A Shock to Your System (Dangerous Creatures #2) by Mandy Rosko Read Free Book Online

gave away that she had
liked doing that to him. Who knew how many people she’d done it to
before getting caught. An ability that wasn’t exactly like a
vampire or a werewolf; it wasn’t obvious to the people around her
unless she used it out in the open.
    Ethan thought of Jamie just then, imagining
him in Allison's place. Jamie as the torturer, letting currents of
high-powered electricity shock through his victim like a taser.
Ethan pictured Jamie with that same desperate need for revenge.
Abuse happened in the labs, but it wasn't common. The paranormals
were fed and clothed even as they were studied. They were kept safe
from themselves and everyone else.
    But if Jamie had ever been made to feel as
Allison had, would he have been driven to the same kind of
reaction? Ethan tried to picture it, and even when he got the
visual, it didn't feel like something Jamie could do. It didn’t
fit. Jamie wouldn’t torture another person.
    But he had still sucked the power out of
several city blocks, even if—according to Jamie—that had been a
complete accident. Could he then accidentally hurt someone?
    Jamie had apparently gotten tired of Ethan’s
silence. “So, you’re fine? Is there blood coming through your
bandages?”
    The man leaned in to have a look. Ethan
pulled the covers back as fast as a shy virgin, before he could see
anything.
    “ Fine. I’m fine,” Ethan
said, clearing his throat.
    Jamie gave him a look.
    “ I’m seriously fine,”
Ethan said, pleased with how controlled he kept his voice this
time.
    Jamie eyed him for a little while longer
before shrugging and sitting back down. “Okay, but you'd better be
grateful.”
    "For what?" Ethan asked.
    Jamie’s arms were crossed and one of his
ankles was over his knee. He turned away from Ethan, frowning at
the browning floral wallpaper.
    He was always a little extra sexy when he
was irritated. “Jamie, for what?” Ethan asked again.
    Jamie stared at him with wide eyes just
then. "Seriously? How about for dragging your ass out of there, and
then bringing you here so I could stitch you up. I've never given
stitches to anyone before in my life. It was so gross. I'm never
going to look at you the same way again."
    Ethan had already figured he'd been stitched
up. He'd felt them pull as he laughed.
    Ethan had planned on stitching himself with
the first aid kit in his truck. Jamie must've found it and taken
matters into his own hands. While he was grateful for the medical
care, hearing that Jamie had never stitched another person before
made Ethan want to get a look at exactly what the man had done to
him.
    He lifted the blanket again and reached down
to the bandages on his chest and stomach. They were tight, but he
still managed to lift them enough to get a look at the stitch
work.
    "It's not bad," he said, genuinely impressed
before looking up at the man, who still wasn't looking back at him.
"Thought you never did it before?"
    Jamie shrugged. "I didn't, but I've taken
some first aid classes, and watched enough videos online, in case I
ever needed to tend to myself."
    Ethan’s heart muscle actually felt like an
invisible hand had squeezed it when he heard that. Jamie said it so
casually. Of course he had expected to be injured at some point in
his life, and be unable to go to a hospital for treatment.
    Ethan didn't know what to say to that, so he
turned his attention back to his wounds. Better to focus on the
physical pain, than to think of Jamie and feel his heart do more of
that painful squeezing.
    He checked as much as he was able to without
stretching the bandages too much or taking them off altogether.
    The stitches were neat and clean. Ethan
still winced at the mess Allison had made of his flesh. Even
without seeing it all, he could feel it. The way Allison had cut
him open was going to leave him with crooked scars, and he could
even make out a few stretch marks where she had tried to rip him
open, but didn't have the chance before Jamie intervened.
    Jamie