Chapter 86: An Exception In His World
[Music recommendation: MATTIA CUPELLI - Love Lost (Piano Version)]
"You naughty little princess, don’t steal my meal," he teased her in his husky voice against her lips, making her toes curl. She sank deeper into his lap, only to feel the hard bulge pressing against her womanhood. A shudder ran down her spine at the contact, and she felt her core growing wet in response. Her eyes widened in realisation of what it was, so she instinctively pulled back, as she continued panting softly for air.
Ivan, who felt it as well, let his lips curl up in a wicked smile. He pulled her back into his iron grip, lifted his hand to touch her cheek, and whispered, "What is it, baby? Did you feel something? Hm?"
Eve burned like a thousand suns as her eyes slowly turned back to blue and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Ivan noticed how she had been bold enough to rip open his shirt like a feral cat just a few moments ago, and now, suddenly, she curled up like an adorable kitten.
When she hid her face from him, she whispered softly, "No.." A complete lie, to which a throaty chuckle escaped Ivan’s lips, making his chest vibrate against her.
"What a liar you are," he said teasingly. "I thought someone was bold enough to want me to do all kinds of things to her." Hearing him, her heart leaped in embarrassment, and she tightened her grip around his neck.
He continued smiling at her antics and began rubbing her back gently in soothing circles. Then he bent down and pressed his lips against her exposed shoulder, inhaling her scent mingled with her arousal, which lured him to do more. But he held himself back, realising it might be too soon for her, as this alone must be a huge step towards the most intimacy she had ever experienced.
So he remained still with her in his arms, letting her calm down her raging pulse, which he could clearly hear. Eve, who felt a sense of fulfillment wrapped around his warm arms, took a deep breath before letting her gradually relax under his tender touch on her back.
After staying silent for what felt like forever, she finally gathered the courage to speak. "Ivan?" she called to him in her sweet voice.
"Hm?" he replied softly.
"Can we...can we take things slow?" she asked, biting her lips nervously. "I know you must be used to more....but...can you wait for me?" Her words came out hesitantly, almost afraid that he might be disappointed or pull away.
Ivan lifted his face from her neck and then cupped her cheeks to tilt it to him, so that he could look her in the eyes. "Did you forget this is as new for me as it is for you?" he asked in a gentle voice.
When she remained silent, lost in his gaze, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and spoke softly, "Don’t worry, Eve. There is no rush. You should feel absolutely no pressure to do anything you don’t want to. I am not that heartless, and I will never push you."
Her eyes widened and she quickly responded, "No! I didn’t mean that I feel pressured or anything. I just want to know you better... It’s not that I didn’t like what we did. I just.."
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and murmured against them, "Don’t worry, baby, I get it." At the new term of endearment, her heart fluttered like a bird, and she could only nod in agreement.
He gave her a faint smile and asked, "Are you tired?" His molten red eyes searched her face. She admitted, "Just a little," and he finally rose from the sofa, lifting her into his arms. She wrapped herself around him like a koala bear as he carried her to the enormous bed.
He walked with firm, steady steps, and once he reached the bed, he climbed up and gently lay her down while still hovering over her. When she unwrapped her delicate limbs from his strong form, he lifted himself slightly and found her still flushed beetroot red. Regardless, she looked utterly delectable in his eyes. A slow, devilish smirk formed on his lips at the thought that he was the reason she was this way.
When she opened hazy eyes to look at him, still not moving from his position while wearing that smug smile, she frowned slightly and asked, "Are you not planning to move?"
As her adorable, innocent eyes glared at him slightly, he couldn’t help but lean down and plant a chaste kiss on her lips before finally moving to lie down next to her. Once settled, he covered them with a blanket and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her body against his bare chest.
Eve was still new to this kind of intimacy between them, and with their hot make-out session on the couch, she was still having a hard time wrapping her head around everything. Though nervous, she couldn’t deny the warmth it filled her with.
Ivan flickered his fingers, and the candles around them snuffed out, leaving the only source of light coming from the fireplace. Soon, rain began pouring outside, hammering against the windows, as thunder roared.
Eve lay unmoving in Ivan’s arms; she willed herself to relax, but her mind was just too active to lull her to sleep.
A couple of minutes passed in silence as she continued listening to the rain outside, when she felt his hot breath brush against her ear. He sighed and whispered, "Relax, Eve...you’ll pass out at this rate. Which I am not sure is a good thing or not, since you cannot sleep the normal way."
She sighed softly and spoke in a quiet voice, "Can you blame me? This...is all new to me."
"Well, it is new to me as well. I don’t sleep with any woman," he said in a low, confident voice, prompting her to turn sideways to give him a look that clearly said, ’Really now?’
His lips curled up into a small smile. "I mean, I have never fallen asleep next to anyone. And no...no woman has ever entered my chambers before, whether here in the palace or back in the academy."
To this, she turned completely to face him, and he pulled her close to him. Raising her eyebrows, she asked, "Really? Never?"
"Never. My room is off limits and I don’t allow anyone to enter...except Arthur with staff when they have to clean."
She stared at him, though the light was dim from the fireplace, she could still see his face and sense that he was not lying. She licked her lips lightly and asked, "Then why did you let me? You could have taken me to any other room in the palace and even back at the academy."
"Hm..I could have, but I didn’t want to. I guess you could say you’ve become an exception in my life," he said, while keeping his eyes fixed on hers.
"I see..." she murmured and glanced down at his chest that was now exposed thanks to the buttons she had torn. She blushed, taking in his sculpted muscles, and couldn’t help but think of herself as some wild animal let loose. She then lifted her hand and traced the edge of his white shirt, where only broken threads stuck out. Clearing her throat nervously, she said, "I am sorry...about your shirt."
When she looked up at his face and found him grinning at her, and said shamelessly. "You can ruin as many shirts as you want," he teased with a slight, playful voice.
Her cheeks burned further, but she didn’t shy away from asking, "Have you always been this brazen?"
And his smile widened, "I don’t think so, but...exception, remember?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.
She shook her head lightly as she continued to fiddle with his shirt. Holding her close, he continued to study her features.
As if suddenly remembering something, she parted her lips, "Ivan?"
"Hm?"
"You mentioned about me appearing at the court...can you tell me what exactly I’m required to do and what to expect?" she asked, a slight worry marred her face.
He began moving his hand on her waist in slow circles and said, "You’ll be required to appear and recount the event that took place last night. The rest, I’ll handle."
The crease on her forehead deepened. "Won’t that mean I would be required to tell them about the letter as well?"
When he continued to stare at her, she pressed, "The letter by your name and handwriting that lured me there. Won’t they question its context and ask questions about us?"
"If they do, just be honest," he replied nonchalantly as though it was not a big deal for her to disclose their personal life.
"Are you okay with me telling them about us?" she asked, still frowning.
He studied her expression. "I don’t mind telling the whole world that you’re mine and that they can keep their dirty paws off you." As he said it, he pulled her closer possessively.
