Turn to Me: Chapter 16
You were r-r-right. I’m c-c-cold.” Link’s teeth were audibly chattering. Rhett propped himself up on an elbow and peered closer at Link while his eyes adjusted to the firelight. It looked like Link was shivering uncontrollably and his expression was slack. Rhett was alarmed. With as little body fat as Link had, it wouldn’t take much to push him into full-blown hypothermia.Rhett sat up a bit more and lifted up the blanket. “Link, come here. Lie down with me.”
Link hesitated. “That sssseems a little w-w-weird.”
“Maybe, but it’s also the fastest way to warm you up, and you look like you need it.”
Link must have felt pretty bad, because that was all the convincing he required. He awkwardly clambered onto the couch, lying down facing Rhett. His movements were slow and uncoordinated, and Rhett had to help him arrange his limbs in such a way that they would both fit. He put one arm under Link’s head and his other around his shoulders and hugged the shivering man to his chest. Link’s bandaged hand stuck out of the blanket next to Rhett’s head, but the rest of him was under the covers. Rhett could feel the coldness of Link’s face through his flannel shirt.Rhett sat up a bit more and lifted up the blanket. “Link, come here. Lie down with me.”
Link hesitated. “That sssseems a little w-w-weird.”
“Maybe, but it’s also the fastest way to warm you up, and you look like you need it.”
Link must have felt pretty bad, because that was all the convincing he required. He awkwardly clambered onto the couch, lying down facing Rhett. His movements were slow and uncoordinated, and Rhett had to help him arrange his limbs in such a way that they would both fit. He put one arm under Link’s head and his other around his shoulders and hugged the shivering man to his chest. Link’s bandaged hand stuck out of the blanket next to Rhett’s head, but the rest of him was under the covers. Rhett could feel the coldness of Link’s face through his flannel shirt.
At first Link tried to hold himself stiffly away from Rhett, to keep a chaste distance between their bodies. The promise of warmth got the better of him, though, and he eventually allowed Rhett to hold him closer. His muscles relaxed as he settled against the other man, teeth slowly ceasing to chatter.
Rhett was more conscious of Link’s body than he had ever been before. He knew his friend was skinny, obviously, but now he felt the outlines of Link’s ribs under his arm and the blade of his shoulder under his hand. His pelvic bones pressed into Rhett’s thigh. Rhett felt as if he could bring his arms entirely around Link and back to himself as if there were nothing in the way.
Join Qfeast to read the entire story!
Sign In. It is absolutely free!
