Page 26 of Mated to Team Shadow

Gunner and Ryker had talked loud enough before I fell asleep, at least for someone with shifters ears, to catch Ryker's rumination on our situation. One woman, four guys? That's overcrowded. But what the hell, it's not like I hadn't done a threesome. What's a couple more bodies? Could be fun.

"Kane?"

Jeanine's sweet voice floated toward me.

"Yeah, babe?"

"You the only one awake?"

"Yep. We're trained to catch sleep when we can."

"You are?"

"No. But as a practical matter that's what we do."

"Kane. You guys are weird."

"How so?"

"Well, for one I've got two men hanging on me."

"Is that a bad thing? They are trying to keep you warm."

"And you guys growl and purr like cats. That's weird."

She was right. I couldn't deny it. We weren't normal men, hence the current situation. But what could I tell her?

Jeanine added, "I feel sick to my stomach. I think it's the rubber and glue smell of the raft."

"How about some jerky? You need food."

"No. That sounds horrible. The boat rocking on the waves doesn't help."

"I think I have some sea sickness pills here."

"You mean Dramamine? That makes me sick to my stomach too."

"Well," I said as I fished one from my pack, "you need to take it. Dehydration from vomiting in the middle of the ocean is dangerous. Besides, it will relax you and put you to sleep."

"I think I slept enough. And what's with these guys on either side?"

I leaned forward. "Open your mouth and lift your tongue." I spoke in my best, "I'm the medic, so do what I say" tone. She glared at me but did as I asked and I slipped a tablet under her tongue.

"Now let the pill dissolve, and the medicine will ease your stomach."

She mumbled, and I shook my head.

"Wait until it has melted. You need as much of the Dramamine as possible."

Her nose twitched as she raised an eyebrow and that combination struck me as the cutest thing I'd ever seen.

"Okay," she said. "It's melted. Do we have water? That stuff tastes foul."

"It does. The bitterness doesn't help" I said handing her a bladder from my backpack. "Survival tip. Wet your lips, mouth and tongue first then swallow. Try not to take more than a swig or two. We don't know how long we must make this last."

She took two only swigs, and her restraint made me proud. My team was used to these survival measures, but she had to pick them up and apply them on the fly. It was a small thing, but it took discipline to drink two swallows when you wanted to down the whole thing.

"Thanks," said Jeanine as she passed the bladder back to me. "So, you guys are used to floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean?"

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