His tall frame, carrying the scent of smoke and blood, pressed her firmly against him. His injured left arm didn’t dare exert force, resting lightly at her waist, while his uninjured right hand propped above her head, forming an unbreakable circle around her.
Lin Tianxin gasped, her back hitting the cold wall, causing her body to tense instantly. She looked up at him, eyes still carrying lingering embarrassment and anger. “Lu Ye! What are you doing? I told you to sleep in the living room!”
Lu Ye lowered his black eyes, staring at the reddened corners of her eyes. The mischievous aura from earlier vanished, replaced by a stubborn, almost pitiful insistence. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice dropped low and hoarse: “I don’t want to sleep in the living room.”
He leaned down, forehead brushing against hers, warm breath mingling with heavy panting on her face. “Just came back from a mission right after our wedding, and you make me sleep in the living room? If this gets out, where’s my dignity as Commander?”
His Adam’s apple rolled again, black eyes filled with a mix of grievance and rogue charm. “Besides, my arm’s still bleeding. You’d really make a wounded man sit in the living room starving?”
Before Lin Tianxin could protest, his cool thumb pressed against her chin, tilting her head. Leaning closer, his warm breath swept over her flushed ear. “Wife, don’t be mad.”
Before she could react, he lowered his head and captured her lips.
“Mm… Lu Ye!” she hummed in protest, her eyes glistening not with anger, but helplessness at his mischievous yet tender manner.
He eased back slightly, eyes shining intensely, thumb stroking her reddened lips with a victorious gleam. “I’m staying right here. What are you gonna do about it?”
Then he leaned down again and pecked her lips. “One more kiss, just one. Consider it me making it up to you.”
“Your hand’s injured,” Lin Tianxin averted her gaze, thinking it better for him to sleep separately. If they slept together, he’d move uncontrollably and risk reopening the wound.
Lu Ye grinned devilishly. “Afraid I can’t hold you?”
With one hand, he scooped her up, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Even one-handed, I can make you cry. Don’t doubt me!”
Startled by his sudden movement, Lin Tianxin instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheeks flaming red. She could feel the firmness of his muscles; even with one injured arm, his strength was astonishing, a tangible sense of control.
“Lu Ye! Put me down!” she cried, embarrassed and flustered, pushing at his chest. “Your wound isn’t healed yet, don’t move around!”
Lu Ye chuckled, stepping steadily toward the bed, black eyes sparkling with teasing light. “I told you, I can protect you with one hand. This little strength? It’s nothing.”
He gently placed her on the bed. His tall frame loomed over her, the injured left arm carefully braced on the bed to avoid her body, while his uninjured hand held her wrist lightly. “Cry or not, we’ll see, won’t we?”
He leaned close, warm breath brushing her face, faintly tinged with the scent of blood, yet oddly comforting. His lips brushed her nose and landed on her flushed cheek, movements soft and gentle, a stark contrast to his earlier reckless words.
“Damn, I can’t bear to see you cry,” he muttered, voice carrying a helpless fondness. Fingers brushed her delicate skin. “I just want to sleep with you, peacefully. Even if it’s just holding you, doing nothing else.”
Lin Tianxin’s heart softened at his sudden tenderness; her earlier anger evaporated. She looked into his eyes, seeing the seriousness and his carefully hidden pain the gauze on his left arm had a slight stain of blood, likely tugged when he lifted her.
“You…” she began, eyes warming, gently touching his wound. “Don’t move around. Be careful or it’ll reopen.”
Lu Ye’s eyes brightened. He captured her hand, placing it to his lips with a sly, victorious grin. “So… you agree to let me sleep here?”
Without waiting for her reply, he shifted carefully to avoid his injured arm, pulling her closer. Chin resting atop her head, he murmured, low and satisfied: “Still my wife, caring for me. Don’t worry, tonight I’ll be good. Just holding you to sleep.”
Lin Tianxin nestled in his embrace. Late at night, drowsy, she felt him shift slightly, probably adjusting position without waking her. She opened her eyes to the moonlight streaming in, noticing his furrowed brows and fine sweat at his temple his wound must be hurting.
“Does your hand hurt?” she asked softly, reaching out to wipe his sweat.
Lu Ye opened his eyes, black pupils bright in the night, shaking his head with a rogue smile. “Doesn’t hurt. I am who? A little scratch is nothing.”
He held her hand, lightly biting it, and murmured, “Sleep now. I’m with you.”
Lin Tianxin didn’t respond, simply curling into him, placing her hand carefully near his wound, pressing lightly to ease his pain.
Lu Ye stiffened, then chuckled low, tightening his arms and holding her closer, eyes brimming with unrestrained warmth.
She pressed gently on his injury, making him even more uncomfortable a mischievous little sprite indeed!
Yet…
Lu Ye recalled how deftly she had extracted the bullet earlier, professional beyond her apparent experience. As she said, even hospital doctors might not match her skill.
What else did she know that he didn’t? Had he overlooked something?
At dawn, there were light knocks on the door. Quick as a flash, Lu Ye held Lin Tianxin in place, whispering, “Stay lying down. I’ll get it.”
Carefully avoiding tension on his wound, he donned a coat and opened the door, finding Zhao Qiang outside, barely containing excitement, voice hushed yet thrilled. “Commander! It’s done! Xu Su and her spies were all caught last night! None escaped!”
Lu Ye’s black eyes darkened, the rogue charm gone, replaced by commanding authority. “Everyone? Brought back?”
“All in the interrogation room!” Zhao Qiang nodded rapidly. “We blocked them along the routes you set. They hid deep, but ended up in our hands!”
Inside, Lin Tianxin had woken, stepping out in her robe, still sleepy, but hearing “Xu Su,” her mind cleared immediately.
With Xu Su captured, last life’s tragedy wouldn’t happen. Her anxiety eased greatly.
Seeing her emerge, Lu Ye’s tone softened instantly. “Watch them closely. Don’t let them try any tricks. I’ll be there soon.”
“Got it!” Zhao Qiang glanced at their loose clothing and outer layers, smirked knowingly, and slipped away, gently closing the door behind him.