Chapter 135: Only Hers
Taking in the enchanting surroundings, she closed her eyes briefly, inhaling the scent of sweet wildflowers and crisp mountain air. Her cheeks and nose turned slightly red from the cold, but she made no move to go back inside.
Seconds after, she was enveloped in the familiar warmth of strong arms wrapped around her, and a small smile bloomed on her face as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking in a lungful of her unique scent before planting a kiss there.
He then moved his nose all the way up to her ear and asked sinuously, "Ready?"
She opened her eyes and turned to him sideways, "I think so?"
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He smirked and released her from his hold. Stepping back, he then swiftly undid his black vest, followed by unbuttoning his shirt, slowly revealing his taut muscles beneath it, under her watchful eyes.
It wasn’t that Eve hadn’t seen him shirtless before, but every time her gaze trailed down from his exposed chest to his tight abdomen, she couldn’t help but admire his godlike sculpted body, making blood rush to her face and a familiar heat pool below her belly, forcing her to press her thighs together.
Discarding his shirt, he proceeded to undo his belt, keenly aware of her gaze, and a smug look graced his face as he noticed her heart picking up pace because of him. When he undid his pants button, Eve finally realised she had been gawking shamelessly, and quickly looked away, only to hear the ruffling of the fabric.
She then felt him loom over her from behind and heard his low, velvety voice, "I’ll be going ahead. Hurry up."
With that, she heard a splash and her head whipped around just in time to see him disappear beneath the shimmering surface. For a heartbeat, the world stilled until he emerged, breaking through the water in an outpour of sunlight.
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back as rivulets streamed down his gorgeous features. Droplets clung to his skin, catching the soft mountain light like tiny diamonds, tracing the sharp lines of his jaw and the sculpted planes of his body, making him look so devastatingly beautiful.
’Gods...it should be illegal to look like this,’ she thought breathlessly, unable to tear her gaze away from him as she felt spellbound by him. The sight of him sent a flutter through her chest, a giddy warmth unfurled deep within her as the simple truth echoed in her mind....he was hers. Only hers! Her eyes briefly shone golden possessively.
When she stood there unmoving, Ivan’s molten red eyes locked with hers, and heat sparked between them as a teasing smile curved his lips. "Changed your mind?"
Eve blinked, startled out of her daze, and quickly shook her head and asked softly, "What about the water temperature?"
"Right," Ivan replied, and his eyes blazed molten orange, before the entire stream surrounding them glowed with soft amber light. Soon, thin wisps of steam began to rise from the surface.
His eyes returned to their usual deep crimson as he looked at her, "Done."
He tilted his head ever so slightly, then raised two fingers and beckoned her to come closer, a teasing challenge glinting in his eyes as his gaze swept over her fully dressed form.
Eve narrowed her eyes at him, recognizing the clear provocation. Drawing a shaky breath, she thought inwardly, ’Just look at this cheeky devil. Well...time to be brave, Eve.’
With quiet resolve, she lifted her hands and slipped off his coat from her shoulders, exposing her skin to the cold mountain air. She shivered slightly, but the warmth from the now steaming water soothed her a little. When she looked back at him, his lips had curved into a knowing smirk, and he raised an elegant brow, wordlessly goading her to go further.
Taking another deep breath, adrenaline rushed in her as she steeled herself. Gathering her hair to one side, she reached for the zipper at the back of her low-cut summer dress. Ivan watched her like a predator, waiting for his prey to fall into his trap. His sharp eyes followed the line of her half-exposed back, trailing lower as her nimble fingers slowly drew the zipper down, revealing the delicate strap of her lacey bra.
Once done, her shaky hands moved to her shoulders, and she closed her eyes. In one hesitant motion, she peeled the dress off, feeling the fabric slide away from her body before pooling softly beneath her heeled feet.
Ivan, who had been watching her, felt his breath get knocked out of his lungs as he drank in the beautiful curves of her body for the very first time. Something primal stirred within him at the sight of her standing on the porch in her lacy white undergarments, with her white heels still on, revealing her smooth skin. There was something so erotic and sensual in the way she stood there, bathing in sunlight, goosebumps rising on her skin, every breath she took deepened his hunger.
Suddenly, his eyes darkened as his thoughts turned wicked, imagining how she would look marked by him, her flawless skin branded by his touch. A sharp ache pulsed in his fangs at the thought, an almost unbearable urge to sink them into her soft flesh and taste her heavenly blood once again.
In that moment, he couldn’t help but agree she was certainly the most breathtaking creature he had ever laid eyes on, with her full curves in all the right places, the elegant line of her waist, her flat stomach, and her shapely, long legs. She was perfect. Just so perfectly his.
Even with her eyes shut, she could feel his burning gaze on her. It was as if his eyes alone could touch her, tracing invisible lines over every inch of her body. When she finally opened them, she found her eyes locked with him again, and she saw his eyes looked so alive, shining bright with multiple emotions: admiration, longing, and utter hunger that it made her breath catch.
Swallowing hard, she tried to ignore her racing pulse and carefully stepped out of her heels. Then, moving closer to the edge of the porch, she looked at Ivan in slight panic. Understanding her unspoken hesitation, he slowly swam towards her until the water lapped just below the porch where she stood.
Once close enough, he spoke in a low, husky murmur, "Sit down. Dip your feet in the water and relax."
He watched her like a hawk as she lowered herself before finally dipping her milky feet into the water, which now felt like a soothing hot spring.
An involuntary moan escaped her lips as the heat rushed through her cold skin. Ivan’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, listening to her sweet moan. He frowned to himself, wondering why he was suddenly behaving like an animal in her presence, and clenched his jaw, summoning every ounce of the iron self-control he prided himself on.
Even so, his eyes still drifted down to her exposed neck and shoulders, then to the upper swell of her full breasts, which rose and fell slightly beneath her strapless bra.
He abruptly looked away and took a deep breath, mentally cursing himself, ’F*ck! Where is my self-control!’
Not wanting to frighten her, especially when she had placed so much trust in him, he forced himself to compose himself. When he looked back at her, he asked in a calm voice, "How’s the water temperature?"
"It’s so good...just like a hot spring!" she replied, opening her beautiful blue eyes, and a slow smile curved on her rose soft lips, making Ivan get lost in her all over again.
Only he knew how much restraint he was exercising to suppress his primal instincts.
"Good," he murmured as he moved closer to her until his strong arms rested on either side of her thighs. His voice dropped low, "Hold on to me and slowly descend."
Eve took another breath, her heart fluttering like a bird’s wings. Ivan’s voice softened as he spoke, "Trust me, baby."
Her heart skipped another beat at the endearment she was coming to love so much. She nodded slightly and lifted her hands from the porch floor. Bending down, she placed them on his broad shoulders, wrapping her arms around his neck, and looked straight into his eyes. Her warm breath fanned across his lips as she whispered, "Don’t let me go."
"Never," he whispered back, feeling her arms tighten around him instantly. She leaned closer, and he wrapped his strong arms around her naked, smooth skin, pulling her towards him.
Eve let out a soft gasp as he carefully guided her backwards, and finally, her lower body submerged into the water.
Feeling no ground beneath her feet, she tightened her grip on his neck, pressing her body against his strong chest as she felt Ivan swimming backwards. She looked around, with water reaching the upper swelling of her breasts, and she asked, "Where are you going?"
He smirked, relishing the feeling of her soft body plastered against his, and murmured with a hint of mischief, "To make you experience new things."
