13. Chapter 13
Chapter thirteen
Leena
T he fire snapped, jolting me awake. It took a moment for me to remember where I was, and when I did, it all came flooding back. The heated blood, the passionate kisses, the near connection of our bodies.
I cringed, tucking myself deeper into the blanket. I’d succumbed to his spell, and I hated myself for it. At least I stopped myself before I passed the point I could never turn back from. But now I had the rest of forever to resist him. It seemed impossible. I’d never been so attracted to someone, and I was married to him. We were to live in the same space, and sure, I evaded the bed last night, but what about tonight? Maybe it would be better if I just accepted how I felt and let myself succumb to him again and again. Grumbling, I rolled to my other side.
I gasped at the sight of Bratan lying asleep on the couch. What was he doing there? Why didn’t he go upstairs? I crawled closer, holding my blanket against me with one hand as my knees and other hand shuffled me to the couch .
His breathing was even, and he was still in the clothes he’d been wearing the night before with no pillow or blanket. Quietly, I pulled my blanket off and draped it over him. It was hard not to stare at his face. The contrast of how he looked now versus what he looked like in the hours he was awake was so stark. It was odd. Awake, he held such anger and venom in his features, but while he was sleeping, his face was soft.
He made a grumbling sound and adjusted his position. Jumping to my feet and not wanting him to see me, I tip-toed up the stairs.
To my surprise, the staircase led to only one spacious room. A space with light green wallpaper and plants hanging from invisible hooks in each corner. They weaved around the ceiling and walls like the vines downstairs. Sharp emerald leaves created patterns against the shadows. To my right was a wide window spilling early sunlight onto the enormous bed that covered a large portion of the loft. It was big enough to fit a family and was in a frame crafted from fine oak. Swirls topped the posts, and two tan waves met in the middle of the headboard.
The room was a palace of its own.
I padded to the bed and sat on the soft surface, feeling it mold to my shape. It was the perfect combination of soft and firm, and weariness from the day before was still heavy in my bones. It was too early for me to start my day, and I was exhausted. Who knew being made immortal came with some of the bonds of mortality? Yawning, I slipped into bed, tucking myself beneath the white duvet, and fell asleep without another thought.
Sleep was mercifully restful, but I wished it could have gone on a little longer. Such was not the case, though, as the biggest problem in my life decided to pester me further. The first thing I heard as I roused from sleep was Bratan whispering my name.
“Leena?” Bleary-eyed, I looked up, blinking until the Leshy came into clear view. He was still completely bare from the night before, and in the daylight and my right mind, it made me crimson. My eyes quickly met his; I begged them not to wander. “Was it too warm downstairs last night?” He pointed to the blanket folded over his forearm.
“No, I just…I thought you might want it.” The words came out quiet, and paired with my eyes looking up from beneath my lashes; he must have mistaken it for an invitation.
His wicked smile returned.
“You naughty creature,” he said, and my body went ablaze. I quickly turned around, tucking the duvet tight around me, but I felt the bed sink behind me, and the blanket billowed up. His body curved on mine. Before I could scoot away, he kissed the nape of my neck, and my mind fizzed to a stop. I tried not to utter any noises or give any indication that I wanted more, but I very much wanted to.
He wrapped his large hand around my middle and kissed down my spine. His fingers stroked my stomach in tender circles as his lips trailed lower, and my mind went numb when his mouth parted in the middle of my back. The warmth of his breath hot on my skin made the blood rush up my legs far too precariously.
I really should tell him to stop…
He teased my lower back with his tongue before licking up to my neck and biting it. I let out a noise just before my breathing ceased. My heart pounded wildly as he licked to my shoulder, sucking on the bone and then kissing up my throat to my chin. He turned me slowly toward him, his body moving on top of mine. When he reached my lips, I welcomed him, and, to both my dismay and intense pleasure, we picked up where we’d left off last night.
Passion radiated from every part of him as we let our kissing deepen. He released my mouth and snarled before nipping at the curve of my neck. My head rolled back, my spine arched, and my nails scraped down his back.
I ached for him. I hated that I ached for him—that I yearned for him in every possible way. Most of all, I hated that I didn’t care what was right or wrong. I wanted him to swallow me whole.
His teeth trailed down my legs, and his hands grasped my hips, thumbs pushing into the hollow of my hip bones. I let out a small sound at the feeling. Did he know everything I liked through our new connection, or was he really this good at guessing how to make me wild?
My mind was a haze as we moved by sensation.
He growled in my ear, “Do you still think I’m a monster?”
“Yes,” I breathed, my eyes still closed .
A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “You think I’m a monster.” The statement wasn’t spoken in dismay but in delight.
“I-I—” I kept my eyes closed. “Yes.” The word was a breathy whisper, and I didn’t expect the excited growl or nip of my collarbone that came as his response. “Yes…” His hand slid down my thigh. I wanted nothing more than for him to keep going, but…
My eyes shot open, my good sense returning. “W-wait!” I pulled back, pushing his chest away from me. He fell back with a frown.
“You liked it a minute ago. Did I do something wrong? I can do whatever you like.” His offer sent my yearning through the roof, but I had to stick to my good sense.
“No, I…I really enjoyed it…” I laughed awkwardly, then cleared my throat and composed myself. “I just can’t do this. I can’t be with you like this.” At least not yet.
He blinked. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t like you.”
He snorted. “Is that why you told me you wanted me to do anything I wanted with you last night?”
My cheeks burned. “I wasn’t in my right mind.”
“I thought you just said you really enjoyed it.”
“Yes, but I don’t like you . There’s a difference.”
“Ah.” He crossed his arms and legs, completely bare, and leveled his gaze. “Because I’m a monster?”
“Yes. Because you’re a monster.” I challenged him, refusing to break eye contact. Refusing to give up or give in .
“You wanted me a moment ago. You don’t want me to finish what I started?” He cast me a mischievous grin, a dark sparkle in his eyes that turned my insides to goo.
“Not anymore,” I said, steadying the quiver in my voice. “I don’t want anything to do with you.”
His venomous grin only widened. “You could have fooled me when you were gasping for breath a moment ago.”
Somehow, my skin managed to flush more. “I was an idiot for falling into your trap. You…you caught me off guard in bed with no clothes on. I wasn’t prepared.”
“Prepared for what?” He lifted a brow.
“Um…I-I…” My brain was hazy mush, and I was still groggy from sleep. I had no good excuse. I did want him. That was the fact of the matter, and he knew it.
His head fell back with a laugh. “Oh, little dove. You’re so cute when you’re lying. Just admit that you desire me.” His voice was intoxicating, low and rich in its deep thrum and seductive cadence.
“Fine! I did desire you. I admit that I wanted you to bed me both last night and moments ago. But not now!” I groaned. “You’re so frustrating!”
“I’m frustrating?”
“Yes!”
He leaned forward, crawling to me on the bed. “And what about you?”
My cheeks reddened, but I couldn’t look away. He was too close. “What about me? ”
“ You are incredibly frustrating.”
“I am not!” I squeaked.
He sat back, crossing his arms again. “You have been hot and cold for the last twenty-four hours. One moment, you say you want everything to do with me, and the next, you say you want nothing to do with me.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Fine. I understand. I won’t frustrate you further. This will never happen again.”
I turned to scoot off the bed when he caught hold of my chin.
He gritted his teeth. “You’ve woken the beast in me, Leena. I have never desired someone the way I desire you.” His eyes were primal, and I hated the thrill it sent through me.
It took longer than I cared to admit to snap out of the trance left by his gaze, but once I did, I jerked my chin free and slid to the edge of the bed, pulling the duvet over my chest. “Well, I don’t desire you anymore, so you’ll have to get over that.”
I finally snapped out of it. I’d been a fool to be tricked by the Leshy. I knew he was mischievous and cunning, but I’d assumed I was clever enough to resist anything he threw at me. Every time he looked at me, got too close to me, or touched me— especially when he touched me—I was turned into a slave to lust. If I didn’t want to succumb to my desires, I had to avoid him at all costs.
“You’re a monster,” I reiterated, this time with venom in my bite. “And I want nothing to do with you. So stop trying to seduce me.” Our eyes stayed locked as he studied me, perhaps searching for a lie, but I could tell he was frustrated, maybe even shocked I’d resisted him.
I wasn’t sure if it was due to my newfound powers or something between us that assured me I was in no danger from him—or maybe it was the lingering influence of Judith’s words—but I was surprisingly brave against him now. This time, when I walked away, I didn’t attempt to hide my nakedness. Dropping the duvet, I proudly strode past him, reveling in the bliss of my victory.
The stairs were cold against my feet, but I was in triumphant spirits as I walked down and found pieces of my wrecked wedding gown and threw on the slip that had been attached to the insides. It would have to do until I found proper clothes, but I assumed those clothes were upstairs, and I wanted to leave Bratan stewing a little longer.
“You cheeky devil,” he said. I turned to find him smiling, and he at least had underclothes on as he threw clothes at me.
I accepted the red silk dress with wide eyes. “You’re not attempting to seduce me anymore?”
“What? Disappointed?”
I glowered. “ No .”
He chuckled and walked closer. My eyes instantly fell to the movements of his muscles. His legs were impressive, to say the least. They were nothing compared to his arms, though. His biceps were hard and tight, and I was instantly reminded of how he’d held and touched me, and how he’d held his weight by his knuckles as he hovered over me. I hated how much I loved having him near, even if it was from the primal part of me with no proper intelligence.
I didn’t grant him a response and instead turned to leave, but he cupped my face and forced me to look into his eyes. Neither of us made a sound. There wasn’t even the crackle of the fire now that it was out. I wanted to reach out and touch him but had more motivation to resist now. I had to show him that I was stronger than him and his advances.
Still, I couldn’t help melting in his stare.
He leaned forward, letting his fingers trail down my neck. “If I continued my efforts in seducing you now, I know I’d succeed, and where’s the fun in that?”
My jaw clenched. “This was your last morning of fun and the most you’ll ever get from me. I won’t be so unguarded anymore. I won’t be so stupid.” I escaped from his grasp and stomped away to get dressed and start over. I had to be better—do better than let myself succumb to a monster.
“We’ll see,” I heard him say as I ascended the stairs. I didn’t miss a step despite the flurry of mixed emotions fluttering low in my gut. “I like a good challenge.”