Defiant Heir (The Heirs #3) - Michelle Heard Page 0,48

comfortable around each other, and yeah, there was attraction, but nothing compared to what I felt while helping Kao get dressed.

Maybe it’s because I almost lost him?

My smile fades as a new worry begins to worm itself into my heart. I want to be with Kao… so desperately, but the scars.

My heart is torn in two. If Kao was scarred in the accident, I wouldn’t care at all. I’d still love and want him.

But it’s hard to think Kao would feel that way about me.

Ugh, it’s such a struggle.

“Are you ready?” Mila asks, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah.” I pause when I see Noah rush into Kao’s room. “Give me a second.” I walk down the hallway, and when I push the door open and step inside, I see Noah give Kao medication. “Is everything okay?”

Noah glances at me. “Yeah, it’s just a migraine.”

Concerned for Kao, I move closer. “Is there anything I can do? A cool cloth?”

“Sure,” Noah answers.

My gaze flits worriedly over Kao, where he’s sitting with his head resting in his hands. I go to his bathroom and rinse the washcloth under the cold water.

Rushing back to Kao, I say, “Lie back.”

Gingerly he moves, and once he’s lying down, I place the cloth over his forehead. I remove his shoes, and then I take a seat next to him on the bed. “Can I try something?”

“Sure,” he whispers, an intense look of pain tightening his features.

Leaning over Kao, I press my fingers to his temples and rub slow circles over his skin.

A minute or so later, Kao murmurs, “That’s helping.”

I glance up at Noah, “Can you get me a bowl with some ice in it?”

Noah nods and heads out of the room.

“On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?” I ask.

“It was nine, but now it’s seven.”

“Good,” I whisper. “Hopefully, it keeps getting better.”

When Noah comes back, I ask, “Can you add some water?”

Noah gets some from the bathroom, and when he sets the bowl down, I remove the cloth and soak it in the icy water.

“Stay and rest,” Noah says, “I’ll go through the work with you later.”

“Thanks,” Kao says, his voice sounding strained.

Mila peeks into the room. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, Kao has a migraine. I’m going to stay with him. Will you take notes for me?”

“Of course.” Her worried gaze darts to Kao. “I hope you feel better soon.”

Once they’ve left, I say, “Can you stand up? I want to get you into comfortable clothes. Maybe if you sleep a little, you’ll feel better.”

Kao climbs off the bed, and I work quickly to get his sweater off. I rush through the buttons and pull the shirt off, then I run to his closet. I grab a t-shirt and sweatpants. Hurrying back to him, I hardly take in his body as I help him out of his pants. Once I have him in the comfy clothes, I say, “Lie back down.” I press the water out of the cloth, then gently brush it over his forehead. “Tell me if it’s too cold.”

“It feels really good,” he murmurs. The corner of his mouth lifts slightly. “Never thought the first time you undress me would be like this.”

A burst of laughter escapes me and wanting him to feel better, I tease, “I hardly got to take in anything. I feel cheated. We’ll have to do a repeat once you’re better.”

Kao chuckles but instantly stops, and a flash of pain tightens his features again. I rinse the cloth and let it rest over his forehead so I can massage his temples.

After a couple of minutes, Kao says, “I haven’t had the eyedrops yet. Will you be able to help me?”

“Of course.” I glance at the three bottles next to his bed. “Is there a specific order?”

“No.”

Reaching for the first bottle, I uncap it then lean over Kao. Feeling nervous, I whisper, “Tell me if I do something wrong.”

I drop the liquid into his eyes and watch as he blinks. Sitting back, I put the bottle down on its place, then I ask, “For how long do you have to use the eye drops?”

“The doctor didn’t say. It all depends on the healing, but it will probably be for a year or more.”

“I’ll have to get used to this then,” I tease, and it makes the corner of Kao’s mouth lift again.

I administer the other two bottles, waiting a couple of minutes in between like Noah told me. When I’m done, I ask, “How do you