Taming the Boss

Chapter 8

Alexi stopped at home first and grabbed a change of clothes, before rushing to the grocery store and grabbing stuff for soup, enough for herself and Amanda too. Then rushed back over to Kris’s. She set the things down in the kitchen then walked to the bedroom that seemed extra quiet. She felt herself start to panic when she found the bedroom empty, then relaxed when she heard voices from the bathroom. The door was open, and she found herself staring at a naked Kris and a soaking wet Joss.

“Could you at least act sick?” Joss asked a little irritated.

“I am sick, and I told you I could do this myself.”

“Yes, and fall over and hit your head, because you’re a stubborn i***t?” Joss chastised.

“Not, stubborn.”

“You are, she doesn’t care what you look like, she just wants you to be okay.”

“Look like s**t,” Kris muttered.

“You’re sick, of course, you do.” Alexi stifled her chuckle but couldn’t tear her eyes from Kris’s body.

“Bitch.”

“I know.” This time Joss smiled. “Hold still, let me help you put pants on.”

Kris chose that moment to look up and she flushed, then grinned. Alexi couldn’t help herself. She grinned too. She was sick, as white as a sheet but with her usual grin and nakedness, she was the sexiest woman Alexi ever saw. Joss looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes.

“A little help? Our patient is a bit stubborn.”

“Sure.” Alexi took a hesitant step forward then shrugged and took the shirt Joss held up for her.

“You put that on, I’ve got the pants.”

“Supposed to undress me not dress me.” Kris moaned. Alexi choked and Joss laughed softly.

“Honey, keep quiet, you’re drugged,” Joss said.

“Don’t matter, still me.”

“You are yes. Come on, let’s get you back to bed. I can stay a little while longer, but I have to get back to the ranch.”

“’ Kay,” Kris said, she curled up on her side and Alexi looked worriedly at Joss.

“She’s okay, she’ll be better after more food.” Joss kissed Kris and then lead Alexi out of the room. “After she’s eaten, give her two more tablets, she should sleep right through, and be herself tomorrow.”

“Why can’t they figure out what it is?” Alexi asked. They were in the kitchen, she started the soup and Joss sat watching her.

“Mostly because she’s stubborn, but also because they just don’t know.” Joss shrugged. “And after the fourth doctor said it’s stress, she told me she was done.”

“That’s silly, she needs to go back, let them figure out what causes this.”

“You tell her, then you watch her go through the pain and the tests.” Joss lifted a hand, her tone had been testy and irritated.

“I’m sorry,” Alexi said.

“No, I am. I am supposed to look after her, you know, take care of her, she’s my little sister. But then this happens, and she won’t go back. As far as I know, this is the first time in a long time, it’s been this bad. She keeps it under control somehow. And as long as her system is up and good, she’s okay.”

“You do the best you can, with what you have, Joss. And you can’t force her to do something she doesn’t want to.” Alexi did something she never did. She went to Joss and hugged her. It felt good, natural. And she held on a little longer. “I’ll take care of her, and I’ll have her call you when she wakes up.”

“You’re staying here?”

“Yes,” Alexi said and went back to making the soup. There was no way she’d leave Kris until she knew she was okay.

Kris’s body was hot, too hot. She tried to shift so she could move the blanket and realized something was on top of her, or her blanket. Her eyes snapped open, panic in her eyes. But she met Amanda’s laughing eyes in the doorway. Then looked down her own body to what Amanda was smirking at. “Alexi.” She whispered. The woman was curled on her side, one leg over Kris’s hips, the other over her stomach. Her hand fisted in Kris’s shirt, holding her tightly.

“She’s been here since this morning. Made soup, for all of us, she came to check on you about an hour ago, and when she didn’t come back, I came to check up on her.” Amanda tilted her head. “Found her like this. I wondered when she would crash.”

“What time is it?” Kris asked and carefully reached for the glass of water next to her bed. She was hot, but there was no way she was waking Alexi and having her move away.

Mandy looked at her watch. “Just after midnight.” She said.

“Wait, she was here all day? Joss?”

“Yeah, her too, Alexi must have called her. She left just after I got here, Mark has an appointment.”

“Oh.”

“How are you feeling? You looked like s**t earlier.”

“I felt like it too.” She took stock of her body. Glad the pain was almost completely gone. “I’m good.”

“Good.” Mandy grinned at her. “Go back to sleep.” She pulled the door closed behind her when she left.

Kris looked down at the sleeping woman. She needed to move, but she didn’t want to. Deciding to chance it, she shifted onto her side, and faced Alexi, carefully. Alexi mumbled in her sleep but burrowed into Kris’s arms. Kris pulled her in tighter and closed her eyes. It felt too good. But for tonight she’d let herself have this, she’d blame the pain tomorrow. She reached back and switched off the light. Alexi mumbled again and pressed her mouth to Kris’s neck, Kris shuddered, her whole body, aching but this time not just from pain.

Alexi woke up a little while later, her eyes snapped open. The fresh scent of woman, Kris, in her nose. She was wrapped in Kris. Kris was wrapped in her. Their legs entwined, their bodies flush against each other. The room was dark, and she realized she must have fallen asleep the last time she’d come to check on Kris. Afraid to wake her, Alexi lay still, not moving, and barely breathing.

“Go back to sleep,” Kris said quietly. “Just stay here with me in the dark.”

“Okay.” Alexi found it easy to say yes. And easier to close her eyes and relax back into Kris. The last thing she felt was Kris kissing her softly on the forehead.