His kiss was rough and clumsy, but there was a touch of caution, afraid of accidentally sinking his fangs into my lips. My eyes softened before I slowly closed them, melting in his lips and embrace. Sam… my lord, my prince, my husband. I never realized how much I missed him until now, and I could not help but tear up. I'm glad that he returned.

Sam hissed as I drew away, resting his forehead against mine. He seemed agitated as he grumbled through his gritted teeth, "my blood is boiling." Anger was what I heard in his voice.

​​

"Are you afraid you will end up hurting me?" I asked, recalling how I had to persuade him during our first night together. I didn't feel like he didn't want me. Instead, there was this desperation of needing something he couldn't have.

He leaned in and left a quick peck on my lips. "No, I can and I'm capable of hurting you just to get what I want, Lilou," he whispered under his breath, "however, your damn Sam kept on interfering with me."

My brows furrowed and frowned. "You mean you're interfering with yourself?" I didn't truly understand his words since Sam and Hell were the same, especially in moments like this. It reminded me that they were truly just one.

Back then, Sam had the same worries. Although he was now saying he didn't mind hurting me, he still wasn't doing that. His words were aggravating, but that's just that.

"You don't understand, wife." Sam drew back, creating a distance between us so I could see his pair of crimson eyes glinting menacingly. His gaze traced down my collarbone as if his sharp gaze alone could rip my nightgown from its neckline down.

"The voices inside my head are ripping my brain apart, shredding it piece by piece, its…" He trailed off and narrowed his eyes when I covered his ear and offered a subtle smile.

"Don't listen," I requested, shaking my head. I knew this attempt was futile, but his anger sounded so real as if he was truly in pain. But this was all I could do.

"Can you still hear them?" I raised my brows, a little embarrassed to ask, despite knowing the answer.

Sam just stared at me in silence before his lips parted and a low voice tickled my ears. "I can, although, they're not as loud as before."

I smiled subtly. "Can you drink my blood?" I asked, tilting my head as a great idea suddenly came into my mind. But he answered with a quick and cold, "no," and I frowned.

Why won't he? I narrowed my eyes until they closed into slits, obviously displeased at his refusal.

"I refuse your refusal, my husband," I asserted after staring, glaring at him. "I'm not asking you to drink my blood, I'm ordering you as your agitated wife whom you left without a word."

"Didn't you forgive me for that already?"

"I had to bathe twice in a row. Are you saying you won't ask for my forgiveness for that second offense?" My voice was firm, unyielding to any refusal he would give.

Sam cocked his head, his eyes gaze at my neck. "Sinking my fangs is easy, but taking it out?" he snickered as he raised his gaze and met mine. "I won't stop until I drain the blood out of you," he stressed as his fangs slowly let themselves known.

"Are you underestimating me?" I clicked his tongue, annoyed. "I can stop you by force. Also, didn't you already drink my blood from my finger earlier?"

"That paltry amount —" I abruptly stopped him by leaning in and leaving a peck on his lips. Goodness, I never thought we'd truly go back from scratch, although he had become more stubborn.

"I want your fangs deep in my neck, now," I whispered in his head before slightly drawing away. "I'll stop you, even if it means breaking your bone or two."

Sam hissed. "Let's see whose bones will break." He ground his teeth, sucking air through his gritted teeth. His deep exhale caressed my skin as he traced my shoulder with the apex of his nose. I heard him whispered, "don't regret this," before my body shuddered just by the touch of his tongue on my shoulder.

I held my breath as I sensed him opened his mouth. The tip of his fang touched my shoulder, sinking through my skin, making me clutch his shoulders tightly. My back arched as I shuddered under his tight grip.

'Sam,' I whispered internally, but I could only hear his large gulps resonating in my ear. 'My husband, can you hear me?' but there was no response from him.

I didn't give up. I kept whispering in my mind, hoping my voice would reach him.

"Husband… I love you," I said in my mind, heart, and aloud. He froze on the spot as a sigh of relief escaped my lips. Sam slowly pulled his fangs away, licking my shoulder gently as he loosened his stifling grip.

"Can you still hear them?" I asked once he drew his head back, smiling from ear to ear. If I remember correctly, Sam would be able to hear my thoughts after drinking my blood.

Sam quirked a brow as he brushed my cheek with the back of his fingers. "So that's your plan?" he asked, letting out a low chuckle.

I nodded and excitedly spoke inside my head. "From now on, you will only listen to my voice, alright?" His expression was unreadable, but his gentle touch on my cheek made me want to believe he was relieved.

"Only if you speak nonstop," he said, "but it's oddly quiet now."

I grinned, satisfied. "Really?" I giggled, repeating my words inside my head. "So, will you give me a reward?"

"My wife, do you know I can hear your words two times if you keep speaking it from your lips and mind?" he cocked his head, and I giggled, wanting to tease him.

"Doesn't that make it more effective?

He smacked his lips, shaking his head, and sighed. "What a foolish wife. So what reward would suffice to make you happy?"

I pursed my lips in a thin line. He quirked a brow, narrowing his eyes into mere slits as if trying to figure it out before me.

'Guess,' I teased in my head, and he hummed as a response. But disappointment soon resurfaced on my face when he remained silent for too long.

Was he really that dense? "Do you love me?" I inquired, clicking my tongue in annoyance. "No, did you miss me?"

"So?"

The expression on my face glum. "If you do, show…" the rest of my words flowed back in my mouth as he captured my lips, along with his words, "I was thinking, but then I realized I don't care anymore," and he deepened our kiss, already decided to conquer.