First, then, love.

He Zheng's kisses rained down on them, without any buffer or warning.

The man's rough lips pressed heavily against hers, dry from years of exposure to wind and sun, like a storm that robbed Shu Yao of the last bit of oxygen from her lungs.

The champagne-colored silk nightgown was roughly crumpled.

The cool air had just touched her large expanse of fair skin when, in the next second, it was pressed tightly against the man's burning hot palm.

He Zheng's body temperature was too high, like a blazing furnace.

His eyes were incredibly deep, and his strong arms held her tightly, the contours of his muscles rising and falling with his heavy breathing, bringing waves of intense pressure.

"Well……"

Shu Yao was so dizzy from the kiss that she couldn't move, her hands were held tightly in his arms with one hand.

She could only let out broken whimpers, like a small animal pinned down by a wild beast.

The man's gentleness penetrated deeply, soothing every corner of her heart, greedily absorbing her essence.

The sound of a heartbeat was amplified infinitely in the quiet master bedroom, intense and scalding, making one blush.

He Zheng kissed her fiercely, but his actions were surprisingly restrained.

He did not directly break through her last line of defense.

His free right hand gently stroked down her long hair.

My palms were covered in calluses from shooting ranges and mud pits, thick and hard, and the area between my thumb and forefinger was as rough as sandpaper.

She was pampered since childhood, and her skin was as delicate as a piece of fine mutton fat jade. Even a slight bump would make her blush for half a day.

Rough palms brushed against delicate cheeks.

A stark contrast.

Shu Yao shuddered violently, her nose stung, and she broke out in goosebumps.

The sensation was so unfamiliar, so stimulating.

"cold?"

He Zheng noticed her trembling and stopped moving.

He stepped back slightly, his thin lips brushing against the tip of her nose, his voice hoarse and irritating.

"It's not cold..."

Shu Yao was panting, her peach blossom eyes were misty, and the corners of her eyes were flushed with emotion.

Outside the window, the cold autumn wind howled like a knife across the glass curtain wall, making a piercing sound as it pounded against the windowpane.

Inside, the air conditioning was set to 26 degrees Celsius, making it warm and cozy.

The air was filled with the scent of evening breeze, mint, and tuberose, so strong it was almost overwhelming.

"That means they're afraid."

He Zheng stared at her, his dark eyes surging with undisguised deep affection, like two dark flames.

He loosened his grip on her hands.

His thick arms supported her at her sides, the veins on the back of his hands bulging like gnarled tree roots.

He was enduring it, his whole body trembling.

After two months of sharing a bed, plus the four days and four nights of life-or-death ordeal, the love in his heart had long since burned to the top of his head.

He longed to hold her tightly in his arms right now, to embrace her fiercely, and to let her be completely imbued with his, He Zheng's, scent.

But he can't.

The woman in my arms is stubborn and has a bad temper, but deep down she's quite spoiled.

He was afraid that his roughness would frighten or hurt her.

He Zheng took a deep breath, the strong scent of tuberose hitting his head.

He lowered his head and began to kiss the corner of her eye.

He gently kissed away the tears she had shed from her distress and fear.

The movements were clumsy and awkward, yet they conveyed a cautious and devout feeling.

"Shu Yao, look at me."

His voice was low and hoarse, with a soothing tone.

Shu Yao opened her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like two small brushes, scratching at He Zheng's heart.

She saw the dense beads of sweat on his forehead, his clenched back teeth, and his white gauze.

The edges of the gauze faintly revealed a hint of dark red.

Shu Yao's heart softened suddenly, feeling a bittersweet ache.

She slowly raised her hand.

Her fair, slender arms climbed onto the man's broad, strong shoulders.

Her fingers ran through his stubble-like short hair, gently stroking the scalp at the back of his head.

This is a gesture of acceptance, and also a signal of invitation.

The fire in He Zheng's eyes blazed brightly in an instant.

"Hold."

He cursed under his breath, his voice completely hoarse.

At this moment, the strings of reason completely collapsed.

He hugged her tighter again and sealed her lips with his once more.

This time, the kiss was deeper and more passionate.

Their breaths mingled, the scalding heat meeting the slight coolness.

Shu Yao gasped, her fingers gripping the gray cotton sheet beneath her so tightly that her knuckles turned white from the force.

too close.

It was incredibly imposing and incredibly hot, as hot as a red-hot iron.

Qiaoqiao's words had long been forgotten; this wasn't just unacceptable, it was downright deadly.

"He Zheng..."

Her voice trembled, tinged with an instinctive fear.

"I'm afraid..."

This soft plea for mercy struck a nerve with He Zheng.

His movements suddenly froze.

The arrow was on the bowstring, ready to be released, but he abruptly pressed the pause button.

The feeling of being forced to brake is a hundred times worse than being shot on the battlefield.

The veins on his forehead throbbed, and large beads of sweat streamed down his face.

It hit Shu Yao's fair collarbone, burning her so much that she flinched.

"Don't be afraid."

He Zheng gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently, his breathing heavy like that of a wild beast.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, eyebrows, and the tip of her nose.

"Honey, I'll be gentle."

With utmost patience, his fingers began to run through her hair.

Light the fire, soothe, relax.

His hands were so rough that every inch of skin he touched sent shivers down my spine.

After Shu Yao's defenses collapsed, her body became unusually sensitive.

Like a stranded fish, she gasped helplessly and trembled under He Zheng's gaze.

A blush of rosy pink rose on her fair skin, like that of a ripe peach.

Her eyes were bloodshot at the corners, and her peach blossom eyes were glistening with moisture, exuding a seductive charm.

"Relax, honey, be good."

He Zheng kissed her earlobe while coaxing her in a hoarse voice.

He usually finds it annoying to say even a single extra word, but now he whispers in her ear over and over again.

A man's scent, a man's voice, a man's warmth.

Like an impenetrable net, it completely captured her.

Shu Yao's defenses completely crumbled with each low, hoarse "wife".

She closed her eyes, bit her lower lip, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

He Zheng's breathing suddenly tightened.

He braced himself with one hand beside her and adjusted his posture.

The shoulder muscles tensed instantly, their clearly defined lines contracting, revealing a terrifying explosive power.

He clenched his teeth, suppressing the savage instincts within him.

Slowly, tentatively.

near.

"what!"

Shu Yao let out a short, soft gasp.

Tears welled up instantly, sliding down her cheeks and into her hair.

trembling.

A tremor like being electrocuted.

The heat was completely beyond her capacity to bear; it was like a raging fire that burned through her heart.

She gripped He Zheng's arm tightly with both hands, her nails digging deep into his hard muscles.

Several bloody marks were left.

She cried out to him, her voice trembling with sobs and resistance, her body instinctively shrinking back.