Every single muscle in my body aches as I toss and turn in bed. I part my eyes slightly and find nothing besides complete darkness. My cheek is pressed up against the soft downy fabric of my pillow. I try to sit up, but my head is quite literally throbbing. I can actually feel the blood pumping behind my temples and the ringing in my ears is way too much to handle. I use all my strength and grab the headboard behind me and hoist myself up into a sitting position. My head protests and I try to ease the pain by rubbing my fingers softly against my sensitive skin.
I look over and see that Christian is sleeping soundlessly on his side. His gorgeous mouth is partly opened and I notice his naked arm is spread out to cross over to my side. The clock on the nightstand reads 3:27 in the morning. I can't help but groan and lean over my legs in misery. My head throbs louder and I feel a cold sweat bead on the back of my neck. Cold chills take over and I find myself shivering underneath the covers. The strange thing about cold chills is that they confuse your body into thinking it's hot and cold at the same time. The chills rake through my body and cause all my sore muscles to vibrate in the process.
I have to get up. I grab the bed and slowly drag both of my legs over the side. I bow my head and sweep the hair away from my sticky face. I stand and move through the darkness and make my way into the bathroom. I find the light switch and flip it on only to find out what a terrible idea that was. The brief moment of light feels like a million tiny needles stabbing into my eyes. I clench my eyes shut and turn the light back off. It takes me a moment to redeem my sight and adjust to the darkness. I stand in front of sink and turn on the cold water. I cup my hands underneath and splash the liquid onto my face. The brief moment of relief is ruined by more chills that run through my body. The chills don't stop though, they just keep coming and coming until my stomach quickly makes the decision to bring everything back up.
I somehow manage to make my way to the toilet before I start dry heaving into the bowl. Sobs roar out of my mouth and scrape the back of my throat. Tears fill up my eyes and run down my cheeks. I try to concentrate on my breathing when the room becomes bathed in a bright orange glow. I squeeze my eyes tightly together and rest the side of my face against my outstretched arm.
"Ana!" I hear Christian's loud footsteps run through the door as he makes his way over to me. "Ana, baby are you alright?" He kneels down next to me and wraps one arms around my shoulders for support and used the other to lift the side of my face up to his. I slowly shake my head as a response to his question. I can't seem to find my voice at the moment.
"Alright," He says and looks down at me. "Are you done throwing up? Can we leave the bathroom?" I nod once and manage to keep my eyes shut against the pain. I feel his solid arms snake around my body as he gently lifts me up off of the tiles floor. He surprisingly doesn't make much movements as he carries me through the penthouse and gently sets me down on one of his couches. I moan as he leans me back against one of the pillows and swipes the hair off of my forehead.
"I think it's time we call my mother." He's smart enough to keep his voice below a whisper. I part my eyes just enough so I can see his face through the dimly lit room. His eyebrows are narrowed together in concern and his mouth is pressed into a tight line. He looks down at me with beautiful worried gray eyes.
"Christian," My voice is so raspy. The back of my throat burns with each syllable. "I feel like complete shit." He can't help but laugh a slight chuckle. His hand runs over my face and down to my neck.
"Ana, you're burning up." He stands and leans over the couch and grabs the thick afghan. He drapes the blanket over my shivering body and leans down to kiss my forehead before he leaves and walks into the kitchen. I hear the faucet running before he walks back in a moment later with a wet rag in his hand. "Here." He says and places the cool cloth across my burning forehead. Instant relief runs through my body. I sigh in pleasure and I feel my muscles beginning to relax slightly. I hear Christian grab his phone and make a call to Grace. He walks out of my hearing range so he's able to talk normally.
A few minutes later he comes back down and kneels down next to my head. He places one hand on my stomach and another on top of my hair. "My mother says that you just have the common cold. She said it's been going around at the hospital. We just need to make sure your temperature stays down and that you're covered up." As he says this he runs his hand through my hair. The chills have slowed down just a little, but my head feels as if hammers are having a grand time inside my skull.
"I'm going to go grab you some medicine and then you can just relax and try to get some sleep, okay?" I nod and watch as he heads towards the hallway closet. I sink further into the couch pillows and take a deep breath. My eyes feel so heavy. All I want to do is just have a decent night sleep.
Christian walks back over with two white pills in his open palm and a small glass in the other. "Here you go, sweetie." He helps me sit up and places the medicine in my hand. I pop the pills in my mouth and he tips the glass over my lips and lets the cold liquid run down my sore throat. "There we go." He says and takes the glass away. He sits at the end of the couch and places my legs onto his lap. He gently massages my caves and my feet between his large man hands.
"Ana," I hear the disapproval in his voice. I manage to keep my heavy eyelids open so I can look into his eyes. "If you ever feel sick or anything like that, then you need to tell me, okay?" He stares straight into my eyes. "Even if it's in the middle of the night don't worry about waking me up." He closes his point by leaning down and kissing the top of my foot.
"I'm sorry." I say and allow my eyes to close. Gosh, I'm just so tired. The medicine must have kicked in. My muscles are relaxing and I'm starting to feel all warm and fuzzy.
"Don't be sorry, baby" He says and leans over my lower body so his face is right in front of mine. I feel his warm breath spread across my lips. Before I finally allow sleep to take over I tilt my chin up and press out lips together.
"I love you." Christian whispers.
"I love you, too." I slur out.
I feel Christian smile against my lips and his body shifts around so that he's pressed softly, but firmly against the side of my body. He manages to squeeze his large frame in-between the back of the couch and my body. He lays next to me and lays his head down on my chest. I feel him press soft kisses against my hot skin and his arms wrap around my mid-section.
"Sleep well my beautiful girl." He whispers and places one more kiss on my lips. I smile and snuggle closer into him as I feel the hammers begin to quiet and my body relaxed further into the couch overcome with sleep.