The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 179

Chapter 179

Eleanor POV

I stood in the kitchen, carefully stirring the pot of congee, making sure the consistency was just right. The beef slices had simmered

until tender, blending perfectly with the rice and slices of ginger. A comforting aroma filled the kitchen, reminding me of meals my

parents prepared when I was sick, lifetimes ago.

“I half expected you’d bring me a bowl of poison, Derek called from the living room where he sat bundled in my wool throw.

Despite his attempt at humor, the hoarseness and weakness in his voice betrayed him.

“Don’t tempt me,” I replied evenly, ladling the congee into a bowl. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d have a hundred cleaner methods.”

When I entered the living room with the steaming bowl, Derek’s eyes brightened. His face was flushed with fever, a thin sheen of

sweat on his forehead, looking pathetic and vulnerable-a side of Derek Wells I rarely witnessed.

“Can you feed yourself?” I asked, placing the bowl on the coffee table in front of him.

Derek attempted to reach for the spoon, but his hand trembled visibly. Watching him struggle, I sighed involuntarily, sat beside him,

and picked up the bowl and spoon.

“Here, just like how you took care of me, I said, scooping up some congee, carefully blowing on it before bringing it to his lips.

Derek obediently opened his mouth, swallowed, then closed his eyes as if savoring the simple food. “Tasting something made by

your hands is quite the blessing,” he murmured, his voice rough from his sore throat.

A simple compliment shouldn’t have affected me so much, but I felt warmth spread through my chest. I continued feeding him,

watching his reactions, making sure he ate enough but not too quickly.

Though I insisted he needed food to regain his strength, I could tell Derek had little appetite. Still, he finished the entire bowl

spoonful by spoonful, as if honoring my effort.

“Did I behave well enough?” he asked, his voice softer than usual, a weak smile playing on his lips.

“Yes, very good,” I teased quietly, “perhaps I should buy you some dog treats as a reward.”

He chuckled, which transformed into a coughing fit. I immediately handed him a glass of water, watching as he sipped slowly.

Time for bed,’ I said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You need sleep to bring down that fever.”

1 helped Derek upstairs, his arm draped over my shoulder, his body leaning heavily against mine. His body temperature radiated

through his shirt, alarmingly hot. At my bedroom doorway, I suddenly realized the predicament.

You can sleep in the guest room,” I said, attempting to steer us toward the other end of the hallway.

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Chapter 179

“No, Derek caught the doorframe, preventing me from turning. I need you.”

“What?”

F

I need your body temperature to balance my fever,” he said, his voice carrying a slight plea. “That makes medical sense, doesn’t it?”

I looked at him skeptically, his eyes slightly unfocused from the fever but still containing a glint of mischief. “I don’t think the

medical literature supports that therapy.”

Yet when Derek gently took my hand and pressed it to his burning forehead, my resistance began to crumble. “See how cool and

comforting your hand is.”

I sighed, helping him into my bedroom and letting him lie on the bed after removing his outer clothes. “If your hands aren’t well

behaved, don’t blame me for maiming them.”

Derek weakly joked, “How could a feverish patient dare to misbehave?” But the moment I slipped under the covers, his arm encircled

me, pulling me close.

I lay stiffly in his embrace, trying to maintain some distance, but Derek’s temperature radiated like a furnace, making his presence

impossible to ignore. As time passed, his breathing gradually steadied, and I thought he had fallen asleep.

However, just as I was about to relax, Derek’s hand began to wander. His fingers traced lightly over my waistline, the heat of his touch penetrating even through my pajamas. I held my breath, uncertain whether to wake him or push him away.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love