How did he know? His eyes were closed and she hadn’t even shivered or made a sound. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"No," she lied. She knew he wasn’t even wearing a coat today so he will surely take her back the instant she said she is cold.

"Don’t lie, I can feel your body temperature lowering and circulation of your blood is not as rapid as it was before." He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at her, taking in the beautiful view she offered.

Her golden hair waved in the light breeze, the way her clothes hugged her perfect body as she sat with her knees bit raised. Her hands on the grass formed an arc and her eyes were fixed on him. A single firefly danced above her head. She seemed like a fairy of this enchanting meadow and he had fallen under her spell.

"I don’t want to go back yet. I want to stay here for a bit longer." She finally spoke not breaking eye contact with him.

"Aselia you have less tolerance when it comes to colds, I don’t want you to get sick. Come here then." He offered her his hand and saw the reluctance in her eyes. But after a few seconds of pondering she took it and he shifted her between his legs, enveloping her in his warmth.

Her body was cold and shivering, her muscles were stiff. The instant warmth he provided seeped in and her body relaxed as it came in contact with his. This was such a contrast to how her body used to react before. She would always become tensed in his proximity. Not now, not anymore.

He placed his chin on her shoulder and stroked her neck with his nose. The sensation tingled her all over and she closed her eyes to feel his skin on hers. The body which was cold a few minutes ago seemed to be on fire now. This is what his touch did to her, he turned her into a freaking volcano, ready to erupt any second.

His hands on her waist began to explore and she felt her senses shut down and give all authority to him.

"Aselia, I had vowed after last night that I won’t do this but my brain stops working when you are in my arms. The self-control hits the damn zero." He whispered in her ear and she let out a slight moan as his hands fondled her perfect mound.

She should have asked him to stop but where his self-control was zero so was her willpower. Her words had hitched in her throat, refusing to come out. The soft caresses of his lips trailed her neck and she couldn’t resist the urge to touch him too.

So she turned around and saddled him, placing her hands on the boulder behind them for support. She stared into those grey pits, ready to be devoured but could they hold all her ocean turquoise? Her hands were getting sweaty from all the emotions that he had stirred up.

He held onto her waist as she wrapped her arms around his head and hugged him. Her fingers trailed his neck before she grazed her lips on there. All the hair on his neck had stood up from the sensation her lips caused him and that was not the only thing that was trying to stand up.

A small "ah" escaped his lips and he took hold of her hands and with one swift move laid her straight on the grass, hoisting her arms up. He could hear her hitched breathing and saw how her chest rose and fell erratically. Her heart went ’thud’ ’thud’ in his ears. Her whole body was turned on under him. The way her legs were becoming restless and the way she looked at him said it all, he didn’t need her words right now to figure it out, her body was sufficient to show him.

But they were in an open area and this was not a place he would expose even a tiny bit of her flesh. He stared at her for a long time, his mind wanted to register her every move. And then he finally let her hands go and pulled her close to him.

She felt a tinge of disappointment. "Not here, Aselia," he whispered in her hair understanding her disappointment. Her heartbeat was berserk so he stroked her hair to calm her down. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest. Seeking more of his warmth and that raw scent of his being.

Her senses began to regulate and her brain decided to function again.

"Sorry," she mumbled to him.

"Why would you ever say that?" He tried to take her face in his hands so her eyes would meet his. But she refused to look at him, she kept hiding in his chest for she felt too embarrassed.

"I don’t kn...ow what came over me." She stammered.

"It’s natural to feel that way. Why do you always feel embarrassed about how your body reacts to mine? You shouldn’t. It’s not a matter of embarrassment. Learn to accept it, I wouldn’t have stopped if we weren’t in open." He didn’t force her to look at him again and let her be for a while. So she could deal with her emotions. It was all new for her and she needed to understand all the aspects of it.

"Let’s go home." She finally spoke, her eyes shifting to find his as he stroked her face. His whole being felt warm when she said the word ’home’. It was just a word but the meaning it held was special. How he wished she would make a home with him. It was just a dream that he knew would turn into a nightmare for this world won’t let them be.

"Let’s," she got out of his lap and began to collect all the empty boxes and containers they had eaten into. Xiran helped her and picked up the leftovers.

She stood up and threw one final glance at this magical place. Crickets were chirping in the distance, and some lonely owl hooted far away as they descended and made their way back to the car.

Once inside, Xiran turned on the heater so she won’t feel cold. She relaxed in the seat and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep. Xiran smiled to himself at how peaceful she looked. No one could guess she would eat someone alive with only her words.