CHAPTER 442: A SWEET MORNING

Warning: Mature content in the Chapter

- - - - -

Evaline:

I opened my mouth, but the words didn’t come. His explanation made sense, too much sense, and yet a part of me still ached.

He brushed his fingers through my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear. "If I mark you now, you’ll end up missing a week, maybe more. And you know what happens when a newly marked pair can’t stay together. It’ll be chaos for both of us."

I dropped my gaze, feeling a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with embarrassment. "So you are saying... you are stopping yourself for me?"

He smiled faintly. "For us."

The sincerity in his voice broke something inside me. My chest tightened, and before I realized it, I was reaching for him, pressing my forehead against his. "You always think too much, you know that?"

He laughed quietly, his arms tightening around me. "Someone has to, when you keep tempting me like this."

I smiled despite the lingering ache in my chest. My fingers brushed over his jaw, tracing the light stubble there. "You are right," I said softly. "We can’t afford distractions right now. Not when everything’s so close. But..." I hesitated, feeling my cheeks heat up. "You’ll mark me after that, right?"

His eyes softened. "The moment exams are over," he promised. "I won’t wait a single day longer."

The way he said it - low, steady, with that glint of determination in his eyes - made my heart flutter. I believed him.

He drew me closer again, resting my head against his chest. "Sleep now," he murmured, his voice vibrating through me. "You must be tired."

I smiled against his skin, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.

His hand caressed my back, slow and soothing.

And as the silence wrapped around us, the earlier confusion melted into something softer, calmer. I still wanted his mark, wanted to be bound to him completely... but for now, this was enough. His arms, his warmth, his promise.

I closed my eyes, letting his scent lull me into peace. The last thing I felt before sleep claimed me was his lips brushing the top of my head, followed by a whisper so quiet I almost thought I dreamed it.

"I’m already yours, Evaline... even without the mark."

* * *

When I opened my eyes the next morning, the clock on the bedside table showed it’s already half past eight.

Kieran’s arm was wrapped around my waist, his breath slow and warm against the back of my neck. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest pressed against my spine, the quiet rhythm of his heartbeat in perfect sync with mine.

For a long while, I just lay there, unmoving, soaking in the peace of the moment. The memory of last night lingered like heat under my skin - every look, every whisper, every heartbeat that had bound us closer than ever before.

His fingers stirred against my stomach, tracing lazy circles that made my breath catch.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Morning," I whispered back, turning slightly so I could see him. His hair was a mess, falling over his forehead, and his eyes held that same tenderness that made my chest ache.

He smiled faintly. "You look beautiful like this."

I laughed softly. "My hair’s a mess."

"And I love it."

He leaned in before I could respond, pressing a soft kiss to my lips - gentle at first, then deeper, slower. His warmth spread through me like a quiet flame. That kiss carried the same intensity as the night before, but there was something different too. It wasn’t just hunger. It was connection.

The world faded to nothing but the two of us - the way his hand tilted my chin, the way my fingers brushed the line of his jaw. One moment I was lying in his arms, the next he was above me, and our breaths mingled as the air grew heavy with unspoken need.

"Can we do it raw?" He asked, his gaze searching mine. "I’ll make sure to pull out in time."

A smile formed on my lips as I nodded my head, approving his request. His own lips curved with a smile and he leaned in to kiss me again.

He pulled back and took off his pajamas, settling between my legs. I held on my breath as he positioned himself at my entrance. Our gazes were locked as he entered me, burying himself completely deep inside me.

Both of us groaned together. He whispered my name like a vow, and when our bodies met again, the world seemed to pause. There were no words after that, only our moans and the sound of flesh hitting flesh again and again.

His lips were everywhere, his thrusts deep and fast. And when he finally spilled his seeds on my belly, I was shuddering from the overwhelming pleasure of my third orgasm of the morning.

Kieran held me close, his forehead resting against mine, our breaths uneven but peaceful.

Neither of us said a word. We didn’t need to.

* * *

The sound of the shower running was what pulled me from the haze of warmth later. Kieran was already in the bathroom... I could hear the faint splash of water and the low hum of his voice.

I smiled to myself as I slipped out of bed, wrapping the sheet loosely around me before padding toward the bathroom.

When I pushed the door open, steam rolled out, curling around me. Kieran turned at the sound, droplets of water running down his shoulders, his hair slick and wet. His eyes softened when he saw me.

"Join me," he said simply, holding a hand out.

I hesitated for half a heartbeat, then let the sheet fall away and stepped into the warmth with him. The water cascaded over us, washing away the traces of the night before and this morning, but nothing could wash away the way I felt when he looked at me like that... as if I was his entire world.

His hands slid to my waist, pulling me closer. The steam wrapped around us like a secret, and when he kissed me under the running water, it was both tender and consuming.

It wasn’t long before that same warmth between us ignited again, quiet and slow, building into something that left me breathless. The shower filled with the sound of water, mingled with faint sighs and the soft rhythm of bodies moving together in silent harmony.

When it finally ended, we stood there for a while, arms around each other, just breathing.