This was a massage table. She must have lain here that night when Jasper gave her a head massage.
Tabitha lit the calming essential oils and prepared some massage oils for his head.
Derek instinctively grasped her hand, "Tabitha, it's been a long time since you last massaged me."
"Let's not bring up the past," Tabitha said, brushing off his hand.
Before starting, she fetched a razor and carefully shaved his beard.
Accustomed to his clean-shaven appearance, the stubble was somewhat off-putting.
Bending over, she was now close enough for him to see her face clearly.
Compared to three years ago when she was thin, she had gained some weight, returning to her normal weight with her face full of collagen.
Having had several children, she had lost her innocence and gained the charm of a mature woman.
Once a budding flower, she was now a fully bloomed rose, gorgeous and radiant.
With her originally fair skin, now even more delicate and smooth from frequent hot spring soaks, she resembled a peeled egg.
Derek found it strange. Other women often aged quickly after childbirth as their nutrients were drawn by their babies.
But Tabitha seemed to defy nature, growing more beautiful with each passing day.
Her cool fingertips touched his chin.
Without shaving cream, she shaved cautiously, her breath unintentionally brushing against Derek's face.
Shifting his gaze, Derek caught sight of the white silk bra exposed by Tabitha's bent posture.
The enticing curve made his Adam's apple move involuntarily.
Unaware of his reaction, Tabitha bent down again, her hair brushing against his forehead.
It was so soft.
Derek closed his eyes, desperately trying to calm himself down.
Fortunately, the shaving was soon done, and he could breathe easily again.
Tabitha washed her hands and applied the essential oil, her massage technique much improved from before.
Although Derek wasn't sleepy at first, the soothing massage and the pleasant scent soon lulled him to sleep.
Seeing him asleep, Tabitha finally relaxed.
She stretched, glanced at the calendar, and noted that in a week, ninety percent of the poison in Derek's body would be gone. The rest would depend on his own recovery.
She was worried that Derek wouldn't leave on his own. If he didn't, then she would have to.
After reading some medical books, Tabitha noticed that Derek showed no signs of waking. As night fell, she washed up and got ready for bed.
Derek woke up to the sound of gentle water.
He had slept for a long time. The incense in the room had long burned out, leaving only a faint lingering scent.
His head throbbed slightly as he blinked. His eyesight seemed much better, around four hundred degrees. He could see everything in the room clearly except for the small print on plastic packaging.
His gaze fell on the screen. The room was lit by candlelight, casting a faint glow that perfectly outlined Tabitha's figure on the screen.
Fresh out of the bath, Tabitha stepped out of the tub, casually put on a bathrobe, and walked out.
Unaware of Derek's presence, she grabbed a towel and wiped her neck, then walked to the bed and abruptly took off her bathrobe.
Though it was her back to him, Derek got a full view.
It had been years since Derek had seen Tabitha's body, and he was taken aback, nosebleed included.
Panicking, he fumbled to deal with it, wishing he could slap himself unconscious. How pathetic!
With a "thud," Derek fell out of bed.
Tabitha then remembered the "blind" man in the room.
Turning her head, she saw Derek lying on the ground, dramatically flailing about, exclaiming, "Don't come near me!"
It was an Oscar-worthy performance.
Having just put on her bra, Tabitha hurried over. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
Derek covered his nose, struggling to control his expression.
He was fine, but seeing Tabitha in her matching bra and panties made the nosebleed worse.
So, pretending to be blind wasn't that easy!
"Just had a nightmare and fell, hitting my nose. Sorry to trouble you again," he said, wiping the blood that kept gushing out.
Tabitha grew anxious seeing the blood flow so heavily. It could be from the nose injury, but what if it was a side effect of the medicine she gave him?
"Don't move. Let me help you," she said.
Bending over, she provided first aid. But with their close proximity, Derek could clearly see her perfect body, even her flat stomach and defined abs.
She was no longer the fragile woman he once knew. Her body now exuded a wild, powerful beauty that drove Derek wild.
"Why won't it stop?"
Derek thought miserably. Couldn't she put some clothes on first?
Their subtle intimacy was almost more than he could bear.
Suddenly, Tabitha stopped. She lowered her eyes and spoke icily, "Wait, have you regained your eyesight?"