Page 75 of Quiet
Huh.
Briar hadn’t expected Isa to agree so easily. He pulled Isa’s borrowed shirt down until it covered his battered torso. “You aren’t going to fight me on this?”
Isa huffed and then winced in pain. “I think there’s been enough fighting today, don’t you?”
When Briar took him by the shoulders and lowered Isa to the bed, he went willingly. On one hand, there was a lovely tingle that wove its way through Briar’s mind at Isa’s compliance. Being allowed to take care of Isa fed something inside Briar he’d been unaware of. On the other hand, Isa was being a little too compliant. And as much fun as this morning had been, Briar wasn’t arrogant enough to believe Isa had been won over completely by a good dicking. Not that Briar wasn’t prepared to give it his best if that’s what it took.
No. There was something going on. Isa had been hurt deeply by the latest brush with his family. Far deeper than the wounds on his body. He’d be willing to go to the mat on it.
“I’m not going to let them hurt you again, Isa. Even if . . . you didn’t want to . . . be with me.” That had been difficult to get out. Even with the spell. Probably because the idea of Isa not being with Briar sent thorns and splinters through his nervous system. But it had to be said.
Isa rolled on his side slowly, letting out a hiss. Briar wanted to push him back down, but that would probably hurt the boy as much as turning over had. When he finally got into a comfortable position, he placed his hand on Briar’s arm. “I know you won’t.” The smile he gave Briar wasn’t a happy one.
“Isa, what do I do?”How do I fix your broken smile?
If Briar wasn’t so attuned to every aspect of Isa, he probably would have missed how Isa’s smile went soft at the edges. “Just be you.” Isa yawned and made a littleurkat the resulting pain. “And stay away from my family. Far, far away.”
“I will if you will.” If he could go his entire life without seeing Isa like this again, Briar would consider himself blessed.
Isa squeezed Briar’s hand.
“Food?” The nurse had told Briar to feed Isa before giving him medicine.
“Not hungry.”
“Food.” This time it wasn’t a question. “I’ll be back.”
Briar ignored the questions that came at him as he rummaged through the contents of his kitchen. He wasn’t being rude, he just didn’t know how to even begin to answer. Finally, Alex came up and took away the Hot Pockets Briar had somehow managed to violate beyond recognition.
“Is Isa okay?” Alex asked as he took out four slices of bread and began assembling sandwiches.
Briar had to take time to consider his answer before signing, “He will be.” Briar would make sure of it.
“That’s better than nothing, I guess. The poor kid looked pretty rough when you carried him through here. Can you tell me what happened?”
Briar shook his head and signed, “Maybe later.” Then as an afterthought, added, “Isa’s moving in.”
Alex smiled and pushed a plate of sandwiches at him. They were cut in neat little triangles. “I don’t know how you did it, you lucky bastard. The theater kids are all in awe of you. Isa’s notorious for being staunchly single. He must like pushy, blockheaded guys.”
“Nope. Just me.” Briar signed before taking the plate and heading for the stairs.
“Arrogant ones too!” Alex shouted at Briar’s back.
Briar flipped him off over his shoulder.
Isa was mostly asleep when Briar got back to his room, but he managed to get half a sandwich into him and all of his medicine before he passed out.
Briar wasn’t even close to sleepy. His skin itched as he paced the room. He couldn’t settle on an activity because his mind kept tossing random scenes from the past forty-eight hours at him. How the hell could he be ecstatic and furious at the same time?
Isa was here. Isa washis. He’d stood up for Briar, allowed himself to be claimed openly, and rejected his family for him.
But he’d also taken a beating for him and bound himself to Briar magically. Probably for life. The first was unacceptable. The second, he had mixed feelings about. There had to be something he could do.
A sound from across the room captured his attention, and Briar was drawn to the bed like his entire world rested there. Isa was making little whimpering sounds in his sleep.
“It’s okay. I’m right here. No one will hurt you again. I promise.” Briar stroked the crease between Isa’s brow, marveling how it vanished under his touch. He’d pet Isa all night if that’s what it took.
He lost himself to tucking Isa in and arranging the boy’s limbs and blankets, petting his hair, and styling it just so. By the time Isa settled, Briar had made him look like a sleeping prince in a castle.
