"You need to go, Yuri," Aselia whispered to him in a panicked voice. Her hands seemed shaky and her heartbeat had elevated. Xiran might not be able to smell Yurian but any closer and he will be able to listen to his heartbeat.

Yurian wasted no time in shifting and jumping out of the window, he disappeared into the night. She heard Xiran knock on her door.

"Aselia, you alright? What’s taking so long?" His deep voice was laced with concern for her. She took a deep breath and picked up the blanket from the floor. She steadied her heart and spoke: "I am fine, give me five minutes. I had to do some girly stuff."

"Oh! ok. I am waiting outside." She could see his shadow from under the door. She quietly tiptoed to the open window and closed it slowly.

She opened the cupboard and rummaged through the night dresses. Choosing a Teal nightgown of silk material with a belt at the front, Aselia removed her towel gown, then wet lingerie and put it on. She then grabbed a panty from the lingerie section and wore it too.

After that, she took all her wet clothes to the bathroom and hung them there. Her hair was still wet so she left them as they were. Elven girl had no time now or Xiran would get suspicious. She ran to the door and opened it.

He was standing there wearing a royal blue silk robe which didn’t hide much of his gorgeous body for he hadn’t bothered to tie it up. His wet hair was open just like hers. He couldn’t look more perfect with his back resting against the wall. She didn’t want to look away.

"Sorry, I was worried about you." He replied taking a step towards her. Unintentionally she took a step back and he advanced into the room with a few more steps. She still had her eyes fixed on him, her heart was racing and she wanted to give him the impression, he was the cause.

"It’s ok, I can do that later." She stepped further back not breaking eye contact, her palms very getting sweaty from the nervousness.

"Anything, I can provide my assistance with?" An evil smile appeared on his lips and it widened with every step he took toward her.

"Nops, I can manage." And with those words, Aselia hit the wall behind her. She touched the wall for support as he jailed her between his strong arms.

"You sure, Leia." His seductive whisper was meant for her ears alone. She never knew someone’s voice could have this much effect on the body. His eyes gleamed with excitement and she could feel his chest inches from her own. He hadn’t touched her and yet the anticipation that he might, had her insides screaming.

"Umm...yes," she finally broke the electrifying eye contact between them and he didn’t like it.

"Look at me..." his voice was barely a wisp but it was enough for her mind to lose control over her body and she obeyed him.

His hand was on her belt which held her gown together. Her scent was overwhelming him because traces of perfume were gone and it was purely her now. He tried to keep his distance but everything wavered when he saw her in the gown with wet hair. He didn’t want to let her go from the bathroom but he knew she would need her space. But now he wanted to possess her body like a predator and feast on it.

"Can I?" He took hold of her strap in his left hand and swiped his thumb on it without pulling. His eyes transfixed her to the spot. She felt heat rising to her face as she shamelessly nodded her head. Small droplets of water trickled down from her wet hair and he caught a few in his right hand and brought them to his face. He slowly licked the water, with his pink tongue, his orbs still not leaving hers.

She observed his actions in bewilderment, and he tugged at the strap, which opened instantly revealing her cleavage, belly and some part of her legs. He didn’t take it off completely instead he trailed his finger at the helm of the gown, starting from her neck to her mound.

His finger seemed like a flame for it scorched her to the bone. The slow torture was killing her, she wanted him to touch her more. But he continued with his seductive approach, not giving her what she wanted. Leaving her wanting more and more from him. A little moan escaped her which made him smile in satisfaction.

His finger rested on the rim of her left mound and he circled it slowly ever so slowly. Half of it was hidden under the gown so he lethargically moved it away, revealing more and more of her flesh to his greedy eyes.

Aselia had clenched her fists, what had she landed herself into? He was teasing her relentlessly, on purpose. There was a pool of wetness forming down below and she couldn’t take it anymore.

She finally moved her hand and caught his before he could further his advances. "Stop! torturing me Xiran." She spoke her voice hitched as if she had been running a marathon.

"Am I now? How naive of me?" He spoke without any remorse or shame.

"I am serious. Let me keep some self-control, I am losing it right now."

"Let’s lose it together." Aselia’s whole body shivered at his words. She still held his hand and shook her head at his tempting words.

"Xiran, I have never been more confused in my life. I always knew what I wanted and from whom I wanted it. I can’t wrap my head around when it comes to you. You seduce me and I easily give in. I can’t even recognise myself anymore. I know I shouldn’t be telling you all this but I wanted you to know that you affect me too." Her confession eased the raging pain in his heart, which had been ongoing since yesterday. This is what he needed to hear, she might not want to own him but he stirred something in her.

His other hand moved to her face before he spoke: "Aselia, I can die happy now. Knowing how far you have come from feeling repulsed by my touch to accepting it and then admitting to me. You never seem to amaze me and keep the hope kindled that one day, maybe, you will love me too."

Her heartbeat became insanely erratic at his words and she forgot to breathe. She wanted to move away from him, this was suffocating her. She thought she could handle it but this was too much.

This back-and-forth tussle between them was going to cost them dearly and she knew it. Her resolve to resist him was disappearing fast like tissue paper in water. If he was to proceed any further today, she didn’t have the heart or determination to stop him again.

He continued to speak to her: "You wonder why I never kiss your lips? Hmm? They are one of the most sensual parts of the human body with millions of nerve endings. The kiss on the lips drives one insane and I want to drive you insane. I want you to beg me for more. It is the most passionate kiss. But, I won’t do it because for me I believe that a day would come when you will give me that kiss of your own free will and not because I will ask or steal it from you."

His thumb grazed her lips as he felt them quiver under his touch. Her eyes were wide with shock and her cheeks had turned cherry red. He knew if he kissed her right now, she wouldn’t resist but he wanted her to do it.

Aselia felt her knees buckling and she couldn’t stand the rampage of emotions and his enticing words, anymore. He caught her by the waist and steadied her.

"That’s enough for today." His expression had turned serious. He gracefully picked her up and settled her in bed. She was too stunned to talk, he covered her with the blanket.

"Sorry, we couldn’t eat that ice cream. I promise we will eat it someday without any interruptions. Get some rest now." He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair before getting up to leave.

"Xiran..." she caught his hand before he could step away. He turned to look at her, his eyes holding an expression she couldn’t place.

"No matter where life might take us. You will eternally own a place in my heart as someone who changed the way I thought about your kind. Have it in your heart to forgive me for the pain my existence causes you." Xiran didn’t know that she was foreshadowing a dark future. For he took her words in a different context than she had meant. As a hunter, she had developed a soft spot for him and with every passing day she knew she wouldn’t be able to kill him if it came down to that. So leaving him was the only viable option she had.

He didn’t show the hurt her words caused so he barely replied: "Sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow." With that, he was gone and she felt cold so cold because he took his warmth with him.