{Music Recommendation: Not about angels ~ Birdy}
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To my beloved readers,
First, I want to apologize for disappearing without a heads-up. I had to leave for a month for my national service and thought it would be an easy fit but I ended up in a place with barely any internet and even less inspiration.
I left the camp battling depression and messed-up sleep pattern, and it's been a fight to keep going. But today, I finally opened my books again, and your comments… they reminded me why I write. They helped me pick up my pen once more.
I hope I'm not too late to return to this space we've built together. I've missed you all- and the worlds we've shared, more than I can put into words.
P.S. A little good news on the side: The Lady Is Mine is now officially contracted exclusively under Webnovel! \o/
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Jenna wished sleeping would be as easy as Rhane's saccharine sweet voice made it sound. How could she sleep when her heart was racing more than a horse in fleeing mode? Even if she forced her heart to be at ease, what about her lips that had just tasted the ambrosia from the heavens?
The only explanation she could give to the fleeting pleasure of this man's lips on hers. On her! Fully awake and aware, not drunk or still sober. Jenna was torn between wishing she was drunk and wishing Rhane hadn't stopped.
Why did he stop?! Jenna shook her head, that wasn't what she wanted to think! She was supposed to be stubborn and maybe try to punch his guts when he tried to ki—
Jenna froze in mind and body when she felt a strong hand that obviously belonged to Rhane pinning her right calf to the bed. Before she could jump up and glare, his chill timbre voice made goosebumps surround her like dandelions across a meadow.
"If you don't stop moving your legs, I'll be pushed to spread them to my liking," Rhane uttered the words like shame no longer existed. Even in the dark, his lazy gaze swept athwart Jenna's body like she was some kind of sin-offering and he could consume her by just staring.
Jenna swallowed audibly, she could feel Rhane's strength just by the way he curled his palm around her leg and wouldn't let go. She'd forgotten Rhane was still beside her, and her not-so-quiet inner ruminations concerning a mere goodnight kiss left her shifting and adjusting on the bed like one with stomach issues.
Now with her leg trapped under Rhane's grip, Jenna had her mind cleared up and ready to sleep. She wasn't sure, but something about the way Rhane held her made her hear distant warning bells at the back of her head. She didn't need to be told twice what the warning was about, as Rhane was already stating his intentions without shame.
Rhane exhaled softly, one that was followed by a dry chuckle. Without letting go of the leg he held like a prize or a threat, he adjusted his body, moving his upper body, causing him to lean closer to Jenna.
"If I knew a mere kiss would get you this steamed up, I'd have done that a long time ago, with you not drunk. I mean." Rhane brushed his thumb on her mushy leg, a faint grin graced his lips in the dark.
Jenna tried to push her leg away from Rhane, she didn't like how he held her and even worse how the words dripped from his lips every time he spoke. It was making her stomach do things she didn't like, and it wasn't hunger. Jenna knew it was no use moving but she tried anyway and got the expected result. Nothing.
"Let me go," Jenna heard her croaky voice and felt really ashamed of herself. In her ears, it sounded like her need to be held and touched was glaring, and that alone embarrassed her.
"All you had to do was ask," Rhane said smoothly, letting go but not before taking a pinch of her skin. When he heard the soft wince from Jenna, his grin widened.
Jenna turned her head and glared, "Did you have to do that?"
"Wanted to let you know you weren't dreaming," Rhane replied, pushing the pillow below the back of his head, then placing his hands behind his head while staring at the ceiling. "The kiss was real, Jenna, I kissed you."
Jenna felt it again, the jump and tumble in her stomach that made her want to lift her legs and spread them in a way that wasn't befitting for a lady of her status. She bit her lower lip and sighed internally.
Damn Rhane!
Jenna cursed in her mind, choosing to use her hands to rub her stomach instead of letting her intrusive thoughts win. All she knew was that Rhane would probably be the end of every etiquette class her father threw loads of cows and farms just to get for her.
"I wasn't awake because of the kiss," Jenna began after clearing her throat. She tried to sound authoritative and still in control, knowing very well that she was no longer holding the leash of her self-control.
Rhane hummed, crossing one of his legs over the other, "Then why are you awake, Jenna?"
"Stop calling my name!" Jenna blurted out. She didn't like how it sounded when he said her name. It made her want to get on her knees and surrender to him! A man! She shouldn't be deceived by letting a man ruin her again, but she didn't want Rhane to know any of that. He didn't have to know what his words and actions did to her. Rhane can't control if he isn't aware! Yet, Jenna had lost it when he said it again.
Rhane didn't move from his position, he simply asked, "Why?" He waited for a response but none came. "What should I call you if not your name?"
Jenna didn't know either. She closed her eyes, pressing her lips together.
"Do you prefer master then?" Rhane asked, "I am courting you as a woman right now."
A scoff involuntarily slipped Jenna's lips, and she coughed, "Court? You make me sleep together with you while you're under the sheets undressed and you say vulgar things that would never impress but rather spite a woman. Then you kiss and touch my body- is that how to court a woman?"
Rhane nodded, even though Jenna could barely see his gesture. "That is how to court a woman as stubborn as you, Milady," he remarked, mischief in his voice.
Jenna shifted her body gently, she hadn't moved since Rhane grabbed and left her leg. Until now, she didn't realize how awkward she was sitting on the bed, and her sides were beginning to hurt.
"I'm not stubborn," Jenna grumbled, pushing the pillow to her side before laying back down.
Rhane raised his brows, "Exactly what a certain stubborn master whom I know very well will say." This time he glanced at Jenna, and when he confirmed she was now curled around her pillow, he smiled. "Now back to my question, why aren't you sleeping?"
"Maybe I'm going to sleep if you stop talking to me!" Jenna retorted, her voice sounding a little edgy. She was annoyed, and she didn't know the reason for the annoyance. Angrily, she pushed her body in an attempt to move further away from Rhane, in the process causing the cover to slip from her body.
Turning around to grab the cover was Jenna's undoing. As she moved her leg to turn, Rhane's hand was reaching to pull the cover to her, and in the quick moment, his hand brushed against her lower stomach.
Subconsciously, Jenna shuddered, rocking her hips up in a hungry attempt to let her core meet Rhane's arm.
Bloody whore! Jenna cursed herself loudly in her mind. Tightening her eyes shut, she waited for Rhane to tease her, but in return, she felt the soft silk cover wrapping her body gently.
"All you have to do is ask," Rhane said with a serious voice, "Or at least accept what you feel." He let go of the cover and turned his body to the side.
"You should really sleep now, love. I need to rest," Rhane said with a deep tired sigh before closing his eyes that were heavy with sleep.
Jenna's eyes remained closed, and she listened to Rhane's soft breathing. Unlike his rough features, he breathed really softly. If only she could force herself to fall asleep so easily when every part of her body was fully awake and ready.
It was going to be a night of torment, Jenna concluded with a tired sigh.