Chapter 137 The Monster and Her Teddy Bear

Chapter 137 The Monster and Her Teddy Bear
[Lana]

I smirked, tugging at his shirt with eager, impatient fingers, feeling a rush of excitement as I took the lead. I pushed him back toward the bed, climbing onto his lap with a mischievous grin. "That’s more like it," I chirped, leaning down to kiss him hard, my lips demanding as I nipped at his lower lip, giggling again at his sharp intake of breath.

My hands roamed over his chest, exploring every inch with a curious, almost innocent delight, even as I ground my hips against him, feeling his hardness beneath me. "Mmm, you’re so warm," I whispered, my voice breathy, like a girl marveling at a new toy. I tugged his shirt off completely, tossing it aside with a dramatic little flourish, then leaned down to press soft, teasing kisses along his collarbone, my tongue darting out to taste his skin.

His hands slid up my thighs, hesitant at first, but I grabbed them, guiding them to my hips with a cheeky smile. "Don’t be shy now," I teased, rocking against him, feeling the heat building between us. I slipped my fingers under the waistband of his pants, tugging them down just enough to free him, my eyes widening playfully as I took in the sight. "Oh wow," I breathed, biting my lip with an exaggerated little gasp, playing up the moment.

I shifted, positioning myself over him, and slowly sank down, taking him in inch by inch, letting out a soft, dramatic whimper as I adjusted to the stretch. "Ohh, that’s... a lot," I murmured, my voice high and breathy, like I was overwhelmed, even as I started to move, setting a rhythm that was all mine. My hands braced against his chest, fingers splaying wide as I rode him, my movements a mix of eager and teasing, like I was testing how much I could push.

His breath hitched, hands tightening on my hips, but I kept control, leaning down to kiss him again, my hair falling around us like a curtain. I nipped at his neck, then lower, finding his nipple and biting down just enough to make him groan, a delighted little laugh escaping me at the sound. "Did that hurt?" I asked innocently, batting my lashes before doing it again, reveling in his reaction.

The heat built fast, my pace quickening as I chased that edge, my gasps turning into little whines of pleasure. When release hit, it was sharp and sweet, rolling through me as I cried out, a high-pitched sound that echoed in the quiet room, my body trembling over him. I felt him follow, his grip on me tightening as he let go, a low sound rumbling from his chest.

For a moment, I stayed there, catching my breath, a shy smile tugging at my lips as I looked down at him, feeling oddly exposed despite taking the lead. But then, as reason crept back, familiar discomfort washed over me. I couldn’t stand having someone so close when I felt raw like this—a wall slammed into place between us.

"Sleep on the couch," I said suddenly, my tone sharp as I slid off him, pushing at his chest. My voice left no room for argument.

He looked at me in confusion, hurt flashing across his features. "Did I do something wrong?"

"I don't share my bed. Never have, never will," I answered curtly, avoiding his eyes. "No exceptions."

He seemed about to speak, but ultimately just sighed, grabbing a blanket and walking silently toward the living room. I lay back on the bed, relaxing as I reclaimed my space. This sense of safety in solitude was a habit forged over so many years—immediate distance after closeness.

I woke in the middle of the night, finding myself unable to return to sleep, my mind circling around Cedric's presence. I rose quietly and walked to the living room, finding him sleeping restlessly on the sofa.

Cedric's sleep was clearly troubled; his body trembled slightly, sweat beading on his forehead. Through our mate bond, I felt waves of fear and pain washing over me, making me frown at this uncomfortable emotional connection.

His body temperature rose, becoming feverish under the influence of his nightmare. Even in sleep, his face was contorted with pain and struggle, as if fighting an invisible enemy.

He suddenly jolted awake, sitting upright with his chest heaving. He looked around, momentarily disoriented.

"Just a nightmare," I heard myself say, my voice unusually gentle, starkly different from my typical coldness. I wasn't sure why I was comforting him—perhaps the mate bond made it impossible to completely ignore his suffering.

Cedric looked at me with surprise, clearly not expecting me to appear in the living room concerned about him. His breathing gradually steadied, and he instinctively leaned closer, resting his face against my hand. His skin burned, much hotter than a normal human's.

My palm emitted a faint glow, one of my rarely used abilities that could soothe emotions and calm fears.

"This is one of my abilities," I explained. "I can calm emotions, and also... see more."

His gaze became focused, curiosity seemingly overriding his fear of the nightmare. I felt dark power surging within me, my eyes turning deep black, fingers gently caressing his temples.

"Let me see what troubles you," I whispered, my voice hypnotic. I rarely cared about others' nightmares, but his pain transmitted through our bond, making it impossible to ignore.

Black energy extended from my fingertips, connecting to Cedric's forehead as I slipped into his memories. Initially blurry images gradually sharpened—I saw a suburban house, 12-year-old Cedric alone with his foster father.

The scene focused on a specific night: young Cedric confirming they were alone in the house. I clearly watched him deliberately starting a fire in the kitchen: tipping over an oil pan, throwing matches toward the spilled oil.

Flames spread with alarming speed. Young Cedric calmly ensured his own escape while locking the door to the stairs. Through a window, he watched his foster father trapped on the second floor, flames consuming the man's body, his face contorted in agony as final screams echoed through the night.

Most shocking was young Cedric's expression—standing across the street, watching flames completely engulf the house, his face showing no fear or remorse, only a calm satisfaction. His eyes remained dry, not a single tear shed, as if witnessing a predestined outcome.

I withdrew from his memory, a cold smirk involuntarily forming on my lips. This firefighter who always saved people, this seemingly kind and gentle man, had such a dark past.

"So you're not so pure after all," I mocked. "You've taken a life too."

Cedric instantly understood what happened, his expression turning angry and dangerous. He grabbed my wrist with enough force to nearly bruise.

"You can't just invade someone's privacy like that!" he raised his voice, hurt and betrayal evident. He roughly swatted my hand away, turning his back to me, shoulders rigid with tension.

I raised an eyebrow, both surprised and intrigued by his reaction. I didn't expect this consistently gentle man to display such intense anger. Apparently, beneath his calm exterior lay an unknown side.

The living room fell into tense silence, only the occasional flash of red from the city's embers outside the window. I observed his tense back, reflecting on the memory I'd witnessed and his reaction.

He took that life, his foster father. Though different in method and purpose, fundamentally, we'd both ended lives, both felt that dark satisfaction.

I felt a strange kinship: Cedric had a hidden edge, making him more interesting. Perhaps he was more suitable to accompany me on my path of chaos than I thought. Someone seemingly pure yet hiding shadows was more authentic than those pretending to understand me.

"Maybe we're more alike than I imagined," I said softly, almost to myself. I stepped forward, lightly touching his tense shoulder. "And by the way, you look cute when you're angry—like a teddy bear with ruffled fur."