Page 48 of Care: Part 1

"Ironically, I'm your caregiver.”

He didn't say anything after that. All he did was pick Avelina up bridal style and walk her into the bathroom, where he sat her down on the counter.

Avelina watched him turn the water on for the shower. Her eyes followed every movement of his. She was so mesmerized to feel cared for finally. When he finished, he walked back over to her, where he placed his hands on the sides of her thighs.

"I am going to my casino today to finish some paperwork. I would request for you to join me, but I have decided to let you get better," Adrik told her before lifting her shirt up and off of her body.

Her hands immediately flew to cover up her bare parts, but he grabbed her hands and held them at either side of her body.

"I will be home soon, Avelina.”

Her breathing grew heavy as he leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips.

The innocence that passed from his lips to hers had locked her in some sort of starstruck haze. He had so much power over her even as he pulled away just to gaze into her eyes.

Just as quick as her hormones made their appearance, they disappeared thanks to her memory that suddenly allowed worry to consume her thoughts.

"Are you going to be okay? You just got stabbed yesterday. I'm sure your casinos will be fine for at least a day," Avelina told him.

She also wanted Adrik to stay for a bit, but she was too fearful of saying that out loud. Her imagination played out this scene of lying in bed with him as they talked about the past, present, and future all-in-one. She suddenly grew a craving for it.

"Yes.”

She let out a sigh but decided to say nothing as he lifted her once more and placed her inside of the shower.

"Wait," Avelina called out as he began to walk away.

He stopped with a raised brow.

When he turned to look at her, she pulled him down to her level by his neck and kissed him once more. It was as if she couldn't get enough of him. For some reason, Avelina felt like if she let him out of her grasp, he would slip away. It was the last thing she wanted because he was her entire world. It didn't matter that she only knew him for two and a half months because, even to summarize Adrik's scientific discovery on love, love waits for no one.

"Okay, bye," she giggled like a schoolgirl talking to her crush after pulling away.

Adrik pecked her cheek in response before walking out of the restroom.

Avelina focused her attention on the shower as a smile whisked its way onto her face. She was smiling, and it was for absolutely no reason at all. It was a great feeling—smiling just to smile. Not the typical fake smile, either. She was so happy to the point that a real, authentic smile took over her features with no assistance at all. It was a smile that appeared all on its own.

She washed her body before using his shampoo to run through the strands of her hair. Avelina took her time bathing and continuously thinking about Adrik. Adrik consumed her mind, but she didn't mind it at all.

Avelina stepped out of his bathroom with a towel wrapped around her frame. The cool marble flooring accompanied her feet as she paddled her way to her room.

The heat from the shower really helped aid her sore muscles. She didn't feel completely recovered, but she felt more comfortable to move around than she did earlier.

Avelina proceeded into her bedroom, where she immediately went into the closet. Since Adrik was going to be away all day, she didn't feel any need to dress up. So, she reached for a tank-top and some shorts.

The second she had all of her attire on, she walked out of her bedroom.

Avelina wanted to spend her time alone in Adrik's mansion productively. So, with that thought, she decided to clean as much as she could of the already spotless house.

She spent hours cleaning her semi-messy room and organizing her clothes after washing and drying Adrik's bedding. When she finished cleaning the bedrooms, she headed over to the kitchen.

Avelina enjoyed cleaning. To her, it was such a thoughtful process. Not to mention, after cleaning, the feeling of accomplishment and proudness would overwhelm one's body like a blanket. It felt useful to clean. Cleaning reminded her that getting rid of negativity is a lot easier than some may think. All a person may need is a towel and a bit of bleach just to wipe the dirt away.

Just as she finished putting away the last dish from the dishwasher, the loud chime of the doorbell rang through the house.

Avelina quickly dashed to the front with a huge smile on her face, ready and prepared to see Adrik. The moment that she threw the door open, her smile dropped from her face completely.

A beautiful middle-aged woman stepped into the house, but not before throwing her coat at Avelina. A gasp left Avelina's mouth just before her eyebrows pulled together. The sound of the woman's heels clattering against the flooring was deafening as Avelina placed the stranger's coat on a rack.