Chapter 17 This Is Fun!
Chapter Seventeen
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Lucian yelled, shaking terribly from a mixture of embarrassment, arousal and rage.
Aria quickly got up from the bed, stumbling backwards in shock.
Her eyes were wild with shock and her mouth hung open, but no words came out except…
“I…I’m sorry. What the hell! You said you were allergic to women!” She yelled back at him, her face flushed.
“I wasn’t…” Lucian started, then stopped.
He inhaled deeply, with his eyes closed in an attempt to keep his emotions at bay.
Aria watched him, her original shock turning into humor.
His ears were red, and it was kind of cute to her.
She could see that he was frustrated because of what happened and it was just plain hilarious.
She bit her gum to keep from laughing, as Lucian opened his eyes, glaring at her.
“I only said that in a bid to get you out of here,” he gritted out at her, “Who would have thought you’d actually…”
He stopped, sighing in exasperation.
Aria giggled, unable to hold back her laughter anymore.
At his glare, she managed to bite down on the laughter and muttered, “Sorry.”
She paused for a heartbeat, “Stop acting so high and mighty already,” she adjusted crossing her arms, “if you hadn’t been so stubborn, I wouldn’t have done what I did.”
She then winked at him, a sly smile on her face, “At least we know now that you’re still active. Three years bedridden has got nothing on you, eh?”
Lucian’s mouth hung open in disbelief, unable to say a word.
Just then, there came a knock on the door, and Aria turned to it.
When she opened it, it was Madam Graves. She was all smiling and winking at Aria as thought there was an inside joke that they both shared.
“Dinner is ready.” She announced, “I was going to ask that you both come down for dinner but the doctor said, Lucian is not in such position yet.”
She sighed wistfully, looking towards Lucian’s bed.
He turned his head away, disgruntled, “I’m not eating. Take it away. And her as well.”
Adam Graves tsked in irritation before turning to Aria.
“I apologize for his crankiness. Please do not be bothered by it.”
Aria nodded solemnly, “I already have my word to be with him through thick or thin.” She said sighing reverently, “I can bear with this.”
Lucian turned to look at them, almost drowning in exasperation, “Mother!”
“Oh shut up,” Madam Graves waved his complaint away as though they were not important, “You should be grateful Aria is willing to do this. Frankly, I didn’t think any woman would want to put up with your stubbornness, but you not only found one, you found a miracle worker.”
Aria held her head high as Madam Graves praised her to the skies. She could feel Lucian’s glare on her, but she did not give a damn.
“He is much too uptight. I’ll make sure I loosen him up a bit because I will not be staying in the same room with that sour face,” she muttered to herself, “And besides, it’s fun to tease him. Hehehe.”
Madam Graves finally turned to her, “Do not worry about him. I know he acts all cranky, but I’m sure he’s already in love with you, hehehe,”
Lucian had had enough.
He turned away from them, his ears red and tried hard to lie down back on the bed.
The room quieted down as Madam Graves and Aria watched him struggle, their hearts twisting with pity.
Aria walked quickly towards him, intent on helping him lie down, but Lucian snarled at her, “Don’t touch me!”
Aria stopped, her face expressionless as she shrugged and walked back to Madam Graves.
Lucian could feel their pitiful stares and he hated it, so he stopped and sat back upright. Beside he was scared that if he laid down back, he would not be able to sit up for a long time.
Truthfully, he was exhilarated that he was awake.
Under different circumstances, if he had not been forced into a marriage, he would have made sure Aria had everything that she’d ever wanted for waking him up.
He remembered how suffocating and straining it was lying down on his back for years, and this thought had him pausing.
Aria watched him with narrowed eyes, taking note of his quick breathing and red face.
His immobility made him embarrassed.
Big deal.
Did he think he was going to be jumping around as soon as he awakened? His body had to heal as well.
But Lucian was a man with great pride. Before the accident, he stood over six foot four tall, and has got one of the best physique she had ever seen.
She knew how embarrassing it must be for him to not be able to work on his own, and might need an aide sooner or later.
Shaking her head in pity, she turned towards Madam Graves. The elderly woman already had tears in her eyes, and it made Aria sigh in frustration once more.
“It’s okay, mother. Lucian will be okay.” She assured the woman calmly, “We will have the doctor schedule some rehabilitation and physiotherapy exercises for Lucian. He would be on his feet in no time.”
Lucian growled from the bed, “There’s no need. I don’t need any of that.”
Aria gave him a sharp look, “Oh yea? You wanna remain bedridden with weak muscles for the rest of your life eh?” She asked him indignant.
Lucian bristled, “You!… that’s not what I meant!”
He just did not want her to be so good and thoughtful to him. She was already seen as a miracle worker who had brought him back from the dead.
If she continued to act this way to him, Lucian was sure he would never be able to let her go.
Aria frowned at him, “We are getting you back on your feet whether you like it or not!”
“I am getting back on my feet but I don’t need your help with it.” Lucian retorted coldly, “I don’t want anything more to do with you, Aria Beaumont. Why do you keep forgetting that?”