Chapter 220
Melanie carefully placed the bandage over Adam’s stomach, pressing it down with more gentleness than she felt. She let out a slow breath, her eyes lingering on the scarred skin beneath her fingers. The scarring had been worse up close. She could see the preciAre you sad that the perfect abs are mark ed for life?” Adam’s voice was light, teasing, like none of it really bothered him. He grinned, smug and entirely too pleased with himself for someone whose stomach was half-covered in gauze.
Melanie narrowed her eyes at him. Then, without a word, she smacked him just below the bandaged area—hard enough to make a point, but not enough to do any real damage.
He let out a dramatic groan. “Hey! How can you hit an injured man? I didn’t think you were so heartless, my sweet melon!”
“How can you make a joke like that? Do you think it is easy seeing you like that?” she shot back, exasperated.
But she didn’t pull her hand away. And she didn’t stop staring at the place the bandage met his skin. as her fingers stayed there.
Adam followed her gaze, then glanced back up at her with a smirk, saying in a low voice,” You know, if you keep touching me like that, I’m going to start thinking you are interested in more…”
Melanie didn’t look up, but her fingers twitched slightly against his skin. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just thinking of something else and distracted so I didn’t realise my hands are there.”
He chuckled. “So cold. And yet… your hand’s still there. Still distracted, are we?”
His smile widened as she finally looked up, eyes narrowed.
“It’s called making sure the bandage stays in place,” she said flatly.
“Right,” he said, drawing out the word. “And the lingering contact is just—what? Medical curiosity?”
She rolled her eyes and started to pull her hand away, but he caught her wrist to stop her and keep her hand in place.
“You’re a terrible nurse,” he said. “But you make up for it with the bedside manner.”
Melanie gave him a long look, her expression unreadable as she warned, “Careful. You’re two lines away from earning another smack.”
Adam grinned, unfazed. “Worth it. I’d take a punch from you any day if it means you’ll keep looking at me like that.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
“Like I’m more than just the idiot who got himself nearly torn up.”
For a second, her expression flickered. “You are an idiot,” she said. “That part’s not up for debate.”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I know. I agree I am Adam the idiot.”
His hand loosened around her wrist, but didn’t let go. His thumb brushed lightly against her skin, and when he spoke again, his voice had dropped lower. “Melon… I know you think I am taking this as a joke. And I act like none of this matters, but…” He paused, jaw tightening. “You went through hell because of me. You nearly—”
He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I should’ve been the one to deal with it. Not you. And I am sorry that I was not there to save you.”
Melanie gave him a smile and somehow almost blurted out that she was used to it but instead shook her head,” Adam, how did getting stabbed become your fault? All I want is for you to stay safe. Just that. I can take care of everything else. The inheritance, the schemes, the family secrets—I could handle all of it. But when someone actually tried to kill you…”
She paused and her voice faltered. “I don’t think I want to be part of this fight anymore.”
Melanie didn’t say anything more, her words stuck in her throat. Even though she had not believed for a minute that he was dead, the fear at the back of her mind about losing him made her brain freeze.
Adam turned his hand and entwined her fingers with his, staring down at their joint hands. He wanted to assure her that he did not want ’in’ this fight either but if they didn’t fight back, they would be dead sooner or later like cannon fodder in a novel.. But of course she knew that already… so he simply assured her, “You don’t have to worry anymore. With Saira behind the bars now, it is not long that she will blurt out everything about Spencer and he will be handled by the law as well. As for Robert Collins, he is going to…”
“I don’t care what happens to them, Adam. Lets’ not talk about that…”
Adam smiled, ” Really? Then what do you want to talk about? I have an idea…”
Melanie gave him a suspicious look. His tone was back to the original him… which meant something flirty was going to come out of his mouth, and then before she could warn him….” You could kiss my wounds better, you know. I assure you that is a really good way of taking care of me. It might even mean that I won’t have to see the doctor anymore.
Melanie scoffed at that and then impulsively, leaned down and placed a kiss on his stomach beside the gauze, before hurriedly pulling down the hospital gown he was wearing to cover him up.
He stared at her for a moment, stunned before he caught her hand again,” Melon! That was too short… It will take years to heal my wound at that rate. Come on…. you need to give a few more of those…
Melanie scoffed and stood up,” Well, I don’t mind if you heal slowly.”
“I protest! I am the patient! I know I need more than one kiss to heal!” Adam protested.
Melanie rolled her eyes,” I am the nurse, so I decide how much you need. Now, close your eyes and rest.”
“Not until you give me another kiss.”
Melanie stared at him for a moment and then leaned down, her lips close to his face… he waited until she was close and then, just when their lips were about to meet… she flicked his nose, straightened and walked away while he protested, calling out,” You tease!”