My Arranged Marriage to John O'Callaghan

Emily woke up suddenly, she moved slightly and her hand accidently brushed John’s however she kept it there and frowned. His hand was boiling she listened to the sound in the rooms and heard slightly laboured breathing then a hacking cough, she turned on her side and turned on the lamp revealing a wide awake John with a pained look on his handsome face.
“John” she said gently as he had a coughing fit, she got out of bed and walked to his side of the bed and sat down near the edge. Looking in his green eyes albeit that they were clearly annoyed that she was there, they looked fever glazed. To make sure she used her mother’s method, quickly putting her long curly hair in a bun she brushed some of his gorgeous but damp brown hair away and leant down she gently kissed him on his forehead,
“Oh you poor sweetheart you have a very strong fever” she murmured compassionately as she felt the heat radiating from his forehead, she stood up and shock that she kissed him sparked in his tired green eyes which closed when he coughed again, she patted his shoulder.
“Does your chest hurt?” she rubbed his warm hand in hers though she wasn’t sure why she cared for him as much as she did,
“Y-yes” he said in a raspy voice.
“Sweetheart, I think you have a chest infection...” she sighed and looked into his eyes,
“I’ll be right back” Emily stood up and walked towards the bathroom, she knew how to deal with this she suffered through it herself more than once and took care of Melissa when she got it. Emily took a hand towel and put it under the tap, she rung out the extra water and walked back to the bedroom. John was coughing again and she knew how much that must hurt, it made her wince as she saw him sit up right she rubbed his back, compassion filled her heart and it erased all the hurtful things he said to her, she knew she had to help him.
“Sweetie lay down on the bed, you’ll feel much better” she said gently, but he shook her off.
“N-no leave me alone, I’m fine” he said harshly and Emily tried to control her annoyance,
“John don’t be stubborn just lie down okay?” she said with authority and helped him down again, bringing the cool cloth she gently placed it on his forehead and heard him sigh. She knew she had to tell his parents,
“John I’ll be right back okay sweetheart” she said not realising she was speaking with affection.
She walked out the door of John’s room, it was 4a.m and she was beyond tired, she walked down the hall towards the master bedroom. She knocked softly on the door and heard sleepy muffled voices and then footsteps,
“Emily are you alright dear?” Jenny said surprise to see her here,
“Yea I’m perfectly fine but John...I think he’s got a chest infection, he has a high fever and a really bad cough, his chest is hurting him really bad...” Emily explained and heard John’s father’s voice.
“Oh did you want to sleep in one of the bunk beds while I go tend to John and call the doctor in the morning” Jenny asked worry evident in her voice, Emily laid a hand on hers.
“No I’d like to take care of him if that’s alright with you, I’m already tried bringing the fever down” John’s dad beamed at her and Jenny engulfed her in a hug.
“He’s lucky to have you Emily, you’re a very lovely and caring girl” John Senior said making Emily blush,
“Thank you...Oh! Did you have whisky, lemons and honey?” Emily asked suddenly remembering a recipe of a drink that helps with a chest infection.
“Yes... we do why?” Jenny asked confused,
“I know a recipe that works wonders, but now I have to make John have a Luke-warm shower so the fever goes down” she chuckled, “He’s going to hate me by the end of this”
“No he won’t” Jenny said and Emily smiled sadly, she said goodnight and walked back towards the bedroom and walked straight towards the wardrobe where hers and John’s clothes were, she grabbed the first swim shorts that belonged to him and walked back out.
“John...” she whispered and he turned his head towards her, “Could you put this on please” she showed him the shorts and she smiled sheepishly,
“You need a shower, I know you’re really cold right now but I have to bring your fever down...” she said mentally begging he won’t say anything harsh or push her away, he surprised her by grabbing the shorts from her hands and he laboriously took time to stand up but with her help he was standing, she put his arm around her shoulders as she supported him, this guy is a giant to her she only reached his chest. Slowly walking towards the bathroom he supported himself and he started undressing, furiously blushing Emily all but rushed out of the bathroom,
“Are you done changing?” she whisper yelled and heard a gruff sound, she walked back in and faltered slightly at his shirtless form, she could already feel the heat rushing to her cheeks. She quickly turned towards the shower and turned on the water, she adjusted it so it was Luke-warm,
“Alright go in” she smiled sympathetically at him and he entered the cold water rushed on him and a series of curses left his mouth making Emily cringe, she hates swearing but in this case she knew he couldn’t control it. Emily grabbed a small heater and plugged it in a power point turning it on so the room was warm when he stepped out, after about 10 minutes she opened the shower door and John slightly glared at her, she huff as if it’s my fault you should’ve dried off when I told you she thought and shook her head at how mean she was. She grabbed a towel and helped him out; quickly wrapping it around him she turned the water off and led him in front of the heater because he was shaking violently. Grabbing the change of clothes she had for him she put them near the sink and started towel drying him she kept her eyes on the back wall to avoid looking at his muscular yet lanky build the thought made butterflies rush in her belly, she quickly finished in speed record time and put the clothes in John’s hand once again walking out. She got him back to bed and checked the time 5.45am, she sighed and once he was enveloped in covers she walked to the wardrobe and changed her clothing considering it was dripping wet.
“How are you feeling sweetheart?” she said, she had no idea when the nickname stopped being used for sarcasm.
“B-better...” his teeth chattered and she wrapped another blanket around him,
“That’s great John, I’ll be right back I’m going to get you a hot drink” she said while yawning,
“N-no d-don’t worry, go to sleep E-Emily I’ll be fine...” John mumbled,
“Non- sense I’m perfectly awake” she smiled and left, she slightly stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen. Turning on the stove she poured water in and waited until it was boiling, she poured whisky in there and wrinkled her nose she hates the smell of alcohol all because it reminded her of her father, taking a spoon she poured a generous amount of Honey and stirred the concoction, lastly the cut a fresh lemon in half and press the juice in there, stirring for two minutes, she let it sit for a while to cool down. Laying her head on the bench she fought off sleep, standing up she poured the mixture into a coffee mug and started her walk upstairs stifling a yawn she opened the door,
“Okay I know it might taste bad but it’s going to unclog your nose and sooth your chest by warming it up and stop your coughing please drink it...”she practically begged and he actually chuckled, she guessed her desperation was really showing. Handing him the cup he grabbed one of her hands to stop her from turning around,
“W-why are you doing this for me?” He asked and she was surprised he couldn’t tell, sighing she answered,
“Because I, I guess because I actually care...”