CHAPTER 31: A lot to process...

Celeste
I wake up early the next morning, and immediately recognize Randol's warmth under my cheek. I guess I stayed more than a little while. I look at my watch and it's 7:30 a.m. I could probably sleep for another six hours after yesterday's madness, but I have too much to do today. I turn my attention upward, and see the most gorgeous face. I could get used to waking up like this. I can't believe someone can look that good first thing in the morning. I probably look like a nightmare.
I slip out of the bed as carefully as I can, so that I don't wake Randol in the process. Success! Once I am outside the room, I breathe a sigh of relief. God, I need a shower. I head straight for my room, praying that no one stops me along the way. I feel like I have ten layers of dirt and sweat covering my body. Just one good, hot shower and the day can begin.
I finally make it to my room, and shut the door. I lock it just for good measure. Half an hour to myself. That it. That's all I need. Once the shower is going and I have warm water running down my body, I can feel the stress of the previous day lessen slightly. I need to get ready and get back down to examine Randol. You know, I need to get him up and walking for medical purposes, but I honestly just want some alone time with him too.
Oh my god! I feel 1,000 percent better now that I'm clean. Looking through my closet I opt for warm clothes, in hopes that I will be able to get Randol up and outside a bit today. I don't really have time to do my hair, so I just leave it damp and curly. No makeup either. He'll see it at some point, might as well be today. I just want to hurry up and get back down there. All right, boots on and ready to go.
While making my way down to get some breakfast, I run into Daddy. "Good morning, Daddy."
"Morning, Celeste, I'm surprised you're awake already. I was fully prepared to fulfill my caffeine fairy duties again today."
"Thanks, but there is no need today. I couldn't sleep anymore. I felt like I had a layer of grime covering my body two inches thick. I just couldn't drag myself into the shower last night."
"Yes, I saw that."
"I'm sorry, Daddy. That... that wasn't what it looked like."
"Calm down, Celeste. I know. You were exhausted. You were bound to fall asleep in the first comfortable spot you found. It was cute actually. I haven't seen you look that peaceful in a long time."
"Cute? Kill me now."
"Hahah. You were out cold. Randol and I had a nice long conversation while you were sleeping, and you didn't even budge."
"Yeah, I was re... Hey! Wait a minute, what did you two talk about?!"
"That's between us guys. I will tell you this, though, you made an excellent choice. He's a good man. He would do anything for you, just make sure you give him the same respect."
"What does that even mean, Daddy?"
"You'll understand it when the time comes."
"Well, that's not a completely frustrating answer."
"I love you, though."
Sigh. "I love you too." Right when I say this, we enter the dining area and a roar of applause goes up. "What the hell?" Mr. Yamaguchi approaches me and puts an arm around my shoulder. "We all just want to extend our gratitude to you, Celeste. You handled everything very well yesterday. Everyone made it out alive, including the humans, and it is all because of you." He takes a step back and rejoins the crowd.
"Seriously, no thanks is necessary. Would any parent in this room expect a thank - you from your child for saving them from drowning? No. Would any child in this room expect a thank you for picking your parent up at the airport when they visit? No. We do these things because it's our job. It's our job to take care of and protect our family. Like I said yesterday, in a much angrier tone, you are my family. Blood or not, it makes no difference. I would feel the need to care for and protect each one of you exactly the same. Besides, nothing I did yesterday would have worked if I didn't have the help of each and every one of you. No one puzzle piece makes a picture on its own. Only when all the pieces are together does the picture come together. Thanks for trusting me yesterday, though. It means a lot. I hope all the members know you are leaving the council in good hands. I'm sure the other heirs agree that we will do everything in our power to protect our community and make our parents proud." Another round of applause goes up.
"Let's eat, everybody. I'm starving." There's Uncle Anthony stepping in once again to save the day and send me his signature wink.
I eat breakfast quickly and excuse myself. Carrying the tray containing scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice, and coffee, I head to the infirmary. As I walk through the door, I am greeted by a happy voice.
"Good morning, sunshine."
"Morning, Randol. Got ya some breakfast."
"I was wondering where you snuck off to. I have a request, though. After I eat, can I please go take a shower?"
"I don't know. I'm worried you're not stable enough to stand up for that long."
"What? You want to get in with me and hold me up?"
"A very tempting offer, but I'll have to pass."
"Ouch. What if I have my dad sit in the bathroom on standby? Would that get me a shower today?"
"I can accept that compromise. I know your dad will rat you out to me if there are any problems."
"First, Kai and now my dad. Am I just a by - product of the other people in my life that you love?"
My smile is bigger than it should be when he says this while scarfing down bacon. He left me wide open. "Perhaps. It's a small price to pay, though. Kai and your dad are worth the sacrifice."
He is completely speechless again. "If I wasn't confined to a hospital bed you would be in so much trouble right now." That lopsided grin of his tells me exactly what kind of trouble he means. I can't say I would mind some of that trouble right now. I have spent entirely too much time around this mostly naked man to say I haven't thought about it once or twice.
"Well, you are, so finish your breakfast, so I can unhook you from everything. You can't shower with all these wires and tubes attached."
"You really are amazing, you know that?"
"You're still my patient, so it's still my job."
"No, that's not what I mean. You care about everyone else so much more than you care about yourself. That's very rare to find."
"I had a great role model. My father is the same way. I guess I get it from him."
He smiles at me like I'm the only person on the planet at that moment. It makes me melt. He takes one last drink of his coffee. "All right, Doc, I'm done. Can we take all this crap out of me now? I feel like a science experiment."
"Sure. I brought you a robe to slip on. I knew you wanted to try to walk around some today. Didn't think you wanted to go walking around the house naked, though."
"You're right. Best not to make the other guys feel inadequate."
"Hahah. Right. That was exactly what I was thinking." I play it off, but he may not be far off. This man is delicious from head to toe. There is no part of him that he could ever feel inadequate about. Trust me. I have now seen all the parts. "Last one. There, all unhooked. Ready to ah... Randol! What are you doing?" Just as I pull out his IV, he grabs me around the waist and pulls me close.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Getting handsy with the medical staff."
"Just one staff member. Celeste, I don't try to impose a lot of rules on my mate. I really only have four, and you have already broken one of them."
"How in the hell did I already break one? I have done nothing but take care of you. What is this crazy rule that I allegedly broke?"
"If you fall asleep in my arms, I expect a good morning kiss when we wake up."
"Oh. I guess this rule isn't that crazy. You will let me off with a warning this time, though, right? Since I didn't know the rules yet?"
"I'm sorry. You're going to have to pay up."
"I've never been a rule breaker, so I guess if I must, I must." There's that lopsided smile again. He closes his eyes and puts his forehead on mine. My eyes close on instinct when he does. Just as I'm about to open them, I feel his lips on mine. They are so warm. I feel them part slightly and I match his every move. His tongue lightly presses against my own lips to part them. I feel my whole body go lax as I sink into his touch. His kiss. His strong embrace. I can feel heat building at my core when I hear a small rumble come from Randol's chest. He slowly starts to pull away from our kiss. I miss it already. "Umm, that was a little more than a good morning kiss."
"Yes, it was. I am not complaining, though." Before I can stop it, a giggle slips out. "Oh, you are going to have to stop that."
"Sorry, it just slipped out. You ready for that shower now?"
"Give me a few minutes. If I go out there in that robe right now, I'll have my own cane."
"Hahah. Okay, I'm going to text my dad to send your dad down. My guess is you have about two minutes before you have to explain your cane to your dad."
"Well, that won't be awkward or anything."
"Consider that motivation."
True to my prediction, in just a little more than two minutes, Mr. Woods walked through the door. "Good morning, Celeste. Good morning, Randol. How are you feeling?"
"Much better today. Thanks, Dad."
"Mr. Woods, Randol wants to go to his room to shower, but I need to make sure he can walk well first. Mind helping me out?"
"Absolutely. You ready, son?"
"I hope so. I'd hate to fall on my face. This ground looks hard."
"That's why I have your dad here. All right, first just swing your legs over the bed and let your feet touch the floor. Good. Can you feel any tingling in your feet or legs?"
"No. I just feel the cold."
"Excellent. Your circulation seems to be okay. Next, your dad and I are each going to get under one of your arms, when you're ready stand up. Slowly."
"Take it slow, son. We've got you. Lean on us as much as you need."
"I'm about to start putting weight on my legs." I watch as he hesitantly starts to stand. Once he's upright, he takes a step. Then another, and another. "I'm surprised but I don't really feel any pain, just some soreness. I just feel bruised."
"That's the power of having a good doctor," I say as I wink up at him.
He kisses me on the forehead. "I have the best doctor."
"That's enough, Casanova. It's bad enough I have to watch you shower. I don't want to have to watch you use bad pickup lines too."
"Way to ruin the moment, Dad."
"That's enough, both of you. Let's get you upstairs. You'll feel better after a shower." We get Randol into the elevator, and make it up to his room without incident. "Okay, Mr. Woods, I'll leave him with you from here. I'll be in my room if you need anything."
"Thanks, Celeste. I'll take care of him."
"I know you will."
I close his bedroom door for them and head to my own. I lay back on my bed as soon as I'm inside. I close my eyes, and all I can think about is that kiss. The amount of passion in that one kiss is more than I have felt in longer than I can remember. What is real intimacy going to be like if a kiss can make me feel like this? Hold up. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I have no idea if we will even get that serious. I hope we do, but I don't really know what he wants. I need to find that out first. Sigh.