Derek snapped back to reality. He'd let excitement and desire cloud his judgment.
Tabitha had come down the cliff in the pouring rain—she must be hurt.
Guilt and worry hit him like a tidal wave. How could he have overlooked this?
"Tabitha, where are you hurt?"
His voice was urgent, his eyes scanning her body as if he could find every injury with just his gaze.
Tabitha was still in a daze. She'd chased after him without a second thought, but now that she was here, embarrassment filled her face.
Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions.
Just last night, she'd made harsh vows to hate Derek.
How quickly things had turned.
"I'm fine," she lied, her voice trembling as she avoided Derek's eyes, as if fleeing from the truth within herself.
The cave was pitch-black, no tools to light the way, and the outside light was fading fast.
Though it was daytime, it was nearly as dark as night.
Tabitha frowned, trying to adjust to the darkness while also sorting through her chaotic thoughts.
But Derek was a pro at outdoor survival. He'd collected dry firewood before the rain, which he hadn't used yet—perfect for now.
He swiftly took out a lighter and ignited the wood.
Warm light instantly filled the cave, illuminating Derek's concerned eyes as he turned to Tabitha.
She was in a black waterproof jacket, torn in several places, revealing glimpses of her undershirt beneath.
Seeing the torn clothes, Derek's brows furrowed, his heart tightening.
"Where are you hurt?" he asked again, his voice firmer, his gaze sharper.
Tabitha, usually so resilient, didn't want to show vulnerability in front of Derek.
But a surge of stubbornness took over. She instinctively hid her hand behind her back, insisting, "I'm fine. I know these mountains like the back of my hand. I ..."
Derek grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand out. Her bloody palm made his heart ache. "Tabitha!" His voice quivered, filled with pain and guilt.
"I'm okay. I'm not as weak as you think. This little scratch will heal in days," Tabitha said, though a flash of discomfort crossed her eyes.
Derek's eyes turned red. "Sorry, I got you hurt again."
His deep, guilty voice and self-blaming eyes made Tabitha's heart waver.
"It's not like that. I didn't do it for you. I just... I didn't want people to say I'm not a good doctor if you died here. I..."
Her voice trailed off, her lips biting down as she seemed at a loss for words.
Derek, in his gentle yet firm way, silenced her. He knew her heart better than she thought.
He realized his eagerness to reconcile had overlooked the emotional scars he'd left on her, the knots in her heart that were still untangled, or perhaps she hadn't even figured out what she truly wanted.
He needed to think carefully. He had to give her time to see his sincerity.
"Stay still. I've got a first-aid kit. Let me tend to your wound. An infection here would be bad news," Derek said, his eyes full of care and his voice soft.
Tabitha stopped pretending. Though familiar with medicinal herbs, she knew they wouldn't work as fast as real medicine.
With a hint of helplessness in her eyes, she let Derek clean, disinfect, and bandage her wound in one smooth motion.
His non-doctor hands did it so quickly—it was clear he was used to tending to his own injuries.
Watching Derek's focused face, a flicker of compassion crossed Tabitha's eyes. Spike, that good-natured guy, had spoken up for him a lot.
Derek added more firewood and set up a makeshift grill with branches.
"Your clothes are soaked. You need to take them off and dry them," he said, his tone commanding but his eyes resolute.
"No, I..." Tabitha started to refuse, hesitation flashing in her eyes.
"No arguments. Either you do it, or I will. And you know I work fast," Derek said, his eyes serious yet caring.
Seeing Tabitha's pouting face, he softened his voice.
"Don't worry. I've got a down sleeping bag. You rest inside while I handle this. They'll be dry in no time." His eyes were gentle, his voice warm.
Wet clothes were indeed uncomfortable. Reluctantly, Tabitha agreed. "Fine, but you turn around and don't watch."
A hint of shyness crossed her eyes as she looked down.
Immediately, she regretted it. They had already been intimate last night. Wasn't it too late for such modesty now?
Her eyes showed confusion and conflict.