Bound for Keeps (Men of Honor) by SE Jakes Read Free Book Online Page B

cupcakes. He glanced between the box, and Keith and wondered how the man knew, why he was so prepared. “Did I ask for these before?”
    Keith didn’t answer that, instead asked, “What the hell happened to you?” probably for the thousandth time. Shane had lost count. And he told the same story every time, knowing Keith was listening for inconsistencies.
    “Told you, I got rolled.” Fuckers jumped him when he was down, and although he managed to knock two of them out, a third had gotten away with his bag. He’d found it abandoned a few blocks away, because it only contained clothes and he didn’t feel like picking his crap out of the garbage.
    He’d been in a truck traveling northeast ten minutes later. And he didn’t want to think about any of that, what he left behind, what might be coming for him. In the eye of the storm, he was protected and cracked ribs or not, suspicious Marine on his six, he was safe for the moment.
     
     
    Keith watched Shane eat two cupcakes in a row and unwrap a third. They were Reed’s favorite and they appeared to be Shane’s as well, although to be fair, he seemed like an equal opportunity sugar whore.
    But the chocolate couldn’t heal Shane, and he was still breathing shallowly, which was the reason the pneumonia hit him so hard. Now, he touched Shane’s side again, lightly, pretending not to notice Shane jump at the touch, pretending not to see the shiver go through his body and the goose bump trail, even though Keith’s hands were warm.
    Interesting, and Keith cursed himself for being interested at all. He forced himself to focus on the injury instead. The bruising was yellow now, making the contusions looking uglier as they spread along his ribcage and lower back.
    “It’s healing nicely, don’t you think?” Shane asked sarcastically with a mouthful of cupcake.
    “I think they were broken.”
    “Not,” Shane offered as helpfully as possible through the chocolate. Keith wanted to smile but bit it back. Because this kid was goddamned fucking charming him by just being himself, despite the fact that he was still closed off about his past and pretending he just happened to show up on their doorstep by sheer luck.
    Well, that last part might be the truth, but everyone who came here was running from something. That’s just the way it was.
    “You’re enjoying those cupcakes—I would’ve brought more, had I known.”
    “Next time, two boxes would work. Milk woulda been good with these, but this will do,” Shane mumbled as he washed down another cupcake with the rest of the soda. All that caffeine would fight with the narcotics Keith had given him, but the pain pills were strong enough to win. Keith took the wrappers and can as Shane got himself comfortable and wondered when he’d voluntarily turned into a nursemaid for a man who wouldn’t answer the simplest of questions.
    At least he’d dropped the amnesia routine.
    Shane murmured, “Thanks,” and touched his hand to his cheek for a moment, rubbing the way Keith had been. He couldn’t help it—Shane looked so damned peaceful and handsome.
    “Welcome,” Keith said, hearing the gruffness in his voice again.
    Shane pulled the pillow over his face now, burrowing under it so he could escape the light. Keith recognized it as habit. He wanted to ask Shane another question but he could see by the deep, easy breaths that he was already asleep.
    That was definitely a military habit.
    “Is he all right?” Reed asked and Keith forced himself not to jump guiltily, but he was caught just the same.
    “Fine.” He turned and brushed past Reed with the garbage in his hands. “He’s eating chocolate at an alarming rate. He’s more of a sugar addict than you are.”
    Reed frowned at the box of cupcakes, since there was only one left. He snagged it, unwrapped it and stuffed half of it in his mouth like Shane was going to jump up and eat it out from under him at any moment. “I’m going to have to start hiding my stash,”