Evie glanced at the bed and innocently nodded. But the next moment, her expression changed.

"But… why?" she asked hesitantly. "Did something happen between you and the duke?"

"No, love. Nothing happened. I simply said some kind words to him as a reminder and everything's fine now." He immediately answered with a smile. "I am needed here and since I don't want to leave you all alone in the castle, I decided to bring you here with me. Moreover, I don't want any more misunderstanding between us. Given our track record, I'm afraid that something will happen again if I leave you, so I'd better keep you close to me. This is alright with you, right?" he gave her a mischievous grin, letting her know that he was teasing her and taking the sting out of his words, just in case she felt slighted at him referencing all their previous misunderstandings with each other.

When Evie just stared at him without answering, Gavriel craned his head and moved his face closer to hers until his breath was fanning her face. A slight line appeared between his brows as he scrutinized her face. "You don't like it?" he asked, his face turned a little dark. "Is it because this room's shab –"

Gavriel choked the remaining words he was trying to say as Evie's body suddenly crashed against his. Her fragile arms wrapped around his waist as she buried her face against his chest.

And he stood completely frozen, totally not expecting this reaction from his wife at all. However, he was not one to complain and was absolutely thrilled at Evie's proactive response to him.

"It's alright with me. I like it. This place isn't shabby at all." Her voice was slightly muffled from burying her face in his chest as she responded hastily, her fingers clutching onto a handful of his clothes. "I'll stay here with you." She added softly, her voice becoming emotional.

Apart from all the heartaches she had went through, Evie had been lonely. Sitting inside her room all day, alone with no one to talk to had left her feeling so isolated from the rest of the world. She had to keep her distance from the vampires to avoid tempting them so it would be impossible for her to find anyone to speak to and be comfortable with even if days or even months pass by. One human maid or anyone she could comfortably talk to without worrying would be enough but finding that someone in this place full of vampires was close to impossible. Because even Elias only gets near her occasionally. She knew that everyone was keeping their distance for her own sake. And to compound to the problem, she could not go out, knowing that her presence alone would cause immense trouble for the peaceful vampires residing in this place.

She had tried to ignore this feeling since she left her home, telling herself that it was normal for her to feel lonely and that she could do nothing but to just endure it and get used to being alone. But it had been hard. She was naturally a people person and love to chat and be around others.

Every time Gavriel left her, the depressing feeling of lonesomeness crept persistently within her. The moment he said he did not want to leave her all alone, her heart had swelled in pleasure, thankful that she need not spend the rest of her days and nights here being confined within her room and all by herself again.

"Thank you for taking me with you." She added breathlessly, still hugging onto him tightly. "I really don't mind staying at the front lines." She pulled her upper body away from his and tilted her head to look at him when she did not hear any response from him.

And it was then that she finally realized what position they were currently in and that she was hugging him. Tightly at that.

Evie blinked and her cheeks reddened, visibly embarrassed. She snatched her hands off him and Gavriel, the statue, finally moved.

"You're not playing fair, Evie…" he complained playfully, his voice suddenly deep and husky as he moved close to her, walking her back until Evie's back hit the wall. "I am not allowed to touch you, but you're allowed to touch me whenever and wherever you want? Such unfair treatment, my dear wife… tsk, tsk, tsk…" his voice was now ragged with desire and despite her already being cornered, he still didn't stop advancing in tiny, measured steps.

"Now look what you did…" he whispered as he settled his forehead against the cool wall and moved his body even closer until Evie felt something hot, hard, and long poking against her lower abdomen. "Take responsibility, love…" he added in a pained and rough tone as he pressed himself against her.

The way his breath snagged, and the tortured sound of his voice made Evie looked slightly alarmed.

"Are… are you alright?" she asked, worried. And he could not help but let out a quick amused laugh as he heard the genuine worry in her voice.

"No. I'm not alright." He continued teasing her, wanting to see how she would react. He would never be bored of her and her reactions.

Her alarm intensified. She reached out for his face and the warmth of her palms cradling his face fanned that fire that was blazing within into an inferno. His member swelled and twitched, as her gaze widened when she looked down involuntarily. She did not know where to fix her eyes – either down there or to keep it locked on his face.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain? I should call for help."

"No, love. You're the only one who can help me right now."

"What should I do? Please tell me. How can I help you?"

Gavriel's eyes glimmered with primal fiery need. He could not believe his ears. This was his chance. He should ask her to let him touch her now. She would definitely agree since she was slightly panicking.

His desire for her was so strong it nearly forced the words out of his lips. No! He cannot do that. He did not want to take advantage of her kindness. He would not go to the extent of tricking her. That was not the way he wanted things between them to develop. He wanted her to give in to him willingly and desperately, begging him to touch her… but not this way…

"Touch me." Came the hypnotic voice and Evie stilled, blinking.

Her lips opened and then closed, her disbelieving eyes fixed on his taut face and to the grey fire in his bright eyes that seemed like a lure more potent than any potion existed.

"Touch… touch you… where?" she swallowed hard.

He bit his lower lip and released it very slowly. He retracted one hand that was against the wall, without averting his gaze from hers, never blinking. His hand moved towards his trousers, to the pulsing and hot bulge that had been insistently prodding at her.

"Here, love."

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AN: Don't forget out goal my dear readers. Bring this book to top 20 until Sunday and I'll give 4 chapters mass release on Monday. ^^