Page 30 of Brant
She shook her head. "Just some water. But I don't want to move yet."
"All right." Sitting with his back to the wall, he wrapped his arms around her. "Let me know when you're ready."
She nodded, her fingers curling into the thick wool of his sweater. He smelled like spice and something very expensive and soothing, she thought, her eyes drifting shut. The hurt of his disappearance over the past few days was no longer with her. She had no idea why he came just when she needed him, but she thanked God that he was here.
"You're falling asleep." He nudged at her, and she opened her eyes. "Let's get you to bed." Rising, he helped her up, wrapping his hands around her waist and guiding her into the room and up the steps.
"Your bed is twice the size of mine," she murmured as he pulled the sheets over her.
"Hmm. I had it custom-made."
"I like the etchings on the framework." Her eyes were closing but flew open when he started to move away. "Don't go."
"I'm just going to change my clothes and get another warm rag," he said soothingly.
Her eyes drifted shut. He went to get the washcloth. By the time he came back, she was already asleep. Lifting her sweater, he placed the towel on her abdomen, bending to kiss her forehead when she stirred. "Go back to sleep."
Stepping back, he stripped, tossing the clothes carelessly into a heap on the floor. Dragging on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, he climbed in.
She immediately sought the warmth of his body by snuggling against him.
With a pained sigh, he wrapped his arm around her, bringing her head to rest on his shoulder. Reaching over carefully, he extinguished the light from the lamp, plunging the room into darkness except for the fire simmering in the hearth.
Her breasts were pressing against his chest, making him acutely aware of her. Turning his thoughts away from her lush curves pressed up against him, his mind wandered back to the amount of blood both on the sheets and on the bathroom floor. His mind was going crazy, coming up with all sorts of scenarios of what could be wrong with her. She had said it was a hormonal imbalance. He had a vague idea what that was, but he was not fully aware of the condition. He would have to do his research and ask the doctor about it.
He had seen the anguished look on her lovely face as the pain tore through her body. It had made him feel helpless and scared. He still was. Tipping his head down, he gazed at her.
She had piled her thick coils in a loose knot on top of her head, leaving her round face free. Her long lashes shadowed her cheeks, and her sultry lips were slightly parted. Desire stirred inside him and was ruthlessly squashed. It would do absolutely no good to be thinking about her body while she was in this much pain. But his body had a mind of its own, and with herlying almost on top of him, it was reacting alarmingly to the close proximity.
Sighing softly, he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on something else, anything else. He would make the call first thing in the morning and have the doctor come out. He had no doubt in his mind that John would drop what he was doing and appear. He not only owed the family for his very prestigious career but was also a friend.
He finally drifted off, only to be awakened what seemed to him a very short time later, with her struggling to get out of his very secure hold on her.
Jolted awake, he bolted up, cursing when his chin connected with her head. "What? What?" he muttered, rubbing his flesh.
"I have to-"
"Christ, I thought you said the vomiting was over."
"No." She shoved at him again. "I have to change."
"Change?" He shook his head to clear the fog from his brain, and it was then he saw the embarrassed look on her lovely face. "Oh.Oh!" Releasing her abruptly, he moved aside so she could get up and watched as she bolted into the bathroom. Hesitating briefly, he followed her and stood by the door.
"Anything I can do?" he asked awkwardly.
"I just have to sit on the toilet for a minute. Uhm, can you do me a favor?"
"Of course." He was waiting to hear if he had to go and make a pot of tea again.
"I need sanitary napkins. They're in the cabinet under the sink in my bathroom. Could you bring two, please?"
"Yes. The drawer under the sink. Got it."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Rubbing his hands over his face, he hurried out of the room and made his way into her room. Ignoring the spot of blood on the bed and the sheets he had dumped on the floor, he went andgrabbed the stuff. To be on the safe side, he grabbed four instead of two. He was heading to the doors when something told him to grab underwear as well.
