Skinless

Chapter 9

"Gasoline finished them off," I told Chris. His eyes were staring at the ceiling as he lay motionless in the hospital bed. The doctors assured me he was awake and listening, but the bulk of his functionality wouldn't return for another twelve hours. I was happy that my right arm had begun to feel like my own again. "I wanted them to add a match and let the things burn, but they thought it a little extreme. You were right about the cold. They were using Willard's body heat to keep warm and mobile. It was awful when they opened his coat. Half his skin was missing. Those things kept him alive, his warmth was shielded by their numbers. He needed the creatures as much as they needed him."

"Didn't take you long to get me naked?" Chris said. His gravelly words surprised me. I expected Chris to be immobile through the night.

"Wasn't as exciting as I hoped," I quipped. Chris smiled, and his eyes crinkled in that appealing way. It was hard to think logically when he did that. I reached out and grabbed his hand, which lay atop the hospital sheets. "Doc says you're going to be here overnight." I was surprised when he weakly squeezed back.

"I heard him," Chris said, "I also heard you say that you'd stay."

"Someone had too."

"No one had too," Chris said, confusing me with his smile. "Do you take your gun when you go on a date?"

"Do you always change the topic of conversations?"

"It's an annoying habit I'm told," Chris said. "My brain is always working on something and lately that's you. I like how you try not to smile. Your lips stiffen in the most beautiful way, almost like you're afraid of letting them go."

"You're flirting from a hospital bed," I pointed out, stiffening my lips. "We almost died in the most disgusting way, and you're still trying to pick me up."

"Is it working?"

I smiled, finally letting my lips free. Leaning forward, I skipped over the rest of the silly banter and tested Chris' lips with mine. They were lovely.