Marisa flinched, her confidence draining as his lethal words struck like a bullet. Her fury, however, didn't abate; she cast a sharp, venomous glare at Rivana before turning on her heel and storming out, the rapid click of her heels echoing in the hall.
Azrael turned to Rivana, his jaw still clenched in frustration. He had thought she'd be safe within his territory—yet he had overlooked the rats lurking in its shadows, eager to get on his nerves.
His gaze softened as it settled on her, and with a small sigh, he murmured, "I'm sorry. This won't happen again."
The entire room fell silent, a collective gasp filling the air. Ronan's jaw nearly hit the floor. He tried to recall the last time Azrael had used the word sorry. Never! It had simply never happened before.
Rivana stared at him, her heart pounding so loud that she could barely think. She was used to blame, forced apologies, and solitude. No one had ever defended her like this—not even her mother. And yet this man had done it without a second thought. A warmth spread through her chest, the unfamiliar gesture moving her to tears.
"No… you don't have to be," she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.
Azrael sighed again before glancing over at George. The head butler blinked out of his own surprise and stepped forward, instantly understanding his task.
"This way, Ms. Faye," George said, guiding her toward the staircase. "The guest room has been prepared for you."
Azrael's brow furrowed at the old man's words. With a groan, he ran a hand through his hair. "Why would she stay in the guest room?" he muttered, visibly exasperated.
Both Rivana and George paused, turning to him in confusion.
"Par… Pardon, Master?" George stammered, puzzled.
"Why would my wife be staying in the guest room, George?" Azrael questioned in a calm tone, but his words baffled everyone again.
Rivana's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. The way he called her his wife, the allure in his voice—it was unexpectedly... intoxicating.
George's mouth fell open, but he quickly composed himself. Bowing, he replied, "My apologies, Master. I'll have Ms. Faye's things moved to your room immediately."
"It's Mrs. Dynar, George," Azrael corrected again.
A faint blush crept over Rivana's cheeks at the title. Yes, they were married, but it had all happened so suddenly that she needed time to absorb it.
But wait… Rivana suddenly realized something, her eyes widening in shock. Were they going to... stay in the same room?
'I will see you tonight.' Azrael's earlier comment hit like a thunderbolt, causing her body to tremor slightly in realization. The only clause in the contract flashed in her mind. They needed to fulfill all the marital duties!
"Y-yes, Master," George's voice snapped Rivana out of her thoughts.
Azrael nodded and glanced at Rivana, who looked away quickly, her pulse racing wildly as their eyes met. She hurried upstairs, followed by George. Her flustered reaction drew the faintest hint of a smile from Azrael, his eyes following her until she disappeared around the corridor.
Once she was out of sight, Azrael's gaze sharpened as he turned to Callum. Without a word, he strode past him, leaving Callum's playful grin fading into a scowl. If only Azrael would show him just a bit of that sweetness, he would die a happy man, he thought, trailing behind his boss.
Meanwhile, upstairs, once George left, Rivana paced in the room, his words echoing in her mind like a Siren's song.
I will see you tonight.
Holy hell! Were they... going to do it tonight? Heat rushed to her cheeks, painting them bright red.
'Oh, you are so slow, Rivana! You have already signed it, now there's no going back.' A voice inside her chided, making her blush even harder. 'Now get ready and wear something nice. Remember, this is your first time.'
"No!" Rivana shook her head, flustered. She wasn't ready for it yet... or was she? A strange heat traveled through her body, but she brushed it off, cursing her dirty mind.
Suddenly, a plan sparked in her mind. "Yes!" Rivana nodded to herself, relieved, and quickly went to change into something more comfortable.
---
Rivana waited impatiently on the edge of the bed, biting her lip, her gaze darting toward the door. When it finally clicked open, she stood up.
Azrael walked in, pausing at her expectant look as if she had something to say.
'Speak dammit!' Rivana cursed in her head, feeling locked in his deep, confused eyes.
Realizing Rivana was struggling to come up with words, Azrael smiled. Taking off his black blazer, he unbuttoned his shirt and said, "I'm gonna take a shower first. We can talk later."
Rivana nodded, her eyes watching him as he disappeared into the bathroom. She sank onto the bed, letting out a breath as the door shut behind him.
But her relief was short-lived when Azrael walked back after a couple of minutes, shirtless, wearing nothing but sweatpants! He looked effortlessly hot, leaving her mouth slightly open in surprise.
Azrael wiped his hair with a towel, the dark wet strands drizzling over his perfectly arched brows. His sun-kissed skin glowed under the dim lights, highlighting his chiseled chest and washboard abs. Rivana's eyes traced the ridges of his muscles, fixing on the dragon tattoo etched on his chest. The unholy sight and his captivating gaze were too much for her to think straight.
"Is there anything you wanted to talk about?" Azrael's question brought Rivana out of her daze. She looked at him, blinking slowly before realizing she was gawking at his body.
'God dammit! What the heck is wrong with you?' Rivana cursed, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. Well, it wasn't her fault that he looked so hot, like a model straight out of a billboard!
Clearing her throat, Rivana rose to her feet. "We… um… we need to get tested first, Mr. Dynar," she began confidently, but her voice faltered under his steady gaze.
"Tested?" Azrael raised a brow, intrigued. He continued to wipe his hair, flexing those biceps that Rivana could barely stay calm around.
She awkwardly glanced at the bed behind her, her cheeks burning red. "I mean before... sleeping together, we should both… erm, be checked for... you know, STDs."
Azrael's eyes twinkled with amusement before a chuckle escaped his mouth. Rivana's heart raced as his laughter echoed in the room, the sound oddly beautiful.
Tossing the towel onto the couch, Azrael locked eyes with her and slowly strode in her direction, a smirk playing on his lips.
"You have nothing to worry about, Mrs. Dynar. I'm clean as a whistle," he teased, his voice rich with playful confidence. "In fact, this will be my first time too."