Chapter 182 Hiding
Gavriel was still breathing hard, muscles tense, trying to steady himself as she slowly released him. But Althea didn’t move away. She stayed on her knees between his thighs, her hands resting lightly on them, eyes locked with his in a way that made heat coil low in his stomach again.
He brushed his thumb across her swollen lower lip, wiping a faint trace of him there. The soft smear made his jaw clench all over again.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he muttered, voice rough and deep.
Althea only smiled faintly, leaning in to kiss the inside of his thigh. The small touch made his entire body tighten. He let out a shaky exhale as she trailed soft kisses upward, her lips warm against the sensitive skin.
“Althea…” he warned, though it sounded more like a plea than a real warning.
She rose slowly from her knees, her hands sliding up his stomach and chest as she stood.
Gavriel followed every inch of her movement with hungry eyes. When she reached his face, he grabbed her waist and pulled her close, his breathing still uneven.
“You swallowed all of me,” he murmured against her lips, the heat in his voice unmistakable. “Every drop.”
Althea nodded once, eyes half-lidded. “I wanted to,” she whispered.
Something dark and possessive flashed in his gaze. He cupped her jaw and kissed her hard, tasting himself faintly on her tongue. The kiss turned deep, slow, hungry, his hand sliding down her back until he gripped the curve of her hips, pulling her flush against him.
He broke the kiss, murmuring against her lips, “Now it’s my turn to taste you.”
But Althea wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against his chest. “But I still have my period.”
He almost forgot about it and he released a heavy sigh.
Althea chuckled softly and hummed. “Don’t worry. Tomorrow you can claim me properly. By then, it will be over.”
She gave him a small smile and muttered, “Come on, let’s get cleaned up and have dinner.”
Gently, she guided him toward the cleaning area. Gavriel’s hand lingered on Althea’s back as she guided him. Althea carefully helped him rinse, her hands brushing his skin, and he found himself staring at her, captivated by the way she seemed both gentle and deliberate in every movement.
Once they were clean, they dressed in simpler clothes. Althea’s fingers brushed over his chest as she adjusted the collar of his shirt, and he caught her hand, holding it for a moment before letting her go.
There was a quiet intimacy in these small, domestic gestures, the kind that felt strange after the intensity of earlier moments but also grounding.
By the time they were ready, Melva and the maidservants came knocking and entered. They arranged the table in the bedchamber, a small but elegant spread of dishes ready for them.
Althea took a seat next to Gavriel and picked up the serving spoon and carefully placed a small portion of food on his plate before sliding it closer to him. “Here, try this,” she said, her voice soft but with a quiet confidence. Then, almost shyly, she picked up a fork with a bite of food and fed it to him.
Gavriel paused mid-bite, staring at her. The act, simple as it was, made something stir deep in him. He swallowed the food, his gaze narrowing slightly. There was something… off.
Something about the way she looked at him. He chewed slowly, forcing himself to remain composed, and then leaned back slightly, studying her.
“Althea…” he began. She looked up at him, and he directly asked, “Are you hiding something from me?”
She blinked, and he noticed that small hesitation flickering across her face. “Hiding… what?” she asked, keeping her voice light.
“You’ve been… distant. You put a wall over your emotions Althea,” Gavriel said, leaning slightly forward. “And there’s a weight in your eyes, something I don’t see often. After your conversation with Zander, I can’t help but feel you’re holding back. Tell me the truth.”
Althea’s hands froze on her lap for a heartbeat. She looked down at the table, then slowly back at him. There was honesty in her eyes, yet an underlying conflict. “Just that…”
She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and said softly, “I want to serve you like this. I wanted to do more for you, Gavriel.”
His face darkened. “Don’t act like this will be our last night together,” he replied firmly. “Because that will never happen. I already told you — no matter what happens, you’re mine. And I’ll always find a way to keep you by my side.”
Althea smiled at his certainty, but before she could say anything, she yelped in surprise when Gavriel suddenly scooped her up and settled her gently on his lap.
With his arm around her waist, he picked up a piece of food and brought it to her lips, feeding her the way he often did. “Here. Eat,” he murmured. “You worry too much. Didn’t you just tell me to trust you, that you’ll come back to me?”
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a quiet promise. “And even if you don’t… I’ll definitely come to get you.”
The room was quiet except for the soft clink of utensils. Gavriel kept Althea on his lap, feeding her slowly, refusing to let her worry. Every now and then, he brushed his thumb against her cheek while staring at her.
They had been eating like that for several minutes when a hurried knock echoed through the door.
Gavriel didn’t bother hiding the edge in his voice. “Come in.”
Candice stepped inside, her expression tight and serious. She bowed slightly before facing them. “Your Majesty, Lady Althea… I’m sorry to disturb your meal, but this is urgent.”
Althea instinctively shifted, ready to stand up, but Gavriel’s arm wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly in place. He didn’t even look bothered that she was still on his lap.
“What is it?” he asked.
Candice hesitated for only a breath before she spoke. “I contacted my father. He finally responded. And… I found out something important. Something you both need to hear.”
Gavriel’s eyes narrowed. “Speak.”