My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 55: Terrible liar

Chapter 55: Terrible liar

Since they had entered the cruise ship, Naomi hadn’t used her phone. It wasn’t by choice—it had been taken from her, along with Zylan’s phone, on the day they boarded. The staff had claimed it was against the ship’s rules, though Naomi had thought the reasoning strange.

Zylan had specifically instructed them to take both phones, fully aware that if only Naomi’s phone was confiscated, it would seem as though he were giving orders. By having them take his as well, he ensured it wouldn’t appear that way.

For some unknown reason, he did not want any unnecessary distractions, and that was the justification he used to convince himself of the rules regarding taking the phone.

Naomi, unaware of this reasoning, simply assumed it was a strict rule of the cruise. At first, she didn’t mind. She had been content, relieved by the thought that once they returned home, her phone would be given back. But over time, a nagging question crept into her mind: why had they taken Zylan’s phone too? She knew what kind of man he was. With a mere snap of his fingers, he could likely bypass any rule, no matter how rigid. He could even change the name of a country if he so desired.

She finally mustered the courage to ask him the question that had been lingering in her mind, her curiosity outweighing her hesitation. They were seated on the sofa in their room, the gentle sound of ocean waves filling the comfortable silence between them. Naomi turned to face Zylan, who was leaning back in his chair, his intense gaze focused on the distant horizon. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure of how to put her thoughts into words, the weight of her uncertainty pressing down on her since the trip began.

"Once we get home," she began slowly, her voice quiet, "will you leave?"

Zylan didn’t immediately respond. His dark eyes shifted from the horizon to meet hers, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Naomi thought he hadn’t heard her, but then he spoke, his tone calm and measured.

"Yes, I will."

She nodded, as though she had already expected this answer. And she had. Zylan was a man of unrelenting purpose, always moving forward, his life dictated by work and obligations. This three-day trip was already an anomaly in his otherwise structured world, a rare moment of reprieve. Naomi had told herself she was fine with it, that she understood his responsibilities. But hearing him confirm it aloud brought a twinge of disappointment she couldn’t quite hide.

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress as she stared down at her lap. "Would I come too?" she asked softly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Zylan tilted his head slightly, his gaze narrowing as he studied her. Naomi didn’t dare look up, afraid of what his expression might reveal. She felt foolish for asking, but the question had been weighing on her mind. He had told her that she would go wherever he went—it was one of the reasons they were married, wasn’t it? She didn’t want to be left behind, not again.

"No, you won’t."

The words were simple, but they hit her like a blow. She looked up at him, her lips parting in protest, but no sound came out. The quiet pout that formed on her face betrayed her emotions, even as she tried to hide them.

Zylan’s gaze softened slightly, a hint of understanding flickering in his dark eyes. "Don’t worry," he said, his voice gentler now. "I’ll be back in two days. There’s something I need to take care of. And when I return, you’ll join me for the masquerade ball."

Naomi’s eyes widened at the mention of the masquerade ball. Her heart skipped a beat, both from excitement and nervousness. She had heard about it before—her parents often spoke of it in hushed, reverent tones. The masquerade ball was an event unlike any other, exclusive to the wealthiest and most influential figures in society. Naomi had never attended, had never even dreamed of attending. It was a world far removed from her own, one she could only imagine through the stories her sister Anna had told her—stories filled with vivid details of lavish decorations, elegant gowns, and the way handsome men had looked at Anna with admiration.

Though her parents were undeniably wealthy, the cost of the invitation ticket—an exclusive Golden Ticket—was more than anyone could imagine. That was one of the reasons Naomi had never attended the masquerade ball. Anna, however, had attended once, much to Naomi’s dismay. Her parents had given Naomi a convenient excuse at the time, claiming she couldn’t go because of an important exam scheduled that day.

Even though Naomi had reluctantly accepted their reasoning, a lingering sense of disappointment remained. It stung, knowing that Anna had been allowed to experience such a grand event while she was left behind. Still, she was grateful that Rose had visited that day to keep her company. Rose’s presence had helped ease the ache of missing out, if only a little.

"Two days?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Zylan confirmed, his tone steady. "When I return, we’ll attend the ball together. We’ll spend two more days after that."

The thought of being close to him for that long made Naomi’s heart flutter, but it also filled her with a sense of dread. What if she didn’t belong there? What if she embarrassed him? Her mind raced with anxious thoughts, each one more daunting than the last.

As if sensing her unease, Zylan leaned forward slightly, his intense gaze locking onto hers. "You don’t have to worry about anything," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "Just be yourself. But whatever you do, stay by my side."

His words, though simple, carried a weight that seemed to settle over her like a comforting blanket. Naomi nodded slowly, her fears momentarily quelled by the quiet authority in his tone.

"Please," she murmured, almost to herself, "don’t change your mind about it."

The words escaped before she could stop them, and she immediately regretted saying them aloud. But the thought of Zylan going to the ball with someone else gnawed at her. It wasn’t just about the ball—it was about the idea of being replaced, of not being good enough.

Zylan’s lips curved into a faint smirk, and Naomi’s cheeks flushed as she caught the teasing glint in his eyes.

"Are you worried that your husband might take someone else to the ball?" he asked, his voice low and filled with amusement.

Naomi’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"No, I—" she stammered, her words faltering as she tried to compose herself. "I’m not worried. Besides, if you did, your reputation would be ruined," she added, though her voice lacked conviction.

Zylan chuckled softly, the sound deep and rich, and Naomi’s embarrassment only grew. Before she could look away, he leaned in closer, his gaze never leaving hers.

"You’re a terrible liar, Eaglet," he said, his smirk widening as he watched her face go crimson.

Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she tried to turn her face away, but before she could protest, he reached out and gently pulled her toward him.

Naomi gasped, her breath hitching as she found herself lifted effortlessly onto his lap. The sudden closeness made her heart race, her pulse hammering in her ears as she stared at him in shock, her lips parted in stunned surprise.

Zylan’s hand rested lightly on her back, his touch firm yet gentle, as though he were holding something fragile. His other hand brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering for a brief moment before falling back to her side.

"My little wife is jealous," he murmured, his voice low, laced with teasing amusement.

Naomi’s heart skipped a beat at the possessive tone in his voice. The way he said "wife" sent a strange warmth through her chest—a mixture of vulnerability and something she couldn’t quite name. She tried to look away, but Zylan’s intense gaze anchored her in place, holding her captive in a way she couldn’t explain.

Before she could fully process the moment, he leaned in, his lips pressing firmly to hers.

The kiss came suddenly, without warning, and was anything but gentle. It was possessive, demanding—like he was claiming her, marking her as his, in a way that left no room for doubt. Naomi’s eyes widened in shock, but the instant their lips met, she felt herself melting into him, surrendering to the sensation of it all.

The world around them seemed to dissolve, fading into nothingness as she became lost in him. Zylan’s hands slid to her back, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. His lips moved against hers with an intensity that left her breathless, each press of his mouth igniting a fire within her, her heart racing in her chest.

Why was this wife of his so damn cute?

He finally pulled away, breaking the kiss just as Naomi was about to reply to the heat of it. She felt an unexpected pang of disappointment—his sudden departure left her feeling dizzy, almost maddened by the intensity of it all.

"Do you want me to kiss you more?" he asked, his voice low, dark, and serious. Naomi stared at him in disbelief, wondering how someone could say something so bold with a face that was as serious as his—like it was the most normal thing in the world.

But she didn’t give him the chance to speak further. As he opened his mouth, Naomi, without hesitation, pulled him back toward her. She was the one who initiated the kiss. His eyes widened in surprise as he watched her, his mouth still slightly open as she closed the distance between them.

The reason she had done that was simple—she thought he might change his mind.

Her eyes fluttered shut, her lips pressing against his once again. She could feel him freeze for a moment, his surprise palpable. But then, his tongue rested lightly on his upper teeth as if caught off guard, before she pushed against him slowly, urging him to respond.

This eaglet of his... she was actually French kissing him.