“What happened?”
Dar swallowed hard and then impatiently wiped her forearm across her eyes. “You reacted to that damn fucking sting.”
Kerry’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Ouch. Never did that before.” She felt another chill take her and she burrowed into Dar’s embrace, seeking warmth. Her arm ached, and she looked at it with a frown. “Ow.” She touched the sore spot.
“Sorry.” Dar shifted. “Had to stick you pretty fast.” She drew in a breath. “How about I get you into bed? Bet the covers’ll feel good.” Her voice sounded a little rough. “Should get you to the hospital on St. Johns.”
Hospital. Kerry’s nose wrinkled. Ick. “How ’bout we start with bed?” she conceded. “But only if you come in with me.”
“You’re in no position to be bargaining, Kerrison.” Dar’s tone had gentled, and Kerry could hear her heartbeat slowing down and steadying. “You need a doctor.” But she carefully stood up, letting out a little grunt of effort as she picked Kerry up and cradled her.
She walked slowly into the bedroom, turning sideways to get them both inside the door and then putting Kerry down on the bed.
Kerry gazed at her through half-closed eyes as Dar examined her. “Urmph.”
With a sigh, Dar unzipped the raincoat Kerry was still wearing and pulled it off. Then she drew the covers over her partner’s body, tucking them in carefully around her. The blonde woman’s skin still had an unhealthy tinge, and she was shivering. “We’re heading back,” Dar told her.
Kerry reached out and caught her hand, holding it. “Don’t leave me.”
Dar’s brows contracted. “Kerry, I’ve got to drive the boat.”
“Don’t leave me,” Kerry begged softly. “Please?”
Indecision seared its way across Dar’s face, as she found herself caught between two overwhelming urges. Her better sense was telling her to get Kerry to a doctor’s care. However, she knew St.
Johns was a long ride away, and by the time they got back there Kerry’s symptoms would most likely have faded.
“Let me get you something for your fever,” Dar temporized.
“And get those wet clothes off,” Kerry teased weakly. “We don’t both need to be sick.”
The coherence in her partner’s eyes reassured Dar immensely.
“Okay. Don’t go anywhere,” she warned, as she turned and eased out of the bedroom.
Terrors of the High Seas 169
“I won’t.” Kerry watched her go. She relaxed a little and pulled the covers more closely around her, relieved to feel her body starting to feel more normal. Her arm hurt where Dar had injected her, and the sting throbbed, adding that discomfort to her fever, but she could now breathe easily and all the feeling had returned to her hands and feet.
“Son of a biscuit,” Kerry remarked to the cabin ceiling. “That was not funny.” Not funny at all.
DAR WALKED INTO the galley and stood for a moment, then she slowly leaned on the counter and cradled her head in her hands.
Son of a bitch, she thought silently. Son of a fucking bitch, that was too close. With a sigh, she straightened, letting her hands drop to her sides. She felt completely drained and her legs were still shaky, but she forced herself to walk over and pick up the teapot. Hot tea would not do anything particularly medicinal, but she knew Kerry liked the beverage. Besides, it gave her something to do.
Dar filled the pot and put it on the galley stove, then opened the cabinet and removed a bottle of Tylenol. She shook out a couple of the tablets and set them down, then removed Kerry’s mug from its hook and put it down next to them. She studied the items, then shook out a few more tablets and palmed them, putting a little water in Kerry’s cup and using it to swallow down the pills. Then she turned and leaned on the counter, folding her arms across her chest as she waited for the water to boil.
The dampness against her forearms reminded her she’d forgotten to change. With a sigh, Dar pushed off the counter and walked over to where their bags were still resting on the table. She unbuttoned her shirt and removed it, draping it over the chair, then pulled off her sports bra, wincing at its clammy dampness. Dry clothes felt good against her skin, and she felt a lot warmer as she crossed back over to the galley and poured the boiling water over the herbal tea ball she’d placed in Kerry’s cup. Steam rose, carrying with it the scent of blackberries. Taking a small jar of honey from the refrigerator, she drizzled some into the cup and carefully stirred it.
When she was satisfied that it was perfect, she picked up the Tylenol, tucked a water bottle under her arm, and secured the teacup. With a glance around the cabin, she headed back for the bedroom, entering the door and sweeping her eyes over the bed with badly hidden anxiety.
Kerry was right where she’d left her, curled on her side with her arm wrapped around her pillow. Her eyes were half open, watching the door, and they widened as Dar entered.
“Ah. There you are.”
170 Melissa Good
“Here I am,” Dar agreed, setting her burden down on the bedside table. “How are you feeling?”
“Feeling like I want my Dar.” Kerry reached out and fingered the soft cotton of Dar’s shorts.
Dar sat down on the edge of the bed and put her hand on Kerry’s forehead. It was warm to the touch, and her color was still definitely off. “Sit up a minute and swallow these.” She helped Kerry sit and handed her the pills, then uncapped the water bottle and held it while Kerry suckled a mouthful, then swallowed.
“Thanks.” Kerry leaned against her. “Jesus, I feel like hot boiled trash.”
“Hm.” Dar put her arm around her. “I bet.”
Kerry shivered. “That was really scary.”
“Oh yeah.” Dar picked up the cup of tea and offered it to her. “I was scared.”
Kerry cradled the cup in her hands, savoring its warmth. She took a sip of the sweet, hot tea and sighed. “I know,” she said. “I think that scared me the most.”
Dar eased off the bed and knelt in front of the dresser, opening the lower drawer and rummaging in it. She found the small case she’d tucked inside when they’d boarded in Miami and picked it up, bringing it with her as she resettled herself on the edge of the bed.
“What’s that?” Kerry watched her curiously. Her eyes followed the zipper as Dar unzipped it, then the eyebrows over them lifted sharply as she saw the blood pressure cuff inside. “Where in the hell did that come from?”
“Dr. Steve,” Dar replied quietly. “Gimme your arm.”
“Dar.”
Ignoring the mild protest, Dar fastened the cuff around her lover’s toned arm and started pumping it.
Kerry sighed. “Do you actually know how to use that?”
“I can manually reprogram the flash bios of an IBM mainframe; I think I can figure it out,” Dar replied, watching the small gauge on the gadget.
Kerry exhaled unhappily and her shoulders drooped.
Dar glanced up and caught the expression. “He made me bring it,” she explained gently. “I wasn’t gonna use it, but since I had to give you a damn bucket of stimulant…”
Kerry peeked at the gauge. “Hmph.” She tapped it with her other hand. “Damn.”
One sixty. Not good. Dar released some of the pressure and checked again. Over one hundred. She unfastened the cuff from Kerry’s arm and rubbed it in attempted comfort. “Probably from the stimulant, sweetheart,” she offered. “Why don’t you lie down?”
Still visibly unhappy, Kerry meekly complied.
Terrors of the High Seas 171
Dar tossed the device onto the dresser and stretched out next to her partner, gently combing Kerry’s disheveled hair with her fingers.