The challenge had barely left her lips when Shu Mingye kissed her. At first, it was soft. Careful. Like he was testing the shape of her courage. His lips moved slowly, teasing, as if he didn't want to rush the moment but drink in every bit of it. One hand slipped behind her neck, steady and protective, while the other cupped her cheek with a gentleness that did not match the fire in his eyes.
Then the kiss changed. It deepened, grew hotter, stealing the breath right from her lips. His mouth pressed harder against hers, and the air between them thickened with heat. His scent wrapped around her, dark and overwhelming, until there was nothing left but him.
Linyue's fingers tangled in his hair, gripping tightly as his body pressed hers down onto the bed. His kiss became urgent, hungry, like he had decided she was no longer allowed to play innocent after saying those two words. His hand slipped from her cheek, trailing downward in a slow, deliberate path. Every brush of his fingers made her heart stumble. And then, with a touch that felt dangerous, he reached the edge of her robes.
Linyue stiffened for a brief moment, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she held him even closer, her hands curling tight in the folds of his robes.
That was all the answer Shu Mingye needed. His hand moved with certainty and his kiss deepened until it left her dizzy. And she let him. Not because she was helpless, but because this time she was not only letting him lead. She was daring him to take more.
Shu Mingye didn't hesitate. His lips left hers and traveled lower, brushing against the delicate line of her neck. Each kiss made her tense, her fingers gripping tighter on his shoulders as if steadying herself. His hands reached the knot of her robes. Calm and confident. He pulled at the knot, loosening it in one smooth motion that made her heart thump loudly in her chest.
Then he paused. His head lifted. His dark eyes met hers with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. "Pie," he said roughly, the single word both warning and plea. "You should tell me to stop."
Her breath caught. She swallowed, voice barely above a whisper. "Why?"
He frowned, like he was fighting something in himself. Desire. Restraint. Worry.
"Don't ask for more than you can take," he said, jaw tight.
Linyue met his gaze, eyes steady and clear. "I'll risk it."
That was all it took. His lips crashed against hers again. This time there was no patience. No softness. The kiss was fire and hunger, a storm he had caged for far too long, breaking free at last. His lips claimed hers like she belonged to him, like he had been waiting forever and could finally stop pretending otherwise.
His hands moved fast, stripping away her outer robes, tossing them aside without a second thought. Then his hands moved to the delicate ties of her inner garments. Each knot came undone under his steady fingers until only a thin layer of fabric remained between his burning skin and hers.
Linyue gasped softly when his palms slid beneath the thin fabric. His lips never left hers. He kissed her harder, deeper, catching every sound she made as if he refused to give her even a moment to catch her breath. Every shiver, every sigh, he took it all as if determined to memorize the taste of her surrender.
Then he stopped again. Just enough to lift his head and look down at her. His dark eyes burned. Heat and hunger mixed with something sharp, something dangerously close to losing control.
"Pie," he said, his voice low and rough, "this is your last chance to stop me."
Linyue stared back at him. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven, but her gaze didn't waver. "What if I don't want to?" she whispered.
His jaw clenched hard. His hand flexed slightly, fingers pressing into her skin like he was barely holding himself back. "Then I won't stop," he said roughly. "Not even if you beg. Not even if you cry. I won't stop until I've taken everything. Every single part of you."
A shiver ran down her spine. Not from fear, but from something deeper. Something that felt like a flame catching in her chest, hot and unstoppable. Her answer came soft but certain. "Alright," she said softly. "I'll give everything to you."
That simple answer broke the last thread of Shu Mingye's restraint. In one swift motion, his hands pulled away the remaining layers between them. Robes fell to the floor without care. Nothing stood between them but breathless tension and a need too strong to fight. His lips found hers again. The kiss was rough and wild. It left her dizzy and clinging to him. His hands moved lower, firm and possessive, claiming her with every touch.
Each brush of his skin against hers made her tremble. Each kiss sent her thoughts scattering, her mind spinning until she could barely remember her own name. She couldn't breathe, but she didn't care. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. All she knew was his touch, his kiss, the storm of heat curling in her chest, and the wild rush of something she had never felt before.
It was overwhelming. And she didn't want it to stop.
*****
"Pie," Shu Mingye murmured, his thumb brushing over her lower lip. "You're mine. Completely mine."
"Mhm," she breathed, soft and dazed.
That tiny sound, quiet and way too cute, made his grin stretch wider. She really looked like she couldn't even remember her own name right now, and he found it unbearably satisfying. A low laugh rumbled from his chest, full and unrestrained, carrying both amusement and a tenderness he rarely let slip. He leaned close, his breath hot against her ear.
"I was going easy on you," he whispered, his tone smug and wicked. "Next time, don't expect to walk straight."
Linyue groaned and weakly slapped his arm. "Shameless. There won't be next time."
He caught her wrist with ease and pressed a kiss to her palm. "We'll see," he said with no hint of guilt.
Chaos couple: thriving.
Angry cabbage: completely forgotten.
Shu Mingye scooped her up. The pool of warm water sat just past the curtains in his chamber, steam curling up gently into the air. He could bathe his Pie at any time. Convenient. Romantic. Efficient. Best of all, his Pie didn't fight him this time. She didn't even blink when he lifted her. No protest. No glare. Just a soft sigh as she leaned into his chest like she belonged there.
He smiled down at her, smug and delighted. "You're really letting me carry you without protest now," he said, teasing as he stepped into the warm water with her still in his arms.
She gave him no reply. Just let out a slow exhale and melted a little more against his chest. He could feel her body relax, her forehead resting lightly against his collarbone.
Shu Mingye lowered them both into the water, careful and unhurried. The warmth rose around them, lapping gently at their skin. He tilted his head, lips brushing her ear as he spoke in a low voice. "Is it… good?"
Linyue stiffened instantly and shot him a sharp glare, her brows twitching. That one word "good" dripped with dangerous undertones. Was he asking about the water? Or what had just happened before this?
Her face grew hot at the thought, the heat crept from her cheeks all the way to her ears. She quickly looked away, suddenly fascinated by the way a ripple curved in the water.
Shu Mingye caught it immediately. Of course he did. He never missed anything when it came to her. A quiet, wicked chuckle left his lips as he leaned in closer. "What are you thinking about, Pie?" His voice, soft and dark against her ear, made her freeze.
Then came the second strike. His tone turned lower, more dangerous. "If you still want it… we can continue here."