Boss Me (19 page)

I walk around the side of the bed and notice the bucket. I’m assuming that Zach brought that in here when he realized his mom was too weak to get up out of bed. Placing my hand on her forehead, I know immediately that she has a very high fever. I take quick inventory of the room before heading back out to join Zach in the living room.

“How is she?” he asks, jumping up off the couch as I enter the room.

“She has a very high fever that we need to try to get down. Can you grab a glass of water while I go into the bathroom and looks for some ibuprofen? We also need some cool washcloths. Maybe you could grab those while I move that bucket. I assume you took that in there, right?” I ask the still shaken twelve-year-old.

“Yeah, when I called Dad, he said to get her a bucket to puke in. I asked him to come and help me, but he was finishing up a deposition. He’s coming here tomorrow, though.”

“The bucket was a good idea,” I tell him as we split off to gather our supplies.

Inside the bathroom, I find an old fashion mouth thermometer and a bottle of ibuprofen. Zach joins me and grabs two washcloths, wetting them down quickly next to me. I’m back and kneeling next to Carmen’s bed moments later. Carmen is shaking from the fever, burrowing herself deeper and deeper into her down comforter, trying to keep warm. Unfortunately, she’s not helping the fever any by doing this. It takes several tries before I get her to release her hold on the blanket.

“Carmen, you need to sit up a bit and take some medicine, okay? You have a fever and we need to get it down, honey.” The term of endearment rolls off my tongue with such ease. I steal a quick glance at Zach to see if he noticed my slip, but he seems more concerned about his mother than my use of the cutesy, couple name.

Carmen moans and groans as I pull her placid body into a somewhat sitting position. She’s more like a limp noodle and definitely isn’t helping me out any. I reach over and grab two ibuprofen from the bottle. “Open up, Carmen,” I direct to which she slowly complies.

Her eyes slowly open as I place the small pills in her mouth. They’re still dark brown, but lack focus. Her beautiful eyes are now bloodshot and hazy. Her skin is pale and clammy. She has so much heat radiating off of her that I’m practically sweating sitting next to her while I hold her up.

“Good girl,” I say as I bring the glass of ice water up to her mouth.

Carmen sips greedily for a few gulps before losing her ability to sit up – which considering I was doing most of the work, is saying something. At least she has a little medicine in her body now. Let’s hope she keeps it down.

“I’m going to take your temperature,” I tell her as I turn on the thermometer. After several beeps, it finally signals it’s completion with one long beep. It reads 104.2 degrees. Dammit.

I notice she’s wearing what I assume was her pajamas from last night. Carmen is donning a white long sleeved, oversized cotton t-shirt and a pair of thick flannel pants. They’re wet and stuck to her curves and leave little to the imagination. It’s like a wet t-shirt contest gone wrong. I try not to be a complete bastard as I take in the shape of her tits pressed against the damp material, but the instant hard-on I’m suddenly sporting proves otherwise. I am a bastard.

“Hey, buddy, why don’t you go in the living room and play a video game. I’m going to get your mom changed into some clean, lightweight pajamas, and then I’ll come out and hang with you. Okay?”

“Sure,” he says as he walks towards the bedroom door. He turns around and gives his mom one last glance before exiting.

“Okay, honey, let’s try to get you into some clean, lightweight clothes,” I say more to myself than the lethargic woman in front of me.

In two steps, I’m standing in front of Carmen’s dresser. I start with the top drawer and set out to find her a change of clothes. This one is filled with panties and bras. I contemplate new panties, but honestly, the less clothes she’s wearing now the better.

Fever,
dickhead.
She’s got a damn fever.

Drawer two is the jackpot. I find a blue tank top with lace trim and matching plaid cotton shorts. The image of Carmen wearing these on a hot summer night while sitting in bed and reading invades my mind. I, of course, am sitting next to her in a pair of boxers, rubbing the smooth, soft skin of her leg.

Again, with the fucking hard-on.

Carmen says nothing as I slowly undress her. She’s not wearing a bra underneath her pajamas so my eyes are instantly drawn to her perky mounds. I try to look away, really I do, but I’m too weak. I’m a man for Christ sake, not a saint.

I lift her up as best as I can one-handed while pulling and tugging the tank top into place. It’s definitely challenging to dress a woman who’s basically passed out and not able to help in any way, shape, or form.

After removing her lounge pants and panties, I start to slide the fresh shorts up her legs. Torture. Pure and simple. This is fucking torture. I try to clear my mind, focus on the fact that this is a patient, but then I get a glance of those long legs and perfect tits and my mind is right back in the gutter.

“Will,” I hear Carmen moan in a low raspy voice. She’s so quiet that I almost don’t hear her. I stop the slow progression of dressing her bottom half and look up at her. Her eyes are still closed, her hair is matted to her forehead, and her breathing is slightly labored, yet I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman.

“I’m right here, honey,” I respond after I rewet my lips.

“Don’t leave,” she whispers again, trying to turn.

I quickly pull her shorts the rest of the way up as she grasps for my hand. “I don’t want you to ever leave,” she mumbles as she starts to drift back off to sleep with her hand still clenching firmly to my left one.

“I won’t,” I confess as I lean forward and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. I push all of the wet hair back and just stare down at her face. I memorize every breath, every laugh line, every imperfection. The way her eyelashes flutter against her cheek. The way her breathing hitches every time I move. The way her nose flares out just a little bit with each breath. I memorize it all because if there ever comes a moment when she’s not in my life, I want to have enough memories to last for the rest of my life.

I wait several minutes until I know she’s good and asleep again before I pry my hand out of her grasp. I place the first cool washcloth behind her neck and place the second one on her forehead. I know I’m already going to be changing the sheets as soon as possible, so having them wet with something other than sweat doesn’t concern me right now. Getting her fever down is my main focus. She needs a cool shower.

I head into the living room and find Zach sitting on the couch. The video console is out, but it’s left off.

“How is she?” he asks as I step into the room.

“I need to get her fever down. A cool bath or shower is the best way to do it, but I don’t want to leave her in there by herself. She’s too weak to stand up and I’m afraid she’ll drown herself if I draw a bath.”

“Can you help her? I would do it, but that’s just gross,” Zach says making a horrified face.

My mind fills with images of a wet Carmen, all lathered up and sudsy. This may be my toughest job yet. “Yeah, I can do that. She’ll probably be pissed off, though,” I start. “Oh, sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. My mom says pissed sometimes, too,” Zach says with a laugh.

“Did you eat lunch?” I ask, noticing that it’s already after three.

“No, I was too freaked out about Mom.”

“Come on, let’s get you a sandwich or something and then I’ll work on getting that fever down some more,” I tell Zach.

“Okay,” he says as we both walk into the kitchen.

We make quick work of pulling bread and all the fixings out of the fridge for a sandwich. I skipped lunch myself with worry about Carmen. So, I quickly throw some mayo on a few slices of bread, give each one a squirt of mustard, and watch as Zach finishes making us each a ham and cheese sandwich. The fact that he didn’t correct me or balk at the mustard was a welcome surprise. So is the fact that we just completed a very domestic task together. Just a twelve-year-old and me.

We each inhale the sandwich and set out to complete our next tasks. Zach seems calmer now that I’m here, he’s eaten, and he knows his mom is going to be okay.

“Play some video games if you want. I’m going to clean up the bucket and get her ready for a shower,” I tell him as I head back into her room.

When the first job is complete, I start to prepare Carmen for a shower. “Come on, honey. We need to get you in the shower,” I say as I help her sit up.

Carmen mumbles incoherently and tries to flop back down on the bed. She’s shivering uncontrollably, but that’s just the fever talking. I finally get her upright and standing – somewhat – in front of me. Her eyes crack open just the slightest giving a glimpse of those beautiful eyes.

“Hey,” I say as I give her a warm smile.

“Will?” she whispers. “I’m so cold.”

“I know. That’s the fever. You’re not going to like me very much, but we’re going to get in the shower and try to cool you off a little more. Okay?”

“Together?”

“Yeah,” I respond with my voice, while down below responds a little as well. Bastard.

“Okay,” she mumbles as I steer her towards the bathroom across the hall.

Inside the bathroom, I gently set her down on the closed toilet lid. She sways just a little and I quickly have to steady her with both hands. God, I hope she doesn’t fall over and bust open her head. There’s just no room to maneuver in here, and if she falls, she’s either hitting the sink or the tub.

I quickly turn on the water, trying to find the right temperature for both of us. I know that the water needs to be lukewarm, and no matter what the temp, she’s going to feel like she’s freezing her ass off. Hell, I’m going to be freezing my ass off.

When the temperature is set, I decide to strip myself first. This way, I’m all set to get inside the shower when she’s ready. Naked. When we’re both naked. I make quick work of removing my uniform top and undershirt. I watch her head bob around a little bit as if her neck is unable to withstand the weight any longer. I quickly lose my boots, pants, and boxers and throw them in a pile in front of the locked door.

When I’m completely naked and my glasses are placed on the sink, I step in front of Carmen and start to remove the tank top I dressed her in, not that long ago. Her glassy eyes look up at me, trying to focus.

“Will?”

“Yeah, honey?” I reply as her tits bounce free from the shirt, drawing my attention away from her eyes.

“Are we going to have sex?” she asks all mumbled and raspy.

“Not right now, sugar. Maybe later,” I say with a wink and the slight rise of the corner of my mouth.

“I like having sex with you,” she confesses breathlessly as I stand her up and remove her shorts. It’s painfully obvious how much my body is enjoying standing in close confines with a very naked Carmen, but I need to focus on the task at hand.

“I rather enjoy having sex with you, too,” I reply as I lead her shaking body toward the shower. “We’re gonna take a quick shower and try to get your temp to drop a little, okay?”

“Okay,” she mumbles again as we step under the spray.

The water is cold to me and instinctively, I want to crank up the heat. But, Carmen needs cooler water right now. The water hits her in the back and she lets out a little yelp in surprise and discomfort. I pull her closer to me as she tries to get away from the water spray. Her body is so hot, but she’s trying to burrow into me like she can’t get close enough. Sharing body heat with Carmen while naked in the shower isn’t exactly the worst thing in the world.

“No, no, no. You need to stay under the water and cool off.”

“It’s…too…cold…” she says, her teeth chattering together.

I don’t know how it’s possible, but I pull her body flush against mine further. With her pressed against me, she’s at least standing still under the water stray. I reach over and grab a washcloth and gently use it to rub around the back of her neck.

Carmen’s warm hands against the planes of the top of my chest startles me. I revel in the feel of her soft fingers as they glide effortlessly along my pecs, up and over my shoulders, and back down to my abs.

“You’re so beautiful,” she whispers as her fingers continue to explore my body, making my pecs jump with the slightest tickle.

“You’re beautiful. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I confess as I stare deep into her glassy, brown eyes. “I’m gonna help you wash your hair, okay? Just stand still.”

Carmen drops her head back as if the effort to hold up her head is too much. Using both of my hands, I let the water soak her hair, pushing it back and away from her forehead.

“That feels good,” she mumbles as I squirt a bit of shampoo in my palm. I lather up my hands and work my fingers against her scalp. Her moans of pleasure are almost my undoing. The proof is in my hard-on pressing against her stomach.

Without opening her eyes, Carmen’s fingers drop down and start to rub my shaft in long, fluid strokes. Fuck. “Baby, you need to stop doing that, okay? I need to focus on getting your fever down and with your hands on my dick, I can’t concentrate.”

“I love your dick,” she says as she sways a little. I know I’m on borrowed time here and need to get this shower wrapped up.

“My dick might love you a little, too,” I say with a smile as I rinse the suds from her long hair, her long fingers stroking me into painful delirium.

Grabbing the washcloth again, I soap it up in Carmen’s lavender soap and set out to wash the sweat and grime from her lush body. It’s torture. God’s evil way of telling me something. What? No clue, but I’ve clearly done something terrible to have to endure this kind of punishment. I make quick work at running the cloth over her entire body, all while she continues to hold on to my dick like it’s a life preserve.

“I love the way it feels. Your skin is so soft and you’re so hard all the time. I love the way it feels inside of me. I love the way it feels when we’re together, William. I love it almost as much as I love you,” she whispers moments before she sways and falls into my chest. I feel her legs starting to slip out from under her and know that the shower is over. I pull her snug against me and turn off the water. I’ll have to deal with her revelation later. Right now? I need to get my very sick woman back to bed.