My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 42: Breaking Boundaries

Chapter 42: Breaking Boundaries

Rose sat in the spacious room, her eyes wide as she took in the extravagant interior of the mansion. Every detail screamed opulence, from the intricate carvings on the furniture to the sparkling chandeliers. Yet, amidst the splendor, one thought nagged at her—why bring her here instead of the living room? Shouldn’t visitors be placed in more public spaces?

Almost as if reading her mind, Rylan’s deep voice broke the silence. "This is my room."

She shot him a curious glance, her brows raised. Could he actually read minds? But Rylan didn’t linger on her expression. He knew precisely why he’d brought her here instead of the main areas of the mansion. Rose was reckless, unpredictable. With the way their past encounters had gone, he was certain she’d cause some sort of disaster if she were allowed near the more delicate parts of the house.

And besides, he was taking a risk himself. He had been explicitly told by Zylan not to let her into the mansion, yet here she was, in his room. The reason he had disobeyed Zylan for the first time ever was because she was Naomi’s friend. If she were kicked out, she would undoubtedly tell Naomi, likely adding a few dramatic details to make herself seem more pitiful. This could easily create tension between Naomi and Zylan, which was the last thing Rylan wanted to cause.

"This should be the last time you come here," Rylan said firmly, his gaze cold and unwavering.

Rose smirked, her eyes dancing with mischief as she caught his tone. "And why’s that, Mr. Rylan?" She lifted her chin slightly, trying to mimic the tone of a refined young lady. The effect was almost comical, her forced elegance clashing with her natural sass.

Rylan’s face remained impassive, a perfect mask of indifference. "You’re not allowed here," he replied simply.

"And why should I listen to you?" she countered, crossing her arms. Her defiance was clear, laced with an edge that Rylan couldn’t ignore. "It’s not like you’re Naomi’s husband or anything. You’re just a... keeper, assigned to watch over this house."

The words struck a nerve. It wasn’t precisely an insult, but something about her dismissive tone made it sting. His jaw tightened as he struggled to keep his composure. What on earth was wrong with this girl?

Rose watched him closely, clearly enjoying the effect her words had on him. "If Naomi told me to stay away, I’d listen," she said with a shrug. "But you?" She scoffed, relishing the chance to push his buttons. "I won’t."

Her eyes sparkled with defiance, her smirk daring him to respond. Rylan could feel the heat of her gaze, but he kept his face expressionless. His voice turned colder as he warned, "Mind your words. I could easily have the guards throw you out."

"But you didn’t." She leaned forward slightly, her challenge clear."Besides, I’m not supposed to be here. So, what made you change your mind, Mr.’Housekeeper’?...Why’s that, hmm?"

His gaze hardened. "Because you should be careful who you mess with. Those guards are not as lenient as I am. You lied against them."

Rose’s smile only widened. "Well, I must’ve lied convincingly enough if Mr. Rylan, the head housekeeper, still let me in. Isn’t it your job to detect lies? Too bad—you were deceived."

For a moment, Rylan was speechless. This woman lacked what anyone would call manners in every way imaginable. Everything about her—the way she spoke, the boldness in her eyes—seemed designed to get under his skin. And the most annoying part? She was succeeding. He rarely felt this irritated, yet here he was, his patience fraying.

She tilted her head, watching him with a curious expression. "I wonder why you want this to be the last time I’m here," she murmured, raising an eyebrow. "Especially when you were the one who brought me here instead of the precious living room."

Then, with a sly smile, she added, "Mr. Rylan, if you’re this obsessed with me, you could’ve just asked for an autograph."

Without waiting for a response, she opened her bag and pulled out a marker. As if she owned the place, she strode over to his bed, picking up a pristine white hand towel. With a flourish, she scribbled her signature across it.

"See?" She held it up proudly, satisfaction evident in her expression. "All you had to do was ask."

Rylan’s eyes darkened as he took in what she’d just done. His perfectly composed expression wavered for a fraction of a second as he registered her boldness.

"What did you do?" he demanded, his voice dropping to a low, tense whisper.

But before he could process his anger, he found himself standing right in front of her, his hand instinctively reaching out to grab hers. Rose, caught off guard, gasped as she stumbled backward, her legs buckling as she fell onto the bed. And just as suddenly, Rylan, pulled off balance by her weight, ended up following her, his body hovering just inches above hers. Their breaths mingled, the sudden intimacy crackling in the air between them.

A deep blush spread across Rose’s cheeks in embarrassment.

"I knew you were obsessed, but not this obsessed," she muttered, her tone a mix of seriousness and annoyance that he wasn’t used to hearing from her. The usual teasing lilt in her voice was gone, replaced by something raw, almost hurt.

Rylan was thrown off by the shift in her tone, an unexpected pang of curiosity rising within him. What had made her so annoyed? He felt a brief, fleeting urge to know, to understand what was really going on behind those defiant eyes.

But then he realized something that made his own cheeks warm. His head... was resting against something soft. His eyes widened in horror as he registered that he was resting comfortably on her chest. He pulled back instantly, his face flushing as he tried to regain his composure.

He cleared his throat, desperately grasping for control. He had to salvage the situation somehow, but words failed him. The intensity in her gaze made him falter.

"If you want sex so bad," she hissed, her voice laced with anger, "then go to a club."

Her words cut deep, a rare sting that left him momentarily speechless. He had never seen her this genuinely mad. Her irritation was palpable, and yet... something in him wanted to correct her, to explain himself, as if her opinion actually mattered.

He took a steadying breath, willing his voice to stay calm. "Look, it’s not what you think," he said softly.

"Oh?" She scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "Then what exactly do I think?" There was bitterness in her tone, her eyes narrowed as she looked away. She had thought, or perhaps hoped, that he was different from the men she usually dealt with. But maybe she’d been wrong.

A silence settled between them, thick with unspoken words. Finally, Rose broke it, her voice laced with a new determination. "I’m staying here until Naomi comes back," she announced, pushing herself up from the bed.

"No." Rylan’s tone was colder now, his face once again a perfect mask of control.

She stared at him, a spark of challenge in her gaze. "Why not? This mansion has hundreds of rooms. Why can’t I—"

"She’s married now. Get that through your head." His words came out sharper than he’d intended, his voice laced with an intensity that caught her off guard.

Rose’s eyes widened, the insult registering as a sharp sting. But she recovered quickly, her expression hardening. "You can’t tell me where to stay," she shot back, her voice defiant. "I don’t take orders from a housekeeper. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be at your post? But no, here you are, flirting with a lady... Bravo," she added, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms.

Rylan clenched his jaw, visibly frustrated. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, clearly struggling to keep his composure. "You..." he started, only to pause, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.

"It’s Rose, not ’You.’ Get my name right, at least, Dum Dum," she taunted, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

He nearly growled in frustration, the idea of ignoring her tempting but ultimately impossible. This woman was infuriating, her defiance a force to be reckoned with. He could feel his patience slipping away, and he knew he was nearing his breaking point.

"Don’t make me repeat myself," he warned, his tone icy.

"And if I don’t?" she countered, her eyes narrowing with hatred, her voice dripping with venom.

"Then I’ll kiss you silent," he replied smoothly, his gaze steady and unwavering. He wasn’t surprised by his own words. He could see the hatred in her eyes, but he was determined to use it to his advantage, to throw her off balance for once and make her leave.

She opened her mouth to retort, a spark of defiance in her gaze. "That doesn’t work on me, Mr. Dum—" But her words died in her throat as Rylan leaned forward, closing the space between them in an instant.

Before she could react, his lips pressed against hers, his kiss heated and unyielding, cutting through her defenses with the force of all the pent-up tension between them.