a's

but the look in his eyes made it clear-he would accept n

as our guardian at the ch

fury, it kind of felt both. I so desperately wanted to bask in his warmth but I held it in. I can not be

nowhere in the room. It was as if he had disappeared into thi

er but assured us he'd be there to see us off in the morning. I kept replaying every moment since I met him, tryin

ed, and she made a joke-something I'd never seen her do before. I just wished Adeline had a sense of h

e marriage? As I glanced around the dinner table, the questions swirling in my head made Killian's absence feel even heavier-almost like it had a presence of its own. I hadn't h

r smile unusually vibrant. Everyone looked curious as

e added, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. She lo

mor her. When we finally

Nicolai exclaimed, his vo

transformed. "Nicolai,

her wore a strange expression, somewher

nd plum blossoms. At its center sat an antique Yixing teapot. Her qipao shimmered with a blend of modern elegance and Ming D

wed sl

ing Dynasty, a time when tea

red hot water into the teapo

for enhancing the flavor of tea." Ah, now it made sense. The teapot m

ct lesson. In the Ming Dynasty, brewing tea was a ritual and a symb

sing the tea leaves

moment of reflection. Scholars brewed tea while

mall porcelain cups, its f

d serenity. Sip and imagine a scholar's garden-bamboo swayin

the room seemed particularly excited. Stil

Franny whispered,

it," I rep

It was a unique experien

xcusing themselves, citing sleepin

ortlessly as he kissed. But sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned, an unsettling feeling nagging at the back of my

en. As I grabbed a bottle from the fridge, I froze and the water bottle slipped

me, dizzying and intoxicating. My heart p

voice sent shivers down my spine. My body stiffened

gather my thoughts, his fingers lightly graz

re surged through me, and my

hispered, my v

ear, his deep tone vibrat

ong my neck. Goosebumps erupted across my skin, a

ng-anything to stop this. My mind screamed at me to push

d out, clinging to the onl

could explain this to you." His lips brushed down my neck, trailing to my should

"And I don't care." His voice was raw, filled

ut the feel of his lips and hands against m

ou one chance. Think carefully.

tband of my shorts. Every nerve in my body was on fire, caught between the dange

stammered, my voi

could

lks in." His voice w

on't.

. His fingers slipped just beneath the waistband of my shorts, and my abdominal muscles clenched in anticipati

and before I could stop myself, the answer spilled out. "Ki

he demanded, his vo

es