Chapter 93

"You mean... right this second?"

Vivian stared at the immobile man on the hospital bed, then at the medical staff with their practiced professional smiles. She felt utterly trapped.

"Obviously. Unless you'd prefer to wait until the venom reaches my heart and brain?" Ethan's icy tone left no room for argument.

"But this kind of intimate contact between a man and woman... It's not proper." Her cheeks burned at the thought.

She'd never even held Ethan's hand casually. Now she had to touch every inch of his body? The idea alone made her pulse race.

The doctor looked baffled. "Mrs. Blackwood, you're his wife. There's nothing improper about this."

"I'm not trained for this. My technique won't be professional."

"Just apply the ointment thoroughly over his entire body, then massage it in to help absorption." The doctor handed her freshly prepared medicine and gauze. "Hurry - the efficacy decreases when it cools."

Then they simply... left?!

Vivian stood frozen, back turned to Ethan, her face flaming. She couldn't bring herself to move.

Ethan's eyes gleamed with dark amusement as he studied her tense posture. "Why so nervous? Could it be... you actually like me?"

"Absolutely not!"

She whirled around, fists clenched. "I'm divorcing you, remember? Liking you is impossible."

One dark eyebrow arched. "Is that so?"

The sheer arrogance. She acted ten times prouder than he ever had.

"Of course!"

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm not nervous... just worried about losing control."

"Losing control?"

Ethan didn't know whether to laugh or rage. "Look at me. How exactly could I lose control? You think I'll assault you through telekinesis?"

"Do I seem that desperate to you?"

Vivian cleared her throat. "You misunderstand. I'm worried about me losing control, not you."

She gestured at his physique. "With a body like that? It'll be hard not to... enjoy myself while applying the medicine."

Ethan blinked.

She had a point. He'd underestimated her.

"Fair enough." His lips twitched. "After all, even while I was poisoned, you couldn't resist kissing me. Who knows what you'll do with full access to my body."

Scarlet heat flooded Vivian's face and neck.

He remembered that?!

"This is mortifying." She seized the opportunity. "See how shameless I am? You should get a nurse instead."

"No one's more qualified than my wife."

Though paralyzed, Ethan's commanding presence remained undiminished. "I'd rather be groped by you than some stranger. Now stop stalling - unless you're actually attracted to me?"

That challenge sparked her defiance.

"Fine! I'll do it!" She snatched up the medicated gauze. "Don't think I'm scared of you!"

With a deep breath, she pulled back the blanket and began unbuttoning his hospital gown.

His sculpted physique emerged inch by inch - not an ounce of fat, just pure muscle. The sight made her mouth go dry.

"Here goes nothing."

Her small hands descended like curious kittens, exploring his chest with barely restrained enthusiasm.

It felt... surprisingly pleasant.

The upper body was manageable. But when she reached his waistband, she had to turn away, working by touch alone.

Ethan's voice cut through the tension. "What exactly are you doing?"