My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 182

In a state of utter panic, she grabbed his hand, trying to pull him towards the door. But Orion just looked down at her hand calmly, while his feet were firmly planted on the ground.

"What's wrong?"

"No need for the hospital. The fever's come down. I'll be fine in a couple of days."

"But if we delay, it might not heal as quickly."

Orion had his fingers tightened slightly, brushing against the soft skin of her palm and sending a tingling sensation up her arm. Surprised by her own impulsive action, Xanthea quickly let go of his hand.

"Alright then, since the hospital would just try to reduce the fever anyway. Here, sit on the couch, and I'll get you an ice pack."

Xanthea soaked a clean towel in icy water, wrung it out, and carefully placed it on his forehead as she approached the couch.

She rushed here straight from a movie set at Studio 3001, still in her costume, having shed her Phoenix trench coat to reveal a snug, curve-hugging sweater underneath. As she folded the towel, the movement caused her sweater to sway enticingly in front of him.

Orion had his eyelids drooped slightly, and fixated his gaze on her; his voice was hoarse with a barely suppressed hunger as his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

That night at Marlowe Manor, he had felt how soft, how elusive she could be. Even though it was just a tease, it had left him deeply affected.

After she applied the ice pack, Xanthea noticed the strained expression that briefly crossed his handsome features, as if he were enduring some great pain.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"No."

Orion struggled to look away, yet his voice was rougher than usual.

Stubborn as a mule!

That expression clearly showed that he was in a lot of discomfort.

Xanthea raised an eyebrow, "I thought you looked pretty sturdy, like someone who works out regularly, but turns out you're just a pretty face. With a little fever, you're down."

Orion's lips pressed tightly together as he stared at her, "I'm fine."

"It's okay. We've been doing a lot of action scenes lately. It's hard, but I find it really cool and exciting!"

"I think so too."

"You?"

As Xanthea heard him agree, she remembered he had taken a video clip from the director. She was about to ask which scene it was when he said, "Dinner's in the kitchen."

"What? You already ordered?"

With a puzzled look, Xanthea walked into the kitchen, only to find a full meal of four dishes and a soup stored in a warming cabinet. She exploded, "Orion, you're sick like this, who let you cook?!"

Orion’s eyes crinkled with a slight smile, "Don't you like it?"

"I do, but you could have done it later. Why push yourself now?"