Chapter 89: The Touch Of Memory
[Music Recommendation: ORGAVSM - Perfect]
He stepped closer to her and asked, "What’s the matter Eve? You look..upset." There was a teasing glint in his eyes as if he was highly amused by her reaction.
She kept her eyes fixed ahead and responded flatly, "I am not upset."
His lips twitched to see how easily her feathers ruffled, and he leaned in further. She immediately stepped back as he asked, "Are you sure? Or were you expecting...something else?"
Still avoiding his gaze, she replied, "I wasn’t..."
"Then why won’t you look at me?" he pressed.
On that, she shot him a fierce glare and snapped, "I wasn’t expecting anything. Now, can you let go of my hand? Your brother must be waiting."
He stared at her for a moment longer before finally releasing her hand and stepping back to let her go. As he did, she felt her heart sink a little, but she masked her disappointment with a neutral expression. She had barely taken another step forward when, in one swift motion, he caught her wrist again and pushed her against the wardrobe. His hand slid to her back to cushion the impact, and then he crashed his lips onto hers in an all-consuming kiss.
Eve gasped against his mouth, her eyes opening wide as he caught both wrists and pinned them above her head in an iron grip. He pressed his strong body against her and pulled her from her back, arching her towards him. While his mouth moved with raw hunger...tasting and claiming her as he tongue swept in ruthless possession.
Eve’s heart pounded so hard that she could feel it echo in her ears, her pulse raced widely that made her knees go weak. Heat rushed through her veins, scattering her thoughts until all she could do was cling to the storm he was dragging her into.
Soon he freed her wrists, only to bury his fingers in her damp hair, tugging just enough to tilt her head and deepen the kiss. Eve’s momentary annoyance had long vanished, and she slowly got engulfed by the raging inferno he ignited within her, leaving her breathless, trembling, and utterly lost in him.
A breathy moan escaped her lips as his hand slid from her waist to cup her ass, squeezing it possessively. His touch burned as it trailed down to her thigh, fingers digging in before he hooked her leg up and around his back, pulling her even closer against him.
Soon she felt something hard pressing between her legs, sending a delicious shiver down her spine. In response, she raked her fingers through his hair and yanked it hard enough to make him hum in delight. He grinded against her slightly, forcing another moan from her lips, louder this time. His hand, which had been holding her leg against his waist, slowly slid down, caressing her all the way to her ankle, before sneaking beneath the hem of her dress, and dragged it upward over her smooth, soft skin.
Eve broke the kiss in a desperate attempt to gasp for air, her chest heaving. She felt his wandering hands over her bare thigh, his sinful fingers digging in as his lips trailed along her neck. When his touch began to move higher, she finally grasped the situation they were in and quickly caught his hand before it could go any further, making him pause in his tracks.
He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply before whispering, "You’re so delectable...did you know that?"
She let her head fall weakly against the wardrobe as she panted hard, struggling to steady her breath. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes intensely as he rested his forehead against hers, and rasped softly, "What are you doing to me...Eve?"
Her breathing hitched as she whispered, "I can ask you the same."
His lips curled in disbelief before he stole another brief, lingering kiss while his hand gave her exposed thigh another squeeze. A soft moan spilled from her lips, which only made him smile wider.
Then, without warning, he hooked her other leg around his waist and effortlessly lifted her up. She gasped, "Ivan!"
He ignored her flustered protest as he carried her towards the dressing table and settled her down on it.
When she felt the cold surface against her rear, it made her jolt. Her anxious eyes flickered to his as she demanded, "What do you think you’re doing?"
"I offered you my help to dry your wet hair, so I am going to do just that," he replied smoothly and arched an eyebrow at her as if she had asked him a silly question.
Eve was left agape, thinking if he’d hit his head too hard somewhere, because never in her wildest dreams she would have imagined this icy cold prince offering help...let alone to help her dry her hair.
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[Music recommendation: R. Armando Morabito - Intermezzo (feat. Julie Elven & Tina Guo)]
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Ivan ignored her stunned look and casually picked up a towel from nearby. He then began carefully drying her hair. With every gentle rub, she felt her heart shake violently in her chest. Ivan could clearly hear it, of course, but he was far too absorbed in tending to her soft, beautiful hair, relishing the feeling of the silken strands gliding through his fingers.
With every brush of his fingers against her skin, goosebumps spread like wildfire, and she lowered her head to rest against his chest, too overwhelmed to look up. Ivan didn’t realise his simple actions stirred something far deeper within her heart, crumbling down walls she had spent years fortifying.
No one had ever done this for her apart from her mother when she was alive. Only her mother’s hands had ever held such gentleness, such patience, and when she was gone, Eve had locked that part of herself away. She never let anyone touch her hair again, not even her nanny, who tried in her own way. Distance had become her shield from everyone, to protect her heart from breaking apart.
In that lonely place, she had learnt to become independent because she knew no one was there for her. As she closed her eyes, her long-buried memories resurfaced that she had not dared to venture into for a very long time.
"My Eve is the most beautiful girl in this entire world." A sweet, gentle voice rang through the room in the Palace of Light in the Kingdom of Luminear, where a little girl sat on her mother’s lap while her damp hair was softly rubbed with a towel.
Little Eve was no more than three at that time while she played with a little doll in her tiny hands with an innocent smile on her face, and responded enthusiastically, "Really, Mother?"
"Of course, my dear child. My Eve is the most beautiful, most well-behaved treasure in this entire universe. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise," her mother said gently.
Little Eve stopped playing with her doll and looked up with her innocent blue eyes, "More beautiful than Anika?" She lifted her doll with all seriousness.
Her mother laughed softly and she replied in a tender voice, "That’s right! Much more beautiful than Anika and anyone else!"
Eve beamed, then tilted her head as her cute eyebrows furrowed and she spoke earnestly, "But mother, I think you are the most beautiful in this entire world."
Her mother’s eyes widened at her for a moment before she let out another soft chuckle and said, "No, my baby, it is you. Don’t ever believe anyone else but your mother....because mother loves you the most!" and she kissed Eve’s cheek lightly, making her giggle in delight.
"Yes, mother! I’ll always listen to you! Will you stay with me forever?" She asked with her bright eyes full of expectations.
Her mother’s eyes widened a little before they softened as the towel stilled in her hand, "Yes..." she whispered. "I’ll always stay with you....right here," She pointed to Eve’s little beating heart. Little Eve didn’t understand her mother’s words then, but she nodded and smiled brightly, only registering that her mother was going to stay with her forever.
...
A tear dropped from her eyes as she continued to rest her head against Ivan’s chest. Soon, Ivan caught the faint smell of salt in the air, and he paused by setting the towel to the side to look down at Eve, who continued to hide her face in his chest. His eyebrow creased as he gently held her shoulders and asked softly, "Eve? What’s wrong?"
When she only shook her head lightly, his frown deepened. He gently pried her away by her shoulders, tilted her chin up, and saw her eyes reddened with tears shimmering down her face.
Concerned marred his handsome features as he asked, "What’s wrong? Did I pull your hair too hard?"
Her lips trembled as she whispered, "No...you didn’t do anything."
"Then why these tears?" he asked while cupping her face to let his thumb lightly brush away the tears. "Tell me," he pressed softly.
