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“After eleven.” Penelope tries to force a smile, but I can see the worry dancing in her eyes. “But I need you to try and drink something, and then we’ll get you to the bathroom.”
Bathroom? What the hell is she talking about?
I try to shake my head, but the damn thing feels too heavy. “F-fine… here,” I stutter out, my teeth chattering.
“You’re burning up. We need to get you to the bathroom and try to get your temp down.” Her hand slides behind my back, giving me a strong push. “C’mon. You need to help me out here.”
I murmur in protest, but she’s insistent, so between the two of us, I somehow get in a sitting position. White spots appear in my vision, my head swimming, breathing hard.
“You’re doing so good,” she whispers softly, her lips brushing against my ear. “C’mon, a little bit more.”
One by one, I slide my feet on the ground, and with Penelope’s help, I stand up. Every bone and muscle in my body protests the movement. Penelope must notice it, too, because she gives me a moment each time before pushing me forward.
The walk to the bathroom feels like I’m climbing freaking Mount Everest, every step a battle until we’re finally there. The need to tumble to the ground is strong, but Penelope doesn’t let go of me.
“We need to get your clothes off.”
“This wasn’t what I had in m-mind when I imagined us getting n-naked.”
Penelope pulls back and shoots me a stern glare. “This isn’t the time for you to be joking, Sebastian.”
She grabs the hem of my shirt and slides it over my head. I do my best to help her, but my limbs feel heavy.
Then her hand falls on the band of my sweats, but she stops. Those doe-like eyes turn to me as she grazes her teeth over her bottom lip.
Even in this state, I can feel my stomach squeeze in anticipation.
“Do you want to take them off yourself or…?”
“Just do it,” I groan. I feel like I’d fall face first if I tried to bend down and take my pants off.
Penelope nods, color rising up her cheeks as she pushes my pants down, leaving me only in my boxer briefs. She turns around, opening the faucet and making sure the water is to her liking before facing me again.
“Let’s get you inside the tub.”
Obediently, I lift my legs and step into the tub. Penelope helps me lower down, and I suck in a sharp breath as the cool water touches my skin.
“Too cold?”
I nod my head, only to remember that she can’t see me.
“A little.”
Penelope hums as she tests the water once again. “It can’t be too warm because we need to get your temperature down.”
She grabs the shower head, turning it on. I start to take it from her, but she’s faster. She turns the shower head toward me, pointing it at my chest. I hiss softly, the first touch of the water like an ice blast that has goosebumps prickling my skin.
“This is the worst of it. It should get easier soon,” Penelope whispers as she slowly moves the showerhead over my body, washing away the sweat clinging to my skin.
My eyes want to fall shut, but I refuse to give in. There is a look of concentration as she methodically washes me, trying to avoid any unnecessary contact. But occasionally, her fingers skim my skin, and I can swear my flesh is burning at the point of contact.
And it has nothing to do with the fever and everything to do with her.
She shifts the shower head to my back before returning it to my chest again, and I raise my hand, wrapping my fingers around her wrist.
“Why are you so afraid to touch me?”
“I’m not afraid, I…” Her tongue darts out as she looks away, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.
