Rough [02] - Roughhousing by Laura Baumbach

Author:Laura Baumbach [Baumbach, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gay, Gay Men, Fiction, Erotica, Erotic Stories, Gay Couples, Architects
ISBN: 9781608204328
Google: 8RoCPwAACAAJ
Amazon: 1608204324
Publisher: MLR Press
Published: 2007-01-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

James’ return to consciousness was neither pleasant nor voluntary. An insistent voice nudged at the edge of his consciousness, coaxing and cajoling him, calling out his name again and again. It was irritating. The voice wasn't unpleasant, just unrelenting. A woman's voice, firm and commanding, but with a kind undertone that made James think she wouldn't really mind if he ignored her for a little while longer. A sudden, brisk, painful knuckle-rub over his sternum chased away that little fairy tale.

"James? Jim?” The insistent voice was joined by the irritating rub.

James heard himself groan. The rubbing stopped, but the voice continued to nag at him. “All right! Signs of life.” He could actually hear the sense of accomplishment in the voice. “Can you open your eyes for me, Jim?"

His lips felt tight, immovable, while each eyelash had turned into a heavy weight holding his eyes shut. Bright lights danced across his vision. He raised a hand and it flopped down over his eyes to block out the spotlight, but harsh pinpoints of glaring light remained. He rubbed the back of his hand over his face and realized his eyelids weren't even open. Great. No relief in sight. The fireworks display was inside his head.

"Jim? Answer me."

He groaned again and found the strength to correct her. “'ames."

'Jim’ was his father and he would never be that man. He ran his dry tongue over even drier lips and tried again. “Not Jim. James."

"Okay. James it is. Can you open your eyes for me, James? I want to get a look at your eyes. Need to check your pupils.” The voice was close by.

James felt the warmth of a body standing at his shoulder. A cool hand touched his cheek before it moved up to pry open an eyelid. A laser beam of pain flashed across his eye once then again at the other. He flinched and jerked, but stopped when the top of his head threatened to explode. He moaned and swore softly, frozen in place by a burst of pain and nausea. The hand held him in place and the beam of light obediently followed his movements.

"Okay. Sluggish, but they're equal and reactive. That's good.” The hand released him and the sharp light disappeared. “You're lucky. The CAT scan of your head was negative. Looks like you'll be all right in a couple of days."

"Wha'?” The sudden hum of an electric motor buzzed beside his head and something squeezed his arm until it pinched, beeped, and then released him. Nothing made any sense.

Despite the rising nausea, James needed to see where he was and who was talking to him. He raised his head up and looked around the semi-darkened room to find himself in a totally new and strange environment.

It took a few moments for it to register that he was in a hospital emergency room lying on a hard, uncomfortable stretcher. A lumpy pillow cushioned his aching head and a thin, coarse blanket covered him from toes to mid-chest. His shoes were missing.

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