Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 202

But as soon as Sean imagined what Brian might have done to her in that room, the thought made those slightly flushed lips of hers hard to ignore.

He frowned slightly, but it was fleeting. The emotion that had slipped out was quickly reined back in.

"Come here," he commanded, his voice deeper than usual.

Claire felt a twinge of nervousness, but she couldn't bring herself to resist. So, obediently, she walked over and sat quietly on the bed.

Sean dipped a cotton swab into the ointment, ready to apply it. However, he was momentarily distracted by the delicate fragrance wafting from her.

For a moment, his fingertips hovered above Claire’s swollen cheekbone, hesitating to touch down.

The steam from her recent shower still clung to her eyelashes, crystallizing into tiny droplets that shimmered with her uneasy tremble.

"Mr. Foster, is something wrong?" Claire asked, surprised.

"It might sting a little," he said, his voice rough and low, his Adam’s apple moving in the shadows. "Try to bear with it."

He leaned in closer to Claire’s face.

The ointment was cool against her skin, not as painful as she had feared.

His expression was intensely focused, his handsome face so close that Claire could see every detail.

Her heart raced suddenly, and she nervously clutched the edge of her robe, her eyes fixed on Sean's prominent nose, afraid to move.

The faint scent of his shampoo mixed with the smell of tobacco lingered at her nose, and his warm breath lightly brushed her neck, making her cheeks blush involuntarily.

Noticing her embarrassment, Sean raised an eyebrow ever so slightly and deliberately leaned in closer, his warm breath teasing her neck.

The ticklish sensation made her shiver gently.

Sean observed her reaction and looked up, "Does it hurt?"

"No, no, it doesn’t," Claire replied, her gaze darting away, feeling like she might suffocate.

"I'll be gentle, just hang in there. It’ll be over soon."

"..."

After finishing with the ointment, Claire thought they were done.

But to her surprise, he even helped dry her hair.

At twenty-three, Claire had never been cared for so attentively.

Mr. Foster and Grandma had been so good to her; if she ever had the chance, she promised herself she would repay them with everything she had.

Lost in these thoughts, she was startled when Sean gently pushed her back onto the bed.

Claire's eyes widened, "Mr. Foster... this isn’t quite right, I—I’m not ready..."

Sean tucked her in, "Hmm? What do you need to be ready for?"