Third person's POV
Having seen Derek's body countless times before, Tabitha steeled herself and swiftly untied the sash of his bathrobe, letting it slip off.
His broad back, scarred from rescuing her years ago, was laid bare.
She remembered the gruesome scene of that day all too well.
Time, she mused, was truly a terrifying force.
With a clean towel, she gently dabbed at the water droplets on his face and body. Derek stood docile, like a compliant dog, allowing her every action.
Such a sight was rare—Derek, the man of unyielding pride, had always insisted on self-sufficiency.
To be honest, in the early days of their relationship, Derek had hidden his true self.
Despite their closeness, she felt a distance, only catching fleeting glimpses of the real him during intimate moments.
Now, however, he laid bare his heart and soul before her, only to be met with her indifference.
In the past few days, with no one to shave for him, stubble had sprouted on his jaw, and his hair had grown a touch longer.
Coupled with the effects of the poison, he appeared weathered, a stark contrast to his former self.
Derek removed the eye bandages, and though his vision remained blurred, he could discern Tabitha's silhouette.
He wondered if her gaze upon him now was as tender as moonlight.
Without thinking, he reached out and grasped her hand, his lips parting to whisper, "Tabitha..."
The tranquil moonlight bathed them both, the atmosphere electric with unspoken tension.
With a gentle tug, Derek pulled her into his embrace and kissed her, his fingers tenderly tilting her chin.
This was the woman he had ached for night after night, surviving on memories alone.
Now, she was here, right before him.
Like a desert traveler who had finally found an oasis, Derek was overwhelmed with joy and trepidation, fearing this might all be a dream.
His kiss was gentle, almost reverent, as if Tabitha were the most fragile of treasures.
Tabitha, though intending to push him away, found herself unable to.
Their encounter was like parched earth finally receiving rain.
Memories of Derek's selfless leap into the snake pit flooded her mind, leaving her breathless.
Her hand rested on his chest, intending to push him away, but the sight of scars from past battles made her force wane.
Derek cradled her as if she were something precious, his touch tender and reverent.
No woman could resist such affection.
To him, she was oxygen in a dying breath.
"Tabitha, I can't live without you," he whispered, clinging to her as if to merge their souls and never part.
The herbal scent on her skin, new and intoxicating, heightened his senses.
His blindness only deepened his reliance on touch and smell.
What began as a gentle kiss escalated uncontrollably.
His fingers found the hairpin at the nape of her neck, releasing her lustrous hair.
The strands cascaded over his skin, soft and fragrant.
Enveloped by the moment, Tabitha's resistance faded. Her body, once tense, relaxed into his embrace.
Derek's boldness grew, his hands roaming freely. The years apart seemed to fuel his desire.
With a gasp, Tabitha realized her clothes had been half-removed.
She'd been ensnared by his magnetism, her willpower dissolved in his touch.
As his hands boldened, Tabitha's last shred of rationality returned. She pushed him away, her voice sharp. "Don't get too carried away!"
Derek, realizing his impulsiveness, loosened his grip. He knew he had to tread carefully, lest he frighten her away.
This unexpected reunion had already revealed the depth of Tabitha's lingering feelings for him—a victory worth celebrating.
Derek's anticipation was akin to a child's longing for a cherished toy, saving every hard-earned penny and daydreaming by the shop window about the joy of finally bringing it home.
"I'm sorry, Tabitha," he murmured. "I lose control around you."
Tabitha's tone was firm. "One more misstep, and I'll have Spike watch over you."
Derek feigned innocence. "Spike's too rigid—he can't possibly take care of me properly."
"Then behave," Tabitha warned.
"Of course," Derek agreed, his expression now meek as a drooling Samoyed.
Tabitha turned away, her movements efficient as she dressed him and administered his medicine.
Exhausted from the ordeal, she collapsed onto the bed, only to be roused by Derek's voice.
"Tabitha, are you asleep?"
They lay five meters apart.
Tabitha snapped, "Go to sleep!"
Yet Derek lay awake, haunted by visions of snakes. "I can't sleep. I'm scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see snakes crawling everywhere—on my legs, my hands..."
"Silence," Tabitha commanded.