Chapter 56 She Wouldn't Cooperate
Without waiting for Eliza to respond, Tanner pulled her into his arms, then reached out to prepare the toiletries for her intently, failing to notice the look of disappointment on her face during the process. To her surprise, he actually meant it when he said he'd help her.
She was no longer a child, but Tanner brushed her teeth in his arms right then.
Staring at the small mirror in front of them, Eliza thought the scene looked unreal. It was already strange enough seeing Tanner holding a toothbrush, let alone watching him looking so absorbed in brushing her teeth.
At first, Eliza was worried he'd be rough with his actions, breaking her teeth when he was currently in a bad mood!
But surprisingly, although he was still a little rough, it was acceptable.
In actuality, Tanner was equally nervous; this was his first time helping someone brush their teeth. To think when had the all-mighty Mr. Deleon needed to take care of someone like this?
He resented himself; how could he have been so careless, allowing this heartless girl to steal his heart!
Even so, he still tried his best to control his temper.
When that was done, he splashed some water on her face to clean it before carrying her out in his arms.
Eliza felt refreshed after washing up. Even though the process was a little embarrassing, she had achieved her goal either way.
While the two looked at odds with each other but were actually flirting, the doctor's medicine had arrived.
"Does your throat hurt?" Tanner asked.
Tanner placed her back on the bed, sitting with her back leaning against the headboard.
Eliza shook her head, not feeling even the slightest pain in her throat at all.
With that, Tanner picked up the medicine and noticed a note from the doctor on the anti-inflammatory capsules.
"Take anti-inflammatory capsules if her vocal cord is inflamed. Plenty of water, plenty of rest, and she'll be fine in a few days."
Aunt Bell remained in the room after she brought the medicine over. Nothing pleased her more to see Mr. and Mrs. Deleon affectionate with each other. "Aunt Bell, please bring some hot water to me," Tanner ordered.
Obliging, she quickly went down to boil some water.
As Eliza couldn't speak, she looked over at the medicine. She hated taking them!
Back home, her stepfather would never care if she fell sick, and her mother and sister would also spare her from taking medicine if she acted cute toward them. However, the person right in front of her now was Tanner. Acting cute... probably wouldn't work on him, right? After all, he was so cold-hearted.
After ruminating, she crossed the poor idea off.
However, unbeknownst to her, the move would work best on this 'heartless' man in front of her.
As she sat obediently on the bed, Aunt Bell brought the boiled water up not long after.
She brought the kettle along with a cup.
Even though Tanner had rarely taken any medicine growing up, he knew dispersing the powder into the water would produce a better effect.
Thus, he immediately cracked open the two capsules and mixed the powder up with hot water.
Seeing what he was doing, Eliza's eyes widened with incredulity!
His action traumatized her.
She would definitely object right then if she could. She had only sat quietly because the medicine was in capsules, and she didn't mind them. But now that he mixed it...
This heartless man! Who would take medicine like that?!
Tanner then picked up the cup with intricate patterns.
He swirled it slowly to cool the water down faster.
Right then, he suddenly seemed suave, as though the contents inside the cup weren't medicine but expensive red wine.
It was a sight to behold.
However, it was what it was, medicine!
When Tanner handed the cup to Eliza, she resisted with all her might!
No way she'd drink the water. Capsulated medicine was generally exceptionally bitter! Plus, she saw the note; she'd be fine after plenty of water and plenty of rest. No medicine for her!
Eliza shook her head continuously, refusing to let Tanner feed her, pursing her lips tightly, not allowing a single drop of that liquid to enter her mouth even when he grabbed her jaw.
She was exerting so much force that Tanner was beginning to suspect if she was feigning. Where did all that strength come from?!
As she struggled, the medicinal water was spilling everywhere.
And it only got Tanner even more livid. Why wouldn't she cooperate, not let him feed her?!
Okay, fine, he had wanted a taste of her all morning anyway.
Just then, Eliza felt the pressure of the cup against her lips disappear while she resisted.
Opening her eyes, Tanner downed all of the medicine!
She was dumbstruck. How could he consume medicine when he didn't need to?! Had he been possessed?!
Despite worrying if he had gone mad, she couldn't help smiling. She didn't need to take the medication anymore, elated.
However, it was destined to be short-lived.
After Tanner put the cup down, he kissed her on her lips.
The sudden kiss shocked Eliza, but at the same time, surprised her. However, before she could react, a medicinal taste filled her mouth. Sh*t! That sc*mbag!
As she was caught off guard, she swallowed all the medicine he spat into her mouth reflexively.
She couldn't stand the pungent, bitter medicinal taste in her mouth.
Eliza struggled to push Tanner away to drink some water, only for him to pin her down to her dismay.
Seeing that she had swallowed all the medicine, his forceful kiss then became passionate.
Since she wouldn't cooperate, she shouldn't blame him for using unconventional means.
How could he miss the opportunity to kiss her when he had been thinking about it all morning?
As the kiss deepened, the bitter medicinal taste laced their mouths, Eliza could no longer focus her mind, not remembering what happened after.
It wasn't until she regained her senses that she realized he had sat on the bed with her in his arms.
She could still taste the medicine in
her mouth. As she barely ingest
medicine, she was sensitive to the taste, and it felt extremely bitter to er when it was actually only a
little.
Tanner had only spared her lips, his hands still traveling across her body, turning her on, while he nibbled her neck.
She really wanted water! Her desire urged her to wriggle restlessly.
Disturbed, Tanner slowly opened his eyes, looking at her with absolute dissatisfaction!
It got Eliza pouting unknowingly, expressing her desire for water with her eyes, hoping he was merciful enough to let her have a sip. Stumped, Tanner attacked her lips again.
She wanted water, not a kiss!
Another long make-out session, under his mercy, and the medicinal taste in her mouth was long gone!
Eliza softened in his arms, panting, and started feeling sleepy, unsure because of the medicine or that she was deprived of oxygen.
Tanner's breathing was heavy as well, looking at her with a fathomless gaze.
Eliza's misty gaze, rosy lips from all the kissing, and soft body were all turning him on.
Though her face was rosy, her complexion still looked awful. Seeing that she had just recovered, he would leave her alone.
Gently tucking her in, he got out of bed and made his way to the shower.
Eliza had already fallen asleep by the time Tanner came out. After spending the whole night awake, Tanner was long exhausted, growing sleepy seeing her sleep so soundly. With that, he immediately climbed onto her bed.
Tanner's body was still cold from the shower as he crawled into Eliza's warm bed.
Sensing a sudden coldness coming from one spot, Eliza wriggled away in her dreams.
And her action got Tanner frowning. How dare she despise him when he had done so much for her?!
With that, he scooped the little furnace into his embrace. He had been warming her up like a madman the night before; it was her turn this time.
Tanner had spent the past few
nights alone in the study, and there
wasn't a day he didn't miss her
fragrance. Having bad nights' sleep, he could only nap and numb himself with work.
But now, he could finally sleep with his beloved wife in his arms. Her fragrance filled his nostrils, and he knew he would never get sick of it.
With Eliza's soft, warm body in his arms, Tanner kissed her forehead, filled with satisfaction, and fell asleep with her in his arms.
The two of them slept through most of the day before Eliza woke up.
Tanner's face came to sight the moment she opened her eyes.
He must have been exhausted after keeping vigil, taking care of her for an entire night. The shallow dark circles under his eyes got her heart aching, so she laid quietly in his arms, not waking him up.
Thinking back, he had really done a lot for her since their honeymoon! She was really glad to be treated like that.
She was complacent even if the person in his heart wasn't her...
At the thought of that, she felt a lump in her throat. Fortunately, Tanner was still asleep, or he would see through her pretense!
Her heart couldn't help twinging at the thought of leaving him one day. He was so perfect; how could she bear to leave...
With sadness surging in her heart, tears began pooling in her heart.
Deleon, why did he have to be so nice to her?! Why must he make it so hard for her to leave?!
However, just then, Tanner's eyes shot open.
Startled, Eliza forgot to stop crying.
When Tanner woke up and saw Eliza's tearful face, he felt as if something had shot his heart.
And he kissed her face gently, kissing her tears away.
His heart ached to see her like this.
He hadn't a clue why she was crying, only seeing reluctance in her eyes.
Hugging her waist tighter, he pressed her head into his chest and stroked it.
No consolation, no anger, only presence, hugging her in silence, reminding her she still had him.
Being in his embrace, she could hear his pounding heart, and she could no longer contain her tears, streaming down like a never-ending waterfall.
Please let her have him for a while longer... Let her be greedy and selfish one last time...
A while later, Tanner sensed Eliza was gradually calming down. Later, he inched away to see she had fallen back asleep, with tear streaks still wet.
Her tears, a little briny...
He kissed her tears away before slowly releasing her.
He left the bed.
His work had piled up, and it was time for him to get back to it after getting some much-needed rest.
After changing into his usual suit, he looked back at Eliza.
His Eliza. Whoever she loved, whoever her tears were for, she would and could only forever be his!
She could forget about ever escaping him!