Read Online Stepbrother Romance 3 - Addicted: A New Adult Alpha Billionaire Romance by Tawny Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

clear water with a new respect. “I didn’t know what was wrong.” My teeth chattered, making my words sound funny. “You wouldn’t move.”
    I didn’t know what I would have done if he fell ill. Suddenly, being out here, in the boonies, alone with Kent felt a whole lot riskier. And not just because of our bet.
    “Couldn’t move. We need to get out of these wet clothes,” Kent suggested.
    “There you go again,” I said, trying to lighten the mood a bit so I wouldn’t panic. “Looking for an excuse to get me out of my clothes.” I rolled my eyes.
    Kent laughed, sat up, and fumbled with his pack. His hands were working, but he moved a little clumsily, his movements jerky. I was hugely relieved he was alive but still worried. He needed to get warmed up.
    He unzipped his pack, producing a flimsy silver sheet. “Here,” he said, handing it to me. “Take off those clothes and wrap up in this.”
    “You’re kidding, right? I mean, it isn’t that cold out here. I’m sure I’ll be okay.” Leavng my clothes on, I wrapped the thin reflective blanket around my shoulders, surprised by how much warmer I felt. “Besides, only my pants are wet. You’re wet from head to toe.”
    He closed his pack and threaded an arm through one of the straps.
    “Aren’t you going to take off your clothes? And where’s your space blanket? You need one more than me.”
    “I only brought one. Didn’t think we’d need more.”
    I pulled it off and handed it to Kent.
    He refused, waving a trembling arm. “No, you keep it.”
    I sent him some don’t-make-me-kick-your-ass mean eyes. “Take it, dammit.”
    He trundled away. Stubborn bastard. “No.”
    I wadded the blanket up in my hands and shoved it at him.
    It fell on the ground but I refused to pick it up.
    Kent signed. “Shayne.”
    “Don’t ‘Shayne’ me. You were immersed up to your neck. Wrap the damn blanket around yourself or I’ll kick your ass.”
    “I’d like to see you try.” His purple-tinted lips curled into a cocky grin. But he snatched up the blanket and did as he was told. “Happy?”
    I tried very hard to hide my shivering. “Yes.”
    “Good.” He waved a shaky arm. “Let’s get back to the house.”
    I clamped my lips and swallowed a sarcastic comment about who was calling it quits early. I didn’t need to bruise Kent’s fragile man-ego. I knew he’d try to continue on if I did.
    There was always tomorrow.
    It seemed to take a lot less time going back. Even so, by the time we reached the house, my pants were dry and I wasn’t cold anymore. Kent, on the other hand, was still wet. It appeared the blanket held the wetness in. Before stepping inside, he stripped off all his clothes but his pants. Then he cranked on the heat, lit a massive inferno in the fireplace, and bundled himself up in multiple layers from head to toe.
    Gradually the color returned to his golden-brown skin, to my relief. An hour later, he was still shivering, even though the heat was almost unbearable. The fire in the fireplace that was so hot I couldn’t sit near it without breaking out in a sweat.
    Several hours later, things weren’t much better.
    Kent didn’t act like himself for the rest of the day. He cooked dinner but didn’t eat. After dinner, he sprawled on the couch, a heavy quilt wrapped around him. The television was on but he didn’t look at it.
    Getting worried, I placed my hand on his forehead.
    It was hot. Very hot.
    “You have a fever,” I informed him.
    “I’m fine. Just chilled from the water.” He snugged the quilt tighter around himself.
    My insides twisted and a massive chill rushed through my body. “No, you’re sick.”
    “I don’t get sick,” the sick man proclaimed.
    “Evidently you do. Because you are.” I glanced out the window. Trees. That’s all I saw. Trees. And mountains. How far were we from civilization? I had no idea where the nearest doctor was. Or hospital. What if he got worse? What would I do? I didn’t have a car. No