"How did you know—" he stopped mid-sentence, catching himself. After a moment, his tone shifted to something gentler but firm. "Lady, do you understand what you're doing?"
I hesitated, my fingers hovering just inches from his face. My hand trembled slightly, betraying the fear I tried to suppress.
"You don't want to?" I asked softly, the words catching in my throat.
'I am 26 years old, Erana is soon to be 18, and Cealus is 20. It's legal, right? In this novel, people tend to marry early, and the emperor had Cealus when she was only 16.'
He glanced down at my hand, then back at me, his expression unreadable. "Your hand is trembling," he said quietly.
I pulled my hand back slightly, curling my fingers into a fist.
Ha… He was right. Even now, I couldn't stop the small tremors. My fear wasn't so easily silenced. I looked away as tears spilled down my cheeks, hot and relentless.
"I don't want to be afraid of you," I admitted, my voice breaking under the weight of my own emotions.
For a moment, the room was silent. Then, he exhaled slowly, his hand brushing against my cheek with a featherlight touch. He wiped the tears away, his movements deliberate but restrained.
"You've been through so much," he said, his voice low and steady. "You don't have to pretend you're not afraid."
I looked at him, startled by the softness in his tone. He wasn't dismissing my fear, nor was he using it against me. Instead, he seemed to acknowledge it—like he understood.
"Are you certain you want to confront this now?" he asked carefully.
His words made something inside me ache. He was giving me a choice, a way to pause and catch my breath. But I couldn't stop here. If I hesitated now, I might never move forward. I couldn't let fear win.
"I am sure," I said firmly, wiping the last of my tears.
He nodded, and I felt a ripple in the air as he raised his hand slightly. A subtle wave of power spread through the room, and the stillness deepened.
"I've created a barrier," he explained calmly. "No one outside can hear us now. You're safe to speak freely."
His careful consideration was enough to steady me, even just a little. I took a deep breath.
I looked at the glowing screen hovering above his head.
[Love: 25%] [Hate: 0%] [Lust: 0%] [Jealousy: 0%]
Everything seemed normal—except for the love. It wasn't just displayed; it was glowing softly, a faint red hue radiating from the number.
So this is what I'm feeling. The warmth coming from him isn't lust or obsession. It's love.
But love isn't one-dimensional. It can take so many forms—parental love, protective and nurturing; sibling love, steady and familiar; the loyalty of a servant to their master; or the deep, enduring connection between partners. Each is different, but each is real.
The realization brought a small, genuine smile to my lips. This warmth, this care—it wasn't tainted by ulterior motives or desires.
It was simply love, pure and unselfish.
And for the first time in a long while, I felt a little less afraid. A little more at ease.
He stared at me, his eyes burning with an intensity I couldn't quite place, his face flushed with a deep, unfamiliar emotion.
His hand hovered near mine, uncertain, as though he wasn't sure if he was allowed to touch me, if he dared. I didn't give him the chance to hesitate.
Reaching up, I guided his hand to my face, pressing his warm palm against my cheek. The simple touch sent a wave of heat through me, grounding me in a way I hadn't expected. The frantic tremors in my chest began to settle, replaced by an unexpected calm, a strange sense of resolve.
His touch made me feel alive.
"I'm not afraid of you," I whispered, my voice barely audible but firm.
His brow furrowed, and his thumb brushed against my skin instinctively, as though he couldn't help it.
The air between us thickened, charged with something unspoken, a silent tension that seemed to grow heavier with every passing second. He leaned closer, his forehead resting gently against mine, his breath warm against my lips.
"Then tell me what you feel," he said, his voice a bit unsteady, almost fragile.
For a moment, words escaped me. Nothing I could say would be enough, nothing could capture the swirl of emotions inside me. So instead, I showed him.
I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips against his in a kiss that was far from gentle. It was urgent, a collision of need and desire that neither of us could deny. My hands found his shoulders, pulling him closer, as though I couldn't get close enough. The world outside of this moment ceased to exist.
His response was immediate—he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into him with a force that left me breathless. The weight of his body pressed against mine, and I could feel the pounding of his heart, steady and sure. His hands roamed up my back, slow but deliberate, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.
When we finally pulled apart, gasping for air, his eyes locked onto mine. They were no longer guarded. There was something fierce in them now, something almost vulnerable, as though he was unsure of what would happen next.
"Are you sure?" he asked again, his voice rough, laden with concern.
"Yes," I said without hesitation, surprised by the certainty in my own voice.
He searched my face, as though looking for any sign of doubt, but when he found none, the tension in his shoulders seemed to ease. A softness settled over him, something raw and open, as though he was lowering a wall he'd built around himself.
"You have no idea..." He trailed off, his voice shifting, as if the weight of his words was too much to bear.
I reached for him again, my fingers brushing his jawline, tracing the contours of his face.
"Then don't waste time talking," I whispered, my breath catching in my throat. No more words were needed.
His lips captured mine once again, this time without hesitation. The kiss deepened, growing more.desperate, more consuming with every passing second.
Mmmh~ Mmh~
There was no longer any space between us-only the heat of our bodies, the frantic urgency of our connection.
His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer still, as if trying to erase any remaining distance.
The blanket slipped from my shoulders, unnoticed, as the heat between us intensified, flooding the room with an undeniable pull.
My body, clad only in a thin nightgown, pressed against his, and I felt the full force of his presence. I could hear the raggedness of my breath, the pounding of my heart in my ears but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered but him.
His fingers tangled in my hair, tugging gently,
causing a low, almost primal sound to escape from him that sent a jolt of warmth through me.
Hh~
"You don't have to be careful with me," I whispered, my voice trembling, my lips brushing against his skin.
His eyes darkened, and his lips curled into a faint, almost teasing smile. "You have no idea what you're asking for."
"Then show me," I challenged, my voice steady despite the wildness inside me.
And he did.
My breath hitched as his tongue darted into my mouth, a bold invasion that ignited a fire within me.
I kissed him back, my lips parting slightly as i moaned softly, a sound lost in the whirlwind of our kiss.
Mmph~ Mmhp~
His lips, hot and demanding, moved over mine with a practiced rhythm, claiming my mouth with a possessive hunger.
Mmm~ Ah...damn...~
My eyes fluttered open, dazed and disoriented. His face was flushed, his gaze burning with an intensity that made my heart race. He was beautiful, his features sharp and defined, his expression a mixture of desire and wonder.
"Close your eyes," he murmured, his voice husky with arousal.
I obeyed, surrendering to the sensation of his lips moving against mine.
mmmph~ Hh~
His tongue explored my mouth, teasing and tormenting me with a slow, deliberate dance. I whimpered, my body arching against his, desperate for more.
Mm~ Mmnh~
'So this is what a kiss feels like,I never knew swirling tongues could feel so good.'
He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching me. "Can you breathe?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of concern.
hah~ hah~
"Yes," i managed to gasp, my voice barely a whisper.
He groaned, his hand tightening around my waist. "You're so sweet," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.
I shivered, my body trembling with a need i didn't understand. His hand slid down my back, tracing the curve of my spine, igniting a trail of fire in its wake. I arched into his touch, my body begging for more contact.