My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 56: In Her Arms

Chapter 56: In Her Arms

Zylan was shocked by what Naomi was doing. Was she actually French-kissing him? He hadn’t expected that. The softness of her lips, the way her tongue brushed against his again, urging him to respond—it caught him off guard. For a moment, he froze, completely taken aback by the suddenness of it all.

But then, as her kiss deepened and the warmth of her touch spread across him, his surprise faded, replaced by something more primal. Without hesitation, he kissed her back, matching her newfound intensity with his own. The kiss became more urgent, more desperate, as though they were both seeking something they hadn’t realized they were missing.

Naomi, too, was taken aback by the surge of emotions rushing through her. She had only meant to mimic what he usually did to her, to follow his lead. But she hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming sensations coursing through her. This kiss was different—more maddening, more consuming than the first. Her stomach churned, her heart raced, and her cheeks flushed as butterflies erupted in her belly. A thrilling chill of desire rippled down her spine, leaving her breathless.

Her small hands, almost instinctively, moved to his neck. She ran her fingers along his skin, tracing its contours as if trying to memorize him. The feeling of his pulse beneath her fingertips made her heart skip a beat. Zylan groaned softly at her touch, the sound vibrating against her lips. His hands, in turn, slid under her dress, finding their way beneath her top, his touch both firm and possessive.

Just as the moment grew even more intoxicating, the shrill ring of the doorbell shattered the spell.

Zylan’s eyes darkened, a flicker of displeasure flashing in them. Naomi didn’t notice, still caught in the whirlwind of the kiss. But when the doorbell rang again, Startled, she pulled away abruptly, as though caught red-handed stealing candy on Halloween. Her wide eyes darted to the door, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her breath a little shallow as she struggled to compose herself.

Zylan cursed inwardly. He rose from the sofa with a stiff expression, his frustration clear but controlled. He walked toward the door with deliberate steps. When he opened it, his actions were swift, and the lady standing outside flinched at his sudden movement. The air seemed to grow colder, charged with his presence. His icy gaze bore into her, and she could feel the tension in the space between them. She trembled, unsure if she was more afraid of the man in front of her or the harshness of his gaze.

The coldness in his eyes told her everything she needed to know—she had interrupted something important. Regret began to creep into her thoughts, and she silently wondered why she had agreed to be the one to deliver this message. Though it was her job, the weight of Zylan’s disapproval felt heavier than she had anticipated.

"M-Mr. Zylan," she stammered, trying to steady her voice despite the tremble in it. "We just wanted to inform you that we will be arriving in about an hour."

Zylan gave her a curt nod, his disapproving gaze unwavering. Without a word, he quietly shut the door behind him, the sound of it closing finally, almost dismissive. The woman stood there for a moment, rooted to the spot, her heart pounding. The chill of Zylan’s presence still lingered in the air as she shivered, wondering if this might very well be her last day on the job.

Inside, Naomi had overheard the exchange. Slowly, she stood, her heart sinking as the reality of the situation hit her. Their destination was only an hour away now. Though things between her and Zylan hadn’t gone as she’d initially hoped, she couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling of missing him already.

Zylan returned to the room, intending to pick up where they had left off. But Naomi, still in the same room, was unusually quiet. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze distant as she stared out toward the ocean, wanting to savor the view one last time before leaving. Her mind was clearly elsewhere.

A flicker of disapproval crossed Zylan’s face as he watched her, the interruption of their kiss still lingering in his mind. But despite displeased, he said nothing.

Naomi, gathering her thoughts, finally spoke up, her voice softer than before. "I want to see it."

Zylan arched an eyebrow, his confusion is evident. "See what?"

Naomi turned to him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Come, let’s go."

Though still unsure of what she meant, Zylan found himself following her, unable to refuse. There was something in her eyes—something faint but sincere—that made him want to see this through. Together, they stepped out of the room and onto the balcony.

The bright afternoon sun bathed the space in warmth, the golden light dancing across the ocean in the distance. Naomi leaned against the railing, her body pressing lightly against it as she gazed at the horizon. The blurry outlines of the buildings earlier were slowly coming into view, distant and soft against the sea backdrop. The ocean breeze brushed her hair back, revealing her face bathed in the soft daylight.

"Isn’t it beautiful?" Naomi asked, her voice almost wistful as she turned to Zylan with a soft smile.

He nodded slightly, but his gaze wasn’t on the view. His eyes were locked on her instead, tracing the curve of her features. She looked serene, at peace, and it pulled at something deep inside him. Of course, the scenery was beautiful, but nothing captured his attention more than the way her face lit up with joy.

"I just love this," Naomi continued, her voice dreamy. "The sound of the ocean, the breeze... it’s so therapeutic." She spoke as though she had forgotten he was there, her words flowing freely as if the very air around them had unlocked something inside her, something calm and content.

Zylan’s brow furrowed slightly in surprise. Naomi’s words were soft, but they carried a weight of sincerity he hadn’t expected. He had assumed that this trip, in her eyes, was just a formality—a painful one she was simply enduring. But now, he realized he had misjudged her again.

"Thank you," Naomi said suddenly, her words heavy with more meaning than he had anticipated.

Zylan was silent. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could find the words, Naomi closed her eyes, taking in the ocean air deeply. Her hair flowed behind her in the wind, and at that moment, she looked like something out of a painting—a masterpiece that no amount of money could buy.

"This is the best honeymoon ever," she said softly, her voice carrying a sincerity that left Zylan stunned. The words struck him, piercing through the layers of tension that had been building between them.

"...." He froze. Stunned by her words, his mind raced. How could she think that? He had assumed this entire trip was a disaster in her eyes, that she was just going along with it because she had to. But once again, Naomi had surprised him in a way he hadn’t expected. She was always finding new ways to astonish him, leaving him speechless.

"I’m really grateful," she continued, turning to face him. Her eyes opened slowly, locking onto his.

Zylan’s lips curled into a smirk, his earlier frustration melting away at her honesty. "Admiring this husband of yours?" he teased, his tone playful yet full of pride.

"N-no, I’m not!" Naomi stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. She quickly looked away, her embarrassment clear.

"Yes, you are," Zylan replied, his voice low and teasing. Naomi flinched, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. She tried to protest, but before she could, Zylan moved swiftly, scooping her up into his arms effortlessly and sitting her on the railing.

Her eyes widened in shock, and instinctively, her hands clung to his neck as he set her down gently. The cool metal of the balcony railing pressed against her legs, and she instinctively leaned closer, her body now pressed against his.

"Don’t be scared," Zylan said softly, his hands firm on her waist to steady her. His voice was low and soothing, and Naomi couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of security. "I’m holding you. I won’t let you go."

His words felt like more than just reassurance. They carried a deeper meaning, as though he was promising her something beyond the moment. Even if she fell, she realized, there was no doubt in her mind—he would catch her.

Naomi’s heart pounded as she looked down, the height suddenly making her dizzy. From where she sat, she knew that a fall would be fatal. Fear gripped her momentarily, but when she looked into his eyes, all of it melted away. She trusted him—she always had.

Her hands moved to his shoulders, gripping tightly for balance. "I..." she began, but hesitated, her voice soft.

Before she could say anything more, she surprised herself by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into an embrace. Her cheek rested against his shoulder, her breath warm against his skin.

Zylan froze for a moment, unprepared for her sudden gesture. The tension in his body eased as he adjusted his grip on her, ensuring she wouldn’t slip. The warmth of her embrace was comforting in a way he hadn’t expected, and his lips curled into a faint smile.

"Can I stay like this a little longer?" Naomi whispered, her voice barely audible.

Zylan hummed in response, his approval was silent but clear. He held her steady as she clung to him, her small form fitting perfectly in his arms.

Naomi inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. It was calming—almost intoxicating in its familiarity. She hadn’t noticed it before, or maybe she had but hadn’t given herself the chance to appreciate it. Either way, being this close to him felt so natural, so safe.

Zylan, too, was lost in thought. Despite the grape-based products she had used earlier that day—a scent he typically avoided—there was something uniquely comforting about Naomi’s natural fragrance. Had she always smelled like this? The realization left him curious, even captivated.

Time passed quietly between them, the rhythmic sound of the waves below filling the silence. Then, something caught Zylan’s attention and made his eyes widen in surprise.

Her breathing had slowed, her grip on him loosening slightly. He glanced down at her and realized, to his astonishment, that she had fallen asleep.

Naomi was asleep in his arms, still sitting on the railing.

This wife, who had been so scared just moments ago, was now peacefully asleep in his arms. Zylan couldn’t help but stare at her, his lips curling into a faint smirk at the irony of the situation.

"Eaglet, you never cease to surprise me," he murmured, his tone laced with both amusement and fondness.

He shook his head slightly, wondering how someone could go from terrified to utterly at ease in such a short span of time. But then again, that was Naomi—his little enigma, always finding new ways to astonish him.