It hurt to look at him. Lines of pain etched shadows under his eyes. His beard stubble, though soft and pale, had grown into a patchy scruff. He was on NSAIDs and acetaminophen with narcotic analgesics allowed sparingly. I guessed that for him, time stretched far too long between pain pills.
It had become my habit to offer him tidbits of food over the course of the day. He could eat uncomplicated foods like grapes, string cheese, crackers, and so on with his right hand but still needed help with actual meals. Maybe he really was in pain and exhausted enough that using even his less injured arm for anything right now hurt. Or—I’d begun to suspect—he liked being fed. Specifically, he liked having me feed him.
After a talk with Alastair, Taggart said he made some minor modifications at my place for Sebastian’s comfort. I didn’t know what he’d done. Ariel had probably masterminded whatever it was.
I did know they’d turned my office into a bedroom for the time being, leaving the guest room and the master for Molly and Sebastian, respectively. I didn’t mind the smaller quarters. I could live comfortably in my RV.
I still worried that my cabin would be too spartan for someone like Sebastian, but I was sure if he complained, his father would move him to a more luxurious place.
All I wanted was for Sebastian to be comfortable and happy and cut off from a world that was using him as clickbait.
After takeoff, Sebastian moved to the aft of the plane, which was essentially a luxury bedroom for tired executives and mile-high sexcapades.
Molly and I had a hard time making him comfortable, even though he’d taken the narcotic pain medication in preparation for the flight.
Supporting his upper body and cushioning his arms seemed to be the key, but there was no good way to do that, and jostling him around trying new positions was doing more damage than good.
“Wait,” I said. “Help him sit up.”
Molly held him upright while I slid behind his back and bracketed him with my legs, providing a way for him to recline against my chest while she shifted pillows under his elbows to support his arms.
“Lean against me. That’s it.” I felt his body felt relax. It was much like the position he’d favored in his hospital bed. He gave a sigh of relief.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?” he asked. “Your legs are going to go dead.”
“You’re a slip of a thing. I’ll be fine.”
“Just so you know”—he gave a huge yawn—”I don’t normally treat people like furniture.”
“I’m trained to ‘improvise, adapt, and overcome,’ although honestly, making a TV star comfortable on a private jet was not in my remit.”
He turned his head toward me. “Sorry.”
“I’m just glad to be of service.” Speaking of which, Morrigan looked longingly at the two of us from the floor. “I think Morrigan’s asking for permission to board the USS Mile High, Captain.”
Sebastian snorted and made a couple kissy noises. Morrigan jumped on the bed and curled up by our feet.
“There. Everyone happy?” I asked.
“Mmhmm.” Now that he was comfortable, Sebastian fell asleep quickly. I’d hoped to get him to eat some fruit or a hard-boiled egg since he’d lost so much weight he couldn’t afford to lose, but he was already drifting.
“You’re really good at this.” Molly stood by the bulkhead, looking on like a benevolent goddess.
I shrugged while I fussed with the blankets. “I’ve dealt with sick people before.”
“You’re good with Sebastian, but I think maybe you’re just a really good guy in general. It makes me want to meddle in your private affairs, Stone.”
“What do you mean by that?” It never ceased to surprise me how forthright Molly could be.
“I’m only guessing, but I wonder if you understand Sebastian so well because you have unresolved issues from your past too. I’m a PA, not a therapist, but if there’s anything I can do to help you, anything you’d like to talk about with a friend, please let me know.”
“Thank you.” She nodded once and then went back to the main cabin.
“Molz is a brick,” Sebastian murmured sleepily.
I rested my head against the headboard. Sebastian didn’t snore exactly since his upper body was raised, but he whuffled. Little bursts of air puffed his cheeks adorably until his lips parted with a pop and a rush of breath.
I caught sleep in snatches here and there. Every so often Sebastian would try to turn, and I had to put my hands on his shoulders so he wouldn’t hurt himself. Each time, he muttered nonsense under his breath, fighting captivity, I guessed. I’d smooth my hand over his forehead, brush the hair off his face, and say something soothing like, “It’s okay, Sebastian. It’s just me. It’s Stone, and I’ve got you.”
After that, he’d quiet down for a while. I hoped that meant he trusted me—that he knew I was there for him, that I wanted to help—and he could rest easy with the knowledge I’d do whatever was necessary to protect him.
Hours passed, the plane landed, and the process of deplaning was like boarding in reverse. Two fit men came and took care of us, carrying Sebastian carefully down the stairs and transferring our luggage to a hired car, which took us to New World Wolf Sanctuary and deposited us at Ariel and Taggart’s doorway.
I couldn’t believe how glad I was to see them.
“Oh, Stone.” Ariel hooked one arm around my neck while cradling Artemis in the other. She pulled me in for a much-needed hug and held me there, giving me the deep connection I craved to the strength within her. “You look absolutely beat. Come into the living room with your guests.”
“Let me introduce you. Ariel, this is Sebastian Keye and his PA, Molly Braeburn.” Tag and I were so alike it probably wasn’t necessary, but I said, “That’s my brother Taggart behind her and the baby is Artemis Kivi Wilder, the newest member of the Wilder party. Gimme.”
“Not so fast.” Ariel pulled the baby away playfully. “Taggart, go help the driver put their things in Stone’s place. The rest of us can sit here and catch up while you help get things ready. I’ve made a fresh pot of coffee.”
“Coffee sounds amazing.” Sebastian followed her into the family room and let her fuss. She made him a nest in Tag’s oversized recliner and made sure all the animals knew he was off limits.
“No, Jitterbug!” She caught the cat when he tried jumping up. “Off.”
The rest of us arranged ourselves on a battered, blue, L-shaped couch and greeted Ariel’s menagerie—two huskies; the massive, grumpy Maine coon cat; and a bichon frise—as they caused mayhem around us. Morrigan always made herself at home closer to me than she normally did in Ariel’s house, I thought, because she felt like she was slumming it with the riffraff.
When Ariel brought coffee, she asked how Sebastian took his. To make it easier for him, she put it in a travel mug with a straw,
He smiled gratefully. “Thanks so much.”
Ariel caught his tiny wince and glanced at me, but I shrugged. Even his lightly fractured arm was bound to hurt for a while.
“Ariel.” I wasn’t above whining to get what I wanted.
“Fine. All right. You’ve been a good boy.” She finally handed me the baby. I took my first up-close look at my new niece, who was utterly perfect: skin soft as rose petals and eyes that were still the odd twilight shade that would change to the true color later on.