My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 103: Jealousy

There was no trace of hesitation in his actions, only a quiet precision that spoke of his determination to care for her.

Her cheeks burned fiercely under his unwavering gaze. She had never been this exposed before—physically or emotionally—and it was overwhelming. Though his expression was calm and unreadable, the intimacy of the moment was undeniable. He seemed completely oblivious to the effect he had on her, or perhaps he was simply choosing to ignore it.

Naomi’s mind, however, was far from quiet. A single thought replayed itself over and over, haunting her like a whispered temptation: He said he’d do that to me senseless.

She swallowed hard, her blush deepening. Did he mean it? Was it a fleeting comment, or did he genuinely desire her that way? The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickly averted her gaze, silently chastising herself.

’Naomi, stop thinking dirty!’ she scolded herself, biting her lip as though the pain would banish her thoughts. Yet no matter how hard she tried, the words lingered, teasing her with their implications.

When Zylan finished, he helped her into one of his oversized shirts. The fabric draped over her body, soft and comforting, and carried his scent—a faint mix of cedarwood and something uniquely his. She found herself inhaling deeply before she could stop herself, and the realization only made her cheeks burn hotter.

He didn’t comment on her reaction, though she noticed the brief flicker of amusement in his eyes as he adjusted the shirt on her shoulders. When he finally settled beside her on the bed, the silence between them was heavy, filled with things unsaid. Naomi turned her head to the side, her embarrassment keeping her from meeting his gaze.

After a long moment, Zylan’s voice broke the stillness. "Look at me," he said softly, his tone calm yet carrying a weight that made her pause.

Naomi hesitated, her fingers clutching the hem of the shirt nervously. Slowly, she turned to face him, her golden eyes meeting his. The intensity in his gaze made her breath hitch. For a moment, it felt as though the entire world had disappeared, leaving only the two of them in that quiet, room.

"I’m cursed, Naomi."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and foreboding.

Her brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering across her face. She didn’t pull away, didn’t recoil as some might. Instead, she searched his expression, trying to understand the meaning behind his words.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly, her voice steady despite the sudden chill she felt creeping over her.

Zylan’s jaw tightened. He looked away for a brief moment, as though gathering his thoughts, before returning his gaze to hers. "I’ve been cursed for a century now," he admitted, his voice low. "It’s because of my ex-wife."

Naomi froze, her heart skipping a beat. The mention of another woman—his ex-wife—caught her off guard. She had so many questions, but she didn’t know where to start. His pained expression only deepened her confusion.

"Is it because... she died?" she asked carefully, almost hesitantly, as though afraid of the answer.

He nodded slowly, his eyes darkening as memories seemed to surface. The tension in his jaw betrayed the effort it took to speak about her. "Yes," he said finally. "She... she died. And with her death came the curse."

Naomi watched him closely, her chest tightening as she saw the flicker of pain in his otherwise composed demeanor. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but something about the weight of his words held her back. She felt as though she was standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down into an abyss she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.

"I noticed your hair," she said after a moment, her voice tentative. "At the cruise. It looked... different. I thought maybe you had dyed it."

Zylan’s lips twitched into a faint, humorless smile. "No," he said quietly. "That wasn’t dye. It changed—because of the curse. It’s been dormant for years, but something triggered it again. And now..." He trailed off, exhaling heavily. "Now it’s back. Worse than before."

Naomi felt a lump form in her throat. She wanted to say something, anything, to ease the tension, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she simply waited, her silence encouraging him to continue.

Zylan leaned back slightly, running a hand through his dark hair in frustration. The gesture was so human, so unguarded, that it made her chest ache. She had never seen him like this before—vulnerable, struggling to put his thoughts into words.

"The curse can be broken," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her heart skipped a beat. "How?" she asked softly, her eyes wide with curiosity and hope.

Zylan hesitated, his fingers tightening into fists at his sides. It was clear that whatever he was about to say weighed heavily on him. Naomi watched as he closed his eyes briefly, as though bracing himself.

"I... I have to deflower a virgin," he said at last, the words sounding forced, as though they were being dragged from the depths of his soul.

Naomi’s breath caught. She stared at him, her mind racing to process what he had just said. For a moment, she thought she had misheard him, but the look in his eyes confirmed that she hadn’t. There was pain there—raw and unfiltered—and it made her heart ache.

Her voice, when it came, was quiet but steady. "Go ahead," she said, her golden eyes locking onto his. "I’m all yours."

Zylan’s entire body stiffened, his pupils dilating as he stared at her in disbelief. He had expected resistance, questions, maybe even fear—but not this. Not her calm acceptance, her unwavering gaze that seemed to see straight through him.

"Naomi," he said, his voice strained. "No. I can’t do that with you."

"Why?" she asked softly.

Zylan sighed before saying, "I can’t, Naomi. Not with you."

Naomi’s eyes widened. "Then who?"

Was he planning to...to do it with someone else? Just the thought of him touching another person ached her heart.

Her expression shifted, displeasure flashing across her features. "So you’d rather leave your wife to f*ck some random virgin out there?" she snapped, her tone sharper than she had intended.

Zylan was stunned into silence. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Naomi—his sweet, reserved wife—was jealous. And not just jealous, but fiercely so. It was a side of her he had never seen before, and it left him reeling.

The curse word that slipped from her lips caught him completely off guard. Naomi had never cursed before, not even in moments of frustration. But now, her words carried a fiery intensity that both shocked and excited him.

Her own surprise was evident as well. She stared at him, wide-eyed, as though she couldn’t believe what she had just said. But the jealousy in her gaze was unmistakable, and it made his chest tighten.

"It’s not that," he began, his voice faltering. "I don’t want your first time to be tainted by this... by some stupid curse." He looked away, his hands clenching and unclenching as he struggled to find the right words. "It should be special. Meaningful."

Naomi’s heart softened at his words, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, she crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing. "Then what? You’d risk your life instead?"

Zylan hesitated, his gaze meeting hers once more. There was something in his eyes—something she couldn’t quite place. Fear? Guilt? Whatever it was, it made her stomach twist with unease.

"It’s not just about that," he said finally, his voice low. "It’s about what might happen if I... bite you."

Naomi blinked, confusion clouding her features. "Bite me?" she repeated, her tone uncertain. "Isn’t that normal for vampires? Isn’t that what happens when they...?"

She trailed off, her cheeks flushing as she realized what she was about to say. Zylan’s lips curved into a faint smile, but there was no humor in it.

"It’s different," he said quietly. "With you, it’s different."

Naomi’s mind raced, questions swirling as she tried to make sense of his words. Was this about her being human? Or was there something else—something she didn’t know?

"Why?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Why is it different with me?"

Zylan hesitated, his expression torn. For a long moment, he said nothing, the silence stretching between them like a chasm. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his confession.

"Because if I bite you," he said, his voice barely audible, "there’s a high chance... I could kill you."

Zylan looked into her eyes, his gaze deep and conflicted, as though waging an internal battle. Naomi saw it clearly—the struggle, the torment—and it made her chest tighten painfully.

"If that ever happens..." His voice broke, barely above a whisper. "If I ever hurt you like that—if I ever take your life—I would kill myself for doing that."