly light, especially for almost dead weight. James is close to six feet, was an avid runner and surfer, a beautifully built athlete. What happened?
    “It’s going to be okay, James. You’re going to be fine.” It soothes Martin to repeat it endlessly as they round the car and head for the house. Cold wind whistles through the trees, and before they make it to the front doors, an icy rain starts to fall. Martin feels James shivering.
    “Did he vomit at all? Spit up blood.” John continues the third-degree.
    “He didn’t throw up, but he spit up something and it may have been blood. I couldn’t see.” Kate paces John, practically yelling her responses over the wind and rumbling thunder.
    “We’re almost there. You’re going to be okay, James,” Martin chants as they drag him through the doorway into the warm house. They make their way through the foyer to the guestroom and John tosses aside the quilted maroon comforter and they gently release him onto the double bed.  His eyes are still open but he looks dead, like he’s been dead for quite a while. “You’re okay, James. John’s going to take care of you. You’re going be fine.”
    “I’m sorry, Martin. I shouldn't be here.” James closes his eyes.
    John sits on the bed next to him. “Would you get his boots off, Martin?”
    More a command than request, as again was so often the dialog between them of late. James does not stir as Martin removes his boots, and John gently unbuttons his shirt. Martin feels that familiar twinge of desire watching John strip him. James was on the bed, unconscious before him, not frenetically working, enraptured with his muse. Martin’s spent many hours fantasizing about having James in his bed...He looks away, at Kate, to suppress his misplaced,