NERTHUS
The moment I open my eyes back up, I wish I hadn’t.
Every bone and muscle in my body is hurting, and I groan, fighting myself up to make myself a cup of tea.
As I don’t find any helpful medicine by rummaging through my drawers, I give up and, wrapped in my blanket, I go to knock on Maria’s door.
After fighting her off as a personal nurse, and I have to fight hard for that, I get back into my apartment. As soon as I have taken my medicine and get into my bed, I’m out like a light.
***
I wake as I feel the pleasurable buzzing as his hand caresses my leg.
“Are you alright, babe?”
Babe.
I giggle as I look up at Arawn leaning over me and cuddle back in, closing my eyes. “I don’t feel well.”
“I can see that.” He murmurs, as he lets his eyes roam over me.
I chuckle, as I see him knit his eyebrows. “I’m cold,” I whisper. “Would you please cuddle with me for a bit?”
My heart races and I can’t tell if it’s just the medication or the fact that I just asked him to cuddle with me.
I prepare myself to die from embarrassment as he will certainly reject me with a mean phrase, but it never comes. My heart skips a beat as the bed dips, and I feel him get under the blankets next to me. He pulls me close and sighs into my hair. “You smell heavenly.”
I laugh as I shake my head drowsy. “Stop it, I couldn’t take a shower all day.”
“If you want, I can help you with it afterwards,” He murmurs into my hair, making me gasp.
“I’d love that.”
I’m about to fall asleep as I feel his hand traveling up my thigh, causing me to smile. “No, Arawn, please. I’m tired.”
He starts nibbling at my earlobe as his hands travel up, and I moan. “Arawn…”
Jerking up as he slaps my leg gently, I look back at him confused.
“You have to get up.” He growls, and I lift my eyebrows at him.
“Wa-”
“Get up, Rachel!” He says firmly, causing me to stir awake.
Arawn’s gentle worried face is replaced by his angry frown, and I sigh.
I should have known.
“You have to stop getting into my apartment like this,” I say exhaustedly, getting him to scoff.
“Get up, I have places to be, and I’m already running late.” He turns around to walk out of the room, and I sit up groggily, caressing my hair out of my face.
“What? I can’t! I am sick. And you should have informed me about it.”
“You didn’t pick up your fucking phone.” He growls as he turns back around to me, putting his hands into his pockets.
“What part of I’m sick don’t you understand?”
He scoffs, rolling his eyes. “I didn’t grant you any sick days! So, get your ass up and stop wasting my time, woman!”
Only now do I realize that he is dressed in a black tuxedo, looking insanely hot.
Oh, well.
Exhaling sharply, I get out of my bed, and after having stabilized after getting a dizzy wave, I hop into the shower. He stays silent the entire time, even if I catch him ogling me several times.
Boring your ass!
As soon as I’m dressed and styled, he practically drags me out of my apartment, risking having me throw up.
We wait for the elevator, and I get my arm out of his hold, swaying away. He grabs me just in time to keep me from falling, but instead of thanking him, I hit his chest with my fist, making him let go of me.
“Oh, where are you two beautiful people going?”
The opening elevator doors reveal a smiling Maria.
“A little party,” I smile at her and I see her expression fall.
“Are you feeling better already?” She asks worried as we get into the elevator after she gets out.
I nod, forcing another smile. “Yeah. Much better. I’ll meet you for coffee tomorrow, alright?”
“I look forward to it.” She says just as the elevator doors close.
The way that I manage to get into the limousine without tippling over once will be the one miracle that I have experienced in my life.
As the limousine starts rolling, it takes him a few minutes until he finally breaks the silence with a long sigh.
“You have to take my calls.”
“I do take them. Always! But I was in a deep slumber, so I couldn’t. I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.” I say calmly, continuing to look out of my window.
“Seeing how clingy you are, you have some guts to not take my calls.”
I sigh, finally meeting his gaze. “I’m not clingy, and I told you that it was because I passed out. You know that I’m good at my job.”
“Usually,” He mocks, “but maybe I have been giving you too much intimacy. And I shouldn’t have flirted with you that much. So, I’m sorry if I gave you false hopes.”
Opening my mouth with a single laugh, I press my tongue to my teeth. “Wow! You must be thinking that you are God’s gift from heaven for all women.”
“Don’t act bitter towards me now.”
“I’m not bitter, Arawn! I’m just doing my job!” I breathe out, his demeanor hurting and angering me equally.
“I shouldn’t have said that thing in the shower.” He murmurs, and something in me snaps.
I laugh out loud as he glares at me. “Oh my God, yes! That was it. Because I totally took that one as a marriage proposal, and now I have to tell you, I am crushed.”
Moving my hands theatrically, I slowly feel my reason slip from me. “What will I do with my dress now, and all the flowers?!”
“Stop it!” I gasp as he snatches my wrist, pulling me into him.
I refuse to lower my gaze, fighting against the urge to avoid his challenging look.
“I’m neither desperate nor pathetic, Arawn.” I hiss, looking back and forth between his eyes. “And you can cross the adjective stupid off the list as well. I’m just doing my job and I thought that it was what you liked. If it’s not, I apologize and will act differently from now on.”
I turn my wrist in his hold as he clenches his jaw. “I’ll adjust my acting to your needs and be more professional.”
We remain frozen, staring at each other for another bit before he leans back into his seat.
Unfortunately, my sentence will be the last thing uttered among us in the car, or even during the event.
At least not until Harvey gets him to explode.