A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 152: Kiss Me?

Chapter 152: Kiss Me?

Draven cleared his throat.

"Oh..ah... Well, it’s not much, actually."

He opened the small box in his hand, exposing a shiny golden bracelet.

Avelina’s mouth slowly parted. She was at a loss for words.

Uncertainty immediately flashed in Draven’s eyes, and he looked as though he wished to disappear.

She doesn’t like it! He had misread her expression, thus concluding that he didn’t want it.

He had wanted to get something bigger, or maybe something much better, but he had thought she would like it regardless. Not only that, but he could not find something bigger or better.

He groaned inwardly, annoyed at himself. Awkwardly, he scratched his head with a guilty smile on his lips.

"Avelina...I did want to get you something much better and bigger, but, um, I could not find it. It was morning, and—"

"Is that for me?!!!!!" Avelina’s voice was high-pitched as she dreamily gazed at the bracelet. The reflection was twinkling in her hazel eyes.

"Yes." Draven nodded. He was still a bit perplexed, so he asked, "Do you... like it?"

Avelina was in disbelief.

"Do I like it?" She covered her mouth, still in incredulity. "Of course I do!"

"Oh..." Draven gradually smiled, relief washing over him. "Here you go."

He took out the bracelet and grabbed her slender hand. He clasped the bracelet around her wrist and examined it.

"It looks very pretty on your hand, just like I thought," he confirmed, satisfied.

Avelina admired it as her smile broadened. "It’s so pretty!" She loved the shiny stones encrusted on the bracelets.

Curious, she queried, "Draven, is this...real gold?"

"Yes." Draven gave a nod.

Avelin gasped. "Then...this must be really expensive."

"Eh..." Draven shrugged. "Does it matter? I bought from a specific royal brand. I would never buy something from just anywhere for you. It had to be special. Something that not just anyone can afford."

"Ah..." Avelina was speechless. She vigorously blinked her eyes and pointed at the heart-shaped stones fixed to the bracelet. "Don’t tell me these are real...diamonds too."

"They are." Draven once again shrugged, unbothered.

Avelina grabbed her heart. "I love it. Thank you. I’ve never gotten something so pretty before."

"Do you want more?" Draven asked. His expression showed he was ready to give her more, so long as she asked for it.

With a hearty smile, Avelina shook her head. "No, I just love this one."

She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him.

Draven was a bit stunned by the gesture, but he held her like she wanted, embracing her.

Avelina buried her face in his neck and mumbled, "You were gone for a long while, why?"

"I was busy with something," Draven replied. He stroked her hair tenderly and heaved a deep breath.

Avelina moved further, almost as though she wanted to merge with him, and tightened her hold on him.

"Avelina, is something wrong?" Draven inquired. She was quite clingy and he could not help but notice. Not that he minds though.

"No." Avelina shook her head. "I just want to stay like this, that is all."

"Oh, I see." Draven nodded and began to pat her head gently.

He abruptly put his hand into the pocket of his coat and grabbed a candy. He unwrapped it, threw it into his mouth, and began to enjoy it while still patting Avelina’s head.

Avelina pulled away and looked at him. She began to stare at his lips without blinking one bit.

Draven was left confused. He flickered his eyes, not sure why she was staring at him in such a way.

"Avelina, why are you—"

"Can I have it?" Avelina reached out her small hand.

"Heh?" Draven was stunned. "You want this?" He took the candy out of his mouth.

Avelina swallowed hard as she nodded. "Yes," she said, quite nervous.

Draven glanced at the wet candy in between his fingers. He looked at Avelina, still baffled.

"But...I have licked it already. If you want one, I can get it for you and—"

"NO! I want this one," Avelina said, interrupting him.

Before he could even anticipate what would happen next, Avelina licked the candy off his fingers, taking it into her mouth.

Draven was beyond stunned, as all he could do at that moment was sit and stare at her.

"Aveli...na..." he frantically blinked his eyes.

Avelina lifted her head and fixed her gaze on him. Their faces were just two inches apart, so she could feel his quickened breath. She was not breaking eye contact with him, and neither was Draven.

Draven gazed at her. He had felt something unexpected course through him. The way she licked it off his finger made him tingle.

His dormant heart skipped a beat, and a subtle warmth spread across his cheeks. Not just him, but Avelina had it worse.

She could hear the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears. It was quickened and racing, and she could not stop herself from continuously gulping. Her entire face had flushed red, and she could feel her ears gradually begin to heat up.

What am I doing? She questioned herself, yet she was still not able to back off. She wanted to stop and pull away, but her body was not listening to her.

She wanted to do something wild, which she would probably regret later, but at the same time, she felt as though if she didn’t, she would also regret it. She was beyond captivated at that point.

Draven, on the other hand, could only stare at her. He was confused and was not exactly sure what was going on. What did she have in mind? Why was it making him feel in a way he had never felt before? Something unfamiliar.

He pressed his hands against the bed and proceeded to speak.

"Avelina, i-is everything—"

"Can I kiss you?" Avelina asked abruptly, causing silence to fall between them.

Draven frantically fluttered his eyes, stunned. He was not sure if he heard her right, and if he did, he was trying to process it.

"W-what?" he stuttered, confused, "Kiss me?"

Avelina blinked her eyes in disbelief at herself. She was dormant, no longer able to say a word. She tightly bit her lower lip, resisting the urge to cry.

Why did I say that? She sobbed inwardly, wishing to disappear from his sight.