CHAPTER 221: PASSION

There was something unreal about this night.

The world felt softer... quieter... as if even the breeze held its breath for them.

Beatrice felt it the moment his arms wrapped around her—that deep, hidden hunger she never dared acknowledge.

Now it rose like a wave inside her, shaking her chest, warming her skin.

She pulled him closer, lips meeting his again with a need that surprised even her.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss.

It was a kiss that came from the deepest part of her—a kiss that said she had waited too long.

Her breathing turned warm and shaky.

Her whole body leaned into him as though he was the only place she could stand.

Her chest rose and fell against him, each breath brushing his own.

His fingers brushed along her side, slow, deliberate, tracing the shape of her body.

A simple touch—yet it sent a tremor through her, a soft gasp slipping past her lips before she could stop it.

The night wrapped around them like velvet.

The faint lantern light kissed her skin, making her glow in soft gold.

The air smelled of flowers and warm stone, and the sky was deep and endless above them.

When his lips moved to her neck, she shivered.

His breath was hot against her skin, each kiss slow enough to make her knees weaken.

She felt her spine arch on its own, her back brushing the cool metal of the guard rail.

The contrast of cold metal and his warm touch only ignited her more.

She tilted her head, giving him more of her neck without even thinking—

a quiet surrender shaped by instinct rather than thought.

His hand slid along her waist, steadying her, claiming her without force.

And she melted.

Her body leaned into his hold, her heartbeat racing against his chest, her lips parted as quiet sounds escaped her—

not loud, not wild—

but soft, breathy, unable to be held back.

The night seemed to draw in closer around them, as if the stars themselves leaned down to watch.

Beatrice wasn’t thinking.

She wasn’t planning.

She simply felt—

the heat of him,

the pull,

the way her body answered his without a single word.

And in that moment, she let herself fall completely into him.

Hades’s hand inched down, cupping her rear—slow, hungry, claiming.

She felt his heat press firmly against her, and for a moment her breath completely escaped her...

until she whispered, "W-We should stop."

Hades froze.

He lifted his head, eyes dark with fire, and asked quietly, "You don’t want to?"

Beatrice shook her head, her voice soft, "It’s not that."

She slowly lowered herself back onto her feet, her chest still rising and falling from the moment they shared.

"...I just feel like we would be betraying Peri if we continued. Even if she already knows... that we have something deeper... I don’t want to rush things and then regret it."

Hades let out a long breath and lowered his gaze.

Inside him, the beast clawed, growling, demanding he take her back into his arms.

Every part of him ached for her.

Her scent... the warmth of her body... the small, breathy sounds she made when he touched her—

it all drove him mad with wanting.

But he refused to hurt her.

He forced every shred of self-control he had to steady himself, even though his hands trembled from holding back.

Beatrice reached up and gently cupped his cheek.

Her thumb brushed his skin, soft and warm.

"I’m sorry, Hades... I pulled you in, and then I asked you to stop. I know it’s unfair."

Hades shook his head at once.

"I understand, Beatrice." His voice was low, honest. "And I don’t want to rush anything with the woman I want to stay beside me."

Her cheeks warmed at his words, her lips parting slightly as a quiet breath slipped out.

She looked away for a moment, trying to steady her racing heart.

Hades caught her wrist gently and lifted her hand to his lips.

He kissed her palm—slow, tender—letting his warmth sink into her skin.

"You didn’t think I wanted you just for your beauty, did you?" he murmured.

"I’ve never chased a woman for her body. The only reason I kissed you... is because I have feelings for you."

Beatrice’s breath hitched.

Her heart fluttered hard enough to hurt.

She had expected desire from him—yes.

But this...

this raw confession, spoken so simply and directly...she had not prepared herself for it.

She stood there frozen, her hand still in his, her lips trembling with a warmth she couldn’t hide,

realizing just how deeply he meant every word.

"I... I am flawed, Hades..." she whispered.

"I have already taken an oath of marriage with someone else. What will the world say...? You are a Prince... the Chaos Heir."

Her eyes glimmered, the emotion too heavy to hide.

Even with her heart pounding from his confession, guilt curled in her chest.

She didn’t want to weigh him down.

She didn’t want to become a blemish on his name, on his future.

Hades lifted his gaze to her—

those deep crimson eyes, burning with warmth and unwavering resolve.

"I don’t give a damn about the world, Beatrice," he said, voice steady, fierce, almost trembling with emotion.

"I love you. I want you in my life. And the only consent that matters... is yours.

So tell me, Beatrice... are you willing to be mine?"

Her breath caught.

Her heart trembled so hard she felt it in her fingertips.

Tears rose again, not from pain, but from the overwhelming storm inside her.

She couldn’t believe it.

A boy so much younger than her—

a man who stood higher than anyone in rank or power—

was making her feel everything at once.

Fear...

Elation...

Hesitation...

Desire...

A pull so strong it was almost frightening.

She had never experienced this with any man.

No one had touched her heart like this.

No one had shaken her to this depth.

There was no running from it anymore.

She had fallen—truly, completely—

for the first time in her life.

And the man she had fallen for...was the same man standing before her, lips parted, eyes soft, waiting for her answer.

Finally, she gathered her courage.

Her voice trembled, but her eyes did not.

"Make me yours."

She leaned in, her arms looping behind his neck, pulling him close enough to feel every breath he exhaled.

"I can’t hide my feelings anymore," she whispered—

and then her lips found his again, soft at first, then full of the emotion she had held back for so long.

Hades didn’t hesitate.

His hands slid around her waist, firm and sure, lifting her as if she weighed nothing.

Heat rushed through her as he picked her up, and her legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, her body fitting against his as naturally as breathing.

She settled on the guardrail, her hands gripping his shoulders as she kissed him again—

deeper, slower, full of need.

The night air felt warm around them, the quiet wind brushing past her hair as if trying not to interrupt.

Hades pulled back just enough to look at her.

He brushed a soft kiss against her lips before murmuring,

"Don’t you fear being seen?"

His voice carried a playful edge, the kind that sent a thrill down her spine.

"The Queen being passionate in the middle of the night?"

His fingers traced circles on her waist, so light it made her shiver.

Her breath stuttered, her nails lightly pressing into his shoulders as the touch sent waves through her.

Her breath caught at his teasing, her lips still tingling from his kiss.

"And what if I don’t care?" she murmured, her forehead gently touching his.

Her voice was soft... but the way she held him, the way her legs tightened around his waist, said everything she didn’t put into words.

"Let them see... if they dare."

Hades chuckled under his breath, low and warm, the sound brushing against her skin like a caress.

His hands slid a little higher on her waist, fingers tracing slow lines that made her sigh into his mouth.

"You’re tempting me, Beatrice," he whispered, brushing a kiss just below her jaw.

"You know exactly what you’re doing."

She shivered, her fingers threading into his hair, pulling him closer.

"Oh? And what am I doing?" she asked playfully, though her voice was breathless.

He kissed her neck, the warmth of his lips making her back arch.

"You’re driving me insane," he said softly. "In the best way."

Beatrice tilted her head, giving him more room, her chest rising against his.

"Hades..." she whispered, half a plea, half a warning she didn’t believe herself.

His hand slid to the small of her back, holding her steady as he leaned in again.

Their lips met once more—slow, deep, full of heat that wrapped around them like a blanket of love and lust.

The world below was silent.

Only the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of lanterns echoed through the quiet air.

But up here... it felt like the world had stopped moving just for them.

He pulled back only enough to look at her, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

"You have no idea," he said, brushing her cheek with his thumb,

"how long I’ve wanted to kiss you like this."

Her breath trembled, her fingers sliding down his neck,

"And you have no idea," she whispered back, her lips brushing his again,

"how long I’ve tried to fight wanting you."

Hades smirked softly, leaning his forehead against hers.

"Then stop fighting."

She swallowed, lost in the warmth of his eyes.

"Then don’t let me go."

"I won’t," he promised, lifting her slightly closer,

"not tonight... not ever."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.