Chapter 14: Special treatment

Ray looked at her carefully.

May’s cheeks were still flushed, but her watery eyes were filled with stubborn determination and guilt.

He said nothing, and that silence was enough to count as permission.

May carried over a basin of clean water and a fresh towel, then carefully crouched in front of Ray.

She wrung out the towel and began gently wiping the blood from the skin around his wound.

To reach the injury properly, she had no choice but to move close. Before long, she was practically tucked between the man’s legs.

Ray was exceptionally tall. Even sitting down, he towered over her crouched figure. From where he was, a simple downward glance gave him an unobstructed view of her.

The slender, pale nape of her neck... The delicate shoulder blades shifting beneath her thin clothing as she moved the towel... And lower...

Because she was bent forward, the torn neckline of her dress had fallen open considerably.

The sight caught him off guard.

Ray’s breathing stopped for a brief second.

Even the throbbing pain in his injured arm seemed to fade into the background.

His throat felt dry enough to burn.

Whatever tension Theo had managed to suppress earlier seemed to be returning with renewed force.

If he had to lose consciousness from lack of oxygen six or seven times a day just to endure this...

Well.

Damn. Maybe it was worth it.

May remained completely unaware of the storm brewing above her. All her attention was focused on the ugly wound.

She carefully wiped away the dried blood, moving with such tenderness that it seemed she was afraid even the slightest pressure might hurt him.

Her fingertips inevitably brushed against his overheated skin.

Every time they did, the muscles in Ray’s arm tightened involuntarily. The sensation seemed to travel from the point of contact straight into his chest.

The air around them grew strangely heavy.

Across the truck bed, the others watched the scene with barely concealed frustration.

Mitch paced back and forth irritably.

Jack had retreated into a corner, wearing an expression that was equal parts envy and internal conflict.

Ace was still smiling, but there was something noticeably colder behind those usually warm eyes.

Alex even ran his tongue briefly across his lips, his jealousy impossible to hide.

I wouldn’t mind getting scratched by a zombie right about now...

At last, May finished cleaning the blood away. She lifted her head, intending to tell him that she was about to apply the medicine.

Instead, she found herself staring directly into a pair of dark, unreadable eyes.

The intensity of his gaze made her heart skip.

And then she realized something... He wasn’t looking at her face. His attention was somewhere else entirely.

May followed his gaze downward.

The moment she understood what had caught his attention, her face became even redder than before.

That bastard. How can he be staring at my boobs right now?!

Embarrassment and irritation rushed straight to her head.

Without thinking, May raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

Smack!

The crisp sound echoed through the truck.

Everyone froze.

Ray was equally stunned.

His head had turned with the impact, leaving a clear red handprint across his cheek.

For once, even he looked completely bewildered.

May stared at her tingling palm. Then at the mark on Ray’s face.

Her mind went blank.

Oh no.

She had done it again. She’d slapped the leader of the team.

And this time, she’d done it after he’d just protected her and been seriously injured doing so.

"I... I didn’t mean to... I..." She struggled to explain, her voice trembling. "It was... just a reflex..."

Mitch and the others stared at the handprint on Ray’s cheek. Strangely, none of them looked particularly sympathetic. If anything, their expressions became even more tense.

Because somehow... The scene looked suspiciously like a lovers’ quarrel.

And, considering the circumstances, almost like she had just "rewarded" him for something.

All five men seemed to share the exact same thought:

If only she’d slapped me instead...

Then Ace’s amused voice broke the silence.

"So is this how we’re applying medicine now? Or Ray just deserves a special treatment?"

His tone remained gentle, carrying that familiar teasing warmth.

The atmosphere instantly became even more awkward.

"Enough." Ray finally spoke.

There was unmistakable irritation in his voice, as though he’d had enough of everyone’s nonsense.

"Stop standing around like statues. Pack everything up. We’re leaving this damn place."

He stood as he spoke. The movement tugged at the wound in his arm, and his brow tightened almost imperceptibly.

His command snapped everyone back to reality.

Mitch immediately jumped down to inspect the truck and check the fuel.

Jack silently began gathering the supplies scattered around the vehicle.

Alex sidled over to May and whispered, "May, that slap was great. He really does need someone to keep him in line. Maybe now he’ll think twice before getting handsy with you."

It sounded like he was defending her. Yet somehow, May suspected he was doing the exact opposite.

Before long, the truck was running again.

Theo took the driver’s seat. He was the calmest and most level-headed of the group, making him the safest choice behind the wheel.

Because of his injured arm, Ray was ordered to rest in the back of the truck.

Ace took responsibility for keeping watch.

The others had been through one battle after another and were already exhausted. Once the truck started moving, the rhythmic motion of the vehicle quickly lulled them into sleep.

The wheels rolled over the ruined streets, producing a monotonous rumble.

May rested against the side of the truck bed, gradually becoming drowsy herself.

Her injured leg tingled beneath the bandages, a mixture of itching and dull pain brought on by the medicine.

She shifted instinctively, trying to find a more comfortable position.

"Don’t move too much. You’ll reopen the wound."

The gentle warning came from beside her.

It was Ace.

At some point, he had moved closer, carrying a fresh roll of gauze and another bottle of medicine.

"The bandage has loosened a little. I’ll redo it for you."

His smile was as soft as moonlight, making it difficult to refuse.

"Oh... okay. Thank you."

May quietly agreed and shifted aside to give him room.

Ace crouched down and carefully began removing the old bandage, which had been stained through with blood.

His fingers were long and well-defined, yet his movements were exceptionally gentle, as though he were afraid of causing her unnecessary pain.

The truck bed was dim.

Only a faint glow from the headlights reached inside, outlining his concentrated profile.

His usually charming eyes looked particularly deep beneath the shadows.

May found herself growing uncomfortable and looked away.

She couldn’t explain why.

Compared with Ray’s direct, overwhelming presence, Ace’s quiet gentleness somehow made her even more nervous.

"This part may sting. Bear with it."

Ace’s voice was soft.

He picked up a cotton swab soaked in medicine and began cleaning the wound.

The moment the cool solution touched her injured skin, May sucked in a sharp breath and instinctively tried to pull her leg back.

A warm hand gently settled against her lower leg, stopping her retreat.

"Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon."

The man’s palm was warm, and even through the layer of fabric, that heat continued to seep steadily into her skin.

May bit her lip and forced herself to remain still.

Just then—

Clang!

The truck seemed to roll over some enormous obstacle. The entire vehicle lurched upward before crashing heavily back onto the road.

The jolt came without warning.

Ace, who had been crouching in front of May, lost his balance and pitched forward.

The hand he’d been resting on her lower leg slipped out of control, sliding upward along the smooth fabric.

His warm palm, the slight roughness of his fingertips brushing against her skin, moved from her calf toward the back of her knee.