“The rest of you get back to what you were doing,” he barked. The last thing Tara needed was to wake up and find everyone gawking at her.
They moved away just as Nate arrived.
“What happened?” Nate asked in a brisk voice.
“I don’t know.” Alex looked at Sloan accusingly.
The other man ignored him, addressing Nate. “Everything was fine. I checked in with her and she was all good then suddenly she just slumped over. I yelled for help then untied her and carried her over here.”
Nate was taking her pulse as Sloan spoke. He nodded. “Pulse is okay. She’s breathing all right. Looks like she probably just fainted.”
Alex stared down at her in worry. Why wasn’t she opening her eyes? She moaned quietly then opened her eyes, blinking rapidly.
“Wh-what happened?”
All three men reached out to stop her from sitting up. Alex glared at the other two. Nate backed off with a grin. Sloan just glared back at him.
“This was my scene, my sub, so back off, old man” Sloan snarled.
Alex instantly saw red. “She is not yours.”
Sloan got in his face. “She’s not yours, either.”
“Both of you, shut up,” Nate snapped.
“Wh-what happened?” Tara asked quietly, looking at them with alarm. “Why are you both so angry? Did I do something wrong?”
There was a vulnerable note in her voice as she looked at them anxiously. Alex ignored Sloan, turning all his attention on her.
“You fainted, baby,” he told her in a low voice. “Are you in any pain?”
“I fainted? Where? Why?” Suddenly her eyes grew wide and she glanced at Sloan. “Oh, please tell me I didn’t faint during our scene?”
“Afraid so,” Sloan said. “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?”
Alex didn’t like the accusation in his voice. “This wasn’t her fault,” he snapped.
“Are you accusing me of hurting her?” Sloan snarled back.
“Jesus, will you two stop acting like juveniles and focus on the important thing,” Nate snapped at both of them. He placed two fingers under Tara’s chin, tilting her face up. “How are you feeling, darlin’?” he asked.
Guilt filled Alex. He really was acting like a child. He needed to get his act together. Tara was his responsibility.
“Umm, okay. A bit confused.” She was looking up at him and Sloan worriedly.
“When was the last time you ate?” Nate asked.
She frowned a little, thinking.
“If you have to think this hard then it was too long ago,” Nate told her.
“I had a sandwich for lunch,” she said defensively.
“Twelve hours ago?” Alex growled, angry that she wasn’t taking care of herself and that he had no right to make sure she did.
“I wasn’t hungry,” she said. She turned her gaze from him to look at Sloan. “I’m sorry I ruined the scene, Sir.” There was a wobble to her voice that immediately made Alex want to take her into his arms. “I can get back into position now.” She tried to rise. Alex quickly grabbed her.
“Stay where you are,” he growled. “No more playing for you tonight.”