“Good.”She smiled and held up what was in her hands.“I've got this as your reward.”
I let out a giggle as she temporarily unhooked the IV tube and stuck the barrier onto my hand to cover the catheter.“Thanks.”
She nodded and finished up.“Still be mindful of it.Nothing creates a perfect seal.But it's pretty close.”
I thanked her again and tried to stand.
“Wait!”Stefan called while filling another laundry bag.“I'll help you.”
I raised my eyebrows at the nurse, and she smiled.“Let me know when you're out, and I'll remove it for you.”With that, she left the room.
“Give me a minute,” he said, walking toward the bathroom.Once again, he disappeared in there.Sounds of something being moved echoed out into the bedroom.Finally, he came out—in only his boxer briefs.My eyes nearly popped out.
“What—” I asked, my eyes trailing up and down his body as he strode to me.“What—are you doing?”
A devilish smirk crossed his face.“We're taking a shower.He took the tray from my lap and set it on the bed.Then he picked me up—one arm under my legs, one behind my back.
“Stefan, I'm sure I can walk on my own,” I insisted and wondered how many times over the last forty-eight hours he'd carried me to that bathroom.
“And I can carry you,” was his only response.
I bit my lip and tried not to breathe on him.My hand covered my mouth to make sure.
“Are you going to be sick?”Stefan asked and sped up his pace.
“No, no,” I said and felt terrible for worrying him.“I'm trying not to breathe on you,” I explained.“I'm sure my breath smells like hot garbage.”
My whole body shook with Stefan's laughter.“It's not great,” he answered with a huge smile on his face.
I smacked his shoulder playfully.“Be nice, or I'll take my hand away.”
He laughed again and walked us through the bathroom door, past the tub, and into the enormous shower.After he set me down, he ordered, “Arms up.”My arms shot up, and his hands grasped the hem of my T-shirt.
And lifted.
Stefan carefully pulled it up and over my arms, paying particular attention to the hand with the IV in it.He tossed the shirt onto the bathroom floor and knelt in front of me.His fingers curled around the waistband of—
Wait.
I stared down at what I had on.“Where did those come from?”I asked, confused.Because I was wearing a pair of panties.Really great ones, too.White lacy ones.
“They were in your luggage.Giselle and Eve packed them.”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember Stefan putting them on me.But he must have.
He pulled them down my legs as I asked, “Are there any more left?”
Stefan threw the panties on top of the T-shirt on the floor.He gazed up at me.“There are.Don't worry, you won't have to steal another pair of my shorts,” he said with a half-grin on his handsome face.
“The suitcase was too heavy.And then I was too tired to walk the mile back to search through it after my bath.”
Stefan shut his eyes and sighed, letting his head droop forward.Then he stood and hugged me.“I should have been here to help you.I'm sorry, Francesca.”
I held onto him, sniffing his delicious cedary scent.“It's okay,” I lied.Because it wasn't okay.At least now he knew it.
“No, it isn't,” he mumbled, his hands rubbing my back.It felt good to be in his arms again.“Sit down and I'll turn on the water,” he instructed, and yanked a small chair over that I hadn't noticed.
“Is this wood?”My fingers touched the chair while Stefan turned around and started the shower.“It might get wrecked in the water.I can stand up—” I started saying, but he glared at me over his shoulder.
