The doctor set down his bag and reached toward my leg, voice calm and professional.
"Let me have a look at the burn site on your thigh and feet, right?"
Before I could even respond
"She's fine."
Taehyun's voice cut in, low and sharp.
The doctor blinked, confused. "I understand, but I still need to check for blisters"
"I said she's fine."
His arm came in front of me protectively, blocking the view like I was made of gold and moonlight.
I stared at him, half in awe, half in horror.
"Taehyun" I whispered.
But he stood firm, dead serious. "You've already seen enough. I cooled it down, cleaned the skin, and applied aloe. Her skin's sensitive. She doesn't need anyone else touching it."
The doctor blinked. "I'm literally a doctor."
"And I'm literally her husband."
There it was — possessive, protective, territorial Professor Kim.
Fully unleashed.
"She's shy," he added with a pointed look. "And she doesn't like strangers touching her. Especially not there."
My soul left my body.
"Taehyun!!"
The doctor rubbed his temple. "Fine. I'll just check the foot, alright? The foot?"
Taehyun crossed his arms. "Only the foot."
Later that evening…
Jimin called, just to "check in."
And of course, the doctor couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"You should've seen him, Jimin. He looked ready to kill me just because I asked to examine her thigh. Like I was some kind of pervert."
On the other end of the line, Jimin howled with laughter.
"You're telling me he played nurse husband and guarded her leg like a knight protecting royal treasure?"
"Exactly!"
"I'm not surprised," Jimin chuckled. "That man won't even let me look at her wristwatch if she's wearing it."
Taehyun, sitting next to me on the couch, huffed.
"I don't like people eyeing what's mine."
"Yah, you make it sound like I'm a necklace!" I muttered.
He turned to me, eyes soft but wicked. "You're far more precious than that."
I nearly choked on my juice.
"Stop flirting in front of me!" Jimin yelled on speaker.
I sat on the edge of the bed, gown pulled up just enough for the old lady to reach the burnt area. My cheeks were already warm from embarrassment.
She came in holding the soothing gel and the prescribed cream the doctor left behind.
"Let me help, dear," she said gently, kneeling slowly.
Before I could even respond, I heard his voice behind me—firm and possessive.
"No need."
I turned my head, startled. "Taehyun?"
He was already walking toward us, sleeves rolled up, jaw tight, and that unreadable look in his eyes.
"Give it to me, halmeoni. I'll do it."
The old lady chuckled softly. "Such a lovesick husband…" She handed him the items without question and left the room with a smirk that made me want to vanish into thin air.
I swallowed hard.
He sat down in front of me on the carpet, between my knees. Calm. Focused.
Like we were talking about the weather.
"Taehyun, I... I can do it"
"You'll spill half the bottle again," he murmured without looking at me, opening the gel. "Sit still."
I tensed the moment his fingers touched my skin.
His hand, cool from the bottle, slid carefully along the burned area of my thigh soft, delicate, but firm.
I shivered. Not from pain.
From him.
We'd never been this close.
Not like this.
Not this… exposed.
His fingers moved with almost too much gentleness, as if afraid I'd break. His eyes stayed low, not meeting mine.
"Does it hurt?" he asked quietly.
"No," I whispered. "It's just… cold."
He nodded once.
I dared to glance down and instantly regretted it.
His lashes were long, casting shadows on his cheek. His lips were slightly parted, breath soft as he concentrated.
I clenched the bedsheet in my fists.
Why am I reacting like this?
He's just applying medicine.
But the way he touched me… like I was fragile.
Like this wasn't just skin.
Like this was his.
When he finally looked up, his eyes locked with mine and something shifted.
Heat.
Unspoken words.
Unspoken wants.
I instantly looked away, heart pounding.
"Thank you," I muttered.
His smirk was subtle. Dangerous.
"You should get hurt more often."
"YAH!!!" I smacked his arm with the pillow.
"Not seriously," he laughed, catching my wrist, eyes twinkling. "Just enough to keep you this shy."
"Professor Kim, you are shameless"
"And you're mine," he said softly, pressing his lips to my knee before standing up and walking away like he didn't just set my soul on fire.