The pen fell to the floor with a light thup, rolling slowly across the polished surface. The ticking of the clock suddenly sounded much louder in the quiet room as Icarus froze at the suddenness of the kiss.
She kissed him hard, pushing her tongue into his mouth and intertwining it with hers, even though his remained unmoving—he had not expected such a bold move from her at all. Usually, he initiated their kisses, but this was the first time she had, and heavens… this was different.
Her soft, cherry-sweet lips sucked sharply on his lower lip, as if trying to speak some unknown words through the kiss, as if fire had been thrown into her veins. His grey pupils tightened before enlarging, a flicker of shock flashing through them.
And just when he was about to kiss back, finally breaking from the trance—
Oriana pulled away.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she turned her back to him, her eyes not meeting his even though his had been fixed on hers.
"Undress me."
The words left her lips softly.
Icarus's hands stilled midair. His eyes lingered on Oriana's back for a brief moment before moving to his black hair, pushing it backward. His fingers gripped the strands slightly, as if trying to reason why she had suddenly said this.
This was not the first time he had undressed her—he had helped her when she fell asleep with her gown still on from exhaustion, even untied her tight corset, but never like this. Her asking him… like this.
Was she perhaps drunk tonight?
"Orian—"
His words died as her broken voice filled the room.
"P… please, Icarus."
His hands finally reached her back as he began to untie the straps of her gown. He wanted to speak, but he shut his mouth, his cold grey eyes flashing something unspoken for the briefest moment.
The soft sound of the straps loosening echoed faintly through the quiet room.
Oriana stood there, her hands tightening slowly into fists before releasing them again. Her fingers brushed her hair from her back to her side, leaving her neck bare.
Icarus's eyes followed every movement her slender fingers made. His gaze finally settled on her swan-like neck, a vein pulsing lightly along his own as his jaw twitched softly.
He shifted his gaze back to the straps, as if that alone might distract him from the forbidden temptation that was slowly consuming him.
He did not know why she had asked this. Had something happened he was unaware of?
The gown fell to the floor with a soft thup.
Freed from the tight hold of her corset, she remained in nothing but her chemise. The soft cloth draped over her body while still revealing the hourglass curves of her waist and the fullness of her chest.
The chemise was cut differently from her gown, revealing her flat tummy and a subtle glimpse of her backside.
She turned and walked to the wardrobe, her hips swaying slightly from side to side in the most elegantly seductive way.
Icarus's eyes followed her movements, tracing the lines of her figure. It was immaculate, rare—her ample bottom soft and…
His Adam's apple bobbed as he sharply shifted his gaze to the dress lying on the floor.
Slowly, he lowered himself and picked it up.
Oriana opened the wardrobe, taking out a silk nightwear before walking toward the bathroom door and shutting it quietly behind her.
His eyes remained on the dress in his hands as his fingers massaged his temples. After a moment, he carefully folded the gown with deliberate care, the faint scent of her perfume still clinging to the fabric.
…
Oriana stepped out of the bathroom. Her eyes moved to the window; as expected, he was not there. She sighed softly. The window was now shut, and the room felt warm.
She shifted her gaze to the bed, her steps faltering slightly.
There he was.
Laid back with one arm behind his head.
Their eyes entwined.
She drew in a quick breath as she stared at his shirtless figure. He had removed his shirt, which meant he would be staying with her tonight. Her eyes trailed over his chest, down to his abs. Just as her gaze was about to move lower, she caught herself and sharply shifted it back to his face before walking toward the bed.
"I had thought you had left again this time, as that is what you had developed doing these past days."
She spoke almost in a whisper as she climbed onto the bed.
Icarus said nothing.
Her movement, unknown to her, was a fire slowly igniting within this calm-looking man.
Her fingers moved to his chest, rubbing it softly before placing her head atop it as she lay down. As usual, his heartbeat was slow and steady—if only she knew how fast his pulse truly raced beneath the calm exterior.
Icarus moved the duvet to cover them both.
As she looked up at him, she realized she had positioned herself facing him because she wanted to hear what he would say—anything at all, even if it was merely asking about her day.
Silence fell.
She waited for him to speak, but he did not.
Her lips pressed together slightly. He was not even looking at her. What had she been expecting? Perhaps she was really foolish, as the king said.
Slowly, she turned to the other side to sleep, but her heart skipped as she suddenly felt him spoon her, his arm moving around her waist.
Her heart thudded loudly in her chest as she waited for his words—perhaps something, anything.
But her pulse skipped when his hands moved from her waist.
She could feel the heat of his fingers; even the silk nightwear could not hide it.
Her lips parted as her eyes followed his hands. Her chest heaved softly, and finally, his palm brushed against her breast through the nightwear, holding her within his heated arms.
"Ahhm~"
A soft sound unknowingly escaped Oriana's lips, sending waves of warmth through them both.
Icarus moved closer, his face pressing into the curve of her neck as he inhaled her sweet scent—the exact one he had missed, wanting to take it all in.
But then his eyes widened.
There was a difference in her scent. Something… unfamiliar.
His eyes dimmed as the atmosphere grew tense, suffocatingly cold. The hairs along Oriana's back stood on end as goosebumps spread across her skin. She felt him loosen his hold, and just as she was about to turn..
His cold, deadly words struck her.
"Who touched you?"