Chapter Three

CHRISTIAN FROWNED OUT the front windshield to read the passing street sign, darting a glance at the GPS on his phone. Where the hell was Siri taking him? Disgusted, he tossed the phone on the passenger seat and continued to ease down the bumpy road, marked with potholes and trash. He’d never been in this part of town, with good reason. It was dangerous even in the morning light. He was just glad his car was a piece of junk and wouldn’t draw attention.

Boarded-up storefronts and abandoned vehicles lined the icy street. Fucking Jordan. They were supposed to meet at the new pub that boasted the best breakfast in town. Now he’d have to call him for better directions, when he wasn’t that keen on spending his day off with the guy in the first place.

Fact was, he was bored. His roommates at their apartment off-campus were gone for another ten days, and the weather was turning bad, making a trip to Portland to see his parents and sister inadvisable. He should have simply gotten a six-pack and stayed home watching football.

At least he had the New Year’s Eve dance party at the Grange that night to look forward to. He’d had fun last year. His lips twitched into a smile. Who was the bit of fluff he’d taken home? Kenny or something. The guy had been fun, kinky even, but gone in the morning without leaving his number. Too bad. Christian would have liked to see him again.

A small park, swings rusted out and the bushes overgrown, came into view on the street corner and he pulled over. The engine ticked as it cooled in the frigid air, a few flakes of snow floating from the gray sky. A couple of pedestrians hurried by on the sidewalk, hunched against the cold. Otherwise, the street seemed deserted. He frowned at the metal merry-go-round buried in dead leaves and discarded fast-food wrappers. Maybe he should head back to the main road and call Jordan from there. Safer.

About to turn the key in the ignition, he paused as movement caught his attention. He hadn’t noticed the figure huddled on the broken bench and widened his eyes in recognition. Despite the stocking cap covering his light hair, Christian would have known that slim form and threadbare coat anywhere. What was Dani doing out on a day like this? He must be freezing to death.

His heart thumped at the thought. After snatching up his keys, he climbed from the car and slipped a little on the icy pavement. His boots crunched as he crossed the dead lawn, breath plumes of white smoke, reinforcing his fear. Shit. The idiot hadn’t been out in the cold dressed like that for too long, had he? The guy needed looking after.

Christian stopped in front of the bench, concerned when Dani didn’t glance up. “Hey.” He winced when Dani startled and quickly cleared the gruffness from his voice. “Dani, what are you doing out here?”

Dani lifted his head, and Christian gasped at the whiteness of his face, his gray eyes dulled with exhaustion. His chest tightened. He wanted to lift Dani right off the bench and hold him close, stop the violent shivers that ran through the slim body.

“You okay?” he asked inanely, not sure what to do.

Dani shrugged, lowering his chin to his arms folded on his drawn-up knees. Enough. Reaching down, Christian gripped his elbow and tugged, urging him to his feet. Dani roused, making a grab for the bag beside him on the seat. Christian took it from him, finding it heavier than it appeared.

“Come on,” he commanded, putting an arm around Dani’s waist and guiding him awkwardly to his car. Dani pulled back a little as they approached the street then gave in, letting his head fall back on Christian’s shoulder, pressing closer as if seeking warmth. Christian could feel the coldness of his body and hurried them forward.

Finally arriving at the car, he unlocked the passenger door and pushed Dani into the tattered seat. Knowing he needed to get him warm, he removed his coat and tucked it around the shaking man, dropped the bag at his feet. He shut the door and hurried around to the driver’s side. In his haste, he fumbled to get the key in the ignition and let out a relieved breath when the engine caught and warm air poured out of the heater vents.

Dani still hadn’t said a word and Christian glanced at him. He had his head back on the seat, eyes closed, and his fine-boned features were stark with cold. There were dark bruises around his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days. The slender hands clenched in his lap mottled as they warmed, the skin on the knuckles chapped and cracked, but thankfully there was no sign of frostbite.

Christian examined Dani’s shoes, the canvas torn and muddy, crusted with ice. Shit. He needed to get him out of the cold, right now. With a quick glance over his left shoulder, he made a U-turn on the empty street and headed back to the main road that would take him to the other side of town and his apartment.

Dani stirred and muttered something as they turned into the heavier traffic of Baker Street, but in a moment, a soft snore escaped him as he settled into sleep. Christian panicked at the sound. Wasn’t he supposed to keep the guy awake? No, maybe that was for head injuries. Damn, what did he know about hypothermia? He racked his brain for anything he might have learned in health class or from any of the action movies he favored, but nothing rose to the surface except to get him someplace warm.

He played loose with the traffic laws, but it still seemed to take forever to get back to his neighborhood and the attractive apartment complex where he lived. Once he’d parked, he wasted no time exiting and hurrying around to Dani’s side of the car, where he had to nudge him on the shoulder to wake him.

“We’re home,” he said reassuringly and bent to practically lift Dani out of the car. Dani made an effort to reach for his bag, and Christian cupped his cheek to get his attention.

“Let me get that,” he said, throat tight at the panic in those pretty eyes. A cough rumbled up from Dani’s chest, and he clutched feebly at Christian’s arm, nodding agreement even as he put a hand to his throat as if in pain.

After snatching the bag off the floor, he half carried Dani up the enclosed steps to the second floor and ushered him into the apartment, quiet now without his roommates. Christian tossed his keys and Dani’s bag on a table by the door and led Dani straight to his bedroom and lowered him into a chair.

“I’m going to try to get you warm, okay?” he asked, touching Dani’s white face. The skin was still cold, but less so than before. That was a good sign, right? At least he wasn’t the brilliant red that signified hypothermia. He remembered that much from his health classes. Dani blinked wearily, teeth chattering as he began to shake, apparently too exhausted to reply.

Christian knelt at his feet, studied the ice-coated shoes with dismay. Fuck. None of Dani’s toes had better fall off. He undid the laces, pressed his lips firmly together as he slid one shoe off, then the other. Drawing a breath, he carefully rolled down a sock and eased it off the toes. He could have cried in relief when five little white digits remained on the slim foot, showing none of the black spots of frostbite.

He dealt with the other sock then glanced up, catching Dani’s intent gaze. They stared at each other a moment, and then color crept up Dani’s neck and he turned his face shyly aside. How adorable is that?

He leaned forward. “We have to get your clothes off,” he said gently and undid the zipper on Dani’s jacket. Dani shrugged out of it and allowed Christian to pull his shirt over his head. Oh, hell. Dani was all lean muscle and bone with tiny dark nipples, pebbled with cold. Breathtaking, though Christian would make sure he ate more. A few healthy pounds wouldn’t go amiss on him.

Standing abruptly, he helped Dani to his feet. “Get your pants off and climb in bed,” he instructed, deliberately turning his back. He heard the rustle of fabric behind him as he drew down the blankets and then saw the flash of a white thigh as Dani slid under the covers. Christian regarded him, small and frightened, shivering, and came to a sudden decision. He stripped out of his own clothing and climbed in beside Dani, pulled him against his chest.

“Shush, baby,” he soothed when Dani whimpered. “Go to sleep. I’ll keep you warm.”

It took some time for Dani to relax, easing into his embrace. Christian held him close, the tremors in the thin body slowly lessening. He frowned at the pattern of scars he felt down Dani’s back, but that was a question for another time. Dani stirred and snorted slightly in his sleep and Christian smiled. He could get used to this. He listened to Dani’s even breathing, sometimes interrupted by a cough that didn’t sound as bad as before, until his own eyes drifted closed with sleep.