Chapter 45 SPENDING TIME TOGETHER
1745words
"Tessy?" He snaps his fingers in front of my face and breaks my trance immediately, "Hmm.." I respond absentmindedly.
"You bake the tiramisu cake?" He asks excitedly, his gaze on the cake and then on me shining bright with excitement. I nod my head, smiling.
"It's my favorite, my mother used to bake it often for me." He reveals and then pauses suddenly the shine leaving his eyes and he looks sad and uneasy.
I know he must be thinking about his mother, "Uhmm… I don't know if this tastes better than hers.." I say to distract him and again his lively smile comes back, "We need to see that… But why you didn't bake it yesterday?" He asks, thinking, and then suddenly narrows his eyes.
Oh no, seems like he has seen through me…
"Actually, I…" I begin nervously but he just waves his hand, stopping me from uttering any more words.
"Actually, never mind." And just like that, he leaves me alone. I facepalm myself in shame and then quickly start to place the dinner. I sit at the dining table waiting for my husband to join me but it was taking him quite much time.
Feeling impatient, I go to our floor to call him but stop when I see him entering the elevator, he has changed into another suit and looks ready for attending an occasion. "Oh… I am leaving to attend a function on behalf of Ann."
Andrew informs when he notices my surprising gaze roaming all over his body.
"Oh…" I say, disappointed.
Andrew steps out of the elevator and stops when he notices the dinner placed on the table, he realizes that I have come up to call him for the dinner.
"Tessy, sorry, just now Ann called and you know I can't refuse her." He says apologetically and I give him a polite assuring smile. "No problem. Go and have fun…" I tell him cheerfully and he chuckles, "Trust me, these functions are no fun."
He then walks out as I keep staring at his back until he passes the first door and vanishes from my sight.
Sigh, I look at the dinner and suddenly my appetite is gone. I walk back to my room, change into a nightdress, and then feeling disheartened I lay on my bed and try to sleep.
****
"Tessy… Tessy…" I feel a little shake on my arm.
I open my eyes, my vision still blurry, I see a light, I turn to light and then see a face, Andrew's face. My mind is still disoriented when I feel myself hanging in the air, and soon the bright light comes into my view hurting my eyes.
I cover my eyes and there I feel something on my mouth, "Open your mouth" A command comes over and I did, chewing the first bite I start to get back to the life, with the second bite I feel the strength to sit up and with the third bite I am able to open my eyes properly.
"What happens?" I ask, hoarsely as Andrew hands me a glass of water and I start to drink it slowly.
"I came back and saw the dinner placed on the table the same way as I left, I call Miss Celine she told me she left before me and you skip your lunch too today. I thought of checking on you and finding you unconscious from the weakness, I guess…. I start to get panic and bring you to my room. Feeding you food helps as you finally get your consciousness." Andrew explains and I blink in disbelief.
Really because of weakness I fainted? And I thought I was in a deep sleep all the time.
"Thank you," I mutter as Andrew continues to feed me, "I can eat myself," I tell him as I try to take the bowl from his hand. He hands me the bowl and then after being sure I am fine he stands up, "Tessy, I am going to take a shower, don't leave the room." He says in order and I nod my head.
Sighing in relief, he walks to the washroom as I continue finishing my bowl of food. He walks out after a while, wet and glistening from the shower with just a towel around his waist, I try to not stare but I couldn't help it.
I stare in fascination while he put on his shirt and then walk to his closet, he emerges after a moment wearing black trousers and lazily threw the wet towel on one of the chairs in his room.
His hair is still wet, seems like he never cares about drying his hair, "I am going to make a tonic, do you need anything?" He asks as he picks the empty bowl.
"Tonic?" I ask.
"Yeah, these parties invite lots of alcohol and I am not good with alcohol so I always need a tonic after to provide myself from the stomachache." He explains and I nod my head in understanding.
"Well, do you know how to make it? Perhaps, I think I can help." I offer gently and he gets lost in thinking, "Are you sure?" He asks with a raising brow still concerned about my state and I nod my head confidently, "I am feeling better now." reassuring him, I stand up and then pick the towel to dry his hair first.
"You just got recovered from the fever and by being so careless you are going to get the fever again very soon." I tell him with concern and he looks amused but thank me politely, "Thanks."
"Aren't wives supposed to take care of their husbands?" I ask him teasingly and he grins.
We walk to the kitchen together even when it's midnight, the lights on the ground floor have lit up brightly, We enter the kitchen and I start making tonic for Andrew as he watches me intently.
I didn't notice his gaze until I keep the tonic on slow flame and then look up at him, "What's wrong?" I ask, his gaze has turned dark and even his face looks stern now.
"Uhmm… Did I…" Andrew asks and I look at him blankly not knowing what is he talking about, he suddenly reaches over and runs his thumb over my exposed skin making my heartbeat quicken.
I look down and then only I realize what he is talking about, "You were not in your senses.." I tell him plainly and he looks pissed not at me but himself actually.
"I am sorry." He mumbles softly, I don't blame him that night in the tub, he was burning from the fever, hence he found some relief in sucking my cold body.
Remembering the night, I feel the ache, the needy discomfort that I don't understand at all. It wasn't the same feeling when I remembered my forced night with Andrew it seems to be something else.
But, I don't understand this reaction at all.
"Do you want my shirt?" Andrew offers politely as I look up coming out of my daze, I look down at myself again, what is happening to me why I am not in my senses tonight? Is it because of the weakness or my decision about keeping this marriage that now I am not bothered with Andrew's closeness and especially when I am only in my nightdress that is giving a good alluring show by showing my bare arms and my visible ni**les through fabric?
I shake my head, still not thinking correctly. "I am fine."
"Are you sure?" Andrew asks in doubt, he can't help but keep lowering his gaze, and instead of feeling shy I feel desirable… Oh yes, the desire, I think I have started to desire Andrew.
I shake my head, flush from my erotic thoughts, and then pour the tonic into a bowl as I hand him.
Andrew sits at the chair near the counter and I sit beside him, "It's hot, be careful." I tell him and he nods his head as he starts to blow the tonic slowly and I couldn't help but stare at his mouth in desire and then quickly look away as my subconsciousness snaps at me.
Control your emotions, Tess…
"Uhmm… Andrew…" I start to speak, I think I should give him some clue that I am still willing to make this marriage work. "Do you like me?" I ask, looking at him curiously.
"Yes, why won't I?" He shrugs and his immediate "Yes" pleases my heart.
"What do you exactly like in me?" I ask him and he looks like going into deep thinking, "Uhmm… Actually, we both haven't spent quite much time together to know each other's liking…" He pauses and then continues, "How about we spend some time together, if you don't mind that will help us to know each other better as Ann advises us."
"So, how are we gonna spend the time together? As friends? Or as husband and wife?" I ask cautiously hoping for him to give me something positive.
He stops at my question and looks at me with a little shock, "Tessy, are you seriously fine?" He asks, worried, and then with the back of his hand, he even presses my forehead. I roll my eyes at his lack of ability, can't he take my hint? Such an idiot…
I frown, "I am fine…" I snap and there he completely ignores my question and then finishes his tonic.
"Thanks, Tessy. You are a very good cook." He says and then gives me a sweet smile. I again feel butterflies in my stomach as I start to blush.
We both walk back to the elevator and I wanted him to invite me back into his room to sleep, but he didn't instead he just wish me Goodnight and asked me to call him if I feel the dizziness again.
Giving him a polite smile, I walk back to my room still hoping that he would stop me but Nah… The ability to disappoint me continued by my husband as I heard a click that indicates that he already has gotten inside his room.
Huh, better luck next time, Tessy…
Will Andrew ever allow me to sleep in his bed with him? Or will we remain stay as strangers?
