Josselyn stared at the door, closed for some time now. Kael had left her alone in the guesthouse, in this room.
"Damn it, he really left me here," Josselyn muttered, trying the door handle.
She leaned back against the carved wooden door after locking it. Her heart pounded hard against her chest.
"I can… handle this," she whispered, her breath coming unevenly.
She rubbed her arms, trying to calm herself.
"This is only temporary."
She walked to the table, pouring water into a glass with a slightly trembling hand.
"Just focus," she murmured. "This isn't the first time, right?"
She drank quickly. One gulp. Two. Then a third.
Then she stopped. Her breath caught.
"No…"
Her hand gripped the edge of the table.
"This… feels stronger than usual."
The sensation returned.
Not just heat, but something else. Something alive. Tingling. Spreading through her entire body.
Josselyn looked down, loosening the ties of her corset until it slipped to the floor.
"Stop…"
She shut her eyes, loosening the laces at her chest, trying to breathe slowly.
But the heat wrapped tighter around her.
"Why can't I control it…"
She let out a soft laugh, fragile.
"Funny. I can control poison, blood, even other people's wounds…"
Her hands trembled.
"…but not my own body."
She moved quickly to the window and threw it open wider. Cold air rushed in, brushing against her skin.
For a moment, she stood still, savoring the coolness.
"Yes… like this…"
But it did not last. The strange sensation surged back, stronger, teasing parts of her she could no longer ignore.
"I need something to stop this…"
Her thoughts began to blur. Without realizing it, a face appeared in her mind. Clear. Close, as if right in front of her.
That sharp gaze. The touch she had once felt.
"Why him…"
Josselyn shook her head quickly.
"Not now… not him…"
But the memory would not fade. It only grew more vivid. A low voice. Warm breath.
That kiss. Lips that were known to be sharp, even when they pressed against hers.
Josselyn froze. Her breath hitched.
"No…"
Her hand tightened on the table as she squeezed her eyes shut.
But that only made the image clearer. Lips pressing against hers. The way her body had responded. The way she could not resist.
"…Killian…"
His name slipped out.
Softly.
Almost like a shameful whisper. Josselyn swayed slightly, her body leaning against the edge of the table. Without realizing it, she began to press herself lightly against the blunt corner.
A soft moan escaped her lips.
"Stop…"
She bit down on her own lip.
"Stop thinking about him…"
But her body did not listen.
Her hips moved restlessly.
Her grip on the table tightened, as if she wanted to press herself harder against it.
"Why is my body like this…"
Her breathing quickened. One hand slipped beneath the half-open fabric of her dress, revealing part of her chest.
She lowered her head, her dark brown hair falling to cover her face. As her hand began to move softly, her head tipped back, a helpless sigh escaping her.
"No… this isn't enough. I need someone…"
A knock suddenly sounded.
Josselyn froze.
"Josselyn?"
That voice. She knew it.
"Open the door."
Josselyn swallowed hard.
"Howarth…"
Part of her felt a jolt of electricity race through her body, urging her to open the door. But another part of her fought desperately to hold on to her awareness.
She hurried to fix her clothes. Her breathing was still uneven. Her hands trembled as they touched the door handle.
"Don't…" she whispered to herself. "Don't do anything stupid…"
But her body felt light. Too light, as if she had lost control.
The door opened.
And there stood Howarth, his brows drawn together as he looked at her.
"What's wrong with your clothes…"
His sentence cut off.
Josselyn pulled him inside. Fast. Without thinking. The door slammed shut behind him.
"Howarth, help me…"
Their lips met. Not rough, but not gentle either. It felt demanding.
Howarth froze.
"Josselyn…"
His hands immediately caught her shoulders, pulling her back and breaking the kiss.
But Josselyn did not retreat. She moved closer instead. Her breath was hot. Her eyes locked onto his lips.
"Please… Howarth…"
His name sounded different. Soft, yet desperate.
A smirk curved on his handsome face.
"Miss me that much?" His voice was low, almost teasing. But his eyes did not smile.
"Did something happen with that man in the red hood?"
Josselyn did not answer. She only looked at him, her eyes heavy.
"…I don't know… my power…"
Her whisper was barely audible. She did not continue, because a small voice in her mind warned her to stay silent.
Howarth's jaw tightened. Josselyn stood too close to him. Now she was even brushing her nose along his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
"What do you want, Josselyn?"
His hands still held her shoulders, loosening slightly as her lips pressed against the smooth skin of his neck.
"You don't even realize what you're doing," Howarth murmured, letting her continue. His own body had begun to react to her touch.
Josselyn shook her head faintly.
"I do…"
Her breath came ragged.
"But my body won't calm down…"
Her fingers gripped his shirt tightly, her knuckles turning white. The last remnants of her attempt to stay aware.
Howarth watched her in silence.
Josselyn knew how she must look right now. Strands of hair stuck to her damp forehead. Her flushed face in the cold night. But all she could think about was the craving for touch.
She took a breath, trying to steady herself. But Howarth's gaze dropped, lingering on her half-open dress.
Strangely, instead of discomfort, she found herself subtly pushing her chest forward.
Especially when she noticed him clench his fist, his gaze still fixed there.
'Touch me…' she pleaded silently.
Howarth lifted his gaze again.
"…this doesn't look like you," he murmured.
Josselyn gave a small laugh. Embarrassed and restless at once.
'I know. I'm wondering how to end this without… touch,' she thought.
One of Howarth's brows lifted, as if responding to her thoughts. "Do you really want it?"
Josselyn was not sure if he was asking or concluding. But she nodded quickly.
"This is making me suffer more. My body won't calm down unless…"
Howarth tilted his chin slightly, as if waiting.
The throbbing deep within Josselyn pulsed like a vibration. It made her unable to hold back a soft moan. Her hand moved to the back of her neck, then slid down slowly, as if her body acted without permission.
Those amber eyes followed every movement. Feeding the growing waves of desire within her.
Driven by something she could not name, her hand pressed lightly against her chest. Her body jerked faintly, her breath catching in her throat. Josselyn stifled a sound, her heavy gaze flicking toward the silver-haired man with the low ponytail.
The corner of Howarth's lips lifted. His gaze moved between her hand and her face.
"Does it feel good?" he asked.
Josselyn bit her lower lip. "Yes. But I can't do both."
Howarth narrowed his eyes, interest flickering within them.
"You can use both your hands, Josselyn…"
"But one of my hands is here. This area feels more unbearable right now," she complained softly.
Her heart raced as Howarth's gaze followed her hand downward. Her fingers moved slowly over the fabric, as if searching for relief.
"The fabric is too thick," Howarth remarked, not looking away.
"Yes, I should take it off. But… I'm embarrassed because you're here."
Josselyn shut her eyes immediately. She wanted to slap herself for saying something so provocative. Yet she could not deny how much her body craved more each time Howarth stripped her bare with those amber eyes.
Howarth smirked. He released her shoulders.
"So I should leave the room, so you can take off your clothes and… enjoy yourself alone?"
His gaze dropped again, lingering.
Josselyn pulled her hand away from her body. She lowered her head, undoing the ties of her dress. Then she gathered her thick brown hair up, exposing the line of her neck.
With quick movements, she tied it up.
"Yes, because you won't help me," she said, trying to keep her tone steady.
Her smile almost slipped when she saw his throat bob.
"I never said I didn't want to," he replied. "You just never really asked, Josselyn."
Those words made her shift restlessly, pressing her thighs together.
'Damn it. Why isn't he stopping me?'