“They want you to take one every eight hours for now, and then in two days you can decide.” He looked at Chad. “You want one now?”
“I took a pill this morning around six. What time is it?”
“A little after two. It’s time, then.” Jeff made quick work handing over the other pill. “This one will make you drowsy. Want to get settled in bed?”
“Yeah. But I think I can make it myself, Jeff.”
“Probably so, but how about I follow you, and if you need me, let me know, okay?”
Chad shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He swallowed the second pill with another swig of his drink.
He pulled himself up and made his way slowly up the stairs to the second floor. He couldn’t believe how achy he felt. The arm in the cast didn’t really hurt, though. At the moment, it was more annoying than anything. He walked into his bedroom and was glad he had picked up yesterday. Didn’t need dirty boxers lying around.
Chad settled on the mattress, his feet still on the ground. When he reached down to slip off his shoes, he nearly tumbled off the bed.
Jeff swooped in and caught him, pushing him up. “Whoa there, big guy.”
Chad closed his eyes and waited for the spinning to stop. “What the hell?”
“The meds are probably making you loopy. Or it could just be that your equilibrium is off from the accident. Here, let me help you get ready.” He let go of Chad, then gently pulled off his shoes and set them aside. Jeff looked up at Chad and their gazes caught. Chad’s heartrate sped up and he stroked Jeff’s cheek with the fingers of his uninjured arm, letting them trace the jawline.
“Your skin is so soft,” he murmured. “So soft.”
Jeff blushed and looked away. “Um, so you want to sleep in your sweats?”
“No. Boxers and T-shirt.” Chad attempted to yank at the waistband, but feeling dizzy and with only one usable hand, it proved useless.
Jeff leaned over him, hooking his hands into the elastic waistband. “Lift a little.”
Chad obeyed, and Jeff dragged the pants off him in seconds. Chad looked down at his boxers and briefly hoped he wasn’t hard. Because he always seemed to get hard around Jeff.
“Lay back,” Jeff urged. “Let’s get you settled. I’ll head out after you fall asleep, but I’ll come back around seven tonight. Sound good?”
“Take my keys, Brown-Eyes,” Chad mumbled, letting his head fall to the pillow. Sleep was pulling him under, but he was pretty sure he felt Jeff tuck the blanket around him before he left.
* * * *
Chad slept for what seemed like hours until his bladder called to him, and he couldn’t put it off any longer. As he slowly made his way to the master bathroom, he glanced out the window and saw that the sun had already set. Wow, he had indeed slept for hours.
Must have needed it pretty bad, he mused.
A few minutes later, he started down to the kitchen when he heard keys at the door, jarring him for a moment before he remembered he’d given them to Jeff.
He reached the bottom of the stairs just as Jeff stepped inside.
“Hey! You’re up,” Jeff said, giving him a bright smile.
“Yeah, just woke up.”
“Hungry?”
Chad nodded. “Stomach’s growling,” he said with a chuckle. He gestured with his casted arm to followhim into the kitchen. “I can whip something up.”
Jeff followed close behind. “No, I’m here to take care of you. I’ll take care of dinner.”
Chad spun around as fast as he could, ignoring the swirling in his head. “Look, you don’t need to feel guilty. You’ve gone above and beyond, Jeff. Seriously. I mean, are you thinking I’m going to sue you or something?”
Jeff backed up, his hands out in front of him. “God, is that what you think? That I’m worried you’re going to sue? Haven’t you ever had someone help you to be…well, helpful? I thought we already cleared this up earlier.”
Chad narrowed his eyes and stared at him. “You’re honestly telling me that you’re only here to be ‘nice’? As I told you before, where I come from, that’s not the way things work.”
Jeff’s shoulders sagged. “That’s too bad.”
Chad furrowed his brow and tilted his head, watching him. “You’re telling me the truth, aren’t you? You really do just want to help.”
A light blush spread across Jeff’s cheeks. Chad closed his eyes for a moment, not wanting to be distracted by the guy’s cuteness. He heard Jeff sigh and turned his attention back to him.