Chapter 3Nico clawed his way from the nightmare, the smell of brine and blood choking his breath. He coughed, and pain knifed through his chest. Damn. Why wasn’t he healing? The weight of pneumonia had lifted, but the lingering congestion sapped his strength. The crackle of the fire caught his attention and he smiled as he gingerly sat up. His host must have built up the fire again, a fresh log lying atop bright coals. The cabin felt warm and safe, something he hadn’t experienced in a long while.
The tree with its glimmering ornaments drew his gaze, and he was unprepared for the rush of tenderness he experienced for the young man who’d placed each one. At a slight noise, his hungry gaze shot across the great room and devoured the figure standing at the picture windows. Had he called Jamie
