I felt like death.
Through lowered lids, I watched as Gabriel walked to the sink, wetting a towel.
Gracious!
It was my first time getting a glimpse of the tattoo on his muscled back. The angry art fit him to the tee. That claw that peeked over his shoulder was that of a vicious lion, his mouth was opened in a ravenous roar. I concentrated harder than what my screaming head wanted me to, trying to read the word that was slashed angrily down his back next to the lion.
JUDAH
Wow! The tattoo was violent like him. My eyes lowered, and if I wasn’t so sick I would have blushed at the fact that he stood at the sink with only a pair of black boxer briefs on. It was then I realized that I too was naked of everything but my little lace underwear. I wanted to jump up and grab the robe on the back of the door, but right then I began to heave again.
These dry heaves were causing my already pounding head to feel as if it was going to split open.
Oh God! I was dying!
The cool cloth Gabe wiped over my face felt amazing. With my head still resting against the toilet bowl, I closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep.
When I opened them again, Gabe was lifting me off the floor and into the shower with him. Warm water surrounded us from several shower heads. I moaned. That felt so good. He held me with one arm while he used the other hand to wash me with soap.
I know I should be embarrassed, and if I survived this night I’m sure I will be. But right now, I was too weak to care.
When he was done, he wrapped me in a big fluffy white towel. Slowly, I walked to the sink and picked up the toothbrush. The taste of the champagne that still lingered in my mouth was going to make me sick again. But my hands shook so bad that Gabe, who thankfully also had a big fluffy white towel wrapped around his waist, took the toothbrush from me and put toothpaste on it.
Our eyes made contact in the mirror and he grinned. “Do you want to do it, or do you want me to do it for you?”
I took the toothbrush from him before rolling my eyes. I’m glad he was enjoying my misery. As I brushed my teeth he continued to dry off. I looked away embarrassed when he dropped the towel and slid his powerful legs into a pair of gray sweatpants.
When he left out the bathroom, I took the opportunity to grab one of the fluffy robes from the door and slip into it. It was soft and big… perfect! He came back with a glass of water and a few aspirin. Gratefully, I took them before sliding back into the big warm bed.
I turned over facing away from Gabriel, scooting as close to the edge as I could. I was uncomfortable with the fact that I was in the bed with him and I had no idea how I got there. To top it all off, I had been naked of everything but my panties, something I was definitely going to have to investigate if I survived.
He laid down behind me. Wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me until my back was tucked against his front. Oh wow! This had been the warm spot my body protested leaving when I first had awakened. Well okay, maybe it wasn’t too bad.
Moments later, I was out.
When next I awoke, I was in bed alone. The morning sun was bright, shining through the windows. I cupped my eyes with my hand trying to block it out. Although my head no longer felt as if it was going to split open, it still pounded pretty good.
Groggily, I got out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. After emptying my bladder, I brushed my teeth again. I didn’t want to taste even the slightest hint of alcohol. If I did, I know I will be violently ill.
I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was in its full chaotic glory, but I was too sick to even pretend to care. I tied the knot tighter on my robe, wishing I had my backpack with my pajama bottoms in it and my cami.
Slowly, I walked out of the bedroom. Gabriel still dressed in only his gray sweatpants, sat on the big couch typing on his laptop that was opened in front of him on the coffee table. There were also several files, a big empty bowl and a box of Apple Jacks. When he saw me walking toward him, he looked up and smiled.
“Morning beautiful!” He patted the couch next to him. “Come sit by me.”
I grunted as I slowly made my way to ease on the couch next to him, drawing my feet up under me. I could no longer hold up my head, so I laid it against the back of it.
“You must be blind.” I muttered, staring in the eyes of the angry lion on his muscled back. Gabriel laid back looking over at me, his smile tapered down to a grin.
“What do you mean? Even fresh out the bed with a hangover, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Well shucks!
I put my hand over my face, not able to stop the grin that came to it from his compliment. He reached up and moved my hand.
“Don’t hide it from me Yas.” His whispered words caused me to blush harder.
“Is that why I feel like death? I have a hangover?”
He chuckled, sitting back up to his computer. “Oh yeah!”
“I’m sorry you had to clean me up last night.” Goodness! That was really embarrassing in the light of day. He shook his head.
“Ah that little stuff you did was nothing; at least you made it to the toilet. I once had to
