I tried to think, but the ache in my head was throbbing sobadly I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. “Under my bathroom sink maybe.”
Warm hands wrapped around my right hand that was still holding onto her wrist. I stared at where our hands joined, seeing how easily hers fit in mine. Where I was rough and hard, she was all smooth and soft. The feeling of her skin pressed against mine was…I couldn’t explain it. Comforting. Thrilling. It made me want to feel more and I hated that because I wasn’t supposed to be this way. Not when I was the complete opposite of the kind of man she needed.
Unable to stand it any longer, I forced my hand back to my side and rolled my head to the right, so she wasn’t in my direct line of vision anymore. She stood there for a few agonizing seconds before I watched her from my periphery disappear into the bathroom.
Frustrated as hell, I lifted my head and slammed it back into the pillow. Which was a huge mistake as searing pain roared in my skull.
“Agh.” I squeezed my eyes shut again and silently chastised my stupid ass for doing that.
I was quickly discovering that I did many stupid things while Charlie was around. Thinking straight was nearly impossible in her presence. Part of me was annoyed by it. For so long, I had lived my life alone and I liked it that way. I didn’t have to answer to anyone or take another person into consideration when I made decisions.
I thought I was going to live the rest of my life like that, and I was fine with it. Content even.
But Charlie Banks was quickly ruining my plans and even worse…I liked it.
She appeared through the bathroom doorway with a wide smile painting her lips. Her arm rose into the air and between her fingers she clutched a thermometer. “Found it!” She waved it through the air.
Her enthusiasm did something funny to my stomach, making it feel like a swarm of bees was flying around inside. I tried to stomp out the feeling, but as she grew closer with her little pajama set showing off the curves of her body, I found the bees attacking my stomach even more.
Leaning over me, she slipped the thermometer out of its plastic case and told me to open up.
“I can do it myself,” I fussed, trying to reach for the thermometer, but she yanked it back.
“I’m only going to say this once, Deacon, so listen up.” A stern look replaced her normally happy one as she pointed her finger at me. “You are sick as a dog and thankfully, you have someone here to take care of you. Being stubborn will only exhaust your body and keep you sick for longer, so I expect your full cooperation.” With that, she lifted her right brow and popped her hip out.
“You’re such a brat,” I glowered at her.
“And you’re a grumpy asshole,” she snickered before gesturing for me to open my mouth.
So, she has some sass in her after all.Sunshine with some heat.
Rolling my eyes, I opened my mouth, and she slid thethermometer in. We glared at one another until the beep went off and she took the thermometer from me.
The feistiness she carried just a moment ago vanished as she looked down at me with concern. “It’s one hundred three, Deacon. That’s pretty high for an adult.”
“Yeah, I know.” My body started to shake, and I tried to hide it beneath the covers, so she didn’t worry but I was too late. Her eyes went wide as she took in my shivering body.
“I’m fine.” I tried offering her a smile, but she only scowled at me.
“You are definitelynotfine. But I know of something that could help.”
I tried not to fall over as Charlie tucked the final edge of the clean fitted sheet onto my bed. She rounded the bed and hopped onto my side before spreading her legs a little.
Patting the mattress between her thighs, she gestured for me to come over. “Come on. Lay down here.”
“No.” I shook my head, which was a mistake as the room started to spin again. All the pressure from my sinuses was wreaking havoc on my stability.
“You said you wouldn’t be stubborn.”
“Yousaid I couldn’t be stubborn. I didn’t agree to anything.”
She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips and it was the cutest damn thing I’d ever seen in my life. Making Charlie frustrated was very quickly becoming a top five favorite pastime of mine.
“Will you get over here, already? I promise it will make you feel better.” Pleading shone in her eyes. With a look like that, I couldn’t deny her any longer.
Sliding her left leg off the bed to give me better access, I laid down on my back between her thighs.
“Scoot up a little bit.”