chapter 17

Matthias POV

I wake up to see Josie standing in her sweats and tank top in the sunlight streaming through the bedroom window. She looks fucking good, I have to admit. She looked even more beautiful. Her dark hair was tied up in a cute bun, and she looked more put together, but also freer this time.

Which brought a grin to my face, too. I wanted to know why she was laughing with Shirley.

I wanted to be the one who made her laugh like that...

"Dr. Decruz is here,'' Shirley said to Josie.

"Who?'' I asked.

"Morgan, the doctor. He's here,'' she repeated.

"Rise and shine," Josie says, her lips curling into a seductive smile.

"I need to go," I say, throwing the blankets off and hurriedly looking for my clothes.

''You really don't know how to relax?''

''Relax is my enemy.''

She laughed. ''Of course, it is, you never have time to relax. You need to consider taking some days off.'' She narrows her eyes at me. She's trying to tell if I'm lying, but the circumstances of my life have made me very good at lying.

''Why are you so dehydrated?'' She asked me.

''Cause he was out being a fool,'' Shirley said, passing over some water over to me.

''No, I wasn't.''

She rolled her eyes. ''Mm-hmm,'' she responds, leaving the room.

''Is that true?'' Josie said to me. "Matthias tell me the truth."

I nodded. "Yeah, I got too drunk quickly. I was out with a friend.''

''Friend?'' She raised her brows.

''Zach. I was with him.''

''Whatever, I'll go get you some medications.''

''Don't be gone too long."

''I won't, I promise.''

Josie POV

''Ignore him, sweetie, that's just how Matthias is. He is a pain, but you'll get used to it,'' Shirley said, lending me some towels for Matthias.

''Thank you, Shirley.''

''I'll be in the living room if you need anything.''

The doorbell rings loudly and I walked my way towards the door. There, a tall man with bright blue eyes, brown with a bit of grey short curly hair, and olive skin greeted me with a smile.

''Hi, you must be Josie? We spoke on the phone?'' He said, taking off his stethoscope and lends out his hand for a handshake.

''Right, Dr.Decruz, please come in.''

''Lovely home you have,'' he said.

''Thank you. Right this way, he's on his bed.'' We entered the room and found Matthias laying flat on his face. I went over to him and placed my hand on his muscular arm, rubbing softly to get him up.

''Matthias, can you please get up? Dr.Decruz is here.''

He picks himself up and coughs loudly.

''Mr.Matthias, I am here to make sure that you are going to feel better,'' he said, he went over to him and placed his hand on his head. ''You're burning, take some water and I'll give you some ibuprofen.''

Dr.Decruz takes off the jacket, placing the thermometer on Matthia's mouth. ''103 degrees, this is not good.''

''Obviously,'' Matthias hoarse.

''Matthias,'' I snapped.

''What?''

''Be nice.''

''I am,'' he coughed.

''You're not.''

''Why do you care?''

''Jesus, Matthias I'm not arguing with you,'' I rolled my eyes.

''Sorry, I didn't mean to intrigue if it's---''

''No, doctor. You're fine, is there anything that can cool down his fever?''

''Well, it's the common remedies. Staying hydrated, taking the ibuprofen, cool baths, etc. He needs some days off at work--''

''No, I don't---''

''Yes you do,'' Dr.Decruz and I said at the same time. Matthias lets out a rough sigh as Dr.Decruz continues to explain what do with him. I escorted him downstairs and took out a checkbook to pay him for the appointment.

''No need to pay Josie, Matthias would send me a check, electronically. It's no big deal."

''Oh, okay, um. Well, have a nice day. I'm sorry about his... you know behavior.''

He grinned from the side and said ''You know, I can handle him. He's tough.''

''Aha, me I wish I can relate. Have a nice day Doctor.

''You too.''

......

''Stop moving,'' I said, giving a massage on Matthia's back while he was on the bathtub, under the bubbles floating above from his body. "You're so tense.''

''I know.''

''You need some days off, Doctor's orders.''

''Should've not brought him here.''

''Why'd you say that for?''

''Cause I wanted you. Not him,'' he locked his eyes on me. I ignored him and continued to massage his shoulders. My body was facing him, rubbing his neck and shoulders from the remedies that Dr.Decruz gave me.

''You need to release it.'' His eyes brightened with humor. "Not like that,'' I responded quickly.

''Sounds like it.''

''I wasn't talking about... you know... I meant you need to release these knots you have on your shoulders. When was the last time you had a massage?''

''Three years ago.''

''Why?''

''Cause I feel like it.''

''Not much an answer.''

''Yeah, well it is so deal with it.''

Asshole

''No wonder you're snappy,' I mumbled under my breath.

Matthias didn't answer me. Instead, he grabbed my hand and yanked me. Pulling me until I was pressed right up against his very sexy, muscular body. He felt so good against me that for a second, it took my breath away.

I could almost feel every delicious inch of him and needed to know more. I wanted to see him, to feel him, to taste him.

I could tell from the glint in his gaze that he was testing me, trying to see how far I was willing to take things.

''Stop teasing me,'' he whispered, tracing his finger on my bra strap.

''I'm not doing anything,'' I whispered back. My mind was whirring, but I couldn't focus on anything in particular. I touched my finger up to his cheek, lightly caressing the red mark lingering there.

Our noses touched lightly against one another and I knew at that moment he was about to kiss me. I sighed, placing my head down and pulled back, getting out from the tub and wiped my hands with a towel.

''I'm going to get more water,'' I cleared my throat. I glanced downwards, preparing myself to tell the lie yet again.

''I already have water.'''

''For myself. I'm thirsty.''

''Really?'' He questioned me, knowingly why I needed to be gone.

''Mm-hmm, excuse me.'' I turn my body away from him and closed the bathroom door. My heart was pounding so fast, I felt like I was going to die any moment now.

I ''tested'' Matthias and he almost kissed me.

This is bad.

So fucking bad.