Free Marie Sexton - Between Sinners And Saints by Marie Sexton Page B

seemed so much younger. “Today’s my birthday,” he said. “So you’re five years younger now.” Levi reached the door to his room and maneuvered them through it, but when Jaime saw the bed, he panicked.
“ No! No, no, no!” He was suddenly struggling to break free, and it was all Levi could do to get him to the bed before he dropped him. Jaime scrambled backward on the bed until he was against the wall, his eyes wide with fear.
Levi backed up too, holding up his hands. “Jaime! I’m not going to touch you, okay? I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Jaime looked skeptical. And yet, there was a hint of hope in his eyes as well. He wanted to believe. He just didn’t know how.
“I won’t hurt you,” Levi said. “I promise. You can even lock the bedroom door if you want.” God knew he’d never had a man in his bed begging him not to touch him. It annoyed him just a little, but it also made him sad.
His comment about the door seemed to penetrate the haze of alcohol clouding Jaime’s brain. And the fear. He saw Jaime start to relax a bit. “Okay,” Jaime said with obvious reluctance.
“I’m going to go out of the room while you get undressed and get under the blanket, then I’ll be back.” It was funny to be saying those words to Jaime. It was usually the other way around.
He left the room, closing the door behind him. He hoped Jaime wouldn’t fight him any more. He certainly wasn’t in any state to drive himself home. He went to the kitchen and refilled Jaime’s glass of water and stopped in the bathroom to raid the medicine cabinet. When he got to the bedroom, he knocked softly and got no response. For a moment, he worried Jaime had somehow slipped past him and left the apartment, but when he opened the door, he saw he’d done what Levi said. His clothes were folded in a neat pile on the chair, and he was in the bed with the covers pulled up to his chin.
Levi put the glass of water and the things from the bathroom on the bedside table. “I brought you water, some ibuprofen, and an Alka-Seltzer.”
“I don’t want them.”
“You will in the morning.”
“Levi,” Jaime said. His voice was soft, and Levi could tell he was already half asleep. His eyes had already drifted closed. “You can’t protect me.”
Levi resisted the urge to reach out and touch those soft strawberry-blonde curls. He didn’t answer, but what he thought was, Just watch me. “Goodnight, kid.” He started to leave, but turned in the door. “Do you want me to lock it?” he asked.
It took Jaime a moment to answer. “No,” he said at last, sounding as if his own answer confused him.
“Okay. If you’re gonna be sick, try to make it to the bathroom, okay?”
“Yeah.” Jaime sighed, his eyes still closed. “I think I like your bed.”
The feelings those words stirred in Levi were unlike anything he’d ever felt. Arousal, yes. And curiosity. He wanted to know what it would feel like to be in under the covers with Jaime. To feel his thin body curled up against him. But there was also a fondness—a protectiveness and a gentleness—that was new.
“I just wish…” Jaime started, but then let his words trail away.
Levi half hoped Jaime would say he wished he would sleep in the bed with him, but he knew it was unlikely. “You wish what?” he asked quietly.
“Levi,” Jaime said, “I wish you didn’t smell so damn good.”

CHAPTER 9
    There were no bad dreams that night. Although Jaime’s dreams were jumpy and frantic and confusing, at least there was nobody trying to hurt him. Somehow, he felt…not safe. That wasn’t quite it. He barely even knew what the word meant. But he was a little less scared. For once.
    He woke at two in the morning and did manage to make it into the bathroom before being violently ill. The next two-and-a-half hours were spent sitting on the bathroom floor with his head on the toilet seat, swearing to God and the universe and whoever else might be listening that he would never drink again. Finally,