Chapter 11

Ethan

She fell asleep a few minutes later as I sat in the seat next to her, steaming. I was so pissed at Deza for being an ass about me and Riley sharing ourselves with each other. Was it dangerous? Yes, but so was humping the next stranger I ran into when we got off the plane.

Why everyone had to complicate everything was beyond me.

Silver spoon. Anger burned through me, causing my skin to heat and a slight sheen of sweat to collect at my brow and above my lip. My parents hadn't been around enough for us to have spoons. It was a miracle that Liam and I not only made it out of our childhood alive, but that we made something of ourselves. We were nothing but tools to two money-hungry people with the hope of grandeur and more greed than anyone should have to bear.

"You okay? You're sweating." Frank pressed his shoulder to mine and watched me with concern.

"I'm good. Just not feeling too hot." I stood and smiled down at him. "Or maybe feeling too hot. Just a little fever I guess. I'll be okay."

"Let me know if you need me. Go splash your face with cold water." He gave me a fatherly smile and leaned back in his seat.

I glanced over at the girls to find Riley still asleep, looking like an angel, and Deza staring out the window.

"Hey. I'm sorry." I reached over Riley and brushed my fingers down D's shoulder. "I'm just tense with all the shit going on. You know I suck at change."

"I'm sorry too. Love you." She reached out and gripped my hand, brushing her cheek by it. "You running a fever?"

She started to get up, but I motioned for her to stay still.

"I'm good. Just a little hot is all. I'll be all right. Stay there." I turned and walked toward the back of the plane as I forced my anger and hurt back into the tight box I kept them in. It was no one's fault that I'd suffered some crazy shit as a kid. I'd almost take it all again to keep the relationship Liam and I had forged out of the madness.

A shiver ran through me as I walked into the moderate-sized bathroom and turned on the cool water. After splashing water on my face several times, I dropped down on the toilet and let my head fall back.

Deza was right. Offering myself to Riley was fucking stupid, but it didn't matter much. The pretty girl hadn't taken me up on it, nor had she mentioned it again. She was too focused on keeping her old life intact and moving into a new one. I couldn't blame her. I'd not have diverged from the path to reach super-stardom for anything a few years back. Now it felt like a ball and chain most days.

"Hey. You okay?" Riley's voice was filled with concern as she knocked on the door.

"Yeah. Just feeling a little feverish." I reached up and unlocked the door.

She opened it and moved to stand in the opening. "You look like shit."

I chuckled and closed my eyes. "Awesome."

"Well, you look incredible, but your looking like shit is someone else's best day." The sound of the water starting brought an odd calm over me.

"I'm fine." I blinked slowly as my heart slowed down a little. I was fine until she moved to squat in front of me. She was too close, the scene was too intimate. I could almost hear the porn music cued in the backdrop of my thoughts.

"You don't look fine." She reached up and ran the cold rag over my cheek as her face filled with concern.

"I'm good. I can do that." I wrapped my hand around hers and groaned as my stomach contracted painfully. Maybe I wasn't as good as I thought. "Get out."

I move up and knocked her over, not stopping to pick her up as I turned and pulled the toilet seat up as my breakfast came back up. I gripped the sides of the seat and groaned again as I moved down to my knees.

"Ethan. What can I do?" Her voice was so soft.

"Nothing." I wanted to care that the finest girl in my world was standing behind me while I barfed my guts out, but nothing mattered other than getting through the moment.

The brush of the soft rag against the back of my neck calmed me. I panted softly and sat back on my heels as she tugged at the bottom of my shirt.

"Take this off." Her voice drove a spike of desire past my sickness and caused the room to grow fuzzy.

"Trying to get me naked while I'm out of it, I see." I lifted my arms as she pulled the shirt off and knelt behind me. The soft swipe of the cold rag in her hand felt good against my hot skin. I pressed my arms to the toilet and rested my head against them.

"What happened? What's the matter?" Deza's voice was loud, aggravating.

I groaned again and lifted up to my knees to start another round of vomiting.

"He's not doing so well." Riley sounded worried.

It was odd to have her taking care of me. I'd long given up on finding anyone other than Deza and Liam that would be something special in my life. She was going to whittle her way down into my heart. I could tell that I wouldn't have a standing chance if she tried.

"Get out," I groaned again and swatted at them wildly. "Seriously. Fuck."

"I'm out. He turns into a diva when he's sick." Deza snorted.

"I'm not going anywhere, you ass. Just get it out and let me take care of you." Riley's fingernails dragged over my back.

I moaned and pressed my hands to my face as I tried to catch my breath. "That feels good."

"Good. Just breathe through your nose. Long, slow breaths." Her finger brushed down my spine followed by the cold rag as she pressed it open and coated my skin in its coolness.

"You're making me want to be nice all the time. Stop." I pursed my lips as my stomach revolted against the peace she was working to help me find.

"Stop being cheeky and breathe. You can be an ass when we get out of here and you're feeling better."

I wanted her arms around me. Wanted to feel her lips against my ear and the soft press of her cheek against my skin. I wanted more than I should have wanted. It was unfair to either of us to even give voice to my needs or her desires. To mix the two would be explosive in the moment, and then much like a bomb going off, we would be left with the aftermath to clean up.

"I'm better." I sat back again and blinked through the haze around me. "Can you get me a sprite or water?"

"Of course." She stood up and walked out of the bathroom as I sagged against the wall to my left. "Here. Small sips."

I took the drink and moved back to my ass. "Thank you."

"Of course." She leaned over and flushed the toilet before kneeling beside me again. Her pretty pink top accentuated the feminine features I'd come to enjoy seeing. Her little button nose and luscious full lips. Caring blue eyes and flawless skin.

I reached out and brushed the back of my fingers down the side of her face as I lifted the cup to my lips. "Tell me Jace isn't your man. Lie to me."

"Hush. Don't start this Casanova shit again." She picked up the wet towel beside the sink and moved closer, wiping at the side of my face. "You're just not feeling good."

"True, but still. You deserve a good man."

"Do those exist?" She gave me a cheeky grin and fuck if I didn't want to reach out and pull her into my lap. I felt like hell was waging war on my stomach, but kissing her sounded like the best-laid plan I could devise. She's taken care of me. I wanted to return the favor.

"I'm not sure to be honest." I took the towel from her and pressed it to my head. "I think I'm good. Honestly. Thank you for taking care of me."

"We promised each other that we would protect the other. This is just an extension of that, right?" She moved back and stood up before offering her hand. "Let me help you up."

"I'm too big." I set my sprite on the counter above me and gripped the side of the sink.

She huffed at me. "You are not. Give me your damn hand, you lug."

"See. You just called me a lug." I gave her my hand and let her half pull me up. The room spun, and I reached out and gripped her arm with my free hand. "Fuck. I have no clue what I ate, but never again."

"Come on. Let's get you back in your seat." She pulled me out of the bathroom and wrapped her arm around the back of my waist, letting me lean on her a little.

"How the hell did that go from bad to worse so fast?" I mumbled and sat down in my seat as Frank stiffened next to me.

"What's wrong? Did you get sick?" He took the sprite from Deza, who must have gone to get it for me.

"I'm good. Just something I ate." I leaned back and reclined my chair. "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when we get there."

"Rest up. We're not doing anything today, but I do want us to have a mini-scene camp tomorrow before the big scene shooting gets underway. Nothing too crazy, but just a few things on technique and style, especially for you, Riley."

I waved my hand in the air to get him to shut up. "We'll get it down. Hush so I can rest. Hopefully whatever was fucking me up is over."

Riley pressed the wet cloth to my head as I glanced up at her and caught her wrist.

"Thank you. Seriously." I brought her hand to my mouth and kissed her wrist softly. "I needed that."

Her cheek turned pink as Frank grumbled next to me. I didn't care.

"Sure. Of course." She pulled her hand from me and walked to her seat, dropping down with a sigh. "Just get some sleep."

"Don't let Frank molest me. He's had the hots for me for years." I smiled as he laughed beside me.

"He's going to be fine. He's already acting like himself again."

Funny they would know what the real me looked like. I hadn't seen him in years, but for a moment in the bathroom, with Riley behind me, taking care of me... I almost felt him. Almost.