CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 20 Part 2 [Revised]

Tycho Black.

I JOLTED AWAKE, INSTANTLY CLOSING MY EYES when my retinas were seared with bright light. After giving them some time to adjust, I opened them again. I was still in the chair, and Alexei was still sleeping. The pain in my back and neck became known in that moment. Fuck, I shouldn't have fallen asleep.

My body had long since dried, so I raked a hand through my stiff hair in an attempt to look less bummy. I had a weird feeling it didn't work. I let out a low groan as I stretched my body, shaking out my spine like a dirty rug. It satisfyingly popped more than once. I took a fist and pushed it against the left side of my jaw softly, just enough to twist my neck and let that pop, too. I did the same to the right side, pushing my head to the left--

"Holy fucking shit, oh my--" I jumped a mile in my skin because standing in the doorway was the man, Riley, from yesterday, amusement tugging at his lips. He wasn't bothered by my jump or my cursing. He just smiled. He looked a bit too much like Louis when he did that.

He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, but his face didn't turn hostile when he addressed me. Surprisingly.

"Sorry, I just enjoy watching him sleep. I didn't want to disturb either of you, considering everything that happened yesterday," He spoke lightly to not rouse his... Boyfriend. I mentally cringed.

For a second, I didn't know what he was talking about, but it all came flooding back again. "Oh. Right," I looked away in shame, back to Alexei.

I heard Riley take a step forward, and my instincts almost took over. He isn't Jason. You're okay.

"Listen, I don't want to sugarcoat things with you. I'm not that type of person, and I have a feeling that you're not, either. We need to talk because a lot of things are going to change."

I turned around to face him. He had that same sympathy he had on his face yesterday. I resisted the urge to grit my teeth.

His eyes left mine and focused on my forehead. "Well, perfect timing, I guess. Your bandage needs changed, and I have another weird feeling that you're not much of a hospital person."

I kept my face low as I nodded. He nodded back. "C'mon. There's some first aid stuff in the bathroom."

I followed him out and down the hallway, and into a grand-schemed bathroom. The room was spotless, with White tile that matched the marble sinks. There were two, with a wide mirror in front of it and a large light above it. The bathtub, that was ten feet across the room mind you, was next to a large shower. Both were of similar design to the sink.

"Fuck..." I didn't mean to voice how stunned I was; it just slipped out.

Riley laughed. "You like it? I designed it myself."

"You're rich. As fuck." Forgive my bluntness.

Riley smiled. "I am. I'm extremely lucky to be in this position."

"I'm envious."

"I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "Don't be."

I looked around a bit more before Riley beckoned me over. He had that first aid kit he talked about and had another chair pulled up next to the tub. Why the fuck do these people have so many chairs?

"Sit," He instructed me to take a seat on the ledge of the tub. He had a small garbage can at his feet. I did as I was told, and he quickly got to work.

"So, Tycho, I'm curious." He unpeeled the old bandage from my forehead.

"About?"

"About you. You're a stranger, I'm a stranger; we're all strangers here. I think I'm gonna start seeing you more and more from now on, so I'd like to get to know you a bit." What the hell did that mean? 'Seeing' me more and more?