Page 102 of Vespertine

Nicky looked pale when they finally stepped out of theshower, and Jasper wrapped his towel around his own hips before taking Nicky’sfrom his hands.

“You sure you’re okay?” Jasper asked gently.

“Actually, I don’t know. I feel a little dizzy and weird. Iwas feeling okay in the shower. I don’t know what this means, I can’t—” He tooka shuddery breath.

“Okay,” Jasper said. The water had been pretty hot so maybeNicky’s blood pressure had dropped. He pressed the towel to Nicky’s arms andsoaked up the water. “It’s okay. Let me look after you now. Lift your arms.”

In silence, Jasper dried Nicky, taking care not to missanything. When Nicky’s hair and torso were done, Jasper sank to his knees anddried Nicky’s high-arched, bony feet. A gentle touch to his hair made him gostill and look up.

“I like you on your knees for me,” Nicky whispered. His eyeswere tired but ardent in his pale face.

The burst of heat on Jasper’s cheeks was so violent it madehim sway. “I-I like being on my knees for you,” he admitted and looked down ina hurry. He rubbed Nicky’s calves, knees, and inner thighs. He hesitated, butNicky spread his legs like it was nothing.

Jasper wasn’t ashamed of his body, but he had trainedhimself not to think about it for so long. Everything about Nicky being nakedright in front of him was making him shivery and weak. He dabbed the towel onNicky’s groin, over his balls and along his penis. Nicky turned around, and Jasperdried his ass and a few forgotten droplets in the small of his back. Which waswhen he noticed Nicky was trembling, but not like he was cold—like he washurting.

“Nicky?”

“It’s okay,’” Nicky said. “I’m fine. I think I reallyoverdid it. Everything kind of hurts and I’m tired.”

“Maybe your blood pressure’s a bit low and it’s been hours sincewe ate. With the swimming and the sun and the—” Jasper felt a littlelightheaded too. “And the sex, it’s only normal that you’d be feeling bad. Thelasagna will be ready by now. Let’s go eat.” He rose to his feet, dried himselfhaphazardly, and hung their towels away. Nicky gave Jasper a pair ofboxer-briefs and smirked when Jasper wrestled himself into them.

“Tight?”

“A little.”

Nicky grinned.

Their clothes were where they’d left them in the kitchen andJasper only pulled on his shorts since he’d warmed up again. Nicky put on hisold, soft Candy-O tour T-shirt and some track pants, and then disappeared intothe living room to come back with a thick cardigan that must’ve belonged to hisdad.

“Sexy,” Jasper said.

“Oh, so one afternoon of fucking and you’re an expert now?”Nicky’s voice was a snarl, not a tease at all.

Jasper froze with his hands stuck halfway in a pair of ovengloves. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m…did I do something wrong?” Nickywouldn’t look at him. The tremors seemed to be getting a lot worse and he hadhis head buried in his hands. “Nicky?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I feel really off.I think I’m just hungry.”

Jasper tried to smile but it didn’t feel real. “Yeah,” hesaid. “Take a seat. Your blood sugar must be really low. We’ll get you fed.” Hepushed away the unreasonable hurt in his chest and took the lasagna out of theoven.

While it cooled, he filled tall glasses with water—thenrefilled Nicky’s when he drained it in one go—took out plates and cutlery, andalmost suggested a bottle of wine. He hunted around the kitchen until he foundMrs. B’s spatulas and filled two plates with fragrant pasta and cheese. Slidingthe plate across the breakfast bar toward Nicky, he took a seat beside him,smiling with happy anticipation.

“I don’t know what it is about your mom’s cooking,” Jaspersaid around his first mouthful, “but it’s the absolute best.”

Nicky stabbed at his plate but didn’t eat anything. Jasperput down his fork. “What’s going on? You’re not okay, are you?” Nicky yawned sohard his jaw cracked, and Jasper reached out to still his nervously twitchinghand. “Talk to me, please.”

“I don’t know. I feel crappy. I’m hungry but my stomach isall knotted up.” Nicky shook all over and he cursed softly. “Like sick to mystomach. Like I might be getting the flu. I hope I didn’t make you sick.I—fuck—” Nicky shivered so violently his fork fell from his hand and clatteredto the plate.

“Nicky! What’s wrong?”

Nicky’s teeth began to clatter again, like they had whenthey’d stepped out of the water. “Shit!” He bent forward and pushed away fromthe counter, chair screeching over the tiles. Clutching at his stomach, hegasped for breath, and Jasper’s heart hammered in his chest. He jumped to hisfeet and groped for his phone as he put a protective arm around Nicky’sshoulder.

“Lie down on the floor, I’m calling 911. Maybe this is somebelated reaction to nearly drowning. I saw a YouTube video about it. Drydrowning or something—”

“No, don’t call 911. I’m fine.” Nicky struggled out of thecardigan, and Jasper wondered if he had a fever. His brow was damp and hot. “Shit.”Nicky clutched his upper arm.

“Does your left arm hurt? Oh my God, are you having a heartattack?”

“No. It’s not that.” Nicky moaned and shivered. “Don’t callanyone.”