After getting everything Carla will need to get better, I unpack the bags on the kitchen island. I place the juices in the fridge and taking a bottle of water and the medicine, I head back to her room.
She’s kicked off the covers and lying on her side, it looks like she’s asleep. She’s wearing cotton shorts and a tight t-shirt, which make her body look hot as fuck.
Pushing the desire to the side, I set the meds down on her bedside table. The sound makes Carla turn onto her back.
“Sit up,” I murmur as I take a seat on the side of the bed. I hold the water out to her and then begin to go through all the medicine. When she’s taken everything, and her eyes drift closed, I say, “Lie down again and get some sleep.”
She does as I say, and then she asks, “Can you turn up the AC? It’s hot.”
“The ibuprofen will help with the fever.” I get up and go get a bowl of ice. Walking back into her room, I go to her ensuite bathroom to grab a cloth. Pouring water over the ice, I soak the cloth until it’s cool. I squeeze out the excess water then begin to slowly wipe down her arms. I keep rinsing the cloth, and as I move down to her legs, she lets out a moan.
“So good,” she murmurs.
My hands itch to touch her, but I keep wiping over her heated skin before placing the cool cloth over her forehead.
Carla’s eyes drift closed again as she whispers, “Thank you.”
My lips curve up. “You’re welcome.”
I sit and watch as she falls asleep. Then I pull my phone from my pocket and begin to read an article about NASA awarding a contract to a university to provide freezers for science samples aboard the International Space Station.
Every couple of minutes, my gaze drifts over Carla, and eventually, I turn off the device and just stare at her.
I reach for her thigh and brush my knuckles over her skin. A current instantly zaps between us, and fascinated by how she makes me feel, I brush my fingers up to the edge of her shorts.
Carla’s eyes open, and I instantly regret waking her. “Sorry.”
She shakes her head. “I love that you’re staying with me, but I don’t want you to catch this cold, or flu, or whatever it is.”
“I’ll be fine,” I set her mind at ease. “Can I get you something to eat?”
She shakes her head. “No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”
“A juice? We have to keep you hydrated.”
A smile tugs at her mouth. “Careful, I could get used to you taking care of me.”
I give her hand a squeeze then rise to my feet so I can get her an orange juice.
Chapter 10
CARLA
Every time I wake up, it’s to see Noah sitting next to me. He’s reading something on his phone, and it gives me time to stare at him.
My gaze drifts over him. It’s so easy to be deceived by his good looks, but he’s like an onion. There are so many layers to him. From his hot as hell body to his mind that continually needs to be fed.
“If you have me, you want to share me,” I murmur, making Noah’s eyes instantly dart to me. “If you share me, you don’t have me. What am I?”
A grin tugs at his mouth. “A secret.”
I try to think of another riddle. “You’re escaping a labyrinth, and there are three doors in front of you. The door to the left leads to a raging inferno. The one in the center leads to a deadly assassin. The other on the right leads to a lion that hasn’t eaten in three months. Which door do you choose?”
He smiles and shakes his head. “The lion hasn’t eaten in three months, so he’s dead.”
I scrunch my nose at him. “I’ll have to up my game.”
Noah places his hand against my forehead. “How do you feel?”
“Much better and hungry.” When he gets up, I add, “I just want to shower, then I’d like to sit in the living room. I’m tired of the bed.”
“Will you try to have chicken soup?” Noah asks. “It will help you feel better.”
Not able to resist him, I mutter, “Fine.”
I get a broad smile as a reward before he leaves my room. I notice it’s already ten pm. Checking my phone, I see I have a text from Forest.
F: I hope you’re feeling better. Aria won.
C: Whooo-Hooo! Tell her congrats from me. We’ll celebrate when you get back. I’m feeling much better. Have fun while you’re there. x
Forcing myself up, I go shower. When I’m dressed in comfy clothes, I tie my hair in a ponytail, and grabbing my pillow, I walk to the living room.
I find Noah in the kitchen, in front of a bowl of soup and a glass of orange juice. “Come eat.”
I drop my pillow on one of the couches and then sit down on one of the stools situated around the island. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Noah comes to take a seat next to me with a cheeseburger and shoestring fries for himself. He waits until I eat a spoonful of the soup, and only then does he turn his attention to his own food.
“Forest texted me. Aria won the competition,” I inform Noah before I scoop up another spoonful of soup.
“That’s great news,” he says, then he admits, “I haven’t seen any of her work yet.”
“She’s really good. I have a photo of one of her pieces on my phone.” I slide off the stool and go get the device from my room. Opening up my gallery, I search for the photo as I walk back to the kitchen. I turn the screen to Noah so he can see. “She painted this one for our senior year.”
One of Noah’s eyebrows raises slightly. “Damn, that’s an amazing piece.”
There’s a proud smile on my face as I sit down again. “Yeah.”
We continue with our meals, and the thought hits me that Noah has spent the entire day with me. It means everything to me. Still, I ask, “It’s a Saturday night. Didn’t you have any plans?”
He swallows the bite down, then wipes his mouth with a napkin before he replies, “Nothing I couldn’t cancel.”
His answer makes a grin spread over my face.
When we’re done with our meals, I pick up my pillow and sit down on the couch. Noah grabs the TV remote and then comes to take a seat next to me.
Screw that.
I throw the pillow onto one of the other couches, and lifting his arm, I position it around my shoulders. Cuddling up against him, I murmur, “Mhh… you’re better than a pillow.”
He lets out a chuckle while turning on the TV, then he asks, “What do you want to watch?”
“Anything. I’ll probably fall asleep halfway through.”
“Are you okay with a documentary?”
My lips curve up. “Sure.”
He goes to Netflix and puts on Dancing with the Birds. As he gets lost in the show, his fingers begin to brush up and down my arm, and the touch makes a kaleidoscope of butterflies take flight in my stomach.
Suddenly Noah murmurs, “I’m glad you didn’t go with Forest and Aria.”
I glance up at him. “Yeah?”
He nods, his eyes not leaving the TV screen. “I was thinking we could slowly start with a relationship.”
I sit up, and turning my body toward him, I cross my legs in front of me. “Like… dating?” I ask to make sure.