My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 105: How could she forget

Chapter 105: How could she forget

Naomi stood in the middle of the room, her mind racing, but her mouth felt glued shut. How could she have forgotten? Today was her father’s birthday. It wasn’t like her to forget something so important, especially when her father usually spent days leading up to the occasion talking about it.

He would lament about how old he was getting, grumbling about his age, and reminiscing about the good old days. But now, with the reality of the moment crashing down on her, Naomi realized she hadn’t even thought to prepare something for him. It was unthinkable.

She couldn’t believe it had slipped her mind, and yet, here she was, dumbfounded. Even though he hadn’t been the best father, only caring about his public image, he had supported her many times in shielding her from her mother’s wrath.

But before she could respond, Zylan’s calm voice cut through her thoughts.

"Oh, it seems there are two invitations," Zylan said smoothly, pulling out a smaller card from the envelope.

His voice was effortlessly cool, like a gentle breeze that carried no urgency, but Naomi knew him too well to mistake the quiet authority that came with his words. "One for lunch and another for dinner. So, what do you think? Do you want to attend both, pick one, or maybe skip them entirely?"

Naomi blinked, taken aback for a moment by the ease in his tone. She hadn’t expected him to bring this up so nonchalantly, especially not when her thoughts were still reeling from her own slip-up.

But his eyes were warm, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The way he spoke suggested that no matter what she chose, he would support it without hesitation.

"Let’s go for both," she said before she could even stop herself. The words tumbled out, surprising both herself and, perhaps, Zylan.

She couldn’t place the reason for her choice. After all, that place—the one where they were supposed to attend her father’s birthday—had been nothing short of a living hell in the past. It had been a paradox, a place that no one would willingly return to after escaping it. But for some strange, inexplicable reason, she found herself wanting to go. She wanted to go with Zylan, to face it together—as a family.

The word "family" echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she felt the room shift. It was a word she could barely utter without pain, a word that held so much weight, so many unresolved emotions.

Yet, in the context of Zylan, this enigmatic man who had changed so much for her, it didn’t hurt. No, it made her feel something else entirely. Safe. Secure. Cherished.

Zylan’s smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with affection. "If that’s your wish, then so be it," he said in that voice of his that never failed to settle something deep inside her. "My wife has spoken."

The words wrapped around her heart like a warm blanket, and Naomi felt her cheeks flush at the weight of his gaze. There was something about how he looked at her, something that made her insides twist in the most complicated, exhilarating way. Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening.

She stood quickly, eager to escape the intensity of the moment, needing a break from the overwhelming sensation that seemed to envelop her whenever Zylan was near. She made her way to the bathroom door, hoping to gather her composure. But as her hand touched the doorknob, she froze.

Zylan’s arms were suddenly around her, pulling her back into his chest in one swift, fluid motion. Naomi stiffened, a jolt of warmth shooting through her body at the feeling of his embrace. He rested his face gently against the back of her neck, his breath warm against her skin.

"You know," he began softly, his voice a low murmur, "I need to teach you how to give your husband a proper good morning kiss. Every. Single. Morning."

Naomi’s breath caught in her throat, her body reacting to his words before she even had time to process them. The heat of his breath on her skin made it impossible to think clearly. Her heart raced, her mind whirling, but no words came. She was speechless, her body too aware of him, too aware of everything he was to her.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Let’s start today," he said, his voice so low, so teasing that Naomi couldn’t help but shiver in response. "Come on, this hubby of yours is waiting."

The simplicity of the statement, and the way he said "hubby" with such affection, made Naomi’s heart pound even faster. She swallowed hard, her nerves kicking into overdrive.

Slowly, she turned to face him. She knew better than to argue. If she started, she knew that there would be no stopping it. No stopping him. There would be no quick escape from whatever this—he—was doing to her.

With a deep breath, she cupped his face gently with both hands. The feeling of his jaw under her fingertips sent another wave of warmth coursing through her, but she forced herself to remain steady. Then, as if on instinct, she placed a soft kiss on his lips. It was quick, just a brush of her lips against his, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

The moment the kiss ended, Naomi spun around quickly, almost rushing to escape the intensity of the moment. She opened the bathroom door with a force that seemed to match the rapid pounding of her heart, stepping inside and closing the door behind her with a firm click. She leaned against it, her breath coming in shallow bursts as she tried to steady herself.

Zylan chuckled softly from the other side of the door, the sound so warm, so affectionate, that it almost made Naomi’s knees buckle. She could picture the way his smile softened, how his eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched her retreat.

Inside the bathroom, Naomi leaned against the sink, her heart still racing. She placed a hand over her chest as if that would help calm the race inside her, but it didn’t.

Her thoughts were scattered, and she couldn’t shake the image of Zylan’s teasing smile from her mind. She sighed deeply, shaking her head at herself. She needed to pull herself together. A bath would help. She hoped.

Later, in the dining hall, Naomi was dressed in a light blue sundress, the fabric flowing gently over her body with delicate floral patterns that seemed to match the serenity she longed to feel. Zylan, seated across from her, looked effortlessly handsome in a black shirt and trousers. Naomi couldn’t help but notice how the subtle patterns on his shirt matched the design of her dress perfectly, an unspoken harmony between them that left her breathless.

"Someone is looking handsome today," Naomi said, trying to sound casual as she took a bite of her steak. Her voice came out a little softer than she intended, but it was true.

Zylan’s effortless charm never failed to leave her in awe. Even now, as he sat there with his quiet intensity, he looked like something from a dream. She could feel her heart flutter at the thought of him.

"Hmm," Zylan mused, his lips quirking up in a small, knowing smile. "Seems like my wife is complimenting me."

Naomi smiled, a little more genuinely this time. She couldn’t help but tease him back. "Seems like my husband can’t even say a simple ’thank you’ to this wife of his, huh?" She lifted her fork to her chin, pretending to consider the matter with mock seriousness.

"I must say, you’re teasing me now," Zylan replied with a raised brow, his eyes locking with hers in that way that always made Naomi’s breath catch. "I should be a good teacher."

Naomi let out a light laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, please! Give me a break. You’re the king of teasing!"

Zylan dropped his cutlery with exaggerated surprise, placing a hand over his chest as if he had been struck by the weight of her words. "Oh really? I had no idea my wife thought of me as royalty."

Naomi rolled her eyes, a playful glare in her gaze before she winked. "Tch," she scoffed lightly, enjoying the playful banter.

But Zylan’s reaction was unexpected. His eyes widened in surprise. That wink... It had caught him off guard. Without thinking, he stood abruptly, his movements swift and deliberate. He scooped her up into his arms, lifting her effortlessly.

Naomi gasped, her heart leaping in her chest. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms curling around his neck as she blinked up at him. Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. "What’s the matter, hubby?" she asked, her voice light and teasing, but her blush betrayed her.

Zylan’s voice dropped to a low, teasing murmur. "My wife, why is my heart beating so loudly, hmm?" His gaze locked with hers, the intensity of his stare almost overwhelming.

Naomi froze, her body going rigid as she realized his heart was indeed pounding—because of her. The realization left her speechless, her mind scrambling for words, but they never came. She simply stared at him, unable to move.

"You smell divine," Zylan murmured, his voice low and intimate, sending a wave of butterflies racing through Naomi’s stomach. She couldn’t believe how effortlessly he made her feel this way. How did he do it? How did he make her feel both so cherished and so out of control?

He pulled her tighter into his arms, her legs still wrapped around his waist, and just as Naomi was about to speak, they were interrupted by a sharp clearing of the throat.

Naomi’s face turned crimson as her eyes darted to the doorway. Standing there was Rylan, his expression unreadable as always.

Her cheeks burned hotter as she realized the compromising position she and Zylan were in. She quickly tried to pull herself together, but it was no use. She felt like a deer caught in the headlights.

"What is it?" Zylan asked sharply, his voice laced with annoyance at the interruption.

"The Eaglet is here,"