His slick tongue invaded a place he had never thought he would have access to enter. Every corner wasn't left untouched, every taste was savored. Like a hungry beast that finally got served his most awaited prey and dinner, he devoured every last bit.
Never in his entire life, had he thought that he'd see himself kissing another woman except for his destined partner. If he would tell the young Azer that a day would come he'd be worshipping the lips of another woman, he probably would push aside the thought and condemn him for being unfaithful.
He won't regret kissing Amara. Although a big part of him was wishfully thinking that it was her. His lost mate. Hidden from his naked sight by an unknown and unexplainable reason. But if the time would come that his fated partner was revealed, and she wouldn't be the one, he'd resent the goddess, but he would still abide.
Even now that he was basking in the blissful feeling of having her in his arms, he knew he wouldn't be able to resist his destiny. Wolves are born like that. They live and die for the only one created for them.
Satiating his own desire, and leading her to a track where the finish line was unseen, was a very awful thing to do. Yet he couldn't force himself to pull away, rather, his hand that held her back pulled her closer and he rejoiced at the heat from her palms touching his chest.
He's gone mad. He gave up struggling and fighting the principles of his kin. He broke the rules and caved in. For this woman.
Azer's aggressive conquering was halted by balls of fists rapidly punching his chest weakly. Only then did he realize that the wonderful woman in his arms was almost blue. He pulled an inch away from her lips and like a drowning person who was finally pulled out of the water, Amara gasped in the air as though her life almost didn't make it.
She glared at Azer, still panting like crazy. Azer then stood frigid, looking at the eyes of someone ready to commit murder.
Embarrassment left her system as without a second thought, she grabbed his lips with all of her fingers, like someone picking food with their hand, and squeezed them as though she was squeezing a lime.
"Mph."
"Y-You almost killed me!"
Azer's pouty lips, still caught by her fingers, forced to a smirk. He looked amused. His hand at the back of her head gently caressed her hair, and he simply accepted the lip assault. Shameless might sound, but even just her dainty fingers touching his lips aroused him already.
If he opened his mouth and licked those slender candle-shaped digits, a slap would probably land on his face.
For now, that passionate kiss would do.
Amara felt the heat rushing in her face after the silence reigned when Azer didn't reply but instead stared at her. What happened had just finally sunk in on her. Like a moth scorched from the heat of the flame, she took her back in haste and averted her eyes.
Unfortunately, Azer had no intention of letting what occurred just a passing mistake. Ever since he had met her, he was already captivated by her. Always searching for her shadows, always thinking of her.
At first, he believed it was only out of pity, for witnessing the horrors she had experienced, but as time passed, he noticed it wasn't just like that. He had never harbored romantic feelings toward the opposite sex because he always waited, but he wasn't naïve.
He knew that it wasn't pity. It was never a pity.
He was enticed. Mesmerized. Enchanted.
He grabbed her chin and turned her head towards him. But the stubborn woman's eyes only moved lower. Her long and curled eyelashes fluttered like feathers blown by a soft wind, and her hand on his face finally fell on the table to support her balance.
His lips, which were finally freed from their captor, stretched into a wicked grin. He moved even closer and whispered in a deadly voice, "If you don't look at me, these insolent rims will sharpen those swollen edges of yours again."
"…what?"
"You don't understand me, huh."
"Speak normally."
Azer chuckled, he gently bumped his forehead into hers and continued, "Don't avoid me. Look at me. See this face craving for your enchanting gaze."
Amara jerked at his words. The hand that lifted her chin was so gentle and light. From her view, she could peek from the neckline of his shirt, as some buttons were undone. She had a better view and was reluctant to lift her gaze, but his voice sounded like nails hammering her conscience.
With her flushed face, she looked at him directly once more. The grin widened and his grey eyes sparkled.
"Let's talk properly."
Amara slowly nodded. They weren't kids anymore, what they did required responsibility. Or was it? What if Azer was used to casual physical relationships and kissing was just like strolling on the street to him?
Right then, she realized how little she knew about him. She only knew he was a baker; he was good at baking and cooking, he had a good figure, and, a serial kisser.
Her pupils trembled after recalling what happened between them a few minutes ago. She cleared her throat and pretended like some bugs entered her eyes that she blinked them rapidly.
"Don't think of getting away from this," Azer spoke again. He glared at her, thinking that the sudden cheeky play of her eyes was her way of casting aside what they shared like she was forcefully erasing the memory from her mind.
Amara stopped acting and answered his gaze, "…what should I do then?"
"Take responsibility," Azer answered shamelessly.
Amara gaped at him, "I'm the one who must take responsibility here…? Y-You're the one who almost killed me!"
Azer's eyes narrowed, "I'm not talking about who attempted raunchy murder here. It was my first kiss, take responsibility."
A few minutes of silence reigned inside that dimly lit room. The silence was chilling and disbelief wafted through the air. It entered her nose and almost choked her, crept up to her eyes, and made them bulge like the eyes of a fish long caught out of the water.
"And Amara, you won't die from a very intense kiss. If you want proof, I can go again."
Amara blinked and slowly leaned back her head until her neck hurt. He raised his eyebrows at her action, but his hand that had been staying behind her head only slid down to her nape and supported her.
Due to her movement, her long and slender neck stretched and exposed her bare neckline and collarbones. Azer clicked his tongue and fought the urge to dive down and lick that pale and soft skin.
He swallowed first before speaking again, "I won't attack you. At least for now, until we cleared things out. So, talk to me. Or, if you didn't like it, just straight up kick my hips and push me aside, then snatch my shoes and walk away. You can give me a middle finger if you want."
Amara listened. A small smile broke into her lips from his monologue. Who knew Azer could be so talkative? Her first impression of him was entirely different.
"But if you liked it, and you want more kisses, then, with me…give me the spot next to you. The one who can touch you like this, look at you like this. Allow me to be that person. Only me, alone."
The drumming of her heart tripled. Like an orchestra that lost its tempo, it went on its own beat, rapidly increasing and increasing without any warning. A heart attack was coming, but Amara knew that nothing could defend her heart anymore against him.
She was already lost. From the moment she admitted her feelings. Even if she didn't hear the exact words of affection from him, she wanted to believe that what they had was mutual. As the saying goes, sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
She doesn't want to become greedy and demanding.
She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, when she let go, she opened her eyes again. Those brightly lit grey eyes glistened like prisms passed by light – they broke into bands of colors, split into many shades, and painted her dull and monochromatic life livelier than ever.
It hadn't been long since she got betrayed, tossed, harmed, and broken by a man, yet she was too stubborn. She let another within her walls, she placed her bet on his flowery words and intense gazes, and she gambled her heart once more.
Now, as she nodded slowly, cupped his cheeks, and gave him her most precious smile, showing resignation and acceptance within her eyes, she was praying to the gods above – 'let this man be with me until the end of my lifetime'.