Chapter 343
Sebastian had been with countless women before - he'd embraced them, shared intimate moments far beyond what was happening now.
Yet when Harrison unexpectedly fell into his arms, his heart pounded with an intensity he'd never experienced.
No time to analyze this strange reaction.
He shook Harrison's shoulders urgently. "Harrison, are you alright?"
That's when he noticed the scorching heat radiating from her forehead. Her entire body burned with fever.
Just when things couldn't get worse.
Harrison slowly opened her eyes and pushed herself up. "I'm fine."
"You're clearly not! You're burning up. Can you even walk? Let me carry you," Sebastian insisted.
Her gaze dropped to his injured leg. "With that injury? You can barely stand."
The comment stung. Couldn't he carry someone who barely weighed a hundred pounds?
Seeing his wounded pride, Harrison gave a weak smile before heading inside. Sebastian limped after her.
Harrison crushed the medicinal herbs, forcing them between Adrian's lips, then took some fever-reducing herbs herself.
Sebastian watched her move about despite her illness - this fragile yet determined woman working tirelessly. He wanted to help but didn't know how, so he simply observed.
When she finished, he said, "You need to rest."
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized their predicament - only one bed, currently occupied by him.
He lifted the blanket. "Take the bed."
Harrison stopped him immediately. "Stay put. If that leg gets infected, I'll have to treat you too. I'll just sit here."
Sebastian considered this, then met her gaze. "We can share."
The bed had ample space for both.
Harrison opened her mouth to refuse.
But Sebastian spoke first. "If you collapse, I'll have to care for you. Don't make this harder. I won't nurse you - I'll leave you here."
Harrison nearly regretted saving him. Maybe she should've let him fend for himself.
She climbed in, staying near the edge. Her body alternated between burning and freezing. Eyelids growing heavy, she murmured, "Just sleep," before turning away.
Sleep claimed her quickly.
Sebastian studied her profile. She lay curled on her side, maintaining careful distance between them.
Who would've imagined they'd share a bed like this?
He reached over, pulling half his blanket to cover her.
Harrison slept fitfully, growing colder by the minute. Her slender arms wrapped around herself as pale lips trembled from chills.
"Cold..."
Sebastian leaned closer. "Harrison? What's wrong?"
"Cold..." she repeated through chattering teeth.
He touched her forehead - furnace-hot, yet her limbs were icy. Probably 107°F fever.
"Cold..."
He gave her all his blankets, trying to share warmth.
No improvement. The thin covers couldn't stop her shivering.
Only one solution remained - body heat. He needed to hold her.
Sebastian reached out... then hesitated, withdrawing his hand.
He stared at the ceiling. Nothing would happen. He didn't feel that way about her. This was purely medical necessity, right?
Gently, he placed a hand on her delicate shoulder and drew her close from behind.