Free IslandAffair by Cait Miller Page B

urging
him to move faster. John thrust him toward the pavement as the car whooshed by
with the stench of hot oil and diesel fumes. Robin stared after it stupidly,
not quite comprehending what had just happened.
    “That bastard just missed us!” John snarled as he glared
after the disappearing taillights.
    Robin fought against the cotton wool in his brain. He tasted
metal in his mouth and lights sparked around John’s head. Belatedly he
recognized the warning signs.
    John.
     
    John turned quickly as his lover wailed, reaching helplessly
as the other man collapsed, body rigid, back arched severely. He rushed to his
side, grateful for the jeans and long-sleeved shirt that would protect Rob’s
arms and legs from the unforgiving concrete. He took off his sweater and rolled
it up to put it under his head.
    Around twenty seconds passed and he was beginning to grow
worried at the blue tinge of his partner’s face when he suddenly relaxed and
took a rasping breath. A few seconds passed before his muscles began to clench
and relax in rhythmic jerks accompanied by choking gasps. John waited
helplessly. A few people passed by on the other side of the road but they
either didn’t see them or didn’t want to be involved because they walked on
without pausing.
    A few endless minutes later the seizing stopped and Robin’s
body became still and silent, his breathing taking on the more natural rhythm
of sleep. John wiped his face gently and turned him onto his side.
    “Rob. Can you hear me, leannan ?” He waited a moment
and gave Robin’s arm a gentle squeeze. “C’mon, Rob. Time to wake up.”
    His own hands shook in reaction to the last few minutes.
Robin’s seizure had been more violent and distressing than he had thought. At
least he now knew where all the fresh bruises came from. Seeing a loved one go
through such a powerful event was hard and he tried to hold on to the knowledge
that Rob would be fine. Wouldn’t even remember it happening.
    He pulled Robin’s head onto his lap and tucked his sweater
around him. Occasionally a car passed, driving slowly as the driver
rubbernecked. John thought with renewed anger about the one that had just
missed them. It came at them fast, but was it deliberate? Either way it needed
to be reported. He dug his cell phone out of his pocket and called the police.
Rob started to show signs of waking before they arrived. Something in John
relaxed as a little color returned to his face and he started to move
restlessly. He moaned and lifted a hand to his head.
    “Rob?”
    “Head hurts,” he mumbled.
    “Open your eyes for me, babe.” Robin’s hazel eyes blinked
open obediently, face clouded with confusion. There was no recognition in his
eyes as Rob started to shake hard.
    “Happened?”
    “You had a seizure. Everything’s okay.” John stroked Robin’s
head. “Come on back to me, leannan .”
    “John?” He lifted his head a bit and groaned. “Ah fuck.”
    “Just lie still for a minute. How do you feel?”
    “Sore. Christ.” He groaned softly. “Where are we? How long
was I out?”
    “About ten minutes. We’re still in the street. Do you
remember the car?”
    “No.” Robin frowned.
    “It almost hit us. I called the police, they should be here
any minute.” As he spoke he saw the cruiser turn onto the road. This time when
Robin tried to sit up John didn’t stop him.
    In typical small-town fashion the officers knew Robin and
hadn’t needed to ask many questions. Instead they offered him a warm place to
sit while they spoke to John. It only took a few minutes for them to take a
statement and assure him they would look out for the car. Unfortunately the
license plate number came back as stolen so there wasn’t much else they could
do. John thanked them for their time, and accepted their offer of a ride to
Robin’s apartment.
    His partner was asleep again by the time they arrived but
this time he woke easily and stumbled upstairs to the apartment. John followed
him into