35. Holding My Wife

But what could she do?

She bowed her head and thought silently for a moment. Seeing the bruise on her thigh that hadn't completely faded yet, she suddenly had a brainwave.

"Killian."

The girl's sweet voice rang out. Killian, who was typing new commands for Little X on his laptop with one hand, paused and looked back.

"What is it?"

Tara stood up. "It’s late, I should go back. I’ll come see you tomorrow morning."

She finished speaking and headed toward the entrance without waiting for his reply.

Killian immediately closed his laptop, his handsome sword-like brows furrowing slightly as he got up to follow. "Tara, wait."

However, just as the words left his mouth...

"Ah!"

At the entrance, Tara suddenly cried out in surprise. Her body tilted, and she fell to the floor.

"Ugh..."

She stole a glance behind her out of the corner of her eye, then immediately pretended to be in great pain, reaching out to clutch her ankle.

Killian’s eyelid jumped. He strode over and knelt down on one knee in front of her.

"Are you hurt? Let me see." His large palm gently clasped her delicate ankle.

The dry, warm sensation combined with the slight callouses on his fingertips felt itchy.

Tara shrank back sensitively, the tips of her ears heating up uncontrollably. Under his worried gaze, she followed through with a lie.

"I... I think I twisted my ankle."

After speaking, she lowered her head slightly. "Killian, can I..."

"Ah!"

Before she could finish, a firm force suddenly wrapped around her waist.

She let out a cry of surprise, and in the next second, the world spun.

By the time she realized what was happening, she had been picked up from the floor by Killian with one hand. In just a few steps, he walked to the living room sofa and set her down.

Tara was stunned, looking up at him blankly.

He used just one hand to pick her up so easily?

"Little X, get some ice and a towel." Killian looked at her ankle with a dark gaze.

This was actually intentional on Tara's part; her ankle had only lightly brushed against the edge of the door frame and wasn't twisted at all.

But since her skin was fair and delicate, the spot had turned red.

Little X quickly returned with ice and a towel.

Killian gently removed her shoe, wrapped the ice in the towel, and tenderly pressed it against her ankle.

"Mgh..."

The icy sensation hit her, and Tara couldn't help but shrink back.

Killian looked at her with dark eyes, his voice gentle: "Bear with it for a moment."

His movements became even lighter after he spoke.

He was injured himself, yet he was taking care of her so meticulously.

Tara momentarily regretted using this "self-harm" tactic.

After a while, she said softly, "Killian, I feel much better. It doesn't hurt anymore."

She moved her ankle slightly to prove it.

But Killian suddenly raised his hand, easily clasping her entire small, smooth foot. His voice lowered slightly: "Don't move around."

The warm and slightly rough sensation was more heart-fluttering than the coldness from before.

It felt like an electric current conducting from her toes to her tailbone, spreading through her whole body.

Tara couldn't help it; her fair toes, tinged with a light pink, curled slightly.

Taking this in, Killian was momentarily stunned, and then his gaze darkened almost imperceptibly.

"Tara, stay here tonight."

He lifted his eyes to look at her. "I'll sleep on the sofa."

This was exactly what Tara had been waiting for.

She pretended to hesitate for a moment before nodding. "Well... alright."

This is great!

"But," she said, worried, "You're the patient. You sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa."

"You sleep on the bed." Killian's tone left no room for argument.

Tara's lips moved as if she wanted to argue more, but meeting his dark gaze, she immediately didn't dare speak further.

When Killian got serious, he looked quite intimidating.

"Alright then."

She stood up. "Then I'd like to wash up first. Killian, do you have new toiletries here?"

Killian nodded. "Yes, I'll have Little X bring them to you."

Little X soon brought a complete set of new toiletries.

In addition to a toothbrush, toothpaste, and towels, there were even brand-new pajamas. They looked quite large, clearly Killian's size.

Killian looked at her and said, "Use these for now. I'll buy some that fit you better tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you." Tara took them and prepared to walk to the bathroom.

But the moment her feet touched the ground, she remembered something and guiltily pretended to walk with a limp.

Before she could fake it for more than two steps, Killian had already walked over to her side, considerately supporting her arm. "Slow down."

Tara felt even guiltier.

Now she seemed like more of a patient than he was.

But there was no way out; since she had started the act, she had to see it through.

So, with Killian's support, she walked all the way into the bathroom.

"Alright, Killian, go sit down. I'll be fine standing for a bit. I'll be done washing up soon."

But Killian didn't leave. Instead, he squeezed the toothpaste for her, filled the cup with water, and handed them to her.

Tara felt touched; this was far too considerate.

"Thank you." She took them and leaned over slightly to start brushing her teeth.

But the moment she leaned over, a firm force suddenly clasped her waist.

Tara was stunned. Before she could react, her back was completely enveloped by a warm, lean, and powerful body.

Killian... had actually pulled her into his arms!

Tara's whole body froze, and her toothbrush almost fell to the floor.

"Killian, you?" She looked up at him slightly, her long lashes trembling uncontrollably.

"Your foot is injured; I'm afraid you'll fall."

Killian looked down at her, his dark eyes deep as a pool. "Taking care of one's partner is something that must be done during a relationship, isn't it?"

Tara blinked. The tension in her heart vanished, replaced bit by bit by joy.

So he remembered everything.

Did this mean Killian was finally starting to catch on?

"Mhm." She nodded slightly and smiled at him. "Thank you, Killian."

She then picked up her toothbrush and began to brush.

Killian held her silently, the corners of his lips curving up slightly.

She was soft and fragrant.

She was so small that she was easily held, and she was incredibly obedient.

Before this, he had never felt as clearly as he did now that a girl could be such a cute and wonderful creature.

He couldn't help himself; he lowered his head slightly and rested his chin on her soft, fluffy hair.

Tara was focused on brushing her teeth. Seeing him like this, she thought he was tired.

After all, he was still a patient and really should rest.

Thinking of this, she sped up, finished brushing quickly, and began to wash her face.

Warm water soaked the soft towel. She wrung it out forcefully, but she didn't wipe her own face first. Instead, she turned halfway in his arms to look up at him face-to-face.

"Killian, let me wash your face for you?"

Killian raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

The upward inflection of his voice was subtle. Tara thought he had agreed, so she spread the towel to wipe his face.

But due to the height difference, this was a struggle for her.

She requested, "Killian, lower your head a bit."

Killian did as she asked.

However, he miscalculated the angle of his head, such that in an instant, his forehead was almost touching hers.

And so, in that moment, she was caught off guard, staring into his eyes with their breaths intermingling.