The Contract Wife. book Series #1 (COMPLETED!)

C8: A bit shaken

She glanced up at the clock over his door and it read eleven o'clock sharp. She glanced down at Derek who was half asleep now, he's fever subsided a bit and was breathing rather fairly now.

She sighed as she sat back on the stool and glanced down at the eight pail of cold water since they started.

Ella had been dismissed an hour ago even though she was reluctant at first but Victoria insisted, hoping she wouldn't wear out the maid.

She reached out and pressed her palm on his forehead and his temperature was rather fine. She sighed and stood up, nearly folding the towel and placed it on the glass stool by the bed. She carried the pail and emptied it into the bathroom sink and walked back into the room.

She placed the items a bit far from the bed and decided to leave the room. She walked to the door and opened it softly, not wanting to wake him up.

"Where are you going?" Derek asked as he lazily glanced at the door. Victoria bit her lip and cleared her throat.

"To my room." She said, clenching the door frame as she stared at him a bit confused.

"Stay with me the night... Please?" He begged and she nodded with a tiny smile as she shut the door and walked to the large bed. She crawled onto the other side of the bed and and snuggled into the blanket, with a big distance in between them.

She shut her eyes as she tried to sleep only to hear rough movements and before she knew it, he felt his breathing on his neck.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to be close." He whispered and leaned into the pillow, not touching her in any way, keeping his hands to himself in case she would think otherwise. "Thank you for taking care of me." He said. "I feel a lot better now."

"It's fine." She smiled and bit her lower lip as she stared at the wall in front of her.

Derek turned and clasped his hands together and the lights instantly turned off. He snuggled close to her and shut his eyes.

She sighed out shakily at the close proximity but reminded herself not to think otherwise.

*

Victoria flashed her eyes open and glanced around the room at the sudden sound of glass breaking. She sat up and glanced around more only to hear Derek mummer from inside the bathroom.

She quickly got to her feet and sped walked towards the bathroom as Derek simply pushed the glass pieces of the bowl a scented handle had once sat in. Victoria peeped into the bathroom and glasses down at the glass pieces.

"You're going to work?" Victoria asked and he glanced at her a bit taken aback.

"Yes." He simply said and she frowned as she leaned against the door and crossed her hands.

"No you're not." She said and he turned to the sink, now applying Colgate to the toothbrush.

"Yes I am." He said then began to brush his teeth as fast as he could.

"I said no." She said and walked towards him, leaning against the sink as she watched him through the mirror. "You're still sick."

"I'm fine." He said once he spat out the Colgate.

"You might get a fever during the day, so I request you stay. As your wife." She said and he chuckled out as he finished cleaning the toothpaste off then glanced at her with a mocking glance.

"You're not my wife." He said and she smirked and he furrowed his brows at her.

"In case you didn't read the contract properly, you are my husband for ten months. Legally." She smiled and he rolled his eyes as he walked past her and back into the room