Chapter 40

I don't know for how long I've been sitting here, trying to catch my breath and be awake. It's pretty exhausting but I'm still holding on.

The cold sensation had hit me hard and now I think a fever is coming on, I don't even know what to do. I just wish someone comes soon. I can't even explain all the different phases I'm passing through, nothing is making any sense and all I want to do is sleep. I just need help.

My prayers are answered when I hear a knock on our room door.

The knocks keep on coming until there's silence, and my hope starts to diminish. ' No, no,please come back.' I want to say but words are not coming out, something is blocking me and now I'm sweating like nobody's business.

Soon I hear the door handle jiggle before the bathroom door opens.

" Oh my God Kea!" Someone gasps, coming into view.

Sarah crouches before me, her hands coming in contact with my skin, but the contact burns my skin and I jerk back in shock.

" Oh my God you're burning up." She rises to her feet and glances up, she leans over me, reaching for a towel and placing it under the tap.

The sound of water makes me thirsty and I wish for something to drink. Sarah crouches back down before me, placing the wet towel on my face and that's when I sigh out in relief. The cold sensation is diminishing apart from the fever and the dizzy spell is fading, my vision clearing.

The exhaustion however doesn't fade, it feels like a heavy weight is over me ,now that every other thing I passed through is gone. Sarah starts placing it on my neck and the small skin visible, whatever she's doing is helping immensely and I'm grateful for her being here.

My hand reaches out for her wrist, wanting her attention.

" What do you need?" I point at my neck, that's dry and scratchy.

" Water?" I nod as best as I can.

" Okay." She says, hurriedly getting me a glass of water.

The minute water runs through my oesophagus, a cool sensation takes over. I could sigh out in relief and stay like this.

" Can you speak?"

"It's sore." I manage to speak out through my now hoarse voice, pointing at my neck.

" I'm sorry, what happened?"

I open my mouth to speak when she cuss under her breath. I give her a questioning look, surprised to hear her cuss.

" You had a bad reaction to something, do you think it's the Cranberry sauce?"

I shrug, not carrying anymore but just wanting Keith here.

" Keith, I want Keith." I mumble, my eyes moistening.

I don't know why I'm so emotional right now but all I want is my husband and no one else.

" Okay I'll go get him." She promises, her eyes showing concern.

" Kea, baby?" It's as if he heard me calling out to him, and now he is here.

" Sir, she needs you." Sarah says from the doorway.

" What- oh my God Kea!" Keith rushes over to me, crouching before me and taking Sarah's place.

" Baby what's wrong?" The back of his hand rests against my forehead. "The heck - you're burning up." With that, his arms come around me and I'm carried bridal style out of the bathroom, Sarah following right behind.

My body is placed onto a soft surface and Keith hovers over me.

" Call the doctor!" Keith demands, not even looking away from me.

The sound of the door opening and closing tells us that we're left alone.

" I shouldn't have left you, gosh." He shakes his head, his fingers combing through my hair.

" Your family."

" Is right in front of me and I need to take care of her." He says, leaning forward and pecking my forehead before shifting down to my feet, where he takes off my shoes.

" Is everything alright?" Vincent asks, appearing at the door, the ladies right behind him.

" Yes, we heard that a doctor was needed." Jill says.

" Kea is not feeling well, so we'll have to cut the day short." He says, not even looking at them.

I close my eyes, melting into the lovely feeling of Keith's fingers in my hair.

" Ofcourse. We'll take our leave now, but please inform us about how she's doing later."

I don't hear Keith say anything, which makes me to open my eyes to see that he's still here, but not his family.

They left already?

" Keith, could I speak to you for a second?" I hear Elena say.

Before he can do anything, I hold onto his wrist, pleading with my eyes for him to not leave me. I don't want to be alone right now. I feel selfish by my actions but I can't help how I feel right now.

" Later Elena." He says.

I relax in my position, knowing he won't go anywhere.

" Okay, later then." She says, before I hear heels click away.

" Do you need anything?" He asks, caressing my cheeks with his thumb.

" Just you." I breathe out.

" You've got it." He tells me, leaning forward where he balances his arms on either side of my head, with our faces close to each other, his nose rubs against mine, bringing that tingly feeling and my lips twitch into a small smile.

He keeps on doing this for a while and I smile, feeling relaxed and content, just being here with him like this. I close my eyes in a calm sigh, his face buries in the crook of my neck, his lips peppering kisses on my neck. My eyes refuse to open as my breath evens out, losing all sense and falling into rest.




I haven't been able to leave my bed since Keith put me on bed rest. You'd think after the doctor came by to check on me, he'd ease up. Nope, he went commando on me and demanded I stay in bed and to top it all off. He'll be my personal nurse.

Yes, Keith Salvatore has assigned himself to be my personal nurse and I have to say, he's been doing a pretty good job. The funny part was he took it so seriously that I'm suppose to call him nurse Salvatore only.

As a patient, I had no say in anything but to let the nurse do his job, Keith even took the day off just to take care of me today. I would be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying my time with my husband. I feel as if we haven't had enough alone time, something either came up or we were disturbed. So if him nursing me back to health, is one of the times I get to have my husband all to myself, then I'll take it.

A busy man he is but here he is, in an apron, coming into my room with a bowl of soup for me, looking as cute as ever. A smile is sent my way just when he sets the tray down and settles down beside my legs.

" You know that I just ate right?" I ask, my brow quirks up.

" Yeah but that was an hour ago."

" Which means I'm still full." I say, patting my stomach.

" Just this soup and I won't bother you with food anymore."

" Keith-"

" 10 spoons."

" 5."

" That's small and you need it, it'll help with the fever going down. "

" I'd already been given a shot." I remind him.

A new and unfamiliar doctor had come by last night, he'd taken over for Dr Mathews and would be holding the fort at the hospital, while Dr Mathews was away. A trusted friend and colleague Dr Harold was to Dr Mathews, he'd suggested a shot for a speedy recover, he'd also told me about my bad reaction to the cranberry sauce.

Guess cranberry sauce doesn't agree with my skin. Speaking of the sauce, Keith threw out all cranberry sauce, telling everyone that cranberry was not aloud in the house.

A little extreme if you asked me.

" Shot or not, my tender loving care will be the only cure for you." He says, holding the spoon full of soup against my lips.

I sigh, opening my mouth and letting him feed me.

What a stubborn man.

" Yes I am, especially when it comes to my wife's life."

I said that out loud didn't I ?

" Yes you did."

Okay, I need to stop.

" Pease don't, it's quite entertaining."

We both stop to stare at each other before I giggle, feeling a sense of deja vu taking over.

" I can't believe this is happening again."

He chuckles at me.

" That was the time I had run into you, after signing the divorce papers..." I trail off as his smile slips off his face.

" I shouldn't have gone with my stupid plan, I almost lost you."

" But you didn't."

" I almost did though and I'll never forgive myself for causing you such pain, let alone make you cry."

" No, don't say such a thing, all things are passed now and we have to enjoy the now."

" The now with my beautiful wife." He says, his eyes roaming all over my face, taking me in.

" Keith." I say, averting my eyes elsewhere.

" What, I have a very beautiful wife." He says chuckling.

" Well I have a handsome husband too." I say, looking at him again.

" Why thank you wonderful wife."

" Pleasure amazing husband."

" Okay hot wife," he leans forward, grinning.

" Okay sexy husband." I say, my own grin coming out.

"Mmm sexy you say." He takes the tray and places it on the bedside table, now enclosing the space. "Alright my mouthwatering wife."

" Hey( I push at his chest). What am I ,food?" I pretend to be offended.

" Well you are my irresistible love." He says, just when he pushes me back to lay on the bed. He is quick to follow after me, him now hovering above me, not wasting any time in bringing his lips onto mine.

I sigh into the kiss, my hands mindlessly roaming around his sides and onto his back. A moan slips from my lips when his hands touch my hips, placing a little bit of pressure on it ,bringing a tingly feeling on the low part of my stomach.

His hands seem to have a mind of their own when they move from my hips, his one hand raising my leg and placing it around his waist, bringing his hips onto mine. The new feeling that bubbles within me at the feel of his hips moving against mine, brings unknown sounds to come out.

He moves away from my lips and onto my neck where he peppers kisses, before sucking on a spot on my neck. I clutch his shirt into my hands, not able to control how I'm feeling right now. I feel hot and I can't stop myself from moaning, Keith is giving me a sensation I've never felt before.

A groan rumbles from deep within his throat when one of my hands, moves to grip his hair.

When things seem to escalate and become much hotter, suddenly the doorbell rings downstairs, the same time my cellphone starts ringing.

All movements stop and he lays onto me, whilst we try catch our breaths.

" Damn it." He groans out against my neck, planting a kiss on the spot he'd been busy with before moving off of me.

Leaving me a panting mess.

" I'm sorry baby." He breathes out, bringing the phone into view.

All I can do is nod with a blush burning my cheeks. I reach out to take the phone from him but he keeps it out of reach.

" Are you okay?" He asks me, concerned.

I nod again.

" Words baby."

" I'm okay." I mumble, holding out my hand, avoiding his eyes.

My lips are pecked and I'm given the phone, while he goes on to answer the door.

" Hello." I breathe out.

" You're breathless, why?" Theresa.

" Hi Theresa."

" Oh my gosh, don't tell me you were in the middle of something rather hot." The way she says it, makes my blush to deepen.

" I was running." I say.

" Yeah right. Kea you seem to forget that you're a terrible liar and honesty is in your veins, you're too innocent for your own good."

"Am not!" I argue, sitting up.

" Really?......Then why won't you let me finish the word se- ."

" Theresa." I warn.

" See what I mean?" She says in that I told you so tone.

" Are you back from your mini trip?" I ask, changing the subject.

" Yes, that's why I'm calling. Wanna hang out today?"

I bite my lip." I can't."

" Oh you've got plans?"

" No, I can't because I'm on bed rest."

" What's wrong?"

" I'm sick."

" Stomach ache?"

" No, I'd say fever but it seems a little complicated to explain. "

"Tell me."

" Okay........." I tell her all about yesterday leading to now. Not leaving anything out.

" "

" Theresa are you still there?"

" Yeah I am. Um, could you do me a favour?"

" Okay."

" Give me the lady Sarah, is it?"

" Yeah."

" Send me her number. "

" Can I ask why?" I'm now frowning at her change of tone.

"Nothing much, just want to talk to her."

" Oh okay, is that all?"

" No. Tell your husband that I'll be inviting myself over for a few days, just to keep you company."

" Theresa what is this all about?"

" I just miss you and I want to keep an eye on you that's all." I relax when she says this, a smile coming onto my face.

" Oh you don't have to do that, Keith is already fussing over me. I mean it's just a small fever."

" He has every right to, as we all should, now will you do all I've asked of you."

" Fine I will, but you'll see that you're just worrying over nothing."

" I'd rather be safe then sorry." I roll my eyes in amusement, thinking of how similar she and Keith sound right now.

" Alright, I'll let him know, he's coming up right now." I tell her just as I hear Keith's footsteps.

" Good. oh and Kea, don't use that cream anymore" She says, before hanging up.

Leaving me confused.