Page 66 of Illicit Heir

"What just happened?" I question.

She shakes her head. "I don't know. I just felt sick."

I put my hand on her forehead. She's warm but doesn't feel like she's burning up. I inquire, "Have ya felt sick all day?"

She forces herself to her feet and shakes her head. "No. It just came on suddenly."

I put my hand on her forehead again. "Ya feel hot, but—"

"I'm fine," she claims, moving my hand off her.

"Ya might have the flu."

"I don't. I'm fine," she declares. She pushes past me and exits the bathroom, going to her closet. She grabs a robe and puts it on.

"Ya don't just puke out of nowhere and be fine," I state.

She shrugs. "The fish and chips I ate earlier didn't taste right. Maybe I got food poisoning."

"Ya would've been sick sooner than that," I claim.

"I'm sure it's from that."

I'm not buying it, but I don't think arguing with her will help. I point at the mattress. "Why don't ya go lie down."

She hesitates, then obeys.

I pull the covers back. She slides in, and I lie next to her. I tug her into my arms and kiss her forehead, asking, "So ya weren't feeling sick earlier?"

She says, "Can we stop talking about me being sick? I don't know what just happened, but now I feel fine. I just... I need to go to sleep."

I release a frustrated breath but agree. "Okay. Just close your eyes, then."

She does and then opens them and slowly looks up at me.

I stroke her cheek and ask, "What's up, angel?"

She licks her lips and then questions, "If I fall asleep and wake up, will you be gone?"

Silence fills the air. I glance out the window. The darkness of the night is fading into daylight. I'm pushing my luck still being here, so I answer, "Aye."

She blinks hard, then curls back into my chest. "Okay. It was nice knowing ya."

I softly chuckle.

"It wasn't meant to be funny," she asserts.

My face falls. "No, it's not. You're right. I can't come back anymore."

"Then don't," she says, but all I hear is hurt in her voice. She rolls away from me and curls into a ball around her pillow.

I reach for her.

She firmly orders, "Go now, Devin. There's nowhere this can go, and we both know it. And don't come back again."

I freeze for a moment.

"I mean it this time. I need ya to go," she says in a sterner voice.

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