Chapter 245 A Last Resort
James's jaw tightened. "We've been over this, Ms. Brown. It was a medical necessity." He had to set the record straight. He wouldn't have her twisting the story and ruining his reputation.
Harmony rolled her eyes, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Relax, James. I'm not angry."
He set her down gently and began patting his pockets, searching for his silver needles. Acupuncture would be the most effective way to draw out the venom without direct contact.
"Easy for you to say," he muttered, his frustration growing. "You're not the one who might be branded a pervert."
Harmony's eyebrows shot up. "What's that supposed to mean? As if it would be such a hardship to be linked with me. I'm gorgeous! I have men lining up from here to Lindwood City!"
"Yes, yes, you're a goddess descended from heaven," James said, rolling his eyes. "I'm just a mere mortal, unworthy of your divine presence."
His dismissive tone stung more than she cared to admit. "Well, I wouldn't want you anyway," she retorted, her voice sharper than intended.
Unfortunately, her emotional outburst sent a jolt through her system, accelerating the venom's spread. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she felt a tingling numbness creeping up her leg.
James noticed her change in demeanor immediately. "Easy there, Ms. Brown. Getting worked up will only make things worse."
Harmony lay back on the grass, nodding weakly. She could feel something was wrong, but James's presence had a calming effect. Despite the unorthodox circumstances, she knew she was in good hands.
A strange sense of intimacy settled over her. She had never been so vulnerable in front of anyone, let alone a man. And yet, she felt strangely safe with James.
He continued his frantic search, his heart sinking with each passing second. "Damn it!" he cursed, slapping his forehead. "I left my kit at the venue!"
"What do we do now?" Harmony's voice was barely a whisper, her body growing heavy.
James's mind raced. They were too far from the venue, and time was running out. Going to a hospital was out of the question – not in her current state, not with her reputation at stake.
There was only one option left, a last resort he had hoped to avoid.
"We're going to have to go old school," he said, his voice strained.
Harmony, despite her fading consciousness, understood immediately. A blush crept up her neck, staining her cheeks a delicate pink.
"What… what does that entail?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
James cleared his throat, trying to maintain a professional demeanor despite the awkwardness of the situation. "Without my needles, and with no other tools available, I'll have to manually extract the venom from the bite." He met her gaze, his expression serious. "I need you to take off your pants."
Harmony gasped, her eyes widening. Her heart pounded against her ribs, a mixture of fear and a strange, unfamiliar excitement.
Seeing her reaction, James quickly added, "Don't worry, it's purely medical. I just need to see the wound. And try to stay calm. Panicking will only make the venom spread faster."
Easier said than done, she thought, her mind spinning. How could she possibly stay calm? She was about to expose herself to him!
"Close… close your eyes," she stammered, her cheeks burning.
James, relieved that she hadn't flat-out refused, quickly obliged. He was anxious, his own heart racing. He could feel the urgency of the situation, could sense the venom spreading through her system with each passing second.
"Are you ready?" he asked after a moment, his voice hushed.
"Yes," she breathed, the word barely escaping her lips.
He opened his eyes, and his breath hitched. Even in this compromising position, her beauty was undeniable. But the sight of the wound, now a dark, angry purple, banished any inappropriate thoughts. The venom had spread further than he'd hoped.
His hands clenched into fists. He had no other choice.
"It's worse than I thought," he said, his voice grave. "The venom has spread quickly."
"Am I… am I going to be okay?" Harmony's voice trembled, a mixture of fear and something else he couldn't quite decipher.
James drew in a deep breath, steeling himself for what he had to do. "There's still a chance," he said, meeting her gaze. "But I need to extract as much venom as possible. I'll have to do it manually."
"Manually?" she echoed, her eyes widening.
He nodded, his jaw tight. "I'll have to… suck it out."
Silence descended between them, thick with unspoken tension. Harmony lay frozen, her gaze fixed on his face, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession.
"Go ahead," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, she arched her back slightly, offering him better access to the wound.
James felt a wave of heat surge through him, a mixture of adrenaline and something altogether more primal. This was an extreme test of his willpower!
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