Kyel turned in his sleep, his arm sliding instinctively across the bed— searching.

  Empty.

  His eyes fluttered open. He stared at the space beside him for a long moment, irritation tightening his jaw. “It’s past midnight,” he muttered. “She’s still not back…”

  He exhaled sharply, turning onto his side. “Don’t tell me she’s sleeping on the couch.”

  Kyel sat up, fingers curling into the sheets. “I should go check.”

  He swung his legs off the bed—then stopped. After a pause, he lay back down, staring at the ceiling.

  “Why do I even care?” he scoffed bitterly. “I never told her to sleep outside. If she wants to, that’s her choice.”

  He turned away and shut his eyes.

  Silence.

  A moment passed.

  Then another.

  Kyel sat up again, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “…It’s cold outside,” he muttered. “She can’t even tolerate the cold. She always gets sick.”

  His jaw clenched. “Did she forget that?”

  With an irritated sigh, he stood. “I’ll just check. That’s all.”

  He left the room and walked down the stairs quietly. The dim candlelight revealed the living room. Eva lay curled on the couch, wrapped tightly in a blanket, her body unnaturally still.

  Kyel crossed his arms, forcing a stern tone. “Eva. Get up and sleep on the bed. I’ll take the couch.”

  No response.

  He rubbed his temple. “Are you ignoring me? It’s cold here—”

  “Kyel…”

  Her voice trembled—soft, breathless, fragile.

  His heart skipped. He dropped to his knees beside her instantly.

  “Eva?” His voice softened instantly. “What’s wrong? Why do you sound like that?”

  Her body trembled beneath the blanket, her breathing uneven—too fast, too shallow.

  “Let me see you,” he said quietly, worry threading every word.

  He pulled the sheet down. Her face was flushed crimson, lashes damp, lips parted as if each breath took effort. Her body trembled visibly.

  Kyel cupped her face, panic flooding his chest. “Eva… are you sick?” he whispered. “Do you have a fever?”

  He pressed his forehead to hers.

  “…No. It’s not a fever.”

  His brows knit together. “Then why are you shaking like this?”

  His voice sharpened, fear bleeding through his irritation. “Why would you sleep here when you know you can’t handle the cold?”

  Eva swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “Honey… my body feels strange.”

  “Strange?” His thumb brushed her cheek gently. “How?”

  “I feel… thirsty,” she breathed. “My throat is dry… and my body feels like it’s burning.”

  Kyel stiffened. “You were fine earlier,” he said quietly. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know,” she murmured. “I was okay… then I got hungry and ate some chocolates.”

  Kyel’s eyes narrowed. “..Chocolates?”

  “Aranel gave them to me. As a wedding gift.”

  A chill crawled up his spine.

  “Where’s the box?” he asked sharply. “Eva, where is it?”

  Her trembling finger pointed weakly toward the table.

  Kyel rushed over, grabbed the box, and scanned the ingredients.

  Cocoa extract.

  Herbal blend.

  Rose essence.

  His blood ran cold. The box slipped from his fingers and hit the floor.

  Kyel rushed back to her, gripping her face with shaking hands.

  “How many did you eat?” he demanded, fear heavy in his voice.

  “Five… maybe six,” she whispered.

  His heart dropped. “…That’s too many.”

  Eva’s fingers tightened around Kyel’s hand, her grip desperate, trembling. “Kyel…” Her voice broke. “Please… do something. My body doesn’t feel like mine anymore.”

  Panic flashed across his face.

  Kyel stood up so fast. His heart thundered violently in his chest as he rushed upstairs, his thoughts scattered, fear driving him forward.

  He burst into the bedroom, then straight into the bathroom. With shaking hands, he turned the taps, filling the tub with cold water until it sloshed against the porcelain sides. Then he ran back.

  Eva was barely holding herself together, her body shaking, breaths shallow and uneven.

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  Kyel scooped her up into his arms.

  “It’s okay,” he said urgently, forcing calm into his voice. “You’ll be fine. I’m here.”

  She clutched his shirt tightly, her heated breath brushing against his neck, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.

  He carried her into the bathroom and stepped into the tub first, the cold biting sharply into his legs. Carefully, he lowered her into the water, keeping one arm wrapped securely around her.

  “Eva,” he whispered, brushing damp strands of hair from her face, “put your head under the water.”

  She nodded weakly and submerged herself.

  When she surfaced, water streamed down her face and hair, soaking her clothes completely. The fabric clung to her skin, outlining every trembling breath. Her lashes fluttered as she gasped softly, lips parted, chest rising and falling unevenly.

  Kyel turned his gaze away for a moment, grounding himself.

  “How do you feel?” he asked quietly.

  Eva shook her head slowly, drops of water clinging to her hair. “No… it’s not working. I can still feel it burning,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

  Kyel swallowed hard. “Then—then do it again,” he said. “Put your head under again.”

  She didn’t move.

  Instead, she lifted her eyes—and looked at him. Slowly. Fully.

  Her gaze traced his soaked shirt, the way it clung to his chest, the tension in his arms as he held himself rigid. Water dripped from his hair, from his jaw, down his throat.

  Her breathing grew uneven.

  Her pulse quickened. She swallowed hard, trying to quiet the fire roaring inside her.

  “Eva,” Kyel said softly, confused and anxious. “Why are you just sitting there? Put your head under the wa—”

  She leaned forward suddenly.

  Her lips pressed against his.

  The kiss was unrestrained, needy—nothing gentle about it. She kissed him as if she were drowning, as if he were the only air left in the world. Her hands fisted into his shirt, pulling him closer, heat crashing into him all at once.

  Kyel froze, shock rippling through him.

  When she pulled back, her lips trembled, swollen, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

  “Cold water can’t stop this,” she whispered shakily. “It’s burning inside me… and only can make it stop.”

  Her forehead rested against his, her voice barely steady. “I know you’re upset with me,” she continued softly. “But please… Honey. I need you. I need touch.”

  Kyel looked at Eva, his breath shallow, his body burning with a hunger he had fought for far too long. His jaw tightened as he swallowed hard, fists clenching at his sides as if holding himself back physically pained him.

  “…Damn it,” he muttered, voice rough.

  In the next heartbeat, restraint gave way.

  He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into him, his lips crashing against hers—slow, deep, and overwhelming. The kiss carried everything he had suppressed: anger, longing, fear, desire. It swallowed her whole.

  Eva gasped as her back hit the edge of the tub, water splashing violently around them. Kyel’s hand slid into her wet hair, fingers threading through it as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss with unmistakable intent.

  Eva clung to him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders, her body responding without hesitation.

  Kyel pulled back, his breathing uneven, his warm breath brushing against her lips. His eyes searched her face, dark with restraint barely holding.

  “Eva,” he said hoarsely. “Let me ask you again… do you really want this?”

  His thumb traced her jaw, gentle despite the tension in his body.

  “Tell me now,” he continued, voice low and strained. “Because once I start, I won’t be able to stop—not until tell me to.”

  Eva didn’t look away. Her hands tightened around him as she whispered, steady and certain,

  “Honey… I want you. So don’t stop.”

  Something inside Kyel snapped.

  All restraint shattered as he lifted her into his arms, stepping out of the tub, water trailing behind them in ripples and soft splashes. The bathroom door shut with a quiet finality.

  Inside the bedroom

  He set her on her feet—but didn’t let go.

  His lips met hers again, hungry and unrestrained. Eva moaned softly against his mouth as her back hit the wall, the cool surface a sharp contrast to the heat between them.

  Kyel pressed closer, his body shielding hers as his lips left her mouth and found her neck, kissing her there slowly, possessively.

  From behind, Kyel’s fingers found the delicate knot at the back of Eva’s dress. His touch was slow now, deliberate, as if savoring the moment. With a gentle tug, the lace loosened.

  The fabric slipped down softly, pooling at her feet.

  Eva inhaled sharply, her breath hitching as cool air kissed her heated skin. She turned slightly, her hands reaching for Kyel’s chest, fingers trembling as they found the buttons of his shirt.

  One by one, she undid them.

  The shirt fell open, revealing the warmth beneath, his breath uneven, his skin damp and flushed. Eva pushed it off his shoulders, letting it slide down his arms before tossing it aside onto the floor.

  Kyel lifted Eva from the cold floor, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as water dripped from their bodies. He carried her with steady strength to the bed, laying her down with infinite care, as though she were something precious he feared breaking.

  He sat on the edge for a moment, his gaze sweeping over her now-bare form, drinking her in.

  “Eva,” he murmured, voice low and reverent, “you are beautiful… more beautiful than I ever imagined.”

  Her cheeks flushed a deep rose, eyes shy beneath his tender scrutiny.

  Kyel leaned over her, his lips brushing the soft curve of her breast before closing around the peak. He sucked gently, tongue swirling, while his hand cupped the other, fingers kneading and pinching until Eva moaned and gasped beneath him. His mouth trailed lower, kisses mapping the trembling plane of her stomach until he settled between her thighs.

  Eva’s eyes widened. “Kyel, not ther—”

  The protest dissolved into a sharp arch of her back as his tongue found her most sensitive spot, licking slow and deliberate. Pleasure crashed over her; her fingers tangled desperately in his hair, holding him there as moans spilled from her lips.

  Only when she was trembling on the edge did he pull back, breathing hard. “Now it won’t hurt,” he said softly.

  He rose just enough to push his pants down, revealing how hard he was with need. Eva’s gaze dropped and she gasped, eyes round.

  “Honey, I didn’t know you were this big.”

  Kyel smiled, a gentle curve of his lips as he leaned close again, brushing damp hair from her face. His eyes were soft, full of care. “Well, now you know.”

  He stroked her cheek tenderly. “It might hurt a little bit. But don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

  Eva met his gaze, trusting and warm. “I trust you.”

  With that, Kyel guided himself and slowly entered her. Eva gasped, nails digging into his shoulders, eyes squeezing shut against the sharp sting.

  “Does it hurt?” he asked immediately, voice tight with concern.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “I should stop now.” He began to pull back at once.

  Eva’s hands tightened on him. “No—don’t stop… and move.”

  Kyel searched her face for any hesitation, then nodded. “Then I’m moving.”

  The bed creaked softly as he began to thrust—slow, careful strokes at first. Eva gasped with each one, but gradually the pain ebbed, replaced by a warm bloom of pleasure deep inside her.

  “Kyel,” she moaned, the sound like a plea.

  He thrust again, deeper. “Say it one more time.”

  “Kyel…”

  A low growl rumbled in his chest, and his pace quickened, hips rolling faster.

  The room filled with their breathless voices, her moans and his quiet groans mingling in the quiet night.

  Eva’s back arched high as climax rushed through her, waves of pleasure pulling a cry from her lips. Kyel kissed her hard through it, swallowing every sound, until his own release followed moments later. He growled against her shoulder, burying himself deep with one final thrust as he came inside her.

  They collapsed together, breathless and sweating, hearts pounding in unison. For a long moment they simply lay there, tangled and spent.

  Then Kyel shifted carefully to her side, pulling the sheet up to cover Eva’s trembling body. He drew her close against his chest, arm secure around her, fingers trailing soothing patterns down her spine.

  He whispered against her hair, “Is your body still burning?”

  Eva smiled, nestling closer. “No… it cooled down.”

  Kyel pressed a tender kiss to her shoulder. “Good. Now sleep.”

  Wrapped in each other’s warmth, husband and wife drifted into peaceful sleep, the fire finally quieted into gentle embers.

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