Gifted Connections 4

“Did you take your antibiotics, painkiller, and change your dressing?” he asked, clearly not amused.

“Yes, no, and yes. I’m not taking the painkillers anymore,” I shrugged. “Gavin, have you ever heard of Face Off?” I asked, quickly hoping to change the subject.

“I love that show!” he enthused as he grabbed a bottle of water. “I just started Season 1, last week.”

“Dawn just introduced it to me. I’m on episode 3, and I’m hooked,” I said as I took a sip of water from my bottle.

“Let me know who’s your favorite,” he said brightly.

I smiled, remembering the conversations we put Collin through when he was spying on me. We had binge-watched Survivor and had a lively discussion on our favorite players. Back then we rarely disagreed on our favorites. My face fell, and I felt a tightness in my chest with the memory of Collin. He was just another person I felt like I had failed.

“Hey, Ake,” Gavin called softly in my head.

I still found it weird when he was able to mimic my gift when I was so weak. He couldn’t use it to its full potential and said it was faint, but he knew when he could tap into it.

You can’t feel responsible for his death. You tried. The blame falls on that dick’s shoulders. He abandoned him, he said insistently.

I looked up at him and feigned a smile. Seriously, why was Jemmy willing to throw him away so quickly? He really was a great guy and intuitive. He was the best guy friend a girl could ask for.

I still felt inadvertently responsible. I know it wasn’t my fault. I just wondered if I had been faster. If I had thought quicker. Maybe he would still be here today.

Chapter 16

I woke up with a searing pain in my arm. I hissed and tried not to wake up anyone nearby. I felt like I was going to be literally sick, the agony was so intense. I clumsily rolled out of bed and reached for my bag. My hands shook uncontrollably as I tried to unzip it. I could feel beads of sweat form on my brow as I attempted to open it once more. Hot tears burned the back of my eyes.

I felt hands brush my hands away and unzip my backpack. It was dark in the room. I was glad Drake found a nightlight to place by my bed, but I was unable to see who was assisting me. There was no way I was going to ask who it was, either, because if Remy woke up, he would be pissed, and I’d have proved him right.

A small light appeared over my bag before a bronze hand reached in to grab my medical kit. He shook a pill out and placed one in my shaking hands. I nearly dropped it, but he was quick to snatch it up. I saw the tablet illuminated towards my mouth before I got a brief glimpse of Lincoln’s face. I dutifully opened my mouth. He placed a bottle of water next to my lips, and I took a drink from it.

I laid back down on the cold hard ground, waiting for the shaking and pain to subside. Large hands pushed my hair out of my face, and I closed my eyes at the soothing touch. It felt like it took forever for the pill to take the edge of the pain off. It wasn’t completely gone, but I felt like I could somewhat function again.

“Thanks,” I whispe

red, attempting to sit back up to climb back into bed.

He didn’t utter a reply as he guided me back to bed, then covered me back up in the thin blankets they had provided us.

The next time I woke up my arm was still throbbing, but it was manageable. It took me a moment to notice the quiet shuffling throughout the room. I realized that some of the people in our bunkhouse were quietly getting dressed and preparing for the day.

“What’s the game plan?” I asked, peering up at Drake who had the bunk next to mine.

“I’m going to the kitchens before I head over to the war room. We’re waiting to hear back from the South Carolina team and Beau from back home,” he replied quietly.

I had only met Beau briefly a few times. He was a prominent member of the board and was heavily invested in Knightstown. He was running Knightstown in Will’s absence. They still talked daily, and they knew the ship was running smoothly with him at the helm.

I sat up and gingerly stretched. “I’ll go with you,” I volunteered.

“We were going to let you sleep in,” Drake sat down on the edge of my bed and grabbed the sides of my face before kissing me softly.

“I can’t sleep any longer,” I confided in him quietly. “My mind won’t let me.”

“Get dressed then,” he reluctantly acquiesced.

I slipped out of bed and went over to the chair next to the wall locker I had claimed. I had already set out my black cargo pants, belt, socks, boots, and a bra. I slid my bra on under my shirt and grimaced when I tried to twist it around.

“Can you help me?” I asked turning around.

He nodded and walked up behind me. I was surprised when he palmed my breast in his hands. His thumbs brushed against my nipples as he bent down and kissed the nape of my neck. I bit my lip refraining from moaning aloud. He had turned me on within seconds.