Sara

I was trying to envision a healthier me, but I couldn’t remember what it was like to not feel like this. I knew I was being a baby, but it was specific times like this which made me miss Gram even more than usual. She was always there to take care of me when I didn’t feel well, which thankfully wasn’t often. She would feed me the necessary medication and then make me her special chicken noodle soup. When I wasn’t up for the noodles, she would feed me the broth instead.

My one saving grace was that the following day was Sunday, which meant I didn’t have to bother Matt with taking care of the shop. Lots of rest and fluids was definitely what the doctor ordered.

As I made my way toward my bed, not even bothering undressing, I was thankful I had given Alek a key two weeks prior.  Because there was no way I would have been able to make it to the door to let him in.  The living room wasn’t far, but it felt like a hundred miles away.

Staring at the ceiling, I tried to focus on anything but being sick. But it was impossible. The more I tried to convince myself I was okay, the more my body revolted against me.

I barely made it to the bathroom before my stomach turned on me. I hadn’t eaten since seven the night before, so I was surprised there was anything even left in my system to get rid of. I thought I would have felt better afterward, but I didn’t. All I could do was lie on the bathroom floor, welcoming its coolness on my damp skin. Thankfully, I’d cleaned the entire room two days ago. But then again, the way I was feeling, I couldn’t care less if it wasn’t up to par.

I must have passed out, because the next thing I knew I was being lifted and carried back to my room, or at least I thought it was my room. I opened my eyes enough to see Alek tucking me into bed. I curled up once he was finished and drifted off again.

“Sara. Sara, wake up. Come on. You have to drink something or you’ll get dehydrated. Come on, baby. Open your eyes for a couple minutes then you can go back to sleep.” I tried my best to obey, but it sapped the rest of my energy. I was simply too weak. When I didn’t budge, he lightly shook my arm. Groaning from the intrusion, I attempted to turn over, my eyes quickly taking in my surroundings.

“Alek,” I whispered. “Where am I?” It wasn’t my bedroom, the tan walls giving it away. My room was a pale yellow, the color always lifting my spirits.

“I brought you home with me,” he stated simply. “I can’t take care of you properly at your place.” He was still trying to get me to sit up, a feat easier said than done. “Come on, sweetheart. You have to drink this.” Once I was propped up against the pillows he’d arranged for me, I very carefully took the drink from his hands, bringing it to my lips and taking the smallest of sips. It was only water, but I knew I had to be careful; the smallest drop could have my stomach flipping.

After I’d managed to swallow four whole sips, I pushed the cup toward him and scooted down the bed again. I wasn’t halfway back into my sleeping position before he jostled me again. “Don’t lie back down just yet. Here,” he said, placing something in my hand. “Take these.”

When I glanced down, I saw he’d put two small pills in my hand. Pushing the glass of water back at me, I didn’t even question what he’d given me. I knew it was something to help me feel better, and that was all I cared about.

Not saying a single word, I carefully swallowed the medicine before finally settling back under the covers.

 He leaned over and placed a kiss on my forehead before tucking me in. He lingered above me and when I opened my eyes, I saw he was simply looking at me. When his gaze met mine, he smiled serenely before taking a step back. “I’ll be back shortly to check on you.”

I barely heard his last word before I fell into a blissful sleep.

For once, my dreams were pleasant. Actually, they were more than pleasant. They filled my subconscious with hope, a yearning for a happiness I thought would never exist for me. I knew if he’d been watching me, he would have witnessed a smile on my face as I tossed and turned in his big, comfy bed. I would have also gifted him the sight of my back arching off the bed as the alternate world took hold and thrust me into the most erotic dreams I’d ever had.

Alek being the main attraction.

I was filled with hope and the promise of something wonderful happening between me and the one man who’d flipped my damn world on its ass. I knew it sounded corny, but I’d thought such happiness only existed in movies or in Hallmark cards. Hell, I would have been the first to give someone like me the crooked face, skepticism bleeding forth like a river of disbelief.

Instead of jolting awake like I was used to, I peacefully slipped back into the land of the living. I quietly laid there, listening intently to the sounds around me. A soft tick tock from the clock beside me on the nightstand. A faint muffled sound from somewhere else in the house. A TV maybe?

But the greatest sound of all?

Peace.

The room was cloaked in darkness, so I wasn’t exactly sure what time it was. The only thing I knew for sure was that my stomach rumbled, desperate for some much needed nourishment. What I’d eaten earlier had only been refunded later on.

Feeling a little better, I mustered enough strength to actually make it to the bathroom to pee, the full glass of water I’d had earlier knocking on my tiny bladder.

As I walked back toward the bed, fatigue taking hold rather quickly, Alek strolled into the room. He looked a little irritated, no doubt because I was up and moving around. I’m sure he didn’t want me ruining his nice comfy sheets, now did he?

“What are you doing up?”

“I had to use the bathroom,” I said, amusement counteracting his annoyance.

“Oh.”

“Is that okay? Or are you going to tie me to the bed?”

“If I tie you to the bed, it won’t be while you’re sick.” He advanced a step before stopping himself, a devious look playing on his face. I knew exactly what he’d been thinking, and it made me smile. Gathering his wits again, he stepped closer. “Now, let’s get you back into bed.”

Pulling back the edge of the blanket, he held it up as I scrambled underneath. I watched as he walked toward the other side of the room, admiring his fine ass as he moved.

Sauntering back toward me, I took notice he had something in his hands. It was a bowl, the billowing steam drawing me right in. The closer he came the more the delicious aroma took hold of me, my stomach making some crazy noises.

He’d made me chicken noodle soup, and although it didn’t seem like much it was very touching. A man taking care of his woman, bringing her soup when she was sick…was there anything more sweet?

“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble, Alek,” I said, all the while grateful he’d made the effort.

“No trouble at all. I’ll always take care of you.” He sat on the bed next to me, careful not to spill the hot liquid. “Always,” he repeated as he brought the spoon to my lips.

I reached out to take it from his hands but he pulled back, knitting his brow in quick confusion. Oh, Lord, he wants to feed me, too?

All right. I’ll give in. Besides, I honestly didn’t think I even had enough strength to do it myself, my body shaking a bit in my still-weakened state.

After I devoured the entire bowl of soup, I situated myself further down the bed, snuggling in for a good night’s rest. Feeling guilty I couldn’t take care of myself right then, it was quickly abated when I saw the way he looked at me.

A look of pride came over him as I allowed him to take the lead. To be the caretaker. To be the man capable of making his woman feel better.

I fell for him even more that night.