The armored car sped through the thick mist, the silence inside heavier than the surrounding mountains. Lu Ming sat in the back seat, his shirt completely torn from behind. The golden scales were fading, leaving behind slight wounds and crimson blood on his broad back.
(Ari Internally: My God.. look at that back! It looks like a map of strength and pain. My heart aches to see him wounded, but my obsessed brain says: "Thank you, sniper, for making him take off his shirt!". Get a grip, Ari, you are now the personal nurse to the King of Dinosaurs; no time for drooling!)
Ari pulled out the first aid kit and sat beside him. Fang was driving with an eerie calmness, as if he intentionally kept the interior lights off to heighten the tension.
"Mr. Lu Ming.. I must clean the wound. The bullet left a deep mark," Ari said in a calm voice, her hand trembling as she placed it on his shoulder.
Lu Ming turned to her, his eyes still holding a faint golden shimmer. "Ari.. my blood is tainted by the curse. Touching it might hurt you," he said in a raspy voice.
(Ari Internally: Hurt me? Touching you is the only medicine I need! Even if I turn into a female "T-Rex" beside you, I'd be happy! Look at the look in his eyes.. it's melting the ice outside and melting my bones inside!)
Ari began cleaning the wound slowly. She felt the heat of his body beneath her fingers; the scent of rain and forest was intoxicating. As she applied the antiseptic, his back muscles tightened sharply, causing her to lean closer to steady him.
"Bear with it for a moment.. you're a strong beast, aren't you?" Ari whispered near his ear.
Lu Ming's body shuddered, not from pain, but from her proximity. He gripped the leather seat until it tore under his fingers, and whispered with a growl-like tone: "Ari.. stop being so kind to me. The beast inside me is starting to confuse protecting you.. with the desire to possess you forever."
(Ari Internally: Oh my God! Did he just confess something? "Possess me forever"? Can I faint now? Fang, please hit a rock or do something because my heart is going to stop beating! Lu Ming, possess me.. take me to the Cretaceous period, I'm down!)
Suddenly, without warning, Lu Ming placed his large, warm hand over Ari's as she was bandaging him, slowly pulling her hand away to turn and face her. The distance between them vanished; their breaths mingled in the cold car air.
(Ari Internally: This is the moment! Scenario #15 from romance Manhwa.. the lead approaches.. eyes meet.. is he going to kiss me? Or eat me? Either way, I win!)
Fang's icy voice cut through: "Master, we have crossed the German border. We are in a temporarily safe zone.. but the fuel is running low."
(Ari Internally, pulling away quickly with a face as red as a tomato: Fang! You're not an assistant, you're a "Global Moment Destroyer"! I will actually kill you this time; I'll make the T-Rex eat you as a snack!)
Lu Ming gave Ari a mysterious look, then slowly released her hand and looked back out the window. However, a tiny, almost invisible smile traced his lips.