Read Online Exposure by Elizabeth Lister - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Lister
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these symptoms just mean I need to take it easy for a bit. If we go to the hospital now I'll just end up sitting in Emergency for six to eight hours waiting while they try to call in a neurologist to see me. I might as well wait until Monday and go directly to the MS clinic."
"Okay. Just promise you'll tell me if you change your mind about going to the hospital."
He nodded. "Promise."
I stood up. "Come on, I'll help you back to bed."
I helped him stand up and walk back to the bedroom. He could walk, thank goodness, but he was limping and definitely needed my assistance. I helped him lie down and then crawled in beside him.
"Is this okay?" I asked as I slipped my arm around him and held him close. "I mean, can you sleep with me here?"
"Mmm hmm," he murmured. "Don't go anywhere."
I nuzzled his neck, listening as his breathing deepened and he drifted off to sleep.
Unfortunately, even nestled against his warm, relaxed body, there was no chance that I was going back to sleep. I thought about everything that had been revealed to me over the last forty-five minutes and considered the impact it might have on our very new relationship. He said that he hoped to have more time to "ease me into" the knowledge of his disease and I could understand why. It was a lot to take in. I'm sure he worried it would be too much for me and I'd bail.
Once he fell into a deep sleep I very carefully extricated myself and slipped out of bed, tucking the blanket around him so he'd stay warm. I left the bedroom and closed the door most of the way so my movements wouldn't disturb him. I went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. It was 6:10 am. Since it was late October and the time hadn't changed yet, the sun had not yet risen. When the coffee finished brewing, I poured a cup and sat on the sofa, looking out at the darkness and hoping that Jeremy would be somewhat better by the time the sky lightened.
I was sitting on the sofa reading Outside magazine about two hours later when I heard a sound behind me. I turned to see Jeremy standing in my bedroom doorway, leaning against the frame.
"Morning," he said quietly and smiled.
I stood up and walked toward him. "How are you feeling?"
He shrugged. "Better. My balance is still off and I've still got the numbness. But I made it this far on my own, so some of the strength is back."
"That's good news?"
"Yep. It's not getting worse. If I rest up over the next few days, hopefully I'll be fine."
"I'll help you to the couch." I held out my arm.
He shook his head. "Thanks, but I want to see if I can do it. Just be ready to catch me." He winked at me and I felt a familiar tightening in my loins. I moved aside but stayed nearby. I wouldn't let him fall.
He let go of the doorframe and walked carefully forward. He wobbled a little and there still seemed to be some weakness in his right leg, but he managed all right and seemed very happy to close the distance to the sofa on his own speed. He sat down with a sigh of relief. "That's a definite improvement."
"Yes, it is," I agreed.
He looked at me. "I'm sorry for freaking you out last night."
I shook my head. "Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
There was an awkward silence. Then Jeremy said, "I seem to recall something about omelets?"
God, I'm an idiot . I was just standing here and he needed some breakfast. "Of course. How about a cup of tea?"
He seemed surprised. "You have tea?"
I nodded.
"Well, well, how civilized. I'd love a cup of tea."
"How do you take it?"
He grinned at me and it was the Jeremy I knew. "Anyway you like." And I knew he wasn't talking about the tea.
"Jesus, Jeremy, don't get me worked up. You need to rest."
He laughed. "I'm sorry. I like my tea black."
"And what would you like in your omelet?"
"Surprise me."
"Okay." I knelt down in front of him. "I meant what I said last night."
"I know you did." His gaze was honest and unafraid. "I'm developing some pretty strong feelings for you too." He reached
"Okay. Just promise you'll tell me if you change your mind about going to the hospital."
He nodded. "Promise."
I stood up. "Come on, I'll help you back to bed."
I helped him stand up and walk back to the bedroom. He could walk, thank goodness, but he was limping and definitely needed my assistance. I helped him lie down and then crawled in beside him.
"Is this okay?" I asked as I slipped my arm around him and held him close. "I mean, can you sleep with me here?"
"Mmm hmm," he murmured. "Don't go anywhere."
I nuzzled his neck, listening as his breathing deepened and he drifted off to sleep.
Unfortunately, even nestled against his warm, relaxed body, there was no chance that I was going back to sleep. I thought about everything that had been revealed to me over the last forty-five minutes and considered the impact it might have on our very new relationship. He said that he hoped to have more time to "ease me into" the knowledge of his disease and I could understand why. It was a lot to take in. I'm sure he worried it would be too much for me and I'd bail.
Once he fell into a deep sleep I very carefully extricated myself and slipped out of bed, tucking the blanket around him so he'd stay warm. I left the bedroom and closed the door most of the way so my movements wouldn't disturb him. I went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. It was 6:10 am. Since it was late October and the time hadn't changed yet, the sun had not yet risen. When the coffee finished brewing, I poured a cup and sat on the sofa, looking out at the darkness and hoping that Jeremy would be somewhat better by the time the sky lightened.
I was sitting on the sofa reading Outside magazine about two hours later when I heard a sound behind me. I turned to see Jeremy standing in my bedroom doorway, leaning against the frame.
"Morning," he said quietly and smiled.
I stood up and walked toward him. "How are you feeling?"
He shrugged. "Better. My balance is still off and I've still got the numbness. But I made it this far on my own, so some of the strength is back."
"That's good news?"
"Yep. It's not getting worse. If I rest up over the next few days, hopefully I'll be fine."
"I'll help you to the couch." I held out my arm.
He shook his head. "Thanks, but I want to see if I can do it. Just be ready to catch me." He winked at me and I felt a familiar tightening in my loins. I moved aside but stayed nearby. I wouldn't let him fall.
He let go of the doorframe and walked carefully forward. He wobbled a little and there still seemed to be some weakness in his right leg, but he managed all right and seemed very happy to close the distance to the sofa on his own speed. He sat down with a sigh of relief. "That's a definite improvement."
"Yes, it is," I agreed.
He looked at me. "I'm sorry for freaking you out last night."
I shook my head. "Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
There was an awkward silence. Then Jeremy said, "I seem to recall something about omelets?"
God, I'm an idiot . I was just standing here and he needed some breakfast. "Of course. How about a cup of tea?"
He seemed surprised. "You have tea?"
I nodded.
"Well, well, how civilized. I'd love a cup of tea."
"How do you take it?"
He grinned at me and it was the Jeremy I knew. "Anyway you like." And I knew he wasn't talking about the tea.
"Jesus, Jeremy, don't get me worked up. You need to rest."
He laughed. "I'm sorry. I like my tea black."
"And what would you like in your omelet?"
"Surprise me."
"Okay." I knelt down in front of him. "I meant what I said last night."
"I know you did." His gaze was honest and unafraid. "I'm developing some pretty strong feelings for you too." He reached
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