The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 38: Burden

Chapter 38: Burden

Xavier strode towards Beatrix, "Call me if anything happens. I’m just a phone call away. It was nice meeting you, sister-in-law." He said, and broke out into a chuckle when he saw her face reddened with shyness.

"Let me go get a towel to clean you up. You have sweating a lot."

Beatrix finally said when they were left alone in the room.

"Aww Bea- are you trying to say your fiancé looks like shit right now?"

Beatrix nodded, "Yeah such as a shame he was really a handsome gentleman."

A thin smile curved her lips, and Damien suddenly desired to kiss them.

"Ah I’m glad at some point my fiancé found me attractive. I hope you won’t abandon me. I don’t always look like this. I can be...handsome, again."

Beatrix chuckled and shook her head. "I will be right back."

"Nooo...don’t leave me alone please." He said, staring at her.

Color sprang to her cheek, setting her entire face on

fire as her gaze fell to the floor. It was only then that Damien realized his lips had betrayed his heart. He sounded like a clingy kid.

"I won’t be long,Damien," she whispered after a second of awkward silence.

"Of course, " he blamed the fever for his foolery; his sudden vulnerability and desire for her presence.

He waited until she had left the room before

turning over to his side, his limbs aching. His head

still pounded with a persistent headache, and his

nostrils were clogging up.

After a few minutes she returned with the bowl and towel.

"See I told you I won’t be long." She smiled at him.

Damien returned her smile and closed his eyes as she pressed the wet rag to his forehead.

"Is it okay if I clean your body? I-you sweat- it’s not because I want to ogle at your perfect body-"

Damien chuckled at her blabbering. God she was cute.

"Hmm my body is yours darling. You can do whatever you want with it."

He watched as color rose to her cheeks again. And his lips curled up slightly.

Once she was done wiping his skin with a wet rag,

She helped him to eat the bowl of vegetable soup that Xavier had made the driver bring to her.

"Forgive me." Damien uttered after she had finished feeding him.

"For what?"

"Being a burden."

Beatrix arched her brows as she placed the spoon in the bowl and put it on the bed stand.

"Why would you even think that you’re a burden?"

Damien was silent for a moment and he wondered why he had said that. He laid down. The fever was going to his brain for sure or maybe it was bringing his inner child demons out.

Beatrix grabbed his hand and stroke the back softly.

"You’re not a burden Damien, never will be." She said quietly as if she knew; as if she was calming his inner child telling him it was okay.

"You’re mine to care for now so always remember that."

Damien stared at her as if he was really seeing her for the first time. No one- has ever-. He wanted to kiss that mouth that had uttered the most beautiful words he has ever heard.

But the fevered haze was quickly stealing back the consciousness he had managed to hang on to for the last few minutes.

"You might change your mind," he murmured through the sleepy veil.

"After you realize that I’m a horrible person." He added.

"Sleep, Damien," she murmured to him, her breath warm against his ear,her voice working like a vial of sleep magic.

He ceased the struggle and let darkness claim him.

*********

Damien woke up that evening to the splattering sound of rain against his windowpane. Raising his gaze to the window, he was shocked to find a still figure seated on a chair by his bedside;Beatrix . She was asleep, her head falling off the edge of the backrest; he knew it was a painful position.

He didn’t have to wonder what she was doing in his room; he knew she was there to watch over him. She had taken care of him for the past three days since he got sick. He didn’t even remember the last time someone took care of him.

His gaze drifted to the thin shawl draped over her

shoulders, and in that second, he knew he had made the perfect decision to make this woman his bride.

Left with no other choice, he climbed out of bed and sat upright; his gaze running over her face as he thought of sharing his blanket with her.

Her slightly fuller lips hung open, soft snores drifting

from them as she slept. She was breathtaking even though she had a drool running down the corner of her mouth.

His lips curved into a smile. He felt his heart fluttered in his chest as he watched her take an

uncomfortable position of sleep just so she could

care for him.

In that second, her eyelids fluttered open, and confused green eyes rested on him.

"Damien," she gasped, sitting upright. "Are you alright?"

"Yes....." he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You will hurt your body sleeping like that. You can sleep with me on the bed. It’s big enough for the both of us."

He expected a long, drawn out debate to ensue first

so he was stunned when she nodded. Probably she was tired and just wanted to sleep.

He walked forward grasping her hand as he led her

to get in the bed, and the minute they were both under the covers he pulled her against him to curl up against his chest as he wrapped his arm around her back, the other resting on the back of her head, his fingers threading into her hair as they stroke against her scalp gently.

Damien didn’t know why he was acting so affectionate but he couldn’t help himself. He blamed it on the non existent fever.

He could feel her stiffened beside him.

A long silence fell over them, the sounds of their

steady breathing was the only thing filling the room. He could feel her stiffened in his arms.

Damien let out a deep breath, and traced soothing

circles around her back with his fingers.

"Beatrix?"

"Y-yes?" She replied quietly,

"Relax."

His hoarse tired voice came out quiet and tender, as if he was trying to coax her to sleep.

"I-I-o-h-kay."