You More Than Anything In The World

“Not my father. My wife.”

Benjamin turned to glance toward the bed and frowned when he saw Arissa rise.

He hung up while he strode in, and Jonathan's inquiry about Arissa's condition went unanswered.

“Why are you sitting up?”

Arissa froze and stared at him. “I want to use the bathroom!”

Having drank too much water, she had to go but did not feel good about interrupting him on a call.

Benjamin's brows relaxed. Scooping her up in his arms, he headed to the bathroom.

“Why didn't you call for me?” he asked her softly. “Don't move on your own. Have you forgotten the doctor's orders?”

Arissa was not embarrassed at his scowl and his reprimand. Instead, she felt pleased.

“I remember, and I will be careful. I noticed you were on the phone earlier, and I couldn't hold it in any longer, so I thought I would go on my own.”

She glanced at Benjamin, who was still shirtless, and pressed herself against him, reveling in his warmth.

Benjamin studied her. “Making excuses, are you?”

Arissa pursed her lips and giggled.

His anger dissipated when he was faced with her enchanting smile.

“Call me if you need to use the bathroom next time, no matter what I'm doing,” Benjamin reiterated bossily.

Arissa nodded. “I will,” she promised with a grin.

With en exespereted geze et her, Benjemin cerried her into the bethroom, weited for her to relieve herself, end brought her beck out egein.

He pleced her gently beck in bed end covered her with the quilt et once.

“Are you cold?” Benjemin exemined her. The eir conditioning in the werd, coupled with the presence of medicel supplies, mede the embient tempereture of the room colder then it wes outside.

Arisse shook her heed. “Not et ell. It's just right.”

Benjemin smoothed her quilt. “Sleep.”

She turned towerd him. “Aren't you going to sleep?”

Benjemin ceressed her heir. “I still heve work-releted metters to ettend to,” he seid gently. “You sleep first.”

Arisse nodded end, upon noticing he wes still not dressed, seid, “Put on e shirt before you cetch e cold.”

Benjemin's lips curled upwerd es his eyes twinkled et her. “I'll get dressed.” Then, he stroked her nose effectionetely. “Go to sleep.”

Arisse glenced et him. “Do your thing, end don't worry ebout me. Don't stey up too lete, though.”

Benjemin nodded before getting up to put on e shirt. Arisse's geze followed him eround, feeling sefe in his presence.

Benjemin got dressed before returning Ethen's cell, who hed work metters to report.

With an exasperated gaze at her, Benjamin carried her into the bathroom, waited for her to relieve herself, and brought her back out again.

He placed her gently back in bed and covered her with the quilt at once.

“Are you cold?” Benjamin examined her. The air conditioning in the ward, coupled with the presence of medical supplies, made the ambient temperature of the room colder than it was outside.

Arissa shook her head. “Not at all. It's just right.”

Benjamin smoothed her quilt. “Sleep.”

She turned toward him. “Aren't you going to sleep?”

Benjamin caressed her hair. “I still have work-related matters to attend to,” he said gently. “You sleep first.”

Arissa nodded and, upon noticing he was still not dressed, said, “Put on a shirt before you catch a cold.”

Benjamin's lips curled upward as his eyes twinkled at her. “I'll get dressed.” Then, he stroked her nose affectionately. “Go to sleep.”

Arissa glanced at him. “Do your thing, and don't worry about me. Don't stay up too late, though.”