And Ether, instead of feeling that bone chilling cold, only felt something warm blooming in her chest. She had momentarily been so captivated by the thought of Asterion and Vesta together, that she had kept everything aside.
"Yes, your high-" Ether lowered her head, embarrassed for losing her temper this way.
"Call me Asterion." Asterion demanded.
"Yes, Asterion." Ether said, biting her lower lip, frustrated at herself and embarrassed to face Asterion.
And all the anger Asterion had been feeling moments ago was gone, what replaced was a raw, carnal urge, ever so strong that Asterion never believed he had.
"Is this what you want, princess?" Asterion held Ether's chin, while bending a little himself.
Both he and Ether were now just an inch apart, their breaths mingling.
"Huh?" Ether was unable to understand why the prince was suddenly behaving this way.
"I was unaware that a princess is allowed to seduce her husband this way." Asterion said, his voice magnetic.
"Ast.. Asterion, what do you mean?" Ether breathed in sharply as Asterion moved even closer. She could literally hear the drumroll of her own heartbeat!
"I mean exactly what-" Asterion's other hand moved to the back of her neck.
He leaned in a bit more, their forehead's touching. Ether could already feel her vision clouding as her eyes were glistening, but she knew those weren't tears and she was definitely not disliking the feeling.
"-I said." Asterion exhaled as his thumb started making slow, sensual circles at the back of her neck, the feathery strokes giving her goosebumps all over.
The hand holding her chin slid up, cupping her right cheek, stroking her jawline in the process.
Ether was already lost, lost in those blue eyes which sucked the life out of her. His gaze, his touch, his wild breaths, his strokes, his proximity - she could feel the beast inside him ready to devour her, and she didn't want him to back down in the slightest, if anything she wanted more.
His finger slightly brushed past her ear, eliciting a deep-low moan from the pit of her stomach. Asterion felt his beast set free, as the hand holding her neck slipped ahead, leaving a trail of currents in its wake.
Asterion could no longer understand what he was doing, but one thing he knew was he was doing it right, and every little movement from Ether urged him to go ahead. He was no more controlling his actions, the beast inside him pushing all his limits.
Ether shut her eyes tightly, as both his hands held her face, cupping her cheeks with his rough yet gentle touch. A single tear rolled down her face, jolting awake Asterion from the beast he had let loose.
Asterion looked at those closed eyes, that petite face held in his long, slender fingers before his gaze landed on the tear stain on her dress.
'You are insane!!' He cursed himself before taking a deep breath and leaning ahead, giving Ether a soft forehead kiss.
He moved back, his hands retreating as well, grateful that he managed to control himself in time.
Ether, who was lost in her heaven, felt confused at the loss of warmth.
"What are you thinking, Princess?" She jerked open her eyes, only to find Asterion sitting at the other end of bed, his hands folded while an amused smile was pasted on his face.
"Aster.. Asterion.. you… I.. I didn't think anything. I was feeling a little sleepy. Hence I closed my eyes, nothing.. nothing else." Ether blushed.
"Hmmm. It's already very late now. Let's sleep." Asterion said before getting and going to his side of bed.
Ether, confused at his sudden mood shift as well as embarrassed from the earlier event decided it was best to sleep and forget everything for now. She lied down, closed her eyes, hoping to get a proper sleep before morning.
"Ether." Suddenly Asterion called out from the side.
"Hmmm." Ether said while turning to face him, a dim candle glow being the only source of light.
And surprisingly, Asterion moved towards her, kissing her forehead in the most gentle way ever possible.
"Have a good sleep, princess." Asterion said before shifting back.
This was the very first act of intimacy on their bed, something which left butterflies in Ether's stomach to keep her awake the whole night.
'Are you sure you wanted me to have a good sleep after that?' Ether thought, looking at his peacefully sleeping figure which she was deprived of.
'Asterion usually calls me Ether, but whenever he is happy, angry or teasing me - he calls me princess. Is this what people say about having a secret name between husband and wife?' Ether blushed at the thought itself.
'No but princess is my formal way of addressing as well. Stop getting the wrong signals Ether!' Her thoughts said.
And this way, Ether who was supposed to have a good sleep ended up arguing with herself the entire night, finally sleeping a little at early dawn.
"Princess, wake up." Asterion's raw yet gentle voice could be heard, but Ether simply turned to face the other side of bed.
"We have to cultivate, princess." Asterion shifted ahead while tapping her shoulder.
"Asrion, le me sheep." Ether mumbled in her sleepy state, only to make Asterion laugh at her childish voice.
"Okay, you 'Sheep', princess. I will wake you up after returning from the cultivation." Asterion tried to speak the same way, feeling this was the sweetest way he could have started his morning.
"Umm hmm." Ether mumbled again, before turning back and facing Asterion.
'Get ready, Princess. A lot will be happening today.' Asterion tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before unwillingly stepping out of the bed.
After cultivating for some time, he returned back to the chamber, only to find Ether still deep in her sleep.
"Get up, Princess." He tapped her shoulder again, to which Ether finally rubbed her eyes before opening.
"We don't have much time. I have something important to discuss with you." Asterion said.
Ether, who had barely slept for two hour, was already wide awake by now, knowing this was something serious.
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- Kizy