47. The Delicate Midget Crabapple

—Beep.

The call to Killian was disconnected, but WeChat messages exploded immediately after, revealing the sender's intense agitation.

At the same time, the notification pings on Tara’s phone—which had fallen onto the carpet last night—began to ring incessantly.

Her brother knew everything.

Arriving at this conclusion, Tara felt a sense of unease and instinctively bit her lower lip.

He probably wouldn't tell her parents or her godparents, but there was a high probability he would break either her legs or Killian's.

As she was thinking anxiously, Killian’s deep, pleasant voice suddenly rang out: "Don't worry."

A warm fingertip gently rubbed over her lip, rescuing the flesh that was being bitten hard by her upper teeth.

He lowered his head, pressing his straight nose against hers, his dark eyes shimmering with a comforting smile: "It’s just some safety reminders. Also, he’s coming to our home tonight, but not to put us on trial. Don't be afraid."

Tara looked into his deep black eyes and asked, "Really?"

"Mhm."

Tara breathed a small sigh of relief: "That’s good then."

Maintaining this position, Killian gave her a small peck on the lips. "Are you hungry? Should I have breakfast sent up?"

Tara shook her head and whispered with a red face, "I want to go wash up."

After she spoke, she slightly averted her gaze, no longer looking at him. She tried to push herself up with effort, wanting to look for her underwear.

But the moment she looked back, she saw nothing but a mess on the floor.

The scattered clothes had been stained with certain traces to varying degrees; they were likely unwearable.

Those chaotic memories from last night flooded her mind again, making Tara’s cheeks burn uncontrollably.

Amidst her embarrassment, a knock suddenly sounded at the suite door: "Hello, room service."

"I'll go get the things. When I'm back, I'll carry you to the bathroom."

He gave her a gentle instruction, gripped her delicate shoulders to place her back into the soft bedding, then stood up, quickly dressed, and went to open the door.

The foyer and the master bedroom were not directly connected, ensuring a degree of privacy.

Watching his tall, retreating figure, Tara quickly threw back the covers, wanting to get to the bathroom.

But something embarrassing happened.

The moment her feet touched the floor, a wave of soreness and weakness hit her legs. Tara accidentally collapsed onto the floor, her entire expression freezing.

The moment she realized what happened, a sense of shame completely submerged her.

She had actually been "done" by Killian until her legs went weak?

Killian, who had just taken the items from the room service attendant, heard the noise. His narrow, dark brows knit slightly as he immediately strode back toward the bedroom.

He moved quickly; by the time Tara tried to cover herself upon hearing the footsteps, he had already arrived.

"I..."

She tried to find an excuse with an unnatural expression, but he had already approached. His hard, powerful arms hooked under her waist and the crook of her knees, picking her up and placing her on the bed.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

He held her in his arms, asking in a low, warm tone.

Since she wasn't wearing anything right now and was being held entirely in his embrace, she felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"No."

After saying that, she couldn't help but shrink back, trying to escape his arms and use the quilt to hide herself.

Killian took her small movements in, and a smile suddenly colored his dark eyes. He lowered his head slightly, whispering in her ear: "I saw everything last night, so..."

He chuckled softly, placing a fleeting kiss on her white earlobe: "Baby doesn't need to be shy."

His usual voice was as crisp as snow and cold as bamboo, but now that it was softened, the way he breathed out the word "Baby" made her heart race and her breathing turn ragged.

Tara became even more ashamed, not daring to look at him at all, simply burying her burning face in his chest.

He laughed softly and finally stopped mentioning those things.

After a rustling sound, he seemed to have retrieved something from behind her. His large hand gripped her thin shoulders, creating a small distance in front of her.

Amidst Tara's confusion, that delicate Midget Crabapple birthmark on her chest was suddenly covered by soft fabric.

She looked down blankly at the bra he was putting on her.

Unlike the super-small "kawaii" child version from last time, the size this time was just right, and it even featured a beautiful lace design.

He carefully fastened the small hooks behind her back and continued to dress her in new clothes.

Everything was so thoughtful and meticulous.

The young man, having experienced "human affairs" once, seemed to have finally fully understood the way of things.

Tara couldn't resist. After he finished dressing her in a high-collared outer top, she looked up at him and asked, "Killian, did you have someone buy these?"

He nodded: "Mhm."

"I'm sorry."

A slight smile played on his handsome thin lips. His large hand, following the posture of holding her back, rubbed over the inconspicuous small hooks on her back. He chuckled, "Last time, my estimation was wrong."

He had measured it many times last night; there was no need to state clearly what exactly was estimated wrong.

Tara’s cheeks were scalding. She turned her face away again and reminded him in a small voice: "The pants too."

She emphasized: "I can put them on myself, just give them to me."

In the past, she loved wearing beautiful dresses, but the current situation clearly wouldn't allow it.

It was no exaggeration to say that from her neck to her toes, there wasn't a single patch of skin that was clean and unblemished.

Previously, she had actually thought he was a person of self-restraint and propriety.

Now that she thought about it, the unbridled behavior he displayed when she first shared physical sensations with him was his true face.

It was just that after she was rejected by him so many times during her pursuit, she mistakenly thought she had wronged him.

The facts proved that he was simply too good at faking it.

Of course, one thing was separate from another; his technique was very good, and she had enjoyed it.

"No rush."

He didn't immediately agree to her request. Instead, he took a small jar of ointment from the bag behind her.

Before Tara could see clearly what the ointment was for, she was held and laid flat on the soft bedding.

Her ankles were gently grasped by his warm palms and slightly parted.

At this moment, how could Tara not know what he intended to do?

With that substantive, scorching gaze fixed on her, Tara felt very uncomfortable. Finally unable to bear it, she reminded him in a low voice: "Killian..."

With that, she tried to pull her ankles away from his palms.

The girl's delicate, soft voice carried a hint of tension and a slight tremor. She was clearly refusing, yet it sounded exactly like acting spoiled.

Killian’s large hands gripped her without allowing a refusal, his dark eyes staring deeply at that spot.

She was indeed born beautiful and delicate.

People say flowers are delicate, but he felt she was three times more so.

It was said that the city of Jing was her hometown.

It must be a sacred and beautiful land to have raised such a supple and exquisite girl.

His Adam's apple rolled uncontrollably, and his deep voice took on an imperceptible rasp: "Be good, just a little longer."

A moment later, a cool sensation covered her.

By the time everything was tidied up, it was already one in the afternoon.

At that time, Killian was holding her hand, taking a walk in the outdoor garden of the Starry Dream Hot Spring Hotel.

"Aren't we going back?" Tara had recovered a bit by now, walking beside him with small steps.

"We'll go back tonight."

He looked at her sideways and said warmly, "Hot springs can relieve fatigue; it's good for you."

With that, he suddenly raised his hand to gently tuck a soft strand of hair behind her ear, then pinned a very soft little thing onto it.

Tara didn't see it clearly and asked in confusion: "Killian, what is this?"

Killian curled his lips and said softly: "It's a Midget Crabapple I picked on the road just now."

His bamboo-like fingers lightly brushed past the pale pink flower blooming brilliantly by her ear. His dark eyes were as deep as thick ink that wouldn't dissolve.

"It's very beautiful."

Just like the one that bloomed on her skin last night, falling from her right collarbone down to a position slightly above her chest.

When flushed with a light pink, it was breathtakingly beautiful.