“Thank you,” Casper said as he took them and slipped them between his lips. He washed them down with the tea and his mind wandered back to the iPad. He threw it because his leg was killing him and there was nothing he could do but let it happen or let Hawk cut it off. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“You’re running out of time and I’m not going to stay and put up with your abuse for no damn reason,” Hawk warned then went back to sipping his tea. Why do I hate the thought of him leaving more than dying? Casper pushed the question away and reminded himself that there was a big difference between wanting to fix Casper’s leg and actually caring about him. And he’s never going to want you.
“Why would you?” Casper asked then drained his cup so he could be done with the whole thing. He tossed them at the foot of the bed and fell back on the pillows. “Go do something else,” he said as he pulled the quilt over his head and rolled so he was facing the wall.
“I will but I’ll be right over here, if you want to talk about it,” Hawk said wearily as he got up and went to his bed.
Chapter 10
“We had a deal, Casper!” Hawk yelled as he hid behind the door. “I let you work in your lab for half the day and then you take a bath and let me check out your leg and your hip.”
“I changed my mind,” Casper announced.
“That’s not how deals work. I held up my end, now you let me help you with a bath.”
“I don’t want to take a bath.”
“What are you, six? Do you want another infection and to make my life more miserable? I have to smell you,” Hawk scolded.
“I smell fine.”
“Now. But that’s a maintenance kind of thing and I’d like to keep this as pleasant as possible.”
“I’ll take one tomorrow.”
“No. We need to be talking about operating in the next day or two not negotiating baths,” Hawk said and swung around the door. He dove to avoid a metal rack then ducked as a Petri dish flew at his face. “Stop it!” He ordered as he pointed but Casper hissed as he lobbed a Bunsen burner at Hawk. “Hey! That was still lit!” He screamed then decided he’d had enough. He dodged left and right as he ran through the lab and Hawk extended his arm and clotheslined Casper, knocking him off his stool. Casper cackled as he was slammed onto the floor then held his hands up as Hawk’s fist pulled back.
“Fine! I’ll take a bath,” he wheezed and Hawk groaned as a fresh blister bubbled on Casper’s palm.
“Fuck! Couldn’t you go just a few hours without hurting yourself?” He bent and grabbed Casper’s other hand and yanked him to his feet.
“Probably not,” Casper murmured as he studied his palm.
“Damn it!” Hawk complained as he bent so he could carry Casper.
“No!” He cried but Hawk ignored him as he turned and hurried from the room. “You gave me the crutch so I could get around.” Casper pointed over Hawk’s shoulder but he snorted and shook his head.
“I’m thinking about tying you to the bed. I can’t fucking trust you,” he ground out and silently forbid himself from thinking about what he’d just said. Hawk kicked the bathroom door open and dumped Casper in the wheelchair. “Don’t move. I’m getting something to fix that hand and my gun. I’ll shoot you if you move as much as a finger,” he promised then stormed out before he strangled Casper. Hawk rushed into the bedroom and snatched his gun from under the pillow and pushed it into the back of his jeans then got nonstick gauze and ointment. He hurried back down the hall and into the bathroom and paused when he found Casper sitting in the wheelchair, just as he left him. “Huh. I was sure you’d be gone or waiting to throw the chair at me,” he said and Casper’s lip curled as he held up his hand and raised his middle finger.
“Can we get this over with?”
“Thank you. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to rip your clothes off again,” Hawk said then silently berated himself. Stop thinking about taking off his clothes and tying him to beds. “Fuck,” he whispered and clenched his jaw as he focused on cleaning and winding gauze around Casper’s hand. “Put your arms up and I’ll help you with your shirt,” he said, once Casper’s hand was securely wrapped. Casper held up his arms and Hawk was careful as he raised it and guided it over his head. It was tricky getting Casper’s left arm out because he couldn’t extend and straighten it completely. Hawk studied the crisscrossing scars and burns that wrapped around his arm and cringed. “You dislocated the shoulder and didn’t set it right. Did you break this?” He asked as he tested Casper’s elbow.
“Twice, at least,” Casper said and frowned at his bandaged palm. “It’s my good hand,” he noted then grinned at Hawk. “Which isn’t saying much. I can’t feel this but it still had all its fingers.” He looked at the left hand, with it’s blown off pinkie and ring finger. “Are you sure we can’t put the bath off for a few more days?”
“You might be dead by then.”
“Should make it a lot easier to get me into the tub,” Casper observed. Hawk’s tongue pushed against the inside of his cheek and he considered knocking Casper out again. He gave Casper a hard look as he went to the tub and started the water. Casper pulled himself up with the sink and Hawk looked away so he could push his boxers down. He didn’t mean to but Hawk caught the reflection of Casper’s ass in the mirror and silently swore. It would be fucking perfect.
“You can use one of the hand towels,” Hawk suggested.
“I’m ready,” Casper said and he was leaning against the sink, holding the towel over his groin. Hawk kept his eyes level with Casper’s as he crossed the floor and quickly scooped him up. Casper’s body tensed as he held his breath and Hawk felt a whiff of guilt as he lowered him into the tub.
“Sorry. I know you hate everything about this and I don’t blame you. I’m a terrible patient but I’ve never suffered anything worse than a broken bone or a bullet wound.”
“I can’t imagine why someone would want to shoot you,” Casper said as he shoved his un-bandaged hand in his lap so the towel wouldn’t float. Hawk laughed softly as he reached for the faucet and turned off the water.
“I’ll wash your hair. Do you think you can handle the rest?” He asked and Casper nodded but he was still pouting. “Here, lean back,” Hawk said and supported Casper’s neck as he obediently tipped back. Casper shut his eye as Hawk swept the water over his scalp and it was hard to breathe. Hawk’s fingers brushed through Casper’s hair and it spilled and billowed across the surface of the water like black ink. The unmarred side of Casper’s face was striking and he would have been a stunning man if his body wasn’t bent and mutilated. Hawk found himself tuning out the angry red glass eye and getting lost in Casper’s good eye, whenever they shared the rare calm moment. It was the palest silver blue and followed Hawk into his dreams. He recalled that he dreamt about Casper’s ass too and grimaced as he reached for the shampoo. He filled his palm and Casper pulled in a startled breath as Hawk’s fingers scrubbed the shampoo into his scalp, causing his back to arch. Casper was still on the wiry side but every muscle that wasn’t mutilated was tight and toned. “Are you alright?” Hawk asked. Casper kept his eye shut and nodded as he waved the bandaged hand.