Winter Magic (11 page)

Jasper chuckled and continued to wash himself. Without all the dirt and blood covering him, he was absolutely beautiful. The scruff covering his cheeks gave him a rugged quality Kole liked. The muscles of his biceps bulged, and his chest flexed as he continued to clean first his legs, then he feet. “I cannot tell you how good this bath feels right now.”

“Well, you look better.”

“Thanks. I think I’ve got a small scalp cut right at my hairline. Hurt like a bitch to wash, but other than that, I’m okay.” He wrung the rag out, and pulled the plug on the tub before turning on the faucet.

Kole couldn’t move. Rooted in his spot, he watched the water drain from the tub, leaving a sudsy Jasper in its wake. The man bent forward a bit, and a whimper threatened to spill from Kole’s lips while the guy rinsed himself off. Jasper’s sculpted ass tempted him beyond reason as water sluiced along his skin from the detachable showerhead.

“Towel?”

“Huh? What?” Kole dragged his gaze from the man’s derriere. “Oh right, a towel.” He walked to the cabinet in the nook across from the tub and pulled out one of his towels. “Sorry about that,” he muttered, turning his head when Jasper reached for it.

“Don’t worry about it,” he answered. Their fingers brushed, and a jolt of electricity sparked between them.

“I’ll get your dinner,” Kole said, averting his gaze.

“Hey, Kole?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re pretty cute when you blush.”

So preoccupied with not to staring at the naked man in his bathroom, Kole hadn’t felt the heat in his cheeks, nor noticed the hairs at his nape standing on end until Jasper pointed it out.

“Uh,” he chuckled, “shit. Sorry. Look, get dressed. If you can’t make it, crash on my bed. I don’t mind. I can take the guest bed.”

“Sure thing. Thanks again.” He reached out, and their fingertips touched. “You know, for saving my life.”

“You got it.”

In the twenty minutes it took to warm the soup and grab a few drinks for Jasper, the guy had passed out face-first on his bed. Kole cursed and covered him with one of the throws his sister had insisted he keep. He then left the bottles of water and juice on the bedside table.

Kole stood by the end of the bed and watched him. A part of him felt like a stalker, leering at the injured man. The other part of him stared at the man in wonderment. A mate, how or why didn’t seem important to Kole. Max took off. If Kole claimed Jasper, oh well. Max could suck donkey dick for all he cared.