Page 75 of Peasants and Kings
“I have something that will settle your stomach. I’ve got some sparkling water and an anti-nausea pill which works almost instantly.”
“But how am I supposed to keep them down if I’m vomiting every—” My head went back over the toilet, effectively proving my point.
“Eden,” he barked. “Open the damn door.”
I reluctantly dragged myself across the floor and unlocked the door. I didn’t bother getting up, but I did move out of the way so it wouldn’t hit me when he opened it.
Hadrian loomed. His crisp white shirt was open at the collar, his sleeves rolled up.
I stared at his boat shoes while trying not to embarrass myself by throwing up in his presence.
“You look like hell,” he said lightly.
“Screw you.” I immediately covered my mouth—not to stop the spewing of my curses, but the spewing of the contents of my stomach.
He crouched down next to me and held out the glass of sparkling water. “Drink this. And take this.” He plopped a tiny pill into my hand. “It works well, but it will make you drowsy.”
I did as he said and downed it with some water, wanting anything to stop the rolling of my stomach.
My belly reeled, but I closed my eyes and willed it to settle.
“This isn’t even choppy water, and we’re on an eighty-foot catamaran,” he said in wry amusement. “How in the world are you seasick?”
“Not all of us are modern day Vikings born to sail the open sea.”
Hadrian chuckled. He leaned past me and turned on the shower. I managed to get some more water down—and it stayed down.
“So. A Viking?” Hadrian teased.
I glared at him, which only made him grin.
“Do you have fantasies of me wearing animal pelts?” he tormented.
“Oh God. Stop,” I muttered, closing my eyes. “I knew you’d give me hell as soon as I said it.”
He outright laughed. “The shower is ready,” he said, taking the glass away from me and setting it on the counter next to the sink. He then helped me stand, and before I could tell him not to, he began stripping me out of my clothes.
“What are you doing? I’m not an invalid.”
“Humor me,” he demanded.
“Fine, but you have to leave me to bathe in private.”
“Why?”
“Pride.”
He didn’t bother replying and continued to undress me. He took my jeans off, but he left my lace thong alone. He urged the sweater over my head and then removed my camisole.
There was no reason to blush over my nudity, but I did blush when I managed to look in the mirror and see my reflection. Ashen complexion, limp hair damp at the temples.
I slithered out of my thong and tossed it aside before taking his hand and letting him help me into the shower. I breathed a sigh of relief when I leaned against the wall, the water coming down hot and steamy over my body.
Hadrian started removing his clothes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my gaze riveted on the skin he was baring.
He cocked his head to the side. “Getting naked. Obviously.”
