Third person's POV
Drip.
A drop of red liquid fell onto the white bedsheet. Tabitha's face paled. Had Derek's wound reopened?
No, if it had, the blood would've come from his back, not the front.
She looked up and saw a trail of red under Derek's nose.
"Why are you bleeding?"
She quickly grabbed tissues to wipe it away. Derek cleared his throat. "It's… dry in here."
"I'll ask Rolf to bring a humidifier later."
"Mm." Derek avoided her gaze, his ears turning red.
Tabitha efficiently changed his bandages. As the sky darkened, she grabbed her change of clothes. "I'm going to shower. Call me if you need anything."
She took a quick shower, rushing through it out of concern for Derek. She didn't even dry off completely, water droplets still clinging to her skin.
When she opened the bathroom door, she found Derek staring at her. "Tabitha, I want to shower too."
It suddenly hit her: Derek hadn't showered in three days.
She'd been wiping his hands and feet with a towel, but that was far from a proper cleaning.
Derek must've been miserable.
It was a basic need, nothing to be embarrassed about.
"I'll call Rolf to help you. Your back can't get wet," Tabitha said, her tone caring.
"Okay," Derek replied.
Tabitha dialed Rolf's number. He sounded rushed, and the background noise was loud behind him.
"Tabitha, sorry, but Alvin and I are swamped. We won't be able to come for a couple of days. If you need anything, just ask the nurses. They'll help," Rolf apologized.
With that, Tabitha couldn't insist.
After hanging up, she turned to Derek. "I'll get a couple of nurses to help you."
As she turned to leave, Derek grabbed her wrist.
He pulled her toward him, and Tabitha lost her balance, barely catching herself on the edge of the bed.
Their faces were suddenly inches apart. Derek could see droplets of water rolling down her neck, disappearing into the collar of her shirt.
He licked his lips unconsciously but kept his expression serious. "Tabitha, I've never let another woman touch me. I told you—it's always been you."
His gaze was intense, locking onto hers as if making a declaration.
"This is a special situation. You're injured. Don't be so stubborn," Tabitha tried to reason.
But Derek's stare was too heated, making her flustered.
His golden eyes, like stars in the night sky, bore into her, leaving her heart racing.
He frowned, his expression almost pitiful. "You said you'd take care of me for seven days."
His tone was like a child's, sulking for attention.
Tabitha sighed, giving in. "Fine. I'll do it."
She set up a stool for Derek to sit on.
Derek carefully got out of bed, moving slowly.
His injuries covered a large area, and even the slightest movement could reopen the wounds.
Aside from the shallow cuts, three deep wounds were particularly fragile. Any misstep could cause them to bleed.
So, Derek moved with extreme caution, relying on Tabitha for almost everything.
Normally, Derek wasn't one to act so helplessly. But he knew this time with Tabitha was fleeting. He wasn't about to push her away.
As the bathroom door opened, a wave of warm, floral-scented steam greeted them.
The thought that Tabitha had just showered here made Derek's heart race.
Tabitha, however, was focused on the task at hand. "Sit here. Wash what you can. I'll help with the rest. Be careful not to strain your wounds."
"Okay, let's start," Derek agreed but didn't move.
The bathroom had seemed spacious before, but with Derek's tall frame standing in front of her, his head blocking the overhead light, the room felt smaller and dimmer.
Tabitha reached up to undo his buttons. His large frame loomed over her, and at such close proximity, she felt a mix of nervousness and panic.