Chapter 997


    Ian softened his touch, massaging her scalp with the tips of his fingers.


    Maja was worried about getting soap in her eyes, so she kept them squeezed shut.


    Ian had already considered that, so he gently pulled her head back against him.


    Her face was slightly tilted upwards, so no soap would get into her eyes.


    Feeling reassured, Maja finally opened her eyes.


    But Ian was standing, and she was sitting. She was bare, and in that position, when she looked up,


    they were eye to eye.


    The atmosphere was somewhat charged.


    Normally, one would avert their gaze, but neither did. They just continued to gaze at each other.


    Finally, Ian looked away first, needing to grab the shower head to rinse off the soap.


    Only when she felt the warm water trickling over her head did Maja blush, realizing the intimacy of their


    situation.


    Ian washed her hair,thered up a washcloth with shower gel, and meticulously cleaned her entire


    body as she smelled nothing like her normal self.


    After rolling around by the river, she smelled like fresh grass.


    And after that wash, she smelled like floral shower gel.


    A full half hourter, Ian grabbed a towel from the side, wrapped her up, picked her up, and ced her


    on the couch in the living room and said,


    "I''ll go take a shower, then I''lle out and rub some liniment on you."


    Maja, clutching the towel, nodded slowly.


    Ian''s own pants were dirty, and he was almostpletely soaked. He grabbed pajamas from the side


    and went into the bathroom to clean himself up.


    Twenty minutester, he emerged, drying his hair. He went downstairs to fetch the liniment and then


    came up with it. After pushing her hair off her shoulder, he said,


    "This might sting a bit."


    Maja had been awestruck as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom. His hair was still dripping wet,


    the cor of his pajamas open wide, radiating an irresistible charm.


    She turned her head to the side, making it easier for him to apply the liniment to the bruise.


    At first, she didn''t feel any pain when the liniment hit her skin. It wasn''t until he started massaging that


    she started to feel the pain.


    "A special technique is needed for it to be absorbed properly. Just bear with it."


    The stinging sensation spread from her pores. Maja grimaced in pain.


    Ian continued massaging her shoulder, but his gaze fell on her face.


    Her eyshes were lowered, probably because she was finding it hard to bear all that pain. They


    fluttered asionally, and her breathing became heavier as she was trying her best to deal with the


    pain.


    Her hair was tucked behind her ear, and the handprint on her cheek was almost gone, but some traces


    were still visible.


    Seeing her like that, appearing so vulnerable, stirred up feelings of protectiveness in him.


    He broke off his gaze, his tone casual as he said, "Take off your towel. You have bruises on your back


    and waist."


    Maja stiffened, hesitating as she clung onto a piece of the towel.


    Ian bent down and swiftly pulled it off, pressing her into his embrace, making her lie face down.


    Maja was furious and tried to sit up, "Ian!"


    "Stay still."


    His hand was cold as he poured liniment onto the bruises on her back and began massaging.


    Majay in his arms, and due to the sharp pain, she stopped protesting and just epted what he was


    doing.


    After her back, he moved on to her waist.


    She was rather sensitive there, and whenever his fingers touched that area, she felt like he was


    crossing a line as his fingers asionally brushed against the side of her chest, causing her cheeks to


    flush.


    Once he was done, she was so drained and tired that she justy there.


    Ian, however, pushed her away and got up to go to the bathroom.


    Maja, dazed and tired, opened her weary eyes to see a certain part of him standing at attention.


    His face was dark as he went in to wash his hands, making sure to thoroughly clean each finger with


    soap. When he came out, he saw that Maja was sitting up straight.


    The towel was casually draped over her, exposing her long, white legs.


    The fire that Ian had somehow managed to put out was instantly rekindled.


    He unconsciously swallowed hard, captivated by the alluring sight before him.


    Neither of them broke the silence. She didn''t say she would leave, and he also didn''t ask her to do so.


    They remained in that impasse until he finally decided. With long strides, he walked over to her, roughly


    pulling her close, holding her neck, and passionately kissing her.


    His other hand rested on her chin; that absolute control made him yearn for more of that.


    Maja was almost forced to look up, his kiss was so intense that she was almost left out of breath.


    Her eyes misted over, and her lips were red and swollen.


    Ian sat next to her, picked her up, and ced her on hisp, not even hesitating to unwind her towel.


    His pajamas were also a robe, which made things easier for him.


    Maja''s shoulder was injured, her waist hurt, and before she could protest, he was already inside her.


    His sharp eyes were veiled with a hint of red, his hand holding her waist.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Hold still, I''ve been thinking about this for a long time."


    Maja looked at his stunning face, opened her mouth to say something, but he silenced her with a kiss.