Page 69 of Billionaire's Desire
Maggie suddenly jumps out of bed and rushes towards the washroom, looking pale and queasy. I can tell that something’s wrong and I immediately jump up to follow her.
As I enter the washroom, she is hunched over the toilet, looking miserable. I hold her hair back and rub her back, trying to comfort her.
Fuck! I really hope this is not a second bout of food poisoning again.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, concerned.
“I’ve just been feeling unwell,” she says weakly, “I ate a bad sandwich in the morning, and I think the lasagna is not agreeing with me. Plus, you bending me like a pretzel every chance you get does not seem to be helping.”
I chuckle at her ability to have a sense of humor even in her most miserable state.
“Please go away. I don’t want you seeing me like this.” Then she punctuates her statement with another round of throwing up. I feel a pang of worry in my chest. Seeing her in pain like this is not easy for me. I want to take care of her and make her feel better.
“Baby, I have seen you naked. It’s okay,” I reassure her, “I’ll get you some water and something to soothe your stomach.”
I help her up and walk her back to bed. I sit beside her, rubbing her back and offering her water.
As I take care of her, I can’t help but realize that I’m falling in love with her. She’s vulnerable and needs me, and all I want to do is take care of her. I want to be the one she can rely on and trust, the one who will always be there for her.
I have been falling for her since she screamed at me when I thought she was an Uber driver.
Our orbits have been crossing over and over and over again.
But I also know that it’s still early days in our relationship. We’re still getting to know each other, and I don’t want to scare her off by saying too much too soon. So instead, I decided to tell her how much I like her.
“Maggie,” I say softly, “I just want you to know that I really like you. I enjoy spending time with you and getting to know you better. And I want to be here for you, no matter what.”
“Even when I am being yucky and disgusting?”
I push her hair back and place a kiss on her clammy forehead. How did I not notice how feverish she was? It is like my pheromones are on overdrive around her and I can’t think about anything else but her.
“Even then, baby.”
I pass her a bottle of water which she takes tentatively and takes a few sips of.
“Can you please pass me my phone? I was supposed to meet Hilda for drinks, and I don’t think I am going to make it.”
“Of course.”
I pass her the cell phone which she unlocks and shoots a quick text to her roommate.
“Oh, by the way,” she looks up from her phone, “I really like you, too.”
I smile at her, feeling a warmth spreading through my chest. Maybe it’s too early to say, “I love you,” but I know that what I feel for Maggie is strong and real.
I climb into bed beside her.
“Come here, let me hold you for a little bit.”
“What if what I have is passed to you?”
“Then,” I kiss her forehead, “I will gladly take it.”
She groans before burying her face in my neck.
It does not take long before her breathing slows down, a tell-tale sign that she is falling asleep.
As Maggie starts to drift off to sleep, I can feel her body relax against mine, and I know that she’s feeling comforted.
