A Dangerous Obsession
Chapter 74 - 73

Chapter 74: Chapter 73

He burst into laughter, deep and unrestrained.

The sound wasn’t warm or inviting. No, it was as cold and sharp as shattered glass, slicing through the stillness of the room.

I flinched, my head snapping toward him. His eyes gleamed with amusement, a dark, mocking light that made my stomach churn.

"Why is my beautiful bride staring at me like that?" he drawled, his tone dripping with derision. The remnants of his laughter danced on his lips as he leaned back in his chair, the picture of unbothered arrogance. He might as well have been lounging on a throne, utterly unbothered by the tension he’d so casually ignited. "Do you think I longed for something as insipid as a... mother bond?"

The words hit like a slap. Whatever fleeting sympathy I’d felt for him—some ridiculous, misplaced flicker of understanding—evaporated in an instant, leaving a bitter taste behind. How could I have been so stupid?

My fingers curled around the edge of the blanket, gripping it so tightly my knuckles ached. My jaw clenched as I fought to keep my voice steady.

"You must think we’re fools, Your Majesty," I said, my words laced with venom, each syllable carefully measured to mask the trembling in my chest.

His smirk widened, maddeningly confident. He tilted his head, studying me like a cat might a mouse. "There isn’t a single moment where found you stupid," he corrected smoothly.

That smirk of his—it was infuriating. And yet, to my utter humiliation, I felt my cheeks heat under his gaze. My traitorous body reacted before my mind could stop it, a blush spreading like wildfire across my face.

He noticed, of course. How could he not? His smirk deepened, the gleam in his eyes turning wicked, as if my reaction were some kind of victory he intended to savor.

Damn him.

I quickly turned my head, pretending to look at something—anything—else. "Don’t you have something important to do, Your Majesty?" I asked, my voice sharper than intended. "Surely you have better things to do than waste your time in my bedchamber."

The air shifted, and before I could react, his hand was under my chin, tilting my face back toward him. His touch was firm but not rough, his fingers cool against my skin.

"Look at me," he said, his voice softer now, almost coaxing.

Reluctantly, I met his gaze. His eyes, sharp and piercing, bore into mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us.

"I haven’t left this chamber in days," he said, his tone low and deliberate. "I haven’t eaten. I haven’t slept."

I blinked, caught off guard by his admission.

"If there’s anything important right now," he continued, his hand still holding my chin, "it’s you."

The sincerity in his voice was unexpected, disarming. It wasn’t a grand declaration of love or devotion—it was something simpler, something raw.

I stared at him, unsure how to respond. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, torn between disbelief, annoyance, and something I couldn’t quite name.

"You shouldn’t say things like that," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into that maddening smirk again. "And why not?"

"Because I don’t believe you," I said, pulling my chin free from his grasp. "You’re not the type to put someone else before yourself."

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "You wound me, darling," he said, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. "But you’re not entirely wrong."

I rolled my eyes, the action making my head spin slightly. The lingering effects of my fever still clung to me, leaving me weak and unsteady.

"Rest," he said, his tone commanding once again. "We’ll talk more when you’re stronger."

"I don’t want to rest," I snapped, though the weight of exhaustion in my limbs betrayed my words.

He stood, towering over me, his presence as imposing as ever. "You don’t have a choice."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. He was right. As much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t have the strength to fight him.

"Fine," I muttered, sinking back into the pillows.

He smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Good girl."

I glared at him, but he was already turning toward the door.

"Sabastine," he called out, and the door opened almost immediately. Sabastine stepped inside, bowing low.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Ensure she has everything she needs," the Lycan King said, glancing back at me. "And bring something else for her to eat. She needs her strength."

Sabastine nodded, his expression calm and composed as always. "At once, Your Majesty."

The Lycan King turned back to me, his gaze lingering for a moment before he left the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

Sleep tugged at me, relentless and unforgiving. I tried to fight it—but my body betrayed me as it always did, sinking deeper into the plush mattress.

The room’s silence felt heavy, broken only by the faint crackle of a fire in the hearth and the quiet shuffle of Sabastine arranging things nearby. The heat from the blankets wrapped around me, soothing and stifling all at once. My limbs grew heavy, my thoughts slowing as the fog of exhaustion crept in.

When sleep claimed me, it was anything but gentle.

I was still in my bedchamber but it felt... Different. Gone was the cold stone and distant flicker of the hearthlight. This space was warm, cloaked in shadows that felt intimate.

And then I saw him.

The Lycan King stood before me. His red eyes burned, their intensity making my stomach twist in a way that was equal parts fear and something far more dangerous. His lips quirked in a knowing smirk, but there was no mockery in it now. Just want. Raw, unrestrained want.

"You can’t resist me forever," he murmured, his voice dark and smooth, curling around me like velvet.

Before I could summon a reply, his hand came up, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. His fingers lingered, tracing a slow line down my cheek, the barest touch that sent a shiver racing down my spine.

"I... I’m not..." My words faltered, my resolve crumbling under the weight of his gaze.

"You don’t need to lie to me," he whispered, his lips so close I could feel the warmth of his breath. "Not here."

His hand cupped my jaw, tilting my face up to meet his. For a fleeting moment, I thought he might stop, might give me a chance to protest, but then his lips were on mine.

The kiss was searing, consuming, a claiming that left no room for hesitation. His other hand found my waist, pulling me flush against him. The heat of his body burned through the thin fabric of my gown, and I gasped against his mouth.

He took that opening, deepening the kiss, his tongue sweeping against mine in a way that made my knees threaten to buckle. My hands flew to his chest, intending to push him away, but instead, they fisted in the fabric of his shirt, holding on as if I would fall apart without him.

A low growl rumbled in his chest, the vibration reverberating through me. He broke the kiss, his lips trailing down my jaw, to the sensitive spot just below my ear. His teeth grazed my skin, and I couldn’t stop the soft moan that escaped me.

"That’s it," he said, his voice a low purr against my neck. "Let me hear you."

I should have been mortified, but instead, I tilted my head, giving him better access as his lips and teeth worked their way down my throat. His hand slid lower, splaying against the curve of my hip before slipping beneath the hem of my gown.

"Tell me to stop," he said, his fingers brushing the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. "Tell me you don’t want this."

But I couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come. All I could do was tremble beneath his touch, my body betraying me in ways I couldn’t deny.

He smirked against my skin, his fingers finding my clit, sliding over me with a precision that made me gasp. My hips jerked of their own accord, seeking more, and his answering growl sent a fresh wave of heat coursing through me.

"Such a pretty sound," he murmured, his lips returning to mine. This time, the kiss was slower, more deliberate, as if he were savoring every second.

His fingers moved with maddening expertise, drawing soft whimpers and moans from me that I couldn’t suppress. My body felt like it was on fire, each touch stoking the flames higher until I thought I might combust.

"You’re mine," he said, his voice low and possessive, his eyes locked onto mine. "Say it."

"I..." My breath hitched as his movements quickened, my mind going blank under the onslaught of sensation. "I can’t—"

"Say it," he growled, his lips capturing mine once more, stealing whatever resistance I had left.

I woke with a start, my chest heaving, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like a second skin. My body burned, every nerve still alight with phantom sensations that left me shaken and breathless.

I swallowed hard, my hands clutching the blanket as I fought to steady my breathing.

It was just a dream.

I tried to reassure myself, but the words fell flat.

The undeniable fact remained: I’d had a sex dream about the Lycan king. Mortified, I buried my face in my hands, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.