Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 43: Urges of a man.

"My-my lord!" Violet stuttered hurriedly, her trembling voice barely holding any conviction. Her hand instinctively reached for the band around her neck as though to confirm it still worked properly even in water.

"I-I’m not gay!" she blurted, watching as a fleeting frown passed over Cain’s face. His body stiffened, but the expression vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual calmness.

"Really?" he asked, his voice low and measured. Leaning closer, he pulled her forward with a firm hand on the nape of her neck. "Your heart says otherwise."

Violet felt like she was unraveling. The water’s warmth wrapped around her, but there was nowhere to go—no space in the tub but on him. The scent of his skin enveloped her, making her lower her gaze as she whispered in a voice that was barely audible, "I need to rinse you—"

Cain interrupted her. "How do you do it? Satisfy your urges as a man?" His voice dropped, husky, while his fingers brushed against her back, sending shivers through her entire body—sensations she’d never experienced before and had no idea how to control.

"Don’t tell me you’ve never tried," he murmured, his lips now so close to her ear that his warm breath tickled her skin. Violet gasped, immediately clasping her thighs together and wrapping her arms around her chest as if shielding herself could protect her secret.

Her entire body trembled as he leaned even closer, his lips brushing lightly against her earlobe. "You’re more sensitive than I thought," he remarked.

"I-It’s the warm water!" she managed to stammer, her voice weak, though her heart was pounding so loudly that she was sure Cain could hear it.

"Really?" Cain whispered, his tone teasing as his lips barely hovered over her skin. "You can’t even catch your breath."

The sensation made Violet shut her eyes. Her thoughts spiraled, her body betraying her resolve. She wanted more—his lips on hers, her hands tracing his chest. A subtle warmth in her lower belly begged for something she didn’t understand but desperately craved.

"How do you take care of your urges, then? You do get them, don’t you?" He asked again, his fingers strayed lower, brushing against her waist and upper thighs, his touch a distraction that consumed every ounce of her focus.

"N-no! No-not really!" she stammered, scrambling for an answer as her mind raced for an escape. Her body jolted when his hand slid under her clothes, his fingers grazing her skin. The sensation was electric, leaving her utterly breathless.

"L-Lord Cain!" she managed to choke out, meeting his piercing gaze. His golden-brown eyes bore into hers, unrelenting, his hand trailing up her back in deliberate, teasing circles.

Her thoughts were a chaotic mess, her instincts warring with her reason. She realized, with startling clarity, that if she gave in, he would discover the truth—that she was a woman. A horrifying image of her dead body flashed through her mind, the likely consequence of her deception.

"No!" she blurted, jerking her head back. "I don’t want to be touched by another man! I’m a man!" Her voice was as fierce as she could muster, her fists clenched tightly in her lap.

The words hung in the air, the tension between them thick enough to drown in. The water still felt warm, but Violet’s heart felt cold as she met Cain’s calm gaze. His expression betrayed nothing, no frustration or anger—only the same unnerving composure as before.

"My-my heart racing? It’s because I’m terrified of you! Of what you’re going to do to me!" she added, her voice trembling as much as her body. Her words weren’t entirely a lie, and she hoped they would be enough.

Cain said nothing, the silence stretching unbearably between them. Violet shifted her gaze to the side, unable to withstand the weight of his stare any longer.

Finally, he spoke. "You should get out then, before I change my mind."

The moment the words left his lips, Violet scrambled out of the tub, her movements frantic. She didn’t care how soaked she was as she kept her gaze fixed on the floor.

"May I leave?" she asked timidly, waiting for his permission before inching toward the door.

Just as she reached it, Cain’s voice stopped her in her tracks. "Just so we’re clear—I don’t like men either."

Violet nodded vigorously, her heart still racing, before hurrying out of the room.

You don’t like men? Then am I not manly enough, the thought worried her.

I need to stay away from him. The thought burned in her mind as she made her way to her quarters. She decided she needed to attend more lectures and find ways to spend more time with the other servants.

’Maybe i can get someone else to be his personal servant,’ even though she doubted Cain would grant her the freedom. Regardless, she readied herself and stood waiting outside his door, properly dressed when he emerged.

The tension between them was suffocating. While Violet felt like she was drowning in it, Cain seemed to thrive on it. She kept her gaze down, avoiding his bare chest as he dressed. Even then, he left three buttons undone, a detail she was sure wasn’t accidental.

Cain rolled up his sleeves—a new habit—and Violet couldn’t help but notice how deliberate his actions seemed.

Breakfast was another trial. Cain’s demeanor remained calm, but Violet could feel the undercurrent of his gaze on her. She rushed through her meal, trying to summon the courage to bring up her request. Before she could, Cain gave her an order that made her freeze.

"Feed me some fruit," he said simply, gesturing to the bowl in front of her.

Her hands trembled when it became clear that he wanted her to use her hands, as she picked up a blueberry and held it out to him. When his tongue brushed the tip of her fingers, her face flushed a deep red.

Cain smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Continue."

She managed to feed him a few more before pulling back, unable to endure any longer. "I need to attend lectures," she blurted, grasping at the first excuse she could think of. "I know nothing about the supernatural world or werewolves!"

To her surprise, Cain nodded. "You can leave, as long as you’re back by evening."

The relief was short-lived as he leaned forward, mouth open, gesturing for the last berry. Violet hesitated, her eyes lingering on his tongue for a fraction too long before stepping closer to complete her task.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she resolved to find some sense of normalcy. I just need to spend time around other people. These feelings will pass.