Harrison mumbled something, but Jett couldn’t make it out. He began rambling as he checked the back of Harrison’s head and saw the massive gash.
They needed to get back to the housenow.
“I got you,” said Jett. The mysterious strength hadn’t left him yet, so he used it to sling Harrison’s arm over his shoulder and leveraged him onto his back.
The ice shifted loudly, but Jett was already on the move. Harrison was over two hundred pounds of deadweight, but he barely felt it as he trudged off the lake and back to the house. He didn’t know how long it would take for the ambulance to get there, but at this point, it felt like he’d called them hours ago.
His only thought was to get Harrison warm and dry. He clung to that goal as he exhausted his body to the point of breaking down. Rattlingbreaths against his neck spurred him on, because as long as Harrison was breathing, then Jett could endure anything.
With burning lungs and shaking legs, Jett stumbled onto firm ground. The snow was so much deeper in the cover of the trees, but he kept moving until he reached the porch steps.
“Almost there,” he told himself. “A few more steps and we’ll be warm.”
Harrison groaned into his neck and said nothing.
When he opened the door, heat smacked him in the face, making him cough. He staggered to the couch and laid Harrison down as gently as he could.
Jett’s mind was a mess of panic as he dragged the couch across the living room, his muscles trembling with both fear and relief. He positioned it as close to the fireplace as he could, and then dropped to his knees beside Harrison. His hands shook so badly he struggled to strip Harrison of his wet clothes, but once they were gone, and Jett had put more wood on the fire to bring it to life, he forced himself to stop and catch his breath.
He was alive.Harrison was alive.
He couldn’t believe this was happening. Fuck, why couldn’t he be dreaming right now?
Jett knew body heat would help, so he stripped and lay beside Harrison, touching him as much as he dared in fear of jostling broken ribs. He buried them in blankets and shivered from the cold temperature of Harrison’s skin.
“You’re an idiot,” Jett whispered, his lips brushing against clammy skin. “But you’re lucky you’re my idiot.”
A tremble went through Harrison’s body, followed by the harsh chattering of his teeth. His eyelids fluttered like they wanted to open, but they were still too heavy to lift. “Su-Sunshine? Where…?”
“I’m here.” Jett propped himself up so Harrison could see him, even if his eyes were squinted shut. “We’re safe. We made it home.”
There were sirens now—distant but growing louder. Help was coming, but Jett couldn’t help but feel dread. He curled his body around Harrison’s, knowing they would have to be separated soon.
“Home?” Harrison said faintly, like he was caught in a dream.
“Yeah,” said Jett, his voice catching on a hiccup. “You’re home.”
When Harrison smiled, tears stung Jett’s eyes, forcing him to blink so they could fall. He touched his lips to Harrison’s pale ones and held him close, scared that this would be the last kiss they shared.
Black lashes fluttered, and Harrison’s eyelids dragged open, revealing dull but stunning blue.
“Are you…an angel?”
Jett dropped his head onto Harrison’s chest and let out a sniffling laugh. “God, this is a stupid time, but will you marry me?”
“Marry…you?” Those words seemed to revive the man. “I’m going to marry you, Jett Fraser, but this isn’t…our proposal.”
Red and blue lights flashed through the window, strobing over the walls. Jett yanked the blanket up to cover their heads, trying to shield Harrison from the chaos.
“Let me treat you the way you deserve,” said Harrison, and his words began to slur. “I’m gonna romance the hell out of you…so yes, but not like this.”
“You got plans?” Jett guessed.
Harrison’s chuckle was raspy. “Bigplans.”
Feet clamoured up the stairs, and then there was someone banging on the door.
Harrison jumped, and Jett shushed him.
