"I will read," Naomi finally spoke, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. She opened the book cover, repeating the title softly, even though she had already done so before. Her heart raced as she began to read aloud, but for some reason, her voice wavered. She wasn't sure why she was struggling with the words; it wasn't that the text was difficult.
Zylan, lounging across from her, smirked. "Did you attend school, or do you simply not know how to read?"
Naomi's eyes widened in shock at the insult. His words were sharp, biting even, and yet there was a teasing undertone that unsettled her more than the insult itself. Was he deliberately trying to provoke her? The problem wasn't that she couldn't read, but something else entirely—something about his presence that made it hard for her to focus.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned to face him. "I did," she replied, her voice firmer now. She wouldn't let him rattle her.
"Watch me," Naomi read, her cheeks flushing as she continued the passage. She tried not to think about how close Zylan was, or how his gaze seemed to burn into her. "Princess Elle's gaze was unwavering as she stared up at him. Without hesitation, she reached out and pulled down his—"
Determined to ignore the way he looked at her, Naomi forced herself to refocus on the book. As she continued, her voice grew stronger, gaining confidence with each line.
she read aloud. But as she went on, the confidence she thought she had began to drain away.
Naomi took a deep, slow breath, trying to steady herself.
Naomi's voice faltered, her throat suddenly dry. Heat crawled up her neck, and she could feel her face turning an even deeper shade of red. 'How could someone write such a thing' She thought, horrified. Her eyes darted quickly to Zylan, only to find him smirking, his eyes locked on her, enjoying her discomfort.
Naomi read, her cheeks tinged pink as she continued the tale, heat creeping up her neck. She glanced at Zylan quickly, unable to meet his eyes. His smirk grew wider, his gaze intense.
"His... his..." she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to get the words out. Her mind raced, trying to push through the scene, but her voice betrayed her.
Zylan's voice broke through her thoughts, low and taunting. "I didn't quite catch that," he said, his tone playful, clearly reveling in her embarrassment. "Could you repeat the last part?"
Naomi's jaw dropped slightly in disbelief. He was definitely enjoying this—her hesitation, her flustered state. She clenched the book tightly, as if gripping it harder would somehow give her the courage to ignore him. His devilish smile only grew wider, his amusement clear.
'He's playing with me,' she thought, clearly annoyed by his smug expression. She wasn't about to let him win this. She raised her chin slightly, her voice growing firmer.
This all began because she wanted to read a book, and now she was facing the consequences.
"I wasn't told to repeat the story," she said, her tone defiant. "So you'll need to listen attentively. I'm not going back." There was no apology in her voice—she wasn't sorry, not in the slightest.
She resumed reading, her heart still racing, but her resolve stronger. She would get through this, no matter how embarrassing it was. Zylan's smirk remained, his eyes watching her every move. He seemed to be studying her, as if trying to figure out what made her tick. Why does he always have to look at me like that? she wondered, feeling her heart beating under his gaze.
"She licked her lips…as she stared at him," Naomi's voice wavered before she continued, "she circled her arm aro... around his... his..."Naomi paused again, her voice catching in her throat. She immediately snapped the book shut with a loud thud, unable to go any further. She didn't dare look at Zylan this time. She was certain he was still smirking, and the thought made her blood boil.
'This should be illegal,'.she thought, horrified by the words she'd just read aloud. Before she could stop herself, the thought escaped her lips. "This should be illegal."
Instantly, she regretted it. She could feel Zylan's gaze on her, his presence looming over her even though he hadn't moved an inch. And then, unexpectedly, he chuckled. But this time, it wasn't his usual dark, mocking laughter. There was something different in the sound—something almost lighthearted, though she couldn't quite place it.
At that moment, she didn't dare turn to face him. She was too flustered, too embarrassed, to ask what he found so amusing. But the soft sound of his laughter lingered in the air, making her heart pound even harder.
"S… stop laughing!" she finally blurted out, still not looking at him. "I… it's n… not funny!"
Zylan's voice was smooth, teasing as ever. "And why should I stop?"
Naomi finally snapped her head toward him, her frustration boiling over. She was still sitting on the bed, clutching the book to her chest like a shield. Zylan lay lazily beside her, his posture relaxed, but there was a glint in his eyes that suggested he wasn't as calm as he seemed.
As her gaze flicked from his face down to his body, her curiosity got the better of her. Her eyes briefly landed on his chest, tracing the broad expanse of his muscles before darting lower to his waist. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly looked away, her heart hammering in her chest.
'Oh, goodness,'she thought, her mind racing. 'What am I doing?'
Zylan's voice broke through her panicked thoughts. "What are you thinking?" he asked, his tone teasing, as if he already knew the answer.
"Nothing!" Naomi blurted out, her words coming out faster than she intended.
"If you want to sleep with me, all you have to do is say it," Zylan said, his smirk returning full force.
Naomi's eyes widened in shock. "You... we are not married yet!" she protested, her voice rising slightly in pitch. "You shouldn't be saying such things!"
Zylan laughed, clearly amused by her reaction. "It doesn't matter," he replied casually. "No one follows those rules these days."
"I do!" Naomi declared, her voice firm and louder than she expected. She glared at him, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her breathing. She wasn't about to let him dismiss her values so easily.
Zylan's pupils dilated slightly as he stared at her. He hadn't expected her to take this so seriously. For a moment, his smirk faltered, replaced by something that almost looked like surprise.
Naomi, still flushed with embarrassment, decided to change the subject. "Please, I'll just read one chapter, and then you can go," she said, her voice shaky but determined. "It's already getting late." She opened the book again, ready to push through the discomfort and finish what she started.
But just as she was about to continue, Zylan shifted beside her. Without warning, he rested his head on her lap, his closeness sending a jolt of electricity through her body. Her breath hitched, and every coherent thought vanished from her mind.
"W… what are… are you doing?" Naomi stammered, her voice barely a whisper as she looked down at him.
Zylan smirked up at her, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You said you weren't repeating any words," he murmured, his voice low and smooth. "I'll listen attentively when I'm this close."
His voice was low and smooth, his head still resting comfortably on her lap.
Naomi's thoughts spiraled as she began to reconsider everything. Was it really so wrong if she chose to sleep with him? She tried to convince herself that he meant it literally—just sleep, nothing more. After all, he couldn't be serious about anything else… right?
"I… I will sleep with you," she blurted out, her voice shaky but with an edge of determination.