Chapter 66: The gentle kiss

“I’m not cold.”

The room was dark, the only source of light was the occasional Lightning from outside.

The rain intensified outside, tapping against the window rhythmically.

Hazel became deeply aware of the heat from the body of the person next to her. His scent - deep, clean and masculine, wafted into her nostrils, making her heartbeat uneven and making her wanting to take an even deeper whiff.

What was wrong with her tonight?

Was it because of what had just happened?

Hazel had no idea, everything just felt different to her.

So, with her mind riddled with so many thoughts, she was unable to sleep. Unwilling to disturb him, who seemed to have had a very busy and stressful day, Hazel did not toss and turn.

But, occasionally, she would shift subtly and carefully

Unbeknownst to her, Damien who was also still widely awake then also became slightly restless with the way she kept squirming on the bed.

“Not feeling sleepy?” When he finally could not take it anymore, he had to ask and Hazel froze.

“I…I can’t seem to fall asleep.” She admitted softly, not saying that it was the thought of him that was making her unable to sleep.

The darkness concealed his eyes, but it was dark, sharp and narrowed.

“I can tell.” He murmured.

Damien turned slightly to his side to face her. As an Alpha, he didn’t have a problem seeing in such a dark place. Though it wasn’t as bright as day, it was still enough for him.

“You are tense.” He pointed out.

Was it because of him? Sure enough, she was still the same Hazel who couldn’t bear to share the same space with him, but he didn’t say that out loud.

“No, I’m just cold.” She retorted and a low chuckle spilled from his lips.

“Okay, you are just cold.”

Didn’t she just say that she wasn’t cold earlier? Hazel meant one thing and was saying another.

Then, he extended his hand into the covers and his arm found Hazel’s waist, and in the next second, he pulled her forcefully towards him.

Hazel yelped, startled.

But in the next second, she had already found herself in his arms. They were so close that it was like they were breathing in the same air, his breath fanned her face making her aware of how tightly pressed their bodies were like it was stuck together.

Damien just wanted to tease her, but feeling the warmth and softness of her body, he regretted that momentary impulse of his.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

Damien suppressed the surging need within him and chuckled carelessly, “Didn’t you say you are cold? I am passing my body’s warmth to you.”

Hazel rolled her eyes, “Then what use is the quilt then?”

He shrugged slightly in the dark, “Yet you refused to use it, so I made things easier for you.” He said, still as calm as ever, but making Hazel speechless.

They were too close.

Hazel's palms pressed against his muscular chest, feeling the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat. She didn’t even know if it was her heart or his that was beating so fast, not steady at all.

She opened her mouth, then closed them back. The atmosphere was serene, she didn’t want to break the tranquility.

The lightning flashed again and for a brief second, the chamber lit up.

Then she saw his eyes up close. They were not cold and mocking like she had remembered them to be, they were dark and narrowed.

His face was so close to her, so close that if she leaned forward slightly, their lips would touch with no barriers.

“You keep staring, finally unable to resist my charm?” He threw back the same sentence she had used on him earlier.

Hasel chuckled softly, wondering how he could make such funny comments without having a change in his expression.

“What charm are you talking about? Why can’t I see anything?” She said sarcastically and a low hum left his throat.

“Then why are you holding onto me so tight?” He asked again and Hazel froze.

She glanced down and sure enough, her palm was fisting on his shirt. She hadn’t even realized.

She tried to pull her hand back hurriedly, but he caught her wrist with his other hand and held it still, pulling her even closer from her waist.

Now, there was no space left between them.

Her thigh brushed against his, and her breath mingled with his.

Then, he leaned closer and closer.

Hazel did not dodge, nor did she shift back and just waited with bated breath. According to her personality, she should have jumped back by now, but she remained still like her body was made of lead and was too heavy to be moved.

Damien leaned down slowly, then his lips brushed against hers.

It was soft, like he was testing the waters.

When she failed to react, he repeated the same thing again and on the third trial, he took her lips fully.

It wasn’t like their first kiss that had been harsh with no hint of gentleness, it was restrained and measured like he was afraid to hurt her.

Hazel’s eyes were wide with shock.

He was kissing her!

Like not the usual forceful kiss, but a gentle one.

But instead of pushing him away, she found herself slowly closing her eyes.

Then, the kiss deepened, his other hand moved from her wrist to her cheek, cradling her face like it was some sort of rare treasure.

When he pried her lips opened and entered her soft mouth, her body trembled and she gasped slightly.

Damien knew he had promised not to touch her, but he had been unable to resist, especially with her so close to him.

It had been hard and finally, he could not take it any longer.

The kiss grew even more intense, their body slowly heating up from the hotness of their tongues mingling.