His eyes came to mine and he said, “Yeah.”
I pulled at the t-shirt and asked, “Did you put this on me?”
The grin came back, it was different this time, vastly different and my lightheadedness increased significantly at the sight.
Then he said, “Yeah.”
I surged to my feet and then my vision went funny, my hand went to my forehead and I plopped back down on the bed.
Suddenly he was crouched in front of me murmuring, “Jesus, Duchess.”
“You took my clothes off,” I accused.
“Lie down,” he ordered.
“You took my clothes off.”
“Yeah, now lie down.”
“You can’t take my clothes off!” I shouted but I heard my loud words banging around in my skull, my head started swimming and I would have fallen backwards if my hand didn’t come out to rest on the bed to prop me up.
“I can, I did, it ain’t nothin’ I haven’t seen before, now lie down.”
I started to push up, announcing, “I’m leaving.”
He straightened and put his hands on my shoulders, pressing me right back down. My bottom hit the bed and I looked up at him suddenly so fatigued I could barely tilt my head back.
“You aren’t leavin’,” he declared.
“You shouldn’t have changed my clothes.”
“Duchess, not gonna say it again, lie down.”
“I need to go.”
I barely got out the word “go” when my calves were swept up and my body twisted in the bed. I couldn’t hold up my torso anymore so it also fell to the bed. Then the covers came over me.
“You had medicine in your groceries. I’ll get that and you need some food.”
“I need to go.”
“Food, medicine then we’ll talk.”
“Listen –”
“I’ll be right back.”
Then he was gone and I didn’t have the energy to lift my head to find out where he went. I decided to go to my suitcase, get some clothes on and get out of there. Then I decided I’d do that after I closed my eyes just for a bit. They hurt, too much, and all that sun and snow, I had to give them a break, it was too bright.
Then, I guess, I passed out.
* * * * *
“Nina, you with me?” I heard a somewhat familiar, deep, gravelly voice calling from what seemed far away.
“How do you know my name?” I asked, not opening my eyes and I would have been highly alarmed at the grating sound of my voice if I wasn’t so very tired.
“You’re with me,” the somewhat familiar, deep, gravelly voice muttered.