Fever

He dropped her off in the driveway and drove away. Bella made her way to the cabin and knocked on the door. Damon opened it, pulled her inside, and kissed her, leaving her breathless.

"I thought you'd changed your mind and were going to kill me out here in the forest,"

He chuckled, his expression softening as his dimples appeared, which she adored.

"I felt bad about how we left things this morning. You know I manage the family business, and having an affair with my sister-in-law isn't exactly ideal."

"Wait, having an affair...?"

He kissed her again, his hands exploring her body, then pulled back in frustration. "Let's go for a walk and talk," he suggested, extending his hand, which she took.

Walking hand in hand through the forest was soothing. He paused to kiss her again.

"Will I see this side of you back at the house?"

"Absolutely not," he replied with a smile, placing his hands on her face. "But I promised I'd try, and this is my attempt."

Bella wrapped her arms around him. "I love it. That means you have feelings for me too."

Damon sighed, reluctantly confessing. "Yeah, I'm just not very good with words."

She rested her head on his chest, while his head nestled on hers, and they stood there in silence. Damon had let her into his guarded heart, and it was terrifying to think of what she might discover. He had no plan, but he was certain their connection was genuine.

"Bella, I have to leave now," kissing her lips. "I'll see you at the house. Everyone will be there tonight, including my family, and they can be difficult, just so you know. Just be yourself. They're flying in and will stay until Lucas is out of the hospital."

"Damon," touching his face, "I need your support. Please don't leave me alone."

"This isn't how I'll be at the house. What we're doing is..."

"Wrong?"

"No, it's not. He doesn't have feelings for you; he told me before the wedding. Now go, Bulldog should be waiting in the driveway." He kissed her deeply, reluctant to let go. As he watched her walk away, he reflected on how he had fallen for her. Bella was like a beacon of light, and he was the moth drawn to her from the darkness. He marveled at how he managed to restrain himself; she held such power over him.

When Damon mentioned "family," Bella had pictured his parents and maybe a sibling. Instead, she walked into a room filled with fifteen pairs of eyes that went silent at her entrance. Damon's hand at the small side of her back guided her forward as he made introductions.

"My sister Giana and her husband Dylan, my mother Elena, my father Tom," gesturing around the table. The cousins' names blurred together as Bella nodded politely, distracted by the sheen of sweat on Damon's forehead and the pallor beneath his tan.

Throughout dinner, questions flew at her like darts. Tom lifted his glass.  "Welcome to our family, Bella. A doctor joins our ranks, Dylan practices law, Giana handles accounting. Perhaps we could arrange a proper wedding celebration for you, without... interruptions?"

Under the table, Damon's fingers gripped hers, burning with fever. Bella stood up, and the room became quiet.

"Damon, may I speak to you in the kitchen, please, she whispered

When the door shut behind them, she pressed her palm to his forehead. "You're burning up. The wound is infected because you ignored the antibiotics, didn't you?"

He swayed slightly, offering a weak smile. "Doctor knows best," he murmured before his knees buckled.

Bella's cry brought the family rushing in. She took command immediately, dispatching someone to the hospital for supplies while she called the doctor who'd stitched him. Within the hour, Damon lay in his bed with an IV in his arm while Bella pressed cool compresses to his feverish skin. The door creaked open as Elena entered the room.

Elena met her gaze, the kind of look only a mother can give, piercing, knowing. She didn’t say a word about it. “We’re heading to the hospital to see your husband. Since you’re taking care of him, we’ll go back to the hotel afterward. Thank you, Bella.”

“It’s my job. He’s my brother-in-law,” Bella replied, avoiding eye contact.

“Alright, we’ll see you tomorrow,”

Bella’s head dropped onto his chest, tears spilling over. She drifted off briefly, then jolted awake when she felt a heavy arm wrap around her. Damon’s eyes were on her, his grip firm. She kissed his lips. “You scared me, you stubborn man.”

He grinned. “You scared everyone when you stood up at the table,” he laughed.

“Yeah, I must’ve looked insane,” removing the IV and changing the dressing on his stitches.

He went to the bathroom, and when he returned, he locked the door. He lay back on the bed and pulled her close, his mouth hungry for hers. Things were heating up when a knock interrupted them. She scrambled to unlock the door.

His sister Giana strode in. “Feeling better, brother?”

Bella glanced at her, noting her Medusa-like curls. She couldn’t stand her, maybe it was just instinct.

Giana turned to Bella. “Why don’t you go visit your husband? I’ll stay with him until you’re back.”

“Giana, knock it off. It’s midnight, and she’s been looking after me,” Damon said firmly.

“You’re right, brother. How lucky we are,” Giana replied, still holding her stare.

“I’ll leave you for now. Goodnight,” Bella said as she walked out.

Bella’s mind circled back to Damon, and the guilt hit like a punch to the gut. Married to Lucas, married to Lucas, she whispered under her breath, as if the repetition could anchor her. But Damon, Damon was a force, magnetic and impossible to ignore. His family would figure it out eventually. Elena’s sharp gaze earlier had practically pinned her to the wall; she couldn’t even look the woman in the eye. I need to leave, vanish, before I wreck everything. Their bond as brothers was unshakable, and she couldn’t be the one to fracture it. Maybe Damon was right, maybe Lucas didn’t feel anything for her.

She drifted off, questions swirling in her head, unanswered and relentless.