Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Struggling against his vampiric instincts, Ryder removed his fangs from her neck and savored her blood on his tongue. He licked the bite clean and left a kiss on it. Their eyes met, but hers were about to close. The exhaustion caused by the sudden loss of blood was strong, and she welcomed it, slowly losing consciousness.

A drawn-out groan built in his throat. His hand raked through his black hair as he gazed at her. She was gorgeous, and not even the violet bite mark could taint her beauty. He carefully shifted her body and laid her on the pillows, covering her with a soft blanket. The air in the bedroom was permeated with the smell of her blood and arousal.

He needed a cold shower. Right now.

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When Elena awoke, the sun had set. She felt drained yet energized since her excitement about the vacation chased the drowsiness away. Stretching her limbs like a lazy cat, she opened her eyes. The bedroom was empty, safe for her, and the large window opposite her allowed her to see the stars. She smiled, shuffling to the edge of the bed.

Her steps were not as secure as they should have been. She wobbled, stopping at the steep stairs. “Ryder?” she called. “Are you here?” The entire house was dark. She couldn’t see much, and since she didn’t know where the light switches were, she was practically blind.

“I’m here. Don’t move, buttercup,” she heard his voice from the lower floor. He turned on the light, momentarily startling her with the sudden brightness. Before she got any ideas, he ran up the stairs and lent her a hand.

“I was expecting you to sleep through the night. Have you rested sufficiently?”

“I think so,” she nodded. Thanks to his help, she made it downstairs without falling and sat in one of the kitchen chairs.

“What do you want to eat for dinner?”

“Um… how about bulgogi?”

“Alright.”

He prepared the food for her, having learned the gist of it after cooking with her countless times. She ate until she was full, and he put the leftovers in the fridge.

Since she was curious about their temporary home, she padded to the glass doors at the patio and peered outside. Her hands unlocked them, pushing them open. As she walked outside, she realized how dark the woods were. The trees loomed not far from the tiny house, blacker than the night sky. In the distance, she heard howling—could it be that werewolves lived in this area? A cold gust of wind made her shiver. Despite the warm summer season, it was surprisingly cold in the mountains during the night. Ryder appeared behind her and draped a blanket over her shoulders. It was the one she had seen lying on the sofa. She grasped its edges and held on to them.

“Thank you. I wanted to take a closer look at our surroundings, but it’s… so dark.” The moonlight barely reached through the dense branches of the trees. In other situations, perhaps it would have made her uneasy, but she sensed no danger within these woods. They were peaceful, and the abundance of vegetation was a delight to her. She felt like a fish in water.

“You can see everything, can you?” she asked, sounding a little jealous.

“Yes,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “A rabbit just passed by.”

“What, really?” she laughed. When the howling in the distance returned, she decided she had spent time outside for long enough. She padded back inside, where it was warmer, and he followed her, keeping his vigilant gaze on her slightly clumsy steps. No matter how well she tried to mask it, she had not recovered yet.

“Buttercup,” he began, his strict tone revealing that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “It’s late.”

“No, it’s not late,” she whined. “I don’t want to sleep yet.”

“You’re tired.”

“I’m extremely awake.”

“You yawned a minute ago.”

“You saw?” she gaped, closing her mouth once she realized her mistake.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” he said and took her hand, leading her upstairs. “It would be a shame if you were tired tomorrow. I planned a hike to the mountain top.”

“You could carry me up the mountain. Aren’t you a strong vampire, hm?” she suggested, prompting him to roll his blue eyes.

“Where’s the fun in that?” he sent her a smirk over his shoulder.

She sighed dramatically, and once they entered the bedroom, she opened her suitcase, fetching what she would wear during the night. Helen had gifted her this particular piece of clothing—the older vampire had giggled and winked at her friend, but Elena hadn’t realized her intentions.

The young witch brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. She put on Helen’s gift, a silken nightgown, and was surprised at its small size. She pulled at the shimmering fabric, wondering why the hell it was so short. Its color was pretty, reminding her of camellias, but now that she wore it, she feared it was too risqué. The neckline was deep, revealing the soft curves of her chest and neck in all their glory.

What would Ryder say if he saw her wearing this? She flushed. It was barely long enough to cover her butt. What had Helen been thinking when she prepared this? Elena sighed and returned to the bedroom. Ryder had already changed his clothes, now wearing a more casual outfit. He sat on the edge of the bed, looking up when he sensed her arrival.

She had never seen his eyes switching colors so fast. Unsure, she lingered in the doorway, trapped by his heavy gaze. She felt like a deer in headlights, and the tension between them kept rising.

“Don’t just stand there,” he said in a husky whisper. “Come here.”

She moved, at first hesitantly, then faster until she stood right in front of him. His hungry eyes seemed to eat her whole, making her drown within their scarlet depths. His hand settled on her waist, feeling the silky fabric that hid her body. It wandered lower to her hips, where it lingered for a long time. He licked his lips, staring at her neck with a strangely focused expression as he listened to the alluring melody of her heart.

“I have never seen you wear something like this,” he commented, his raucous tone sending pleasant tingles to her stomach.