Chapter 29 Lips
Ira’s POV
Heat. At first it starts like a featherlight touch at the baseline of my hair. But then it grows hotter as the warmth spreads down to my nape.
Soft and unmistakable, even half awake I realize what it is.
Lips.
My entire body jerks as though I've just been struck by lightning. I gasp awake, my head flying off the table so fast the room blurs.
What… the question hangs unfinished in my head as I try to gather my sluggish thoughts.
Why am I this hot?
My heart races like I’m being chased. And that scent…
My vision sharpens and I freeze, finally taking in the sight in front of me.
It's Ruel but that's not what has my eyes widening another fraction.
No, it's how close he is to me… Too close. Close enough that his breath literally fans my mouth.
Close enough that I can still feel his lips on my neck.
A strangled sound escapes me as I shove my chair back so violently it screeches across the floor, the sound making my ears bleed.
I stumble out of the falling chair, slamming pitifully into the wall.
“W-what… what the hell were you doing?” I choke out, hissing while cradling the elbow that had taken the brunt of the crash.
“Why…why were you… were you sniffing me?” I stutter, unable to resist the urge to touch the spot on my neck that's still burning.
Ruel remains still. He looks like he's not listening to me at all. Then something in his eyes shifts as his jaw clenches.
“You messed up my papers,” he snaps, pointing at the table.
“What? I…what?” My words come out breathy as I try to control my pounding heart.
He gestures again, his index finger pointing at a sheet of paper with a wet patch on its edge.
At first I stare in confusion but then my face bursts into flames as I figure it out. “Oh my God.”
I grab the paper with trembling fingers. “I didn't mean to drool on it. I can clean it… air it… I…I will get it off,”
I stumble on my words trying to save myself the embarrassment but it only piles up like a tree with unending branches.
Ruel straightens, watching me tap the page with my sleeve. He says nothing, his stare nearly burning me alive.
My effort at drying the page not only proves futile but worsens it, causing a part of the edge to tear and fall off.
I lick my lips nervously, biting down on my lower lip as I slowly turn back to him.
But his eyes don't hold the anger I expect to see… no. Because those longing eyes are focused on my mouth.
Heat spreads across my skin. I quickly swipe my lips with the back of my hand, but that only seems to make him take a step forward.
Stepping back, I force myself to breathe.
Why are you looking at me like that? What?! Do I look like some grilled lamb meat to you? Fucking creepy, weird-ass Commander.
“It was a mistake…” I blurt out in annoyance. It's just a bit of drool on an insignificant sheet of paper. It shouldn't bring this much drama from….
“Why… why are you looking at me like that?” I breathe out, his dark gaze deeply unsettling me.
He doesn’t answer. But I can't pretend anymore that I don't know what he looks like.
He looks like a man starved and ready to claim. My stomach clenches as I risk a brief glance at the door.
Finally, with visible effort, he tears his gaze away. “Get out,” he mutters, his voice housing so much restraint.
“W..what?”
“Leave.” He grits out without looking at me.
I hesitate. I can feel my pulse thumping in my throat yet for some reason my brows furrow in concern for him.
“Are you… are you alright?”
He whips around so fast I flinch towards the exit.
“GET OUT,” he growls. “Get out. Before I…”
I don’t wait to hear the rest. My legs run before I tell them to and with the speed of a cheater I dash right past him, almost tripping over myself in my hurry to reach the closed door.
I fling it open, charging into the hallway…
“Ira.” A strangled growl reaches my ears and I look back, halting as my eyes widen in shock.
Ruel stands by the door, his chest rising and falling, his eyes bright gold with a hint of red so sharp I see it from a twenty feet distance.
“Come back,” his deeper, rougher voice sends cold shivers down my spine.
No. Something's not right. Ruel has never looked so… possessed.
I take a step away… then another, and another.
“Don't leave.” He says, taking one slow step forward. But I just can't ignore the hunting gaze behind his expression.
I turn… and run.
Heavy footsteps drum behind me, making my heart beat faster than he runs.
“No!” I choke, terror seizing my voice as a cold hand catches my arm. His grip is not only strong but absolute.
Before I can blink, I’m hauled backwards, straight into him. The impact knocks all breath from my lungs, but the moment his chest meets my back, his hold shifts.
His touch grows softer, steadier. As though touching me steadies him. I can't help the strange feeling of security that overshadows me when he wraps both arms around me, locking my hands in as he lifts me up.
“Put me down.” I scream, fighting the false sense of safety while I kick and twist.
He doesn’t flinch and with every long stride he takes, we get closer to the study.
“Let me go! Let me…Argh!” I cry out, using all my strength against the unyielding beast carrying me.
The guards watch us pass yet none of them interfere. Their silence fills me with dread. Anything can happen to me and no one would say a thing.
Inside, the door slams shut with a force that rattles the whole room.
He faces me. His eyes aren’t just focused on me, they appear to be lit from within with red flames. His breathing slows like he has made up his mind.
That's when he takes one step, heat rolling off him. Yet it's not uncomfortable.
What do you mean it's not uncomfortable Ira? He just snatched you like a loaf of bread and now he's cornering you into the wall.
I stumble back, pointing my finger as a last resort. “Don’t be a coward, you promised… you said you wouldn’t touch me!”
His expression remains wild, as if he’s two seconds from tearing me apart.
“I want,” he starts, his deep tone taking me by surprise.
“W.. what?” I stutter, shrinking further into the wall.
He closes the gap, his eyes falling to my lips.
“Taste.” He mutters darkly. “I want to taste your lips.”
My whole body stills.