Chapter 30: .•12.1•.

"B-because I asked you nicely," she bit her lip. Her hands were still tightly holding onto that duvet, keeping it at chin level.

His gaze momentarily dropped to her mouth, taking notice of that small action.

"A-and because I'm scared. I haven't done this before. Any of this," she truthfully admitted after a moment, her gaze lowering as she couldn't help but feel so embarrassed. About all of it. What she'd just told him, their current position. All of it.

"You mean the sucking or the fucking part?"

Her eyes widened at the sound of that, raising her gaze to meet his. He let out a small and amused laugh at the sight of her horrified expression, making her feel even more afraid and uncomfortable.

He was...?!? No! She couldn't do that! She would rather let him kill her instead!

"In case you haven't realized yet, you're in no position to make any demands," he suddenly said, earning himself a stunned look from her.

"I wasn't d-"

"You will do as I say," he swiftly interrupted her with a cold and firm tone. "Whatever I want you to do and whenever I want you to. If I request for your neck you will give it to me. Willingly," he added.

"Same goes for the rest of you," he said after a quick glance over her covered and shaking form.

"Besides, I am doing you a favor after all, aren't I?" He told her with a raised brow, those intense and dark eyes finding hers.

She thickly swallowed.

"A-and when are you going to do that? Curing my mother, I mean," she meekly stuttered out. He said that he would do that. He didn't say when. What if he'd actually lied just to trick her into obeying him?

"We're going to pay your mother a visit tomorrow. Just to show you how willing I am to hold my end of the deal," he simply said with a small shrug. Her lips immediately parted with surprise in return.

T-tomorrow?

"Now the question is, are you willing to respect yours?" His tone adopted a playful lilt as he said that and her eyes widened again, body tensing under the covers.

Wait. Did he mean now?!?

Her blood froze in her veins, noticing that cunning smirk reappearing on his sensual lips as he stared at her in that smoldering way of his. She wanted for that bed to swallow her whole right then and there. Send her into another dimension if possible. Anywhere but there.

She noticed him move, her throat emitting a muffled whimper. She quickly closed her eyes, praying that whatever was about to happen to her would be short and painless. It would've been better if he just killed her now. At least then she would escape this horrifying nightmare.

She suddenly heard him laugh from a distance, one of her eyelids peeling open to take a peek. Noticing the complete darkness surrounding her.

"Night night, little mouse. Don't let the scary creatures bite you,"

.••.

Warmth surrounded her. She felt so peaceful, and safe. She heard herself let out a long and audible sigh, her nostrils filling with a discreet and absolutely delicious perfume with every breath that she took. It smelt so amazing. So tantalizing.

She gradually started to gain awareness, feeling that smooth warmth caressing her cheek. The palm of her hand. Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, meeting that wall of creamy smooth skin.

Her brows furrowed, wasting but a single moment to wonder what was going on before realization suddenly dawned upon her.

She froze. Body tensing with apprehension and anxiety. She didn't dare move though, slightly raising only her chin to have a timid and careful peek at the owner of that bulging and smooth pectoral.

Dark brown eyes met hers, looking almost black even in the morning light. That devilish grin immediately made its appearance onto his frighteningly handsome face.

"Well hello there, little mouse,"

She squeaked, limbs flailing in a desperate attempt to put as much distance as possible between them.

"What...?! How...?!"

She gathered the duvet close to her rapidly galloping heart, adopting a sitting position as she widely stared at him, thoroughly startled.

Nicholas didn't move a muscle, continuing to lie on his side, head propped in his hand as he watched her with mild interest and amusement.

"W-what happened? W-why was I..."

"...cuddling against me like a cute little kitten?" His brow rose as he finished that sentence for her, offering her that sly smirk of his.

"I don't know. You should ask your sleepy little self. You're the one who scooted closer,"

Her cheeks flushed at the sound of that, embarrassment flooding her.

"S-sorry..."

"Don't be. The faster you get used to me, the better. It will make our future encounters slightly less painful for you,"

Horror swiftly replaced that embarrassment as she stared at him, watching him rise himself and get out of the bed, heading straight for the bathroom.

"You should go and get dressed. We're leaving after breakfast,"