Chapter 27: Unnerved

The room was dark as the sun's light dipped beneath the horizon. Lily slowly sat up in the soft bed and smelled fragrant flowers. She has always had awful eyesight in the dark but she could tell they were positioned to her right on the oak wooded side table. She spread her fingers of her left hand open and brushed back and forth to feel Arlo but he was not there. Lily tried to open her mouth to call to him but she could not. Her throat hurt so badly. It was so swollen it prevented even her words escaping. She stood up slowly and began to walk towards the bedroom door. Had she been asleep all day? Her tongue was so dry, she needed some water even if it hurt to swallow. She opened the bedroom door and walked downstairs to see a small light coming from Arlo's study. Lily wanted to go there first but her instincts made a beeline for the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. She reached high to grab a teacup when her hand grazed her nipple. "What?" She shuttered in her head. She turned and looked at her reflection in the window to see she was wearing a rather short nightgown with just her panties on. Her bra had been taken off and the nightgown was unbuttoned down to her ribs. Lily gasped at the sight of the white gown and from embarrassment dropped the teacup; shattering it before she could get a sip of water.

Lily heard footsteps coming and she was frozen scared, that all she could muster was a whimper and a few tears fell from her eyes. She didn't want anyone to see her like this. Just as she started to bend down to pick up the broken pieces Arlo came running into the kitchen. He wasn't too worried of a burglar, he assumed it was Lily but why did he not hear her? As he walked through the swinging door there she was. As beautiful and innocent as ever. Her long blonde hair was bouncing around her shoulders, her eyes so blue and deep, Arlo felt he could plunge into them. He ran over and bent down to help her pick up the teacups pieces when he noticed. "I am so glad you're okay Lily I have been so worried." Lily stayed silent and said nothing. Arlo quickly cleaned up the mess and helped her to her feet when he saw her exposed breasts and looked away with flushed cheeks. "Keep it together Arlo, she's still not fully healed." He thought to himself. As he turned his head to speak, he felt two small arms wrap themselves against his waist. She was trembling and oh so small. Lily looked up at Arlo with tears in her eyes and began to sliently sob. She cupped her right hand around her throat to show him where she was hurting. Arlo felt his heart tugging and immediately embraced her. "I am so sorry Lily, this is all my fault. You were not ready for that practice and I pushed you too far, please forgive me." Arlo whispered. Lily felt her tears slowing down at the warmth of his love. She could feel his regret seeping into her as well as his intense worry. Arlo lifted her up into his arms and carried her to his study. I have waited for you to awaken, I have been working on the remedy for a few days, I knew your throat would hurt when you woke up but I'm prepared to take that pain away from you now."

"Days!?" Lily thought, "how long was I out for!?"

Arlo set Lily down on a long soft sofa in his study. "Wait just a moment longer, I need hot water to mix with these herbs." Arlo left the room and Lily could hear him heating the tea kettle. Arlo returned with a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders and got on one knee to be at eye level with her. "Just so you know, I had to wash you. You sweated and needed to be cooled down when your fever was high." Lily's cheeks reddened and she looked down. Arlo clenched his teeth a little. "But I want you to know, I didn't look nor touch you while you were asleep. You are my bride and I want everything we do to be honorable. I will never do anything that you don't want me too." Arlo lifted Lily's chin and gazed into her eyes. "Lily, I love you" Arlo said with a smile. Lily could felt like her heart was going to explode out of her chest. He had never said that to her! She was so happy but she couldn't say anything. Arlo leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Whoooosh" the tea kettle called and Arlo was gone. Lily felt hot and wet between her legs and she clenched them tightly closed. "Oh my..... if I could talk, things may have happened tonight.... with Arlo...."