Chapter 399: Skin To Skin

Rebecca’s POV

"I would like you to lie beside His Majesty and maintain direct skin contact with him for a few hours. We will monitor his condition afterward to determine whether the treatment is helping."

"A few hours?" I repeated, staring at her.

"Yes, Your Majesty. However, you don’t have to worry. I will return in five hours to check his temperature. If there is any improvement, we can decide what to do next."

I opened my mouth to complain, but the healer continued.

"And please, Your Majesties, try not to argue. His Majesty needs complete rest."

"Tell that to her," Kaden muttered.

I immediately turned toward him. "Excuse me? You’re the one who keeps opening your mouth!"

"Rebecca!" Logan called, shaking his head.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms across my chest. "Fine. Whatever. Can everyone please leave now? I don’t need an audience for this ridiculous treatment."

The healer nodded and began gathering her medical supplies. "Very well, Your Majesty. I’ll return in five hours. If His Majesty’s condition worsens before then, please send for me immediately."

"Understood," I replied.

Logan walked toward the door with her, but before leaving, he turned and gave me another mischievous smile.

"Take good care of your husband, Rebecca."

"Logan!" I snapped.

He burst into laughter and hurried out before I could say anything else. The healer followed him, closing the door behind her.

The moment we were alone, an uncomfortable silence settled over the bedroom.

I stood beside the bed, wondering how I had managed to get myself into such a ridiculous situation. Just this afternoon, I had been enjoying my lunch and minding my own business. Now, somehow, I was expected to climb into bed with the most annoying man I had ever met.

"Rebecca."

I turned toward Kaden. "What?"

"You don’t have to do this," he said quietly. "I’m sure the healers will eventually find another treatment."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously trying to send me away after I just agreed to help you?"

"I’m telling you that you don’t have to force yourself."

I studied his face for a moment. He was still pale, and there was sweat on his forehead, but his expression was unusually serious.

"Well, I’ve already agreed," I replied with a shrug. "Besides, it’s just skin contact. It’s not as though we haven’t seen each other naked before."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Kaden stared at me.

I stared back.

Oh, Moon Goddess! Why the hell had I said that?

I quickly looked away and cleared my throat. "Anyway, let’s just get this over with."

Kaden didn’t respond, and I was grateful for that. The last thing I needed was for him to start reminding me of things that had happened between us in the past.

I approached the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. Kaden watched me suspiciously as I reached for the buttons of his shirt.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"What does it look like I’m doing? Taking off your shirt."

"I can do that myself."

"Then do it," I replied, withdrawing my hands.

He attempted to sit up, but almost immediately, his face tightened with discomfort. I watched him struggle for a few seconds before shaking my head.

"Oh, for goodness’ sake, Kaden. Stop being stubborn."

Before he could argue again, I moved closer and began unbuttoning his shirt. Thankfully, he remained quiet this time, although I could feel his eyes following my every movement.

Once I had undone the last button, I helped him remove the shirt and tossed it onto a nearby chair.

And then I made the mistake of looking at him.

Oh, Moon Goddess.

I had almost forgotten how attractive this man was.

His broad shoulders, muscular chest, and well-defined abdomen were just as impressive as I remembered. Dark tattoos stretched across his chest and continued down one of his arms, making him look even more intimidating.

How could someone look this good while suffering from a terrible fever?

My gaze lingered on the tattoo covering his chest before slowly moving down his abdomen.

"Are you done staring?"

Kaden’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I immediately raised my head and found him watching me with an irritating smirk.

"Excuse me?"

"You’ve been staring at my chest for quite some time."

I scoffed. "Don’t flatter yourself, Kaden. I was looking at your tattoos."

"Of course you were."

"Will you shut up?"

He chuckled weakly, and I rolled my eyes before reaching for the waistband of his sweatpants.

Kaden immediately caught my wrist.

"Rebecca! What the hell are you doing now?"

"Taking off your trousers. What else?"

"Why?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "Didn’t you hear what the healer said? Skin-to-skin contact!"

"That doesn’t mean you have to strip me completely naked!"

"Fine! Then keep your trousers on!"

I released his wrist and sat back, glaring at him. Honestly, this man was going to drive me crazy before the ninety days were over.

Kaden stared at me for a moment before letting out a frustrated sigh. Without another word, he pushed his sweatpants down his legs, taking his underwear off along with them.

My eyes widened.

Oh, Moon Goddess!

I hadn’t expected him to take everything off. He was completely naked, and when my gaze accidentally dropped below his waist, I noticed that his body was responding to my presence despite his illness. His cock was already half-hard, thick and resting against his stomach.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I quickly turned my face away.

What the hell was wrong with me? It wasn’t as though I had never seen Kaden naked before. We had shared a bed as husband and wife, for goodness’ sake! So why was I suddenly acting like a nervous teenager?

"Are you going to stand there all day?" Kaden asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I immediately glared at him. "Can you stop rushing me? You’re not the one being asked to climb into bed with an arrogant bastard!"

He raised an eyebrow. "And you’re not the one suffering from a fever."

"Fine! Just shut up and lie down!"

To my relief, Kaden didn’t argue. He settled against the pillows and pulled the blanket over his lower body before closing his eyes.

I stood beside the bed for a few seconds, wondering whether I had completely lost my mind by agreeing to this. Then I reminded myself that the healer would return in five hours. Five hours wasn’t forever. I could survive five hours beside Kaden without anything ridiculous happening.

At least, I hoped so.

Taking a deep breath, I began removing my clothes. I pulled off my top first, followed by my jeans, and then hesitated before removing my remaining underwear. The cool air brushed against my bare skin, making me shiver slightly.

I quickly placed my clothes on the chair and climbed onto the bed, pulling the blanket over myself. Kaden hadn’t opened his eyes, and I was grateful because I didn’t think I could endure another one of his annoying comments.

I lay on my side, facing him, but deliberately left some space between us.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

I glanced at Kaden, wondering whether he expected me to do everything myself. Surely, he could at least move a little closer. After all, he was the one who needed the treatment.

But the stubborn man remained exactly where he was.

"Kaden," I called quietly.

He didn’t answer.

I frowned and waited another moment before calling his name again. "Kaden?"

Still nothing.

I lifted my head to look at him properly, and my irritation immediately disappeared. His eyes were closed, but his breathing had become heavier. Worse, his body was beginning to tremble beneath the blanket.

Oh, no.

"Kaden!" I called, reaching toward his shoulder.

He didn’t respond, and when I touched his arm, I realized his skin was burning again.

"Moon Goddess," I whispered, suddenly frightened.

I didn’t waste another second. Moving closer, I slipped my arms around him and pressed myself against his chest, holding him tightly.

Almost immediately, Kaden released a long, shaky breath. His arms moved around me, and he instinctively returned my embrace, pulling me closer.

I froze for a moment, surprised by his reaction, but when I felt the violent trembling in his body gradually ease, I relaxed.

It was working.

I kept my arms around him, occasionally moving one hand to his forehead to check his temperature. The change was remarkable. Within minutes, his breathing became steadier, and the burning heat of his skin began to subside.

I couldn’t understand it.

What was so special about my touch? And why would it affect Kaden when even the royal healers couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him?

I was still thinking about it when he suddenly stirred.

"Rebecca?"

I raised my head and found him looking at me. His face was still pale, but his eyes appeared clearer than before.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Better," he murmured.

"Good. Because I was beginning to think you’d pass out on me again."

He looked at me for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you."

I blinked.

Had Kaden just thanked me?

I studied his face suspiciously, wondering whether the fever had somehow affected his brain. But he looked completely serious.

"You’re welcome," I replied awkwardly.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. Then I became painfully aware of how closely we were lying together.

I cleared my throat.

"Can you just hug me from behind instead? This position is uncomfortable."

Kaden regarded me for a moment before giving a small nod. "Fine."

I carefully turned around, settling on my side with my back toward him. Kaden shifted closer and slipped one arm around my waist, resting his other arm beneath the pillow. His chest pressed against my back, and I adjusted the blanket to cover us both.

The moment he settled fully behind me, I felt it.

His cock, still hard, pressed against the curve of my ass. The thick length of him rested right there, warm and hard. Every small breath he took made it shift slightly against my skin. I froze for a second, my heart beating faster than it should have.

He didn’t move away. If anything, his arm tightened a little around my waist, pulling me more securely against him.

There. Much better.

Or at least, that was what I tried to convince myself.

Because the moment Kaden settled behind me like this, I became aware of just how familiar his embrace felt. The heat of his body. The weight of his arm. And the constant, quiet pressure of his cock pressed against me.

Oh, Moon Goddess.

It had been so long since I had lain beside him like this. I could still remember the nights when falling asleep in his arms had felt like the most natural thing in the world.

And now, after everything that had happened between us, here we were again. Naked. Skin to skin. His hardness resting against me as if it belonged there.

I swallowed and tried to push those memories aside.

This was only a medical treatment. Nothing more.

"Rebecca?" Kaden murmured behind me.

"What now?"

"Stop moving."

I frowned. "I’m trying to get comfortable!"

"Then get comfortable and stay still."

I rolled my eyes. "You really don’t know how to be grateful, do you?"

He didn’t answer, but I thought I heard him chuckle quietly. The soft sound vibrated against my back, and his cock twitched once against me in response.

I was about to complain again when his arm tightened slightly around my waist. His breathing gradually became slower, and when I reached back to touch his forehead, I was relieved to discover that his temperature had dropped considerably.

At least the treatment was working.

I settled against the pillow, determined to remain awake until the healer returned. But the bedroom was quiet, the mattress was comfortable, and Kaden’s breathing had become so steady that I knew he was finally sleeping peacefully.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Then I caught his scent.

That familiar scent I hadn’t been this close to in a long time.

My wolf stirred immediately.

"Rebecca," she whispered.

"Don’t," I warned through our mental connection.

"I haven’t said anything."

"And you’re not going to."

She chuckled softly. "Whatever you say."

I sighed and tried to concentrate on something else, but my mind kept returning to the man lying behind me. To the solid heat of his chest. To the arm locked around my waist. And to the constant, quiet presence of his cock pressed against the curve of my ass.

I hated how familiar this felt. I hated that, despite everything, being held by Kaden still reminded me of a time when we had been happy together.

Most of all, I hated that a small part of me didn’t want to move away.

"Stop thinking nonsense, Rebecca," I muttered under my breath.

"Hmm?" Kaden murmured sleepily.

"Nothing. Go back to sleep."

He didn’t respond. Instead, he settled more comfortably against me, his arm remaining around my waist. The movement made his cock press a little more firmly against me for a second before he stilled again.

I stared at the wall for a while, listening to his steady breathing.

Five hours.

I only needed to stay like this for five hours.

Yet as the minutes passed, my eyelids gradually became heavier. I tried to fight the sleepiness, reminding myself that I was only there to help Kaden recover, but eventually, exhaustion won.

And somewhere between listening to his breathing, feeling the warmth of his arm around me, and the quiet, constant pressure of his body against mine, I fell asleep.