Chapter 163: The Promise Beneath The Water
[Warning: Mature content ahead]
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[Music Recommendation: Jan A.P. Kaczmarek - Unfaithful (Piano Variation)]
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He didn’t stop there, bringing his fingers to her wet core, he slowly slid one inside of her. At the sudden intrusion, Evelyn stiffened before she tried to shift back. A whimper escaped her lips. "Ah!" as she looked down at him with her innocent blue eyes in question.
Ivan replied in a husky voice, "Just breathe, baby. I promise you’ll feel good."
To ease her brought it mouth back down to her bundle of nerves and flickered it with his tongue while starting to move his nimble finger in and out of her in slow rhythmic motion, which made Eve soon forget the slightest sting by the sudden intrusion. She moaned without a care for who might hear, completely drowning in euphoria.
The fire that he’d ignited in her turned into a raging inferno that she felt she was about to transcend from the mortal realm. Feeling her inner walls contract against his fingers, he increased the pace of his fingers and tongue. The sound of ragged breaths, wet squeals filled the air before she cried out his name and all at once her much-awaited ecstasy claimed her, consuming all her senses. Her eyes blazed a brilliant gold and rolled back, as her back arched in rapture, muscles contracting, and she came undone.
Ivan continued with his ministrations to prolong her orgasm, all the while keeping his darkened molten red eyes fixed on her, brimming with absolute fascination. He had never seen anyone shatter so beautifully. Pulling his finger out, he lowered himself to her core and lapped up her sweet nectar. A low groan escaped his throat, as if he were tasting his favourite delicacy.
His fangs ached again, craving the taste of her divine blood while she was still lost in ecstasy. He moved to her supple thigh and sank his fangs in, letting the warm blood seep into his mouth and ignite his taste buds. A soft gasp escaped her lips. When he looked up, her dazed golden eyes met his. She was covered in sweat, with strands of hair clinging to her beautifully flushed face as her chest rose and fell from her ordeal.
They remained still, lost in each other’s gaze. Ivan felt the darkness within him finally begin to calm, so he retracted his fangs and slowly licked the remnants of her blood from her thigh and his lips.
Finally releasing her from his grasp, he loomed over her and untied her hands. From all the pulling, her fair wrists now bore red marks, making a faint frown settle on his face. He rubbed gentle circles with his thumb and said in a not-so-pleased voice, "I told you not to pull too much."
Eve bit her lip before breathing out, "I couldn’t help it."
Bending down, he pressed a deep, lingering kiss on her, "Stay here, I’ll be back."
With that, he disappeared into the bathroom. Eve didn’t have the energy to ask or follow him, so she simply lay limp on the bed as if she had just run a marathon. But she didn’t have to wait long when he reemerged from the bathroom. Without a word, he walked toward her, slipped an arm beneath her back and under her knees, he lifted her gently into his arms, and carried her inside the bathroom. Ivan had already filled the bathtub with hot water. The calming smell of essential oil permeated the air when he lowered her gently into the bathtub.
A sigh of relief left her lips as soon as the hot water touched her skin, soothing any ache she felt from their rigorous activities. While Eve closed her eyes, she heard the slightest rustle of fabric. Opening her blue eyes, she looked to the side only to find Ivan in his full naked glory, standing proudly in front of her. Colour rushed to her cheeks with full force,
"Oh Gods!" she gasped as she covered her face with her hands.
He tilted his head slightly at her sudden shyness, a faint smile curving his lips. "You can look, you know," he said, utterly unashamed.
Eve flustered at his shamelessness, and her voice came muffled beneath her palms, "I’m alright."
"Mind moving ahead a little?" he asked in a low, velvety tone.
Understanding that he wanted to join her in the bath, she slowly uncovered her face. Careful not to look at him, she kept her eyes fixed on the water in the tub as she moved forward to the other end. Just as she did, he stepped in behind her, settling himself comfortably before pulling her back into his arms, letting her bare back rest against his chest.
As Eve came into contact with him, she let out another gasp, feeling something hard pressing against her rear. Realising exactly what it was, she thought she might combust from sheer embarrassment. Her heart galloped wildly in her chest, but Ivan merely raised his hand, wrapping it around her shoulder and waist. He whispered against her ear, "Just relax, baby. I promise not to do anything more than what we’ve already done today."
It didn’t help at all that he reminded her of their hot and heavy activities. Still flustered at having to take a bath together, something she had never done before, she swallowed softly and said, "It’s not that...I just have never done this before."
"And I can’t tell you how glad I am." Although he said it calmly, his voice was laced with unmistakable possessiveness.
She let out another sigh and finally began to relax in his embrace. As the tension left her body little by little, she felt lighter. Ivan also leaned back and closed his eyes, savouring the feel of her soft body pressed against him. They remained silent in each other’s arms until he asked, "Did I hurt you?"
"No," Eve shook her head lightly.
"Are you being honest?" Ivan asked again.
"I am. I have no reason to lie."
"Hm." He then bent down and pressed his lips to her shoulder. He heard her sigh again as he trailed his nose along the curve of her neck. Then, cupping her cheek, he turned her face toward him. She opened her deep blue eyes to meet his molten red ones, which were much softer and calmer than before.
"Eve," Ivan caressed her cheek and spoke in a deep whisper, "Promise me," he began.
"Promise me when things get bad, you’ll save yourself first." His eyes bore into hers with such raw intensity that she could not look away. She understood what he was asking of her; maybe just like him, if the roles were reversed, she would have wanted him to be safe as well, and that was the exact reason why she refused to promise him that in the first place.
Instead of outright refusing him, Eve turned her body to face him completely. She raised her hands to cup his face, allowing him to rest his hands around her waist, and spoke softly, "Ivan... before you ask me to make this promise, I want you to close your eyes."
He stared at her deeply, not knowing what she wanted to do, but still complied by closing his eyes shut. He felt her continuing to tenderly caress his cheeks and followed her voice, "Now I want you to imagine. Imagine that I am on the verge of losing control of my powers completely, willing to destroy everything and everyone around me."
His eyebrows furrowed at the thought. He opened his eyes in question to her, "Keep your eyes closed and trust me with what I am asking you to. Please.."
He let out a sigh and did as she asked, and she continued, "Now think in such a state, when I am on the brink of self-destruction...I asked you to run away from me, to save yourself. Would you do it?"
And Ivan understood what she was asking him to do, and he opened his crimson eyes and replied resolutely, "Absolutely not."
She gave him a soft smile. "Just like you wouldn’t agree to run away...how could you expect me to do the same?"
Ivan looked absolutely torn on how to counter that and replied, "This is different, Eve. I know I can help in those situations, but this is-"
"This is the same. Just like how you can help me...do anything to bring me back to normal...I would do the same for you. Especially when I know my powers can help you," she said, cutting him off.
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. "Like I said before, we’ll find a way out of this. Please don’t ask me to make promises that I know I cannot keep. Just like you said, I’m precious to you, you..." she swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke with raw emotion, "You’ve become the most important person in my life, and I will never give up on you...on us. I’ll fight until my last brea-"
He sealed her lips with his before she could finish her sentence, the kiss lingering, deep, and full of unspoken emotion. When he finally pulled back, he whispered against her lips, "Don’t talk like that."
She continued caressing his face lovingly. "Then don’t ask me to make such promises again. We’ll find a way...okay?" Her soft blue eyes searched his as she waited for his reply.
With a resigned sigh, he murmured, "You’re so stubborn," his fingers threading gently through her damp hair.
She gave him an unbridled smile. "So are you."
In the quiet bathroom, the two lovers basked in each other’s embrace. Their hearts were heavy with doubts and fears for each other’s safety. Yet all they could do was hold on to each other, to the promise unspoken between their hearts and believe that somehow, together, they would weather whatever storm awaited them beyond the warmth of that bath.
