The Duke's Passion

That night, I had a dream. A dream which I didn't want to wake up to. A dream I wished it was reality as the man smiling back at me was my father.

I slowly reached out to him and cupped his jaw. He felt real and alive.

"Father," I called out softly.

I missed him. Even if this was just a dream, I was glad to see his smile once again.

"Are you happy with mother now?" I asked, but he was just smiling.

He sure was. I'm relieved.

As I was staring at him, his lips parted and mouthed something I failed to hear.

"What, Father?" I asked, but he just smiled and slowly faded.

"No…" I called out, trying to hold on to him, but to no avail.

Slowly, I opened my eyes while panting. Yet, I reckoned I'm still in a dream, as what graced my eyes was a beautiful sight to behold.

Long eyelashes, narrow pointy nose, delicate lips. With the argent hair falling freely on his forehead, covering his brows.

How dazzling.

Samael was the most beautiful man I've laid my eyes on. He looked harmless and delicate.

He may be a vampire. But he's different.

That's right. Samael was…

Sam—!

As soon as realization struck me, my eyes slowly widened. My body froze as I blinked my eyes.

Samael! What was the duke doing here? Sleeping beside me?

My breath hitched, terrified what happened when I fell asleep. Instinctively, I looked down and lift the hem of the quilt.

To my relief, I still had my nightdress. It calmed me a little, but not enough to make me feel at ease with him on the same bed as I was.

"Morning," Amid my surprised, I heard him speak languidly.

Just then, he wrapped his arm around the quilt covering me as he moved closer while pulling me closer. This was mind-boggling!

We haven't got married but we're already sleeping in the same bed! Not that I had an option, but still!

"Let me sleep a little. Its night time for me."

He muttered without opening his eyes. I held my breath, limiting my breathing as I dare not move the slightest.

I could feel my chest moving heavily. What a situation to wake up to.

I grit my teeth. Since I dare not disturb him, all I could do was stare at his enchanting facial structure.

The longer I stare, the more my breathing ease down. He seemed at peace, bearing no malice.

Unconsciously, I picked my bottom lip. Soon, our breathing synchronized in perfect harmony as my muscles relaxed.

Do I have to watch him sleep all day? If morning was night for him, how would everything work?

I spent almost the entire day in the field. Hence, I didn't know what he was doing alone in the shack.

How foolish of me to forget that they were the creatures of the night.

"Mi — milord?" I whispered, but it seemed he was fast asleep.

I gulped, taking the courage to poke him. The second the tip of my finger touched his lean cheek, I retracted it right away like I got scalded.

Yet, he didn't bulge. He was sleeping like a log.

How ironic to sleep deeply after sleeping for a hundred of years. Right… how silly of me. His mind was conscious despite being in a slumber.

"Um…" Adding some faint noise before the silence deafen me, I cleared my throat.

Should I just let him sleep and wait until he wakes up? Wait, what if he wakes up at dusk? Does that mean I have to lie here all day?

Thinking on how to slip away from his embrace, Samael suddenly pulled me closer until the apex of his nose was on my upper chest.

His breaths brushing my collarbones tickled me. I attempted to create some distance, but that slight movement caused his embrace to tighten.

The next second, I gasped upon feeling an unknown damp textured like a tongue glided smoothly on my collarbone. That alone provided a slow flick to my lower region.

I didn't understand this foreign sensation.

Adding to his consistent breaths brushing my skin, it stimulated something within me. A sensation of wanting and needing something I wasn't aware I needed in my life.

It slowly traveled further up to my neck. I held my breath as he slowly set my body ablaze.

"Mi — milord," Under my breath, I softly called out.

Alas, I didn't sound protesting. Until I heard a soft smooch which snapped me awake from the spell that was clouding my thoughts.

"Milord!" I snapped, pushing him away as I immediately jumped back to the edge of the bed.

Instinctively, I covered my chest with my arms, terrified. What had gotten into me enjoying his invasion?

Samael dragged himself to sit up. His eyes were half-opened, confused as he scratched the back of his head.

When he turned his head in my direction, he tilted his head to the side.

"Morning, My Lady." He grinned until his eyes closed. "I mean, my fiancee."

He corrected, before he collapsed on the bed once again.

"Ahh… just when I was having a beautiful dream of making babies."

He mumbled lazily, rolling on the bed until his back laid flat on it. I watched in hostile as he slowly opened his eyes and he spread his arms.

"Well, reality is better, anyway."

He chuckled before he yawned. Meanwhile, I scrutinized his indifferent mien.

He didn't know? I wondered, squinting my eyes suspiciously.

"What are you doing there, my little fuzzy bunny?"

After he stretched his arm, he looked at me and furrowed his brows.

"Don't worry. I'm marrying you, anyway. So, we should practice sleeping in the same room and sharing the same bed." He said.

His last remarks rendered me speechless. Practice? I am aware of our arrangement, but sharing on the same bed before marriage was a different case!

Samael licked his lower lip and his brows creased even more. He smacked his lips as if tasting something on his tongue.

The next moment, he grinned and glanced back at me. Again, he sat upright.

With his fingers on his lips, he kissed it and said, "Delicious breakfast. Thank you very much!"

I gasped, holding my hands closer to my chest, and looked at him in dismay.

Suddenly, Samael furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes.

"What are you doing, milord?" I asked.

He was just staring at me. Why?

"I'm trying to see if I can see anything beyond that underwear, obviously." He answered in a knowing tone.

Upon hearing his daring response, I gasped in horror as I pulled the quilt from him and covered everything I could. What kind of abomination I woke up to?

"Haha! I'm kidding!" Satisfied, Samael laughed heartily before he dragged himself out of the bed.

My gaze fell from his head in which he ran his fingers through his unruly argent hair. Slowly, my eyes traveled down to his sharp jaw, then to his neck, and to his luscious collarbones that were simply enticing.

Momentarily, the sight of him dazzled me as my eyes shoot down to his bare chest. Then… down to those perfectly honed muscles in his abdomen.

I was aware he wasn't wearing anything to cover his top. However, now that he was standing, exhibiting what he could offer, I sat here slacked-jaw.

"You should be as generous as I am, Lil. You don't have to struggle to see what you desire to look at."

He teased, smirking as he spread his arms before slowly turning around.

Was he enjoying showcasing himself more than his audience?

"Haha!" After making one turn, Samael laughed and shook his head lightly.

Resting his hands on his lean waist, he grinned and winked.

"You know you only need to say it to have a taste." Like a devil, he teased before laughing evilly.

He then started walking towards the other door, which I haven't got the chance to see yet.

When he was at the door, a sudden urge to defend myself overflowed.

"Wear something, milord! No one wants to see you naked!" I urged before he could close the door completely.

As soon as I did, Samael peek his head back.

"What? You want to see more?"

I coughed, casting him an eye full of disdain.

"Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble but, no..."

I heaved a sigh of relief as he trailed off. I thought he would tease me even further and who knows he might give me a heart attack this time.

However, the way the side of his lips curled mischievously made me feel restless. At the back of my head, he was planning something.

"… no, I'm not sorry!"

"Stop!"

Just as I thought, Samael suddenly jumped back to our room with his hands held high. Instantly, I covered my eyes as his bare top had the power to make someone commit moral sins.

With my eyes covered, I heard him chuckle and exclaim, "Haha! Kidding. What a fun morning!", before I heard the door closing.

Slowly, I anxiously peeked through the gaps between my fingers. I heaved a sigh of relief seeing he was gone.

Patting my chest to calm my violent heart, I whispered — horrified.

"What kind of devil are you marrying, Lil?"