A Moment of Tenderness

Emily gently washed the dirt and grime from Will's face, the cool cloth soothing his battered skin. As she rubbed the cloth in his face, he looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He stared at her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Stop that," Emily said, her voice firm but playful. Will's face turned innocent, his eyebrows rising in mock confusion. "Stop what?" Emily glared at him, her eyes narrowing. "You know exactly what I'm talking about." Will chuckled, his hands going up in surrender. "I have no idea what you're referring to, my dear nurse." Emily rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Don't play dumb with me, Will." As she continued to tend to his wounds, Emily couldn't help but ask, "Why me, Will? Why did you fall for me? I'm barely a woman, I'm always covered in dirt, and I don't exactly have a rich family or wear pretty dresses." Will's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze warm and genuine. "That's exactly why I like you, Emily. You're independent and strong-willed. I don't see many girls like that these days. You're not afraid to get your hands dirty, and you're not looking for a man to take care of you." Emily's face softened, her heart skipping a beat as she looked into his eyes. She felt a flutter in her chest, and before she knew it, Will's face was inches from hers. Their lips met in a gentle kiss, the tension between them palpable. But as the kiss deepened, Emily pulled away, her breath coming in short gasps. Will's eyes teased her, a playful glint in their depths. "You look flustered, Emily." Emily's face flushed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Shut up, Will." But Will just chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm just saying, you're not as immune to me as you pretend to be." Emily's glare only made him laugh harder, and for a moment, the war and the danger and the uncertainty all faded away. All that was left was the two of them, lost in the moment, and the spark of attraction that seemed to grow stronger with every passing day.