The next afternoon, Dr. Blackwell dropped by to check on his patient. He changed the bandage on Trevor's shoulder, grunting his approval when he saw that the skin around the wound looked healthy and pink, and he noted that Trevor's cheeks were regaining some of their usual vitality.
When he finished his task, the doctor sat back on the side of the bed. There was a twinkle in his eye as he watched a frowning Trevor, sitting propped up in the bed with his wife fussing to make sure his pillows were just right and he was comfortable. The good doctor could clearly see that Trevor was going to be a reluctant patient and his beautiful wife was turning out to be a strict nurse. Dr. Blackwell exchanged glances with Steven who was lounging against a bedpost, and both men grinned.
Trevor frowned with impatience, squirming under Leanna's relentless attentions. "Doc, when can I get up? I'm tired of lying in this bed."
Dr. Blackwell chuckled, remembering that Trevor had never liked being sick. It had been the same when he had gotten the measles when he was seven and when he had broken a leg at the age of twelve. Back then, it had been Trevor's mother trying to make him rest, but now it was his wife's responsibility. Dr. Blackwell shook his head.
"You need to stay in that bed for at least a few more days." He held up a hand to stop the younger man, when he opened his mouth to protest. "No, not another word!" The doctor leaned over and fixed him with a reproving glare. "Do you want your poor wife to be worried sick about you?"
Trevor's mouth snapped shut, and he looked instantly contrite as his eyes went to Leanna. He had to admit that she still looked tired following his illness, and he mentally groaned. For her sake, he kept quiet but he didn't know how much longer he could stand being an invalid.
Dr. Blackwell looked at Leanna from over the rim of his glasses as he stood up to leave, and there was a definite twinkle in the old man's eyes. "Make sure he stays in bed. I don't want him doing anything that's going to open up the wound now that it's finally mending." He picked up his bag and started toward the door, but turned back to look at Trevor. "I'll be gone for the next few days. I have to visit my sister over in Richmond. Until I get back," he gestured to Leanna, "she's in charge. You're not to get out of that bed until she says it's alright."
Steven escorted the doctor out, leaving Leanna standing beside the bed. Her arms were crossed as she gave Trevor a stern look. He raised his eyebrows, trying to appear innocent, while his cheeks flushed under her steady regard. He squirmed uneasily.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Leanna couldn't help but laugh. "You look like a naughty little boy. You think I don't know that you're already plotting how to get out of that bed, but you'll do no such thing. You heard the doctor, you need to rest." Pausing to ensure that she had his attention Leanna continued in the same no-nonsense tone. "Now, please try to eat something." She sat down on the side of the bed and started to feed him spoonfuls of rich soup that Camilla had brought in for his lunch. "Here, eat this, it's good for you."
"You're turning out to be a bossy wife," Trevor grumbled irritably.
Still, he obediently swallowed the soup, watching his wife as she concentrated on her task. Each time she fed him a spoonful, she leaned toward him, being careful not to spill any on his chest. His frown disappeared abruptly when he glanced down and noticed that from his vantage point, he had an enticing view of the shadowed valley between her full breasts. He decided that being an invalid had its advantages, especially if one had such a beautiful nurse.
Leanna had fed him almost the entire bowl of soup when she stopped with the spoon raised halfway to his mouth and frowned, raising one delicate eyebrow. "What are you grinning about?" she asked suspiciously.
Trevor gave her another innocent look and tried to shrug until he was reminded of his shoulder and winced. Leanna immediately set the bowl back on the side table and reached around him to adjust his pillows, trying to make him more comfortable.
"Lie still," she scolded, "you'll hurt your shoulder."
As Leanna stretched her arms behind him, the side of her breast brushed his cheek. Trevor closed his good arm around her waist, startling a little yelp of surprise out of her when he buried his face in her bosom.
"Trevor," she gasped, trying to sound outraged, but sounding breathless instead. "What do you think you're doing?"
Trevor chuckled, nuzzling his face between her breasts. "Mmmm," came his muffled reply. "I'm having dessert!"
************
Over the next few days, Trevor continued to improve, quickly regaining his strength under his wife's tender care. She fussed and coddled, coaxed and scolded, repeatedly reminding him to "lie still or you'll hurt your shoulder." She repeated that phrase so often he thought he might go insane. In the end, he decided it really wasn't too bad being bedridden, when he had such a charming companion to help him pass the time.
Leanna was always nearby, changing his bandages, reading to him, talking with him, feeding him, sometimes just sitting beside him in the big bed, her head resting on his good shoulder. Trevor was becoming increasingly ravenous for his wife, especially since she was always so close by, but she steadfastly refused his advances, insisting that he wasn't strong enough for such activity.
Leanna couldn't stop worrying about her husband, and the fear she had faced from thinking she might lose him was slow to dissipate. Her continuing concern for his welfare kept her from seeing just how well he was recovering. It was inevitable that the situation would eventually come to a head.
Trevor's constant cajoling eventually persuaded Leanna to pronounce him fit enough to get out of the bed, but only for short walks around their bedroom. She adamantly refused to let him go downstairs.
It was nearly two weeks after the shooting when Leanna helped Trevor into the tub, making sure he kept his shoulder dry, while she fussed over his bath. Trevor's eyes followed her movements with burning intensity as she carefully scrubbed his body in the steaming water. When she reached to wash between his thighs, she discovered his manhood, already enlarged and throbbing. Trevor blushed like a schoolboy.
"I thought you never wanted me to bathe you with a cloth again," Leanna quipped, glancing at him mischievously from under her lashes.
Trevor merely growled and looped his arm behind her neck, bringing her close enough to receive his hungry kiss. When he finally released her lips, they were both breathing raggedly. The intense desire burning in his eyes belied the casualness of his tone as he answered her.
"I changed my mind," he growled.
