Page 39 of Heat Haze
“What?” I ask yawning, barely even awake. Of course Toro doesn’t reply, just letting out another whine and somehow bringing my waist even closer to his. He’s always clingy, but notthisclingy. “What’s wrong, Toro?”
My hands move to his chest, pushing myself away to get a better view of him. His face is a little flushed, his hairdamp with sweat, and when I bring my palm to his forehead it’shot. Not Texas hot, butfeverishlyhot
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“You’re sick.” It’s more of a declaration than a question. I find hold of his cheeks, noticing the little pout he’s wearing even though Itoldhim this was gonna happen. “I’m gonna go get a towel or something, okay? We need to get the fever down.”
Of course the second I go to climb off the bed his hand shoots out to pull me back down, huffing through his nose like the bull he is before wrapping his arms around me and shaking his head. Guess getting out of bed is not on the agenda this morning.
“You won’t get better if you just lie here under the covers.” I remind him, even though he’s currently rubbing his face against my neck like the big overgrown dog he is.
Arguing with him, if you can even call it that, never yields results. Instead of trying I just shut my eyes, letting him know I disapprove with a sigh even if my hands are currently making their way to his back to cuddle.
There’s a low rumble that comes from his chest, and I swear it almost sounds as if this fully grown man ispurring. Between how tired I am and how warm this position is, I’m almost ready to give in entirely and let him cuddle his way to a hospital trip.
But then a plan forms.
“Toro…” I murmur, kissing the top of his head tenderly. “You know you can’t kiss me if you’re sick, right? I don’t wanna get sick too.”
The man immediately freezes in my arms, not wasting a second to pull back and drop his jaw. His expression is a blend of bewilderment and pure horror, scanning my face to see if I’m serious or not.
A pleading whine rips from his throat, his eyes widening and lips pulling downwards in a frown. It’s the most obvious attempt to use his cuteness to his advantage, and the worst thing is that it almost works.
Almost.
“Not gonna work this time.” I say with a headshake, using every ounce of willpower in my body to not pepper his face with kisses and tell him everything is going to be okay. “Will youpleaselet me take care of you?”
Toro stirs, grumbling but slowly nodding. He lays flat on his back, pouting at the ceiling while trying to not so sneakily look at me. I just laugh, but it’s not a mean one. It’s cute.He’scute. With a sharp exhale I lean in to give him one singular kiss on the forehead, that pout shifting into a dopey grin almost instantly.
“I’m gonna go grab a wet towel. Something to bring your fever down. You want a change of clothes?” I ask, climbing over him and off the bed.
His gaze follows me as I pad across the room, opening his barebones linen closet to grab the first fluffy towel I find. I run it under cold water, wringing it out so it’s damp and bringing it back over like the dutiful boyfriend I am. When I set it down on his forehead he squirms as if it’smyfault he went out in the rain to give some barn animals blankets.
Was it sweet? Of course. Was it stupid? Definitely.
“If you don’t cool down in a bit we’ll go from there, okay? The next step is a super cold bath, and I don’t think you want that.”
He shakes his head no, sighing and laying back again. I take hold of his hand, gripping it to try and comforthim. It works for all but five seconds, since the door pushes open and Lucio peers inside.
“What’s wrong with dumbass?” he asks, leaning against the doorway.
“Don’t call him that,” I roll my eyes, “but he’s sick. He probably just has a cold.”
Lucio smirks at my response. “Okay. Would you like me to getToroa tylenol?”
The way he says his name gives me an ick that I choose to ignore. He glances at his sick brother and then at me. It’s likemaybehe wants to say something about it, but just settles for a polite nod instead. “Whatever. I’ll go grab it.”
He disappears and Toro grabs at my shirt. He’s smiling now, all happy about something. He’s staring at me with that adoring lovesick puppy expression he gets often, but there’s something else mixed in, something sweeter. “What?”
“Happy,” Toro rasps while squeezing my hand tighter. Before I get to ask aboutwhathe pulls me onto his lap, nuzzling against my shoulder. It feels like I’m snuggling with a furnace, but he’s being way too adorable for me to lecture him right now.
“Christ…” Lucio scoffs when he returns, holding a little bottle of pills in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He comes over to set it down on the nightstand before immediately retreating to the other side of the room. “Ain’t you milkin’ this a little too much, Toro?”
My boyfriend just scrunches his nose up at his brother as if to taunt him before hugging me extra tight. He whines, acting far too needy for a man his size. That only makes Lucio stare even harder.
“T-Thanks, Lucio.” I utter out in pure horror, so embarrassed to be seen letting him do all this. I definitely baby him too much, but it’s hard not to when his face always lights up like a Christmas tree. Either way I don’t care since Lucio just rolls his eyes and leaves with the most disturbed wave I’ve ever seen.
“Mine, mine, mine,” Toro repeats over and over as if it’s some sort of mantra. He’s definitely lost in his own little world. I feel like a gem being hoarded by a big, scary dragon—just minus the scary part.
