Page 15 of Date and Switch

“Will you trust me enough to take a peek at your sunburn? I need to see how bad it is, and whether or not I need to take you down to sick bay.”

“Oh my god Bryce, no! You may not!”

Despite the pain, she could still muster an embarrassed squeal. As cute as it was, however, she wasn’t getting off that easy. I bided my time, crossing to the closet to shuck off my tie, put my dress shirt in the hamper for laundry service, and find a comfortable pair of shorts and T-shirt to change into for the rest of the night.

“Do you have anything you can wear that’s any softer than that sundress?”

A brief glance at all the items she had hanging told me with certainty that what she wore was probably the most sensible item she could find. While I had a few T-shirts I didn’t think they’d be soft enough or provide enough modesty. It just turned four o’clock which meant most of the shops downstairs were still open.

“How can we help you Mr. Ellis?” The suite steward answered on the first ring.

“I saw advertised in our Set Sail magazine that you had women’s bamboo nightgowns for sale in your shop. Would you please send one up in your extended sizing. Also we’ll be dining in our cabin tonight. Please send whatever the chef has prepared for the dining room, beef or poultry preferably. Also, a bottle of whatever the sommelier suggests is the best pairing.”

“Of course sir, is there anything else I can provide for you tonight?”

“Please also send a bottle of painkillers from the gift shop and whatever electrolyte replacements you have—be it Gatorade or something organic. At least two, four if you have them stocked, as well as an ice bucket. The pajamas, painkillers, drinks, and ice send up as soon as possible. Dinner can be sent with our typical seating time.”

“Thank you.”

She whispered as I lowered the phone.

“You didn’t have to buy me pajamas. I have two pair. I just…” She sighed, covering her eyes with her fingers, “They hurt to wear right now.”

“Which is why I’m having then send up new ones. Bamboo is three times softer than cotton and nonabrasive. Once you hydrate, pop some painkillers, and hopefully get a few bites of something down, you can change into the new nightgown and fingers crossed you’ll be good as new in the morning.”

With a brisk knock, Paolo arrived with all the items from the shops downstairs, and what felt like moments after our dinner arrived. They made quick work of setting it up and exited.

The intent with ordering in was to allow Sera to eat from bed. As soon as I started to make a plate, she pushed herself into a sitting position as if intending to come to the living room. Though she tried to disguise it as a cough, there was no mistaking the pained yelp when she shifted.

“Are you sure are all right?”

Agony painted red streaks across her cheeks and neck. Her hands shook with the effort of trying to hold her body above the sheets, while she took long, heavy breaths in and out as if panting through a wave of pain. She’d screwed her eyes shut, so I couldn’t tell if she was crying. Being a spectator to her discomfort, though, bothered me more than it should have.

“I’m sorry Sera, modesty be damned. Please lay down.”

“Are you kidding me, Bryce. No fucking way.”

She bit her words at me through gritted teeth. Despite the unceasing pain, she still managed to simultaneously sound as if I’d asked her to stand naked in the middle of the cruise ship for a day. I had to tuck my lips between my teeth in order to school my features and hide the smile that begged to be set loose.

“Sera, I can’t watch you writhing in obvious agony, and not do anything about it. Either you let me take a look, or I call the steward and ask for a wheelchair to escort you to sick bay. Given you’re not wearing any panties and this sundress leaves next to nothing to the imagination I’d say you’d be giving all twenty-four hundred passengers on this ship, plus crew, quite a show as you got wheeled down to the belly of the ship.”

She bit her lip, which occasionally moved like she was going to say something. I watched her heave a giant sigh then turn her head to star at the tube of ointment that sat on the bed. I honestly though she expected it to give her the answers to the pro/con list she appeared to be listed in her head, given how long she stared at it.

“I promise, I only want to check the burn and blisters and apply the ointment. It will be as quick and painless as possible.”

If it was not a big deal, then why could I feel the air held in my lungs? Was her trust really that important to me? It was as if she dangled me suspended while she weighed her options, holding me in rapt attention. She bit her lip again. A single tear escaped her eyelid, taking a slow journey down the apple of her cheek. Sera nodded in my direction before nosediving into her pillow, covering her head with a second one.

“Just do it,” her muffled voice broke whatever stupor I’d been locked in, “make it quick because I’m pretty sure I’ll be the first proof positive case of dying from embarrassment.”

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed,” I tried to keep my voice calm and even while I rolled up the bottom of her sundress. My purpose was to assess the blisters and apply the ointment. It was the only reason I needed to look at her most private areas. I told myself as I ran a hand over her beautiful ass. I was only checking the temperature of her skin. There was absolutely zero enjoyment in touching its firm roundness. I told myself that lie two times and still I didn’t believe it.

“Your skin feels like the surface of the sun.” I tried to keep my voice light. “After I put the ointment on and it absorbs in your skin a bit, I’ll make you an icepack.”

She only nodded, wiggling that ass a bit as if to tell me to hurry along. Hurry however was the last thing I wanted to do once I saw how beautiful her curves were. I was at war with myself. I desperately fought to uphold the trust she put in me. However, I couldn’t not notice the supple skin I’d exposed.

“I need you to come up a bit on your knees.”

She whined in response and forced her face deeper into her pillow. I heard some form of unintelligible grumbling beneath the pillow. What she didn’t do was follow my request.

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