Dai Chengfeng suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind, one arm circling her slender waist, his palm resting gently against the flat plane of her abdomen.
He rested his chin lightly on her shoulder, his warm breath brushing the side of her neck. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, he gave a soft smile—so tender it could melt ice and snow.
"Tired. Let's rest early tonight."
Liu Erlong's body trembled faintly.
The heat from his palm seeped through the thin sleeping robe, warming her lower belly, its warmth seeming to sink deep into her core.
She caught the clean, crisp scent of him—subtle soap, a hint of sandalwood, and something uniquely his: a comforting, grounding presence all his own.
She gave a tiny, almost inaudible "Mm."
Dai Chengfeng helped her to her feet, naturally taking her hand as they walked toward the bed.
His palm was broad and warm, completely enveloping hers.
Walking beside him, watching his tall, steady back, Liu Erlong felt a strange, quiet sense of belonging bloom within her chest.
The bed had already been prepared—soft silk quilts neatly turned down.
Dai Chengfeng lifted the covers for her, waiting until she settled in before removing his outer robe. Dressed only in his inner tunic, he lay down beside her.
He drew her into his embrace, cradling her head against his arm so her cheek nestled against his chest.
Liu Erlong leaned into him obediently, listening to the steady, strong rhythm of his heartbeat, feeling the warmth radiating from his chest, breathing in the increasingly familiar scent that clung to his skin.
One arm draped over her shoulders; the other rested lightly on her waist—a posture both possessive and protective, yet undeniably gentle.
He pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead, then ruffled her half-dry hair with tender affection.
"Sleep now," he murmured.
And with that, he truly closed his eyes, his breathing soon growing slow and even.
Relaxing against him, Liu Erlong should have felt peaceful—this was, after all, a moment of quiet intimacy.
Yet… inexplicably, a quiet pang of disappointment stirred inside her.
She'd only just begun to taste the sweetness of love—barely a few days had passed—and now she was utterly addicted.
Her body, newly awakened, seemed to remember everything: the brush of his fingertips, the heat of his lips, the overwhelming rush of—
Pure, transcendent pleasure.
Last night, he'd held her close until past midnight, leaving faint red marks blooming across her skin like scattered petals. So why was he so perfectly well-behaved tonight?
Could it be… that her flustered reaction this morning made him think she disliked it?
The thought twisted in her chest, filling her with quiet anxiety.
Too shy to ask outright, yet unable to ignore the restless yearning coiling low in her belly, she shifted slightly in his arms, adjusting her position.
Dai Chengfeng didn't stir. His eyes remained closed, his breathing calm.
She lifted her head just enough to study his face in the dim moonlight filtering through the window.
Silver light draped over his features like gauze—highlighting the straight line of his nose, the firm set of his lips, the sharp angle of his jaw.
His lashes cast delicate shadows beneath his eyes. He looked genuinely asleep.
Liu Erlong bit her lower lip, her teeth leaving a faint imprint on the soft flesh.
That indescribable restlessness grew stronger—like tiny currents of electricity sparking beneath her skin, gathering in her abdomen, then drifting lower.
After a moment's hesitation, she pretended it was accidental and nuzzled gently against his chest.
Her cheek rubbed softly over the fabric, tracing the contours of the muscles beneath.
Her hand, which had lain passively at her side, slowly rose and settled lightly on his waist—her fingertips barely grazing the edge of his inner tunic.
Still, Dai Chengfeng gave no sign of waking.
Disheartened, a flicker of quiet hurt crept into her heart.
But then—perhaps fueled by some sudden surge of courage—her fingers twitched. Lightly, deliberately, she traced a feather-soft line across his waist, the touch barely there through the thin cotton, yet unmistakably suggestive.
This time, Dai Chengfeng reacted.
He opened his eyes.
In the darkness, his gaze was profoundly deep—like the ocean at midnight: calm on the surface, but swirling with hidden currents beneath.
He looked down at her, his voice rough with sleep, low and impossibly tempting in the silence:
"Not asleep yet?"
Liu Erlong's heart hammered so loudly she feared he could hear it pounding in the stillness.
Her face burned, though thankfully the night hid her blush.
She forced calm into her voice, though it came out trembling slightly:
"N-not sleepy…"
"Then close your eyes. You'll drift off soon enough."
As he spoke, his arm tightened around her, pulling her closer against his chest.
His other hand rose to her back, stroking gently through the thin fabric of her robe in slow, soothing rhythms—like a parent lulling a child to sleep.
The gesture was undeniably tender, full of care… yet it shattered the fragile hope she'd secretly nurtured.
A wave of grievance washed over her.
Did he really not understand?
Or… had he truly lost interest in her?
Conflicting emotions churned inside her—shyness, disappointment, hurt, and that growing, undeniable ache low in her belly—all tangled together.
She pressed her lips together, then—suddenly—tilted her face upward and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his jaw.
It was the lightest touch—gone in an instant—like a butterfly alighting or a petal drifting onto water.
But in the hushed intimacy of their embrace, that tiny kiss struck like a pebble dropped into a still lake, sending ripples shivering outward.
Dai Chengfeng's hand stilled on her back.
Having done something so bold, Liu Erlong immediately flushed with shame. Her face burned, her heart leaping into her throat.
She buried her face instantly in his chest, her nose pressed against his solid warmth, too mortified to look at him or move again—as if hiding could erase what she'd just done.
In the darkness, every sense sharpened.
She heard his steady breath, felt the calm thud of his heartbeat beneath her ear, smelled the deepening warmth of his scent—now rich with body heat and closeness.
Time stretched, each second drawn out like silk.
Then—she heard him chuckle softly.
Next, his arms loosened around her. Instead, he lifted her chin with gentle fingers.
His thumb brushed lightly along her jawline, warm and deliberate.
Forced to look up, she met his eyes.
He said nothing.
He simply lowered his head—and kissed her.
This kiss began with exquisite gentleness, unlike the commanding intensity of that morning. It carried comfort, reassurance, and deep tenderness.
She parted her lips willingly, responding, her arms sliding around his neck, her fingers threading unconsciously into the hair at his nape.
Encouraged, Dai Chengfeng deepened the kiss.
It grew slow, lingering, intoxicating.
His hand slid from her back down to her waist, fingers tracing idle circles through the thin fabric of her sleeping robe.
His palm burned against her skin, the heat seeming to sear right through the cloth, branding her with his touch.
Liu Erlong shivered, a molten current surging from her core, flooding her limbs with warmth.
Instinctively, she arched toward him—
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