Dean carried Denise downstairs after her fever finally broke. Now that she was no longer burning up, she finally felt like eating. He sat her on the counter while he fixed her soup. She smiled as he followed her directions to the letter. The poor man was absolutely clueless in the kitchen. He could use the can opener and turn on the stove, but she had to explain what condensed soup was and how to boil it. When Denise tried to move off the counter to help him stir, Dean pointed at the counter and glared. She moved back into place until he turned back to the stove and then she slid off the counter. Before Dean heard her, she had her chest pressed to his back and her hand around his wrist. "I told you to stay put." he muttered, leaning his head over rest against hers.
"You are being so sweet. I don't want to be all the way over there." she murmured, kissing his shoulder. "Well, that and you keep slopping soup on the stove." She gripped his wrist and slowed his stirring. "Easy does it." Denise leaned into him and continued to guide his stirring as the soup began to boil. "Now we need to ladle it into the bowls. And the crackers are on the top shelf."
Dean turned to Denise. "Now you need to go sit at the table. Go on." He tapped her on the butt. Denise turned and looped her arms around his neck.
"That is going to cost you dearly, sir. Oh, so dearly. Remember that." she said with a smile on her face.
"Just go sit at the table. Let me serve you your food." he nearly begged. Denise smiled as she headed into the dining room and sat down. Dean followed with a large bowl of soup, a spoon, and a package of crackers.
"You aren't eating?"
"I'm feeding you." he said with a smile. "Aren't I supposed to be serving you, mi'lady?" Denise burst out laughing. Once she dropped to a chuckle, he fed her the first spoonful. He continued making sure every spoonful got into her mouth, not losing a drop.
Dean put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and returned to carry Denise up the stairs. She looped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear the entire time. "You are taking such good care of me, following directions, sensing my needs, a good man. Cooking is foreign to you and did that for me."