Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Then How About Taking It All Off?

"Hurry, hurry! My heart’s been acting up lately. It’s the perfect chance to get it checked out, and it’s free!"

"And we can get free medicine, too."

The factory workers swarmed out.

Cole locked the factory gate and pointed at Claire Kendall. "You, get out of here. Don’t get in the way!"

Claire Kendall had no choice but to follow the crowd out.

A large crowd had gathered at the village entrance where a bus was parked. A banner was hanging on its side.

Aethel General Hospital Free Clinic Team.

Claire Kendall froze.

She remembered Miles Warren’s message from that morning.

’A free clinic?’

’It couldn’t be such a coincidence, could it?’

Her heart pounding, Claire Kendall lifted her gaze.

Beside a makeshift table, a familiar figure in a white coat was examining the villagers.

Miles Warren’s eyes were slightly lowered, his gaze focused. Suddenly, he looked up.

Amid the clamor of rustic accents, their eyes met unexpectedly.

Feeling a little guilty, Claire Kendall bit her lip.

She had promised him she wouldn’t come to Wexall Village, thinking she wouldn’t get caught if she made it a same-day trip.

Just five hours ago, on the road, she had sworn up and down she wouldn’t. But now...

She flashed a placating smile, blinked, and remained on the edge of the crowd, not approaching right away.

Miles Warren’s eyes darkened. He looked away and continued his consultation.

Rosalind Linden was there too, helping distribute medicine with a gentle smile. The two of them worked together in perfect sync.

When she saw Claire, the corners of her lips curved up. Rosalind Linden immediately moved closer to Miles Warren.

"Miles, for patients over sixty, should the dosage for this medicine be halved?"

Claire Kendall spotted Cole in the crowd, queuing up for medicine.

Seizing the opportunity, she hurried over.

"Mayor," she began softly, trying to explain, "there might have been a misunderstanding just now. I’m not here from Sinclair Group to discuss an acquisition. I’m a designer under Sinclair Group, here to help the factory..."

"A designer? Since when are the Sinclairs so kind-hearted!"

Cole stormed out of the line in a rage and shoved Claire Kendall hard.

"You people never speak a word of truth!"

Caught off guard, Claire Kendall lost her balance and fell to the ground.

Her already injured arm scraped harshly against the ground, and a patch of bright red slowly bloomed on the gauze.

Cole’s tone was a little panicked. "You... you’re trying to frame me! Let me tell you, that trick won’t work."

A sharp pain shot up her arm, leaving Claire Kendall speechless.

A figure immediately cut through the crowd and strode over.

"Don’t move." Miles Warren steadied her and quickly examined her arm. "The wound has reopened. It needs to be redressed."

Cole said guiltily, "Dr. Warren, I didn’t know the girl was injured. I... I didn’t do it on purpose..."

Miles Warren said nothing, his full attention on Claire Kendall.

The sky suddenly darkened. After a few deep rumbles of thunder, fat raindrops began to fall.

"It’s raining! Hurry back and bring in the harvest!"

"The village committee office is close. Doctors, go there to take shelter from the rain."

The downpour intensified, drenching everyone to the bone in an instant. The dirt road turned to mud.

The dozen or so doctors were settled into a row of dilapidated single-story houses.

Cole’s wary, uneasy gaze landed on Claire Kendall, his brow furrowed tightly. "There are no more rooms. You..."

He looked around, his eyes finally settling on Miles Warren. "Dr. Warren, can she make do with you for a night?"

Rosalind Linden stepped forward and said gently, "Cole, why don’t you let me stay with Ms. Kendall? We’re both women, so it would be more convenient."

"No!" Cole refused flatly. "She’s from the Sinclair Group. Who knows what crooked ideas she’s cooking up? Dr. Warren needs to keep a close eye on her. Don’t let her run wild in the village!"

"And you, girl, don’t be picky. If it weren’t for the heavy rain and the washed-out road, the village wouldn’t be taking in anyone from the Sinclair Group."

Claire Kendall nodded like a little deer, readily accepting the arrangement.

"Then I’ll listen to Mayor Cole. I’ll be good and stay with Dr. Warren the whole time..."

She looked at the man beside her. "I promise I won’t run off anywhere."

The wooden door closed, shutting out the noise from outside.

The space was small, containing only a simple wooden plank bed and an old table. The air was filled with the earthy smell of rain.

"Dr. Warren..." Claire Kendall tugged on the corner of his shirt, giving it a little shake. "Are you mad?"

"If I said I came here specifically to ’run into’ you, would you believe me?"

She deliberately pronounced the words "run into" softly and sweetly, in a wheedling tone.

Miles Warren finally looked up, his dark eyes locking onto her, swirling with anger and a hint of something deeper.

"Claire Kendall, do you have any idea how dangerous this is?"

"I know I was wrong..." Claire Kendall admitted her mistake at once, lowering her head to reveal the pale, delicate nape of her neck. Her voice grew even softer.

"I won’t do it again. Please don’t be mad, okay?"

"My arm really hurts..."

’It didn’t actually hurt that much, but she knew this tactic would work.’

Her voice, half-genuine and half-feigned, was laced with a wronged, tearful tone.

Miles Warren’s expression softened. He picked up the medical kit, squatted by the bed, and reached out to support Claire Kendall’s injured arm.

"Give it to me," he commanded.

Claire Kendall obediently held it out. As her fingers touched his warm palm, she instinctively flinched back.

"What are you flinching for?"

The tips of her ears grew hot. "How about I do it myself? I’m afraid of the pain."

Miles Warren looked up and stared at her. "You’re going to wrap your right arm with your left hand? You have that kind of skill?"

"Then... be gentle." Her voice was so sweet it could melt.

’Like a feather, it tickled the tip of his heart...’

Miles Warren gave her no more chances to shy away. He gripped her wrist and held it steady in his palm.

’This distance... it was too close.’

Claire Kendall could even feel his heavy breathing.

"Brace yourself," he said in a low voice, using scissors to cut through the blood-soaked gauze.

With every bit he peeled away, a tremor of pain shot through Claire Kendall. She bit her lower lip but still couldn’t stifle a soft groan.

’This time, it really hurt.’

Miles Warren paused. Seeing her biting her lip so hard, tears welling in her eyes but not falling, he made his movements even gentler as he applied the medicine and carefully re-bandaged the wound.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Claire Kendall looked down at her soaked knit sweater and pulled it right off.

Her white undershirt clung to her body, outlining her slender waist and graceful curves.

She looked at the man, her expression matter-of-fact.

"It’s wet. I’ll catch a cold if I leave it on, and it could lead to an infection."

Miles Warren quickly averted his gaze, but she didn’t miss his fleeting look of flustered awkwardness.

’Even if an iceberg is solid, if you chip away at it enough, it’s bound to melt...’

The next second, a dry shirt was draped over her shoulders, carrying his crisp, clean scent.

It was the shirt he had been wearing underneath.

Miles Warren was now wearing only his jacket, which he hadn’t had time to zip up. His wheat-colored skin, his firm chest, and further down...

"Like what you see?"

"Mhm," Claire Kendall made no effort to hide her admiration. "It’s a great view. So, Dr. Warren, how about you take it all off...?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!