True Love Waits novel Chapter 1197

But it was too late. The glass fragment scratched Erica's hand. She cried out, "Ah!"

Blood oozed out from her finger.

Matthew grabbed her hand and walked her away from the broken glass.

But then, Erica stepped on the chocolate, slipped and fell back awkwardly. "Argh!"

Matthew pulled her up towards him, and Erica stumbled into his arms.

The kitchen floor was a complete mess.

Frowning, Matthew inspected Erica's hand. The cut was small, but the bleeding hadn't stopped.

"We should take care of that," he said, looking at the blood on her frail finger.

He swooped her up in his arms and strode out of the kitchen.

Surprised, Erica wrapped her hand around his neck and said, "Matthew, I can walk..." She only cut her finger. Her legs were still very much in working condition. There was no need for him to carry her.

The man glanced at her coldly. "Do you want to draw a chocolate map on the carpet?"

She looked at her chocolate-stained feet. 'Oh, right.' The living room was fully carpeted. She would create a mess of it if she walked through. 'Oh well, ' she thought, stealing a glance at the man.

He gently placed her on the sofa in the living room. Taking off her dirty shoes, he threw them into the trash can. "Wait here. I'll go get the medical kit."

"Okay." Erica casually placed her bleeding finger into her mouth and sucked on it.

Matthew grabbed her hand and scolded, "What are you doing?"

She gaped at him. "It hurts. If I suck on the wound, it would hurt less. Besides, sucking on it will disinfect the wound and stop the bleeding."

Matthew sighed. "Who told you that saliva stops bleeding?"

"It doesn't?" she asked, her eyes widening in question. She did this every time she hurt her fingers.

Matthew shook his head. "No, it doesn't. There's nothing in the saliva that could cure a wound or disinfect it. On the contrary, the moisture and the protease in the saliva would most likely slow down the clotting. Your ideas are not scientific at all."

Erica felt kind of stupid. But she stood her ground and said, "It doesn't matter. I do this all the time..."

He had to explain further. "Let me tell you something. I once read in 'The New England Journal of Medicine' that a man with diabetes hurt his finger while riding a bicycle. He sucked his thumb, hoping to stop the bleeding. As a result of that, he was infected with an oral bacteria called Eikenella Corrodens. Finally, they had to cut off his thumb to stop the infection."

Erica's mouth fell open. "No way! You are just exaggerating." But Matthew looked very serious. There was no trace of humor in his face.

"Well, if you don't believe me, continue to suck on the wound. If the cut is deep, you'll need tetanus shots. And if it's not properly handled, the wound will be infected, and if it becomes serious, you may have to cut off your finger as well."

Erica's eyes went wide in fear. It was just a small cut in her finger, and it only bled a little. Why was he threatening her with finger removal stories? She stammered, "Wh—what are you waiting for? Go and get some band aids!"

Matthew was satisfied with the fear in her eyes and went upstairs to get the medicine.

He was back in two minutes with the medical kit, and squatted in front of her.

He opened the kit and took out the disinfectant spray. The action reminded the two of them of the time when Erica had disinfected Watkins' wound at that very spot.

Erica didn't give it much thought. The memory just popped up, but she continued to watch Matthew disinfect her cut.

He, on the other hand, scowled at the thought. This woman couldn't even take proper care of herself. Why did she have to take care of another man?

After wrapping a band aid on her finger, Matthew put away the medicine box and asked her gently, "Does it still hurt?"

Erica nodded honestly, "A little." But it was nothing she couldn't handle.