“I'll have to see them on first.”He chuckled and knelt in front of me.
This man was too much.I could surely put my own panties on.Even so, I stepped into them as he pulled them up my legs.He lifted the bottom of my nightie as he went.Then he held the hem in his hands as he observed my underwear.
“Yes,” he said, and then shocked me by leaning forward and kissing me—right there.“I believe this is my favorite color now.”
The heat from his mouth made something pulse directly beneath his lips.He gazed up at me and grinned before standing.“All right.Let's go finish your hair.”He bent like he was going to pick me up again.
But I stepped back.“I can walk on my own.”I moved backward and held my hands up to him.“Seriously.I'm okay.”
Stefan's eyes narrowed as he set his hands on his hips.“Francesca,” he said in warning, but I swiveled around and took off, hurrying to the bed.
Of course, Stefan followed me.I snapped the IV connector back to my hand and sat down.“See?I'm fine.”I gave him a wide smile.
“Oh, we are definitely going to work on your listening skills, Francesca.”Stefan walked to the side of the bed.“Your hair isn't dry yet.”His eyes looked at my half-dry hair.
I sighed.“It takes forever.I'll let it air dry for a while.So, I don't break your hairdryer.”
He pursed his lips and swallowed.“Definitely need to work on your listening skills,” he mumbled before drawing the covers over me.“But for now, you need to rest.”He bent and kissed me.“What would you like?More water?Juice?”
I thought about it for a moment.“Um, an ice pop?That really seemed to hit the spot.”
He laughed and kissed me again.“Done.”
After he left, I lay back and closed my eyes—and smiled to myself.A good shower could always make you feel better.I'd witnessed it many times at the hospital.And right now, I totally felt rejuvenated.Clean hair.
Clean body.
Clean teeth.
And a gorgeous, lush bed to sink into and relax.The IV would do its job while I lay here in the lap of luxury.
6
Stefan
She seemed to enjoy the grape-flavored ice pop.But what if she liked a different kind better?I opened four different kinds, just in case.I didn't give a fuck if it was wasteful.Francesca's comfort was the only important thing.
“Shit,” I said to myself as I headed to the refrigerator.I'd almost forgotten the juice.I opened the door and stared at the five kinds of juice I'd ordered earlier.She liked the orange juice.But wasn't apple better when you were ill?My mother always gave us apple juice when we were sick.That was probably why I hated it so much now.I reached in and grabbed the apple juice.
And then I had a thought.What if Francesca's mom had given her apple juice when she was sick, too?And now she hated it as much as I did?
“Fuck,” I said, second—and third—guessing myself.I'd turned into a complete moron.Francesca seemed to have this effect on me.
Finally, I grabbed three bottles and decided to let her choose.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.I set the bottles down on the counter and pulled it out.I touched the screen and held it to my ear.“Yeah,” I said into the phone.
“Our wives are having constant fits over your wife.You were supposed to update them,” my brother's voice traveled through the phone.“How is she doing?”
The sound of shuffling and talking in the background interrupted us.
“Oh.My.Gosh!”Giselle's voice shrieked from the other end of the phone.“You were supposed to call like twelve hours ago!How is my new sister-in-law?”
I smiled and searched for a few glasses.“Much better now.The doctor was here and hooked her up to some fluids.”
Giselle huffed loudly into my ear.“Oh, man.That's awful.”Her voice croaked.“I can't believe our germy kids got you guys sick for your honeymoon.”She sniffled, obviously crying.Which wasn't an odd occurrence lately.
Yes, Giselle had big feelings.But when you added in the extra hormones from being pregnant—watch out.Her moods could change on a fuckin' dime.And they often did.
