Fever and lust confused Averi's thinking, and she hesitated for a moment
Last week, the temperature suddenly dropped and she accidentally caught a cold. It started with just a stuffy nose and a headache, which she didn't take seriously and continued working as usual. Eventually, the minor cold escalated into a high fever.
Dallas's face darkened slightly, and a hint of regret appeared in his eyes. He picked up the weak woman and tidied up her clothes, saying, "I'll take you to the hospital."
His voice was hoarse, filled with strong desire, but his hands were very regular, just holding onto her without any other movements.
Averi lay softly on his shoulder, sniffling and saying, "No need, I've seen a doctor."
"What did the doctor say?"
Take medicine, drink more water, and rest more. "Because her throat was too dry, she chose to answer in the shortest possible way.
Dallas: "Where is the medicine?"
"I already ate. Just one more time before bed will be enough."
After a long silence, he asked, "Do you want some water?"
Averi chuckled softly, raising her hand to wrap around his neck, her nose brushing against the sweat on his skin. "Dallas, I know you have a strong sense of responsibility, but you don't have to take everything on yourself. I was already running a fever before you came; it wasn't because you kissed me."
Dallas remained silent. He knew that his question hadn't stemmed from fear of responsibility. The glow of the setting sun slanted across Averi's face, making her squint and feel a gentle warmth. She closed her eyes, soaking in the amber light and warmth, her breathing gradually calming down.
The two sat quietly on the couch, embracing each other, the atmosphere so tender it felt almost surreal.
Averi wasn't unaware, but she felt too unwell today. Her limbs ached, and her head throbbed. She no longer had the energy to stay alert, so she allowed herself to sink into the moment, indulging just a little.
She said, "I want some water."
"Alright," Dallas responded, gently moving her off his lap before standing up to pour some water. While she sipped the water, he took the opportunity to straighten his clothes.
Averi drank slowly, her throat raw and painful, each swallow an ordeal. When she finally finished, she let her arm fall wearily. After taking the last sip, she let her arm drop wearily.
Dallas immediately took the glass from her, asking softly, "Do you want to lie down?"
Averi nodded, lifting her hand slightly.
Dallas took her arm, helping her drape it around his neck before lifting her up and carrying her to the bedroom.
He set her down with great care.
Suddenly, Averi felt a surge of longing and, before he could step away, she reached out and caught his hand. She wanted to speak, but her throat was too dry, so her words turned into a muffled hum that escaped as a soft moan from her nose.
Her hand was hot, like a flame searing his skin.
Dallas hesitated for a moment before lifting the blanket and lying down, pulling the feverish figure into his arms.
In that moment, he was neither a man nor a plaything; he felt like a father—like the father she had once imagined in her youth, naive and longing.
The Forbes family was vast, vast enough to host a banquet for hundreds of people, yet it was also so small that it could not accommodate a weak person.
Averi exhaled a deep breath and snuggled into his embrace.
She dozed off into a restless sleep and woke up drenched in cold sweat close to midnight. Her body was covered in sweat, and even her temples were damp, yet she didn't feel warm. On the contrary, she felt cold.
She took a painful breath, and a low voice immediately sounded beside her, "Do you want some water?"
Averi nodded.
The space next to her instantly emptied, and the cold air rushed to her body, making her shiver. Instinctively, she hoped he would come back soon.
Shortly after, Dallas returned with water and fever-reducing medicine, helping her sit up.
Her parched body was hydrated, and though she continued to sweat, she felt much better. In a hoarse voice, Averi said, "Thank you."
Perhaps because she had slept for a while, this time, Averi lay down for a long time without feeling sleepy.
She tried calling out, "Dallas."
"Hmm."
Knowing that he was also awake, Averi felt an inexplicable sense of relaxation. After a few quiet minutes, she suddenly turned over and pressed against him, slipping her hand under his clothes.
Her hand was sweaty, sticky, and unpleasant, but Dallas did not stop her, letting her touch him as she pleased. It wasn't until her hand moved lower towards his groin that he grabbed her firmly. Her hand was sweaty, sticky, and unpleasant, but Dallas did not stop her, letting her touch him as she pleased. It wasn't until her hand moved lower towards his groin that he grabbed her firmly.
Averi struggled, only to be held tighter.
"Don't mess around." The man sounded slightly helpless, and his gaze held a subtle indulgence. "You have a fever; it's not okay."
His serious tone made Averi lose all interest. After a few seconds of silence, she muttered, "I can't sleep."
She sounded like a child.
In the darkness, Dallas propped himself up to look at her.
He brushed away the sweaty hair clinging to her forehead and asked in a deep voice, "Then what should we do?"
It was like soothing a child.
Averi casually said, "Tell a story."
Dallas took a moment before replying, "I'm not good at telling stories."
For some reason, Averin felt an urge to laugh: during that pause, had he been searching his mind for a story?
She said good-naturedly, "Then just tell me about yourself."
After another moment of silence, he asked, "What do you want to hear?"
Averi thought for a moment and said, "Tell me about the most beautiful place you've ever been."
The room fell silent again, and Averi found herself entranced by the sound of the clock's second hand ticking. Just as she thought he wasn't going to answer, he spoke: "It was a nameless desert."
"Hmm."
"My team was tracking a group of insurgents at the time."
"Hmm."
"That day, a teammate and I were on routine patrol when we spotted one of their minor leaders in a civilian area. We followed him directly."
"Hmm."
"He noticed us quickly and drove off into the desert outside the city. We gave chase, but during the pursuit, he shot out our tire."
"At first, it didn't feel like much. But when we realized something was wrong, there were no roads around us, and our phones had no signal."
"We had a locator, but we couldn't be sure if it was working. Unfamiliar with the terrain, we decided not to venture further and chose to wait until dawn."
"The desert nights are cold, and the car seats were freezing. To prevent falling asleep and slipping into hypothermia, we took turns staying awake. One would rest while the other stood guard."
"The last shift before dawn was mine. I watched the entire sunrise from the horizon."
"At first, the light was red-orange, and it painted the entire desert the same hue. The sand dunes looked like waves."
Averi didn't say another word. It was the first time she'd heard him speak so much.
His voice was calm and warm, different from his usual cold tone.
She closed her eyes, her thoughts floating in the air as his voice sketched out that stunning scene.
Dallas thought she had fallen asleep, but the woman with closed eyes suddenly spoke. "Why didn't you fight back?"
"What?"
"When he shot out your tire, why didn't you fight back?"
"The peacekeeping force had no authority to enforce the law locally. Unless our lives were in immediate danger, we couldn't fire."
Averi asked, "Didn't you think it was unfair?" Risking life for procedural justice.
Dallas hadn't expected her question and paused before answering truthfully, "I never thought about it."
Averi was taken aback, a silent smile tugging at her lips.
That's so Dallas.
She whispered, "Now I understand what it means when they say, 'Tyranny is the passport of the despicable, while nobility is the epitaph of the virtuous.'"
Dallas snapped out of his memories, suddenly let out a small laugh, and muttered as if to himself, "It's foolish, isn't it?"
"It is foolish." Foolish idealism.
Averi felt that her illness had made her delirious, which was why she muttered, "There are too many smart people… Maybe a few more foolish ones would make the world a little better."
Though she knew it was impossible, as there would always be people like her muddying the waters. At this moment, however, the weakness in her body made her nerves soften, and she was willing to be foolish, if only for the sake of that orange-red desert.
