She mentally cursed “shameless” over and over, probably eight hundred times, yet Lu Ye looked completely unabashed. He even reached out to ruffle her hair, the gesture carrying a possessive indulgence that brooked no argument.
“What are you glaring at?” he chuckled lowly, his fingertip brushing over her flushed cheek. “Keep staring, and next time I’ll kiss you in front of everyone.”
It wasn’t even a joke. Lin Tianxin knew he meant it, so she turned her face away, her ears burning as if she could fry an egg on them.
Lu Ye stopped teasing her, rolled down the car window, and shouted at Lu Yao, who was still covering her eyes outside: “What are you dawdling for? Get in! We’re going back to the military compound!”
“Okay!”
Lu Yao, startled by his shout, hurriedly let go of her hands, flung open the car door, and slid inside, sneaking glances at the two in the front seats. Wow, my cousin’s too much both fierce and flirty. Sis can’t handle him at all! she thought.
The car started, driven smoothly and fast by Lu Ye, his arm never leaving Lin Tianxin’s side, as if afraid any bump in the road would make her uncomfortable.
He glanced at her still-pale face, his Adam’s apple rolling, and swallowed a curse that almost slipped out. Instead, he said stiffly, “If you’re tired, sleep a bit. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
Lin Tianxin didn’t reply, leaning against the seatback. The whistling wind outside, combined with the adrenaline from before, gradually faded, and drowsiness crept over her.
She closed her eyes and gripped his jacket with her fingers.
Noticing, Lu Ye lightly hooked her hand with his fingertip, holding it without letting go, the warmth of his palm through the fabric giving her a strong sense of security.
When the car entered the military compound and stopped, Lu Ye’s mother rushed over, her face full of worry.
She yanked open the door, seeing Lin Tianxin’s pale face, voice trembling: “Tianxin! Are you okay? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Before Lin Tianxin could answer, she turned to Lu Ye: “Where’s Xu Su? Did you catch her?”
Lu Ye pressed his lips together, carefully bending down to carry Lin Tianxin out: “Mom, let her rest inside first.”
His mother finally stayed quiet, stepping aside to let them through. Watching her son carry Lin Tianxin inside, so careful as if holding a treasure, made her heart ache and anger flare. He had only ever wanted Lin Tianxin; if something happened to her, she feared he wouldn’t bear it.
Thankfully, he caught her. When Lu Yao called earlier, she’d been terrified. She might as well have gone to call a chicken to shake off the fright.
Carried in Lu Ye’s arms, Lin Tianxin listened to his mother’s chattering concern. She murmured softly into his neck, “Put me down I can walk. There are elders here.”
She wasn’t used to being clingy in front of elders. Plus, in this conservative era, she didn’t want people gossiping.
“I’m not just decoration. You married me you don’t need legs,” Lu Ye said casually.
Lin Tianxin: “…”
Lu Ye carried her into the room. Once the door closed, the outside noise was completely shut out.
He gently laid her on the bed, his movements rough yet steady, his palm firmly supporting her waist as if afraid she might slip. Standing by the bed, dark eyes fixed on her, Adam’s apple rolling, his rough fingers slid down her cheek to her lips, now showing a bit of color.
“Scared now?” he asked hoarsely, his voice still carrying remnants of rage but softened with deep concern.
Lin Tianxin shook her head. “Not scared anymore.”
She truly wasn’t afraid with Lu Ye there.
Those three words seemed to ignite a long-suppressed fire in him. He chuckled low, mischievous yet tinged with possessiveness. “Good. Not scared, huh?”
Before she could reply, he leaned over, one hand bracing beside her, the other gripping the back of her neck, and kissed her.
This kiss was fiercer, more urgent than the one in the car, full of his commanding, reckless energy. His hand, calloused from years of handling guns, held her waist tightly, drawing her closer.
He kissed fiercely, breath uneven, curses and hot breaths brushing her lips: “I missed you so damn much.”
Lin Tianxin’s mind went fuzzy. Her lips ached under his pressure, but her body responded uncontrollably, fingertips sliding down his tight uniform, instinctively trying to undo his buttons.
She barely touched the second one when her wrist was grabbed.
He pulled back slightly, forehead pressed to hers, dark eyes ablaze, a teasing grin curling his lips. His voice was hoarse and seductive: “Damn, in broad daylight so impatient?”
His fingers lightly massaged her reddened wrist, tightening slightly in a playful grip. “Trouble for you, I’ll do it myself.”
He let go of her hand, bracing one arm by her side, and efficiently undid his uniform buttons, opening the collar to reveal his defined collarbones and several scars medals left from years of missions.
Lin Tianxin instinctively turned her face, ears burning, mentally scolding herself: Why didn’t I control my hands? So immodest!
But the next moment, her gaze froze.
A fresh wound on his shoulder, either from their earlier movements or some other cause, was bleeding through his inner white shirt.
The red sent a jolt to her eyes, replacing embarrassment with worry. She lifted her hand, lightly touching the edge of the wound, voice trembling: “You’re hurt? Why didn’t you say?”
Lu Ye glanced at the bleeding wound, not a frown in sight. Instead, he ruffled her hair, wild and indifferent: “Minor. Not worth mentioning.”
He leaned down again, nose brushing her ear, warm breath tingling over her skin. “Compared to this, I miss you more.”
He moved to kiss her again, but Lin Tianxin blocked him, glaring with reproach and concern: “You’re bleeding! Stop fooling around and take care of the wound!”
Lu Ye looked at her puffed-up, protective expression, feeling warmth and a tingle. He chuckled, licking her fingertips, mischievous as ever: “Fine, I’ll listen. But ”
His hand slid down her waist, lightly squeezing her hip, voice low and heated: “After you’re done, I’ll continue kissing.”
Lin Tianxin: “…Mom’s got a kiss monster here!”
She stared at the bloodied wound, eyebrows tightly furrowed, voice softening: “Does it hurt?”
Lu Ye chuckled. “Yes. But one kiss from you and it won’t.”
Frowning for a moment, she lay back, leaning toward his shoulder, blowing gently on the wound like comforting a child: “There, doesn’t hurt now.”
The warm breath brushed her skin, soft and soothing. Lu Ye stiffened, watching her earnest profile, Adam’s apple rolling: “Only a kiss makes it stop hurting.”
Besides kissing her lips countless times, this was the first time she kissed his body. She still felt awkward despite their previous intimacy.
“Let me put on medicine first, then kisses,” Lin Tianxin said, still flustered by Lu Ye’s strong physical desire.
“I want to kiss now,” Lu Ye insisted.
After a brief standoff, she relented.
She tilted her head, arms supporting herself on the bed, lips pressing repeatedly on the scabbed, bleeding shoulder.
A bit of blood touched her lips, the metallic scent filling her nose. She frowned.
Lu Ye kept his eyes on her. Seeing the blood on her lips, he adjusted her face, licking it clean.
Lu Yao walked in with a cup of warm water, about to call “Sis,” but froze seeing the scene Lin Tianxin lying back, kissing Lu Ye, who licked his lips after, eyes half-lidded with affection. Her face instantly flushed.
She spun around, back to the door, flailing: “S-sorry! I didn’t see anything! You keep going! I’ll… I’ll tell auntie not to come in…”
Before finishing, she dashed out like the wind, slamming the door behind her, leaving the room full of awkwardness and intimacy.
Lin Tianxin’s cheeks burned crimson. She shot upright, wishing she could crawl into a hole. How had she gotten so carried away? And Lu Yao saw!
Lu Ye watched her red face, chuckling low, mischievous and a little triumphant.