True to his words, Yu Zhen was by Li Xueyue's side when she woke up. She was caressed by the scent of the forest after it rained. She felt the powerful plains of his chest, hardened with muscles, yet his embrace was always soft and gentle.

Li Xueyue had never felt more comforted than in his arms—strong and protective. Even now, he was holding her by the waist and pressing her tightly against him. Somehow, their position had changed, and he was lying on his back with her pressed against him.

Li Xueyue tilted her head and felt something holding her legs down. Without a doubt, their legs were entangled.

"Well, well, if it isn't an early bird," Yu Zhen teased. "With a nest for her hair."

Li Xueyue gaped at him, just as he slipped his fingers through her hair and ruffled it even more.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, as a mischievous smirk curled on his lips.

"Searching for the sparrow eggs laid upon your nest."

Li Xueyue glared at him. She sat up on the bed as his hands slid down to her lower back. He held her close to him as if she was going to disappear any moment now.

"As if you look like a knight in shining armor," she lied.

Li Xueyue narrowed her eyes into a slit. Why was he so damn handsome first thing in the morning! She swore he woke up an hour earlier and had his hair brushed and everything.

There was not a single flaw on his sharp, angular features. His lips were full, and despite sleeping all night, didn't even look parched.

"From your awestruck expression, I believe I look like a dashing Prince on a dark horse," Yu Zhen remarked. His chest tightened when she blushed and looked away, hiding the spark in her eyes.

Yu Zhen had lied. Despite her messy hair, and the strands that stuck up everywhere. He loved this side of her. It made her even more surreal and endearing.

When she hid her blush, he smiled. He reached his other hand out and cupped the side of her face. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes when his thumb caressed her cheek.

"I take it back, your hair doesn't look like a bird's nest," Yu Zhen murmured. "We'd offend the birds too much."

Li Xueyue's eyes snapped open. She gaped at him and smacked his chest, as his body shook with laughter. It bounced off the walls and directly into her ears, where her heart unwillingly skipped for him.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore, Little Hamster," Yu Zhen remarked when she scrunched up her face and began to plot his demise. His hand dropped from her face and clasped over her hand resting on his chest.

"Who raised you to be such a bully?" she bit out.

Yu Zhen brought her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I don't have the slightest inkling as to what you're talking about."

Li Xueyue scoffed in response as she rolled her eyes. "One day, I swear…" she mumbled. "You're going to wake up in the middle of nowhere covered in bug bites."

Yu Zhen's eyes twinkled with amusement. "I'd rather give you more love bites."

Li Xueyue's eyes danced with mischief. "Then you better go back to sleep and continue dreaming."

Yu Zhen let out a taunting laughter. With one rough yank, he pulled her down onto the bed, her back flushed against the mattress. In the blank of an eye, he was on top of her, a cunning, dark smirk on his lips.

Yu Zhen leaned down, his lips brushed against her ear. She shivered in response, as her hand slid up his chest, feeling the clench of his muscles when he lowered himself on top of her.

"Why dream, when I can sleep with you right now?"

Yu Zhen kissed her slowly and steadily. She tilted her head, deepening the kiss. She slid one knee up as his fingers slipped up her leg, gripping her mid-thigh. She hummed in response when he parted her legs and settled in between it.

Li Xueyue knew what was to come. She attempted to sit up, and escape from his grasp, but he pinned her down with his lower body.

"And where do you think you're going?" he whispered in a low, throaty voice.

"I—"

"You won't be leaving this room, not until I'm satisfied," he growled upon her lips.

Li Xueyue's lower stomach clenched. Her heart raced from his words. He captured her lips again, this time, in a warmer, passionate kiss. He licked her bottom lip and plunged his slick, hot tongue into her mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut, as his fingers caressed her sensitive, inner thigh. Not a second later, he plunged into her.

Li Xueyue's eyes shot open in shock, not expecting this rush. He buried his head in her neck, breathing hard.

"Since you teased me so, I won't be merciful with you." He slowly pulled out, only to thrust deeper into her heat.

Li Xueyue slipped her arms over his upper back, her fingers tightly clenching his silk robe. "But you…" she gasped as her head rolled back in pleasure. "But you teased me first."

"Did I now?" he chuckled, low and dark, as her body became even hotter.

Li Xueyue wrapped her legs around his hips, as Yu Zhen held up one of her thighs, the other gripping upon the headboard. He rolled his hips and thrust harder, as his hunger for her grew.

Li Xueyue moaned, as she desperately clung onto him, hoping, begging for salvation that only he could give her.

"You tease me everyday, Sunshine, with your presence alone," he gently murmured on her skin.

"T-that's not fair," she breathed out, squeezing her eyes shut as she drowned in his pleasure. He let out a small laugh, as her heart ached for more, much like her lower region.

Teasingly, he rolled his hips to a slow, sensual wave that sent her eyes rolling back. Her lips parted as her toes curled.

"You never play fair, Sunshine, it is only right I return the favor," Yu Zhen murmured as he picked up his pace, and thrust deep into her sweet, tender heat. She cried out in response, only for him to kiss her cheek tenderly, and whisper praises.

"Please," she begged. He brought her to the edge, only to abruptly slow down when she was near the peak.

Yu Zhen chuckled. The sound of her pleas, like music to his ears. "Please what, Sunshine?"

Li Xueyue moaned in response. She grasped tightly onto him, burying her head into his shoulders, broad and powerful. He suddenly sank into her, and she gasped, her eyes widening. Her legs were shaking now, unable to hold on, as she tried to pull away from his pleasure, but he tightened his grip on her thighs, and yanked her harder against him.

"Y-Yu Zhen, I-I can't—"

"Just a little longer, love," Yu Zhen teased.

She trembled under him, moaning and writhing in pleasure. She was so tight, that he nearly broke the wooden headboard with his grip.

"Don't be so cruel," she pleaded.

"I did say I wouldn't be merciful," Yu Zhen remarked. Nonetheless, he quickened his pace and found the right spot. She instantly cried out, her fingers digging into his upper back. She tightened around his shaft, her eyes squeezed shut, as her body tensed, and she cried out his name.

Not a second later, Li Xueyue collapsed weakly onto the bed. Sweat clung onto her as her chest raised up and down. She panted, attempting to catch her breath, but he leaned down and captured her lips.

Li Xueyue was light-headed from his kisses and the pleasure he had given her. When she turned her chin, he gripped her jaw and smiled at her.

"Such a lovely sight early in the morning," Yu Zhen murmured. His thumb brushed her bottom lip, bright red from his assault.

"How splendid you are, Sunshine…" Yu Zhen raked a hand down her chest, parting her clothes. "But I prefer these to be off."

Li Xueyue squeezed her legs together, only to realize he was still in between her thighs. She was still warm from his touch, her womanhood burning with heat.

"What's wrong?" Yu Zhen gently asked, despite the wicked intent in his eyes.

Yu Zhen cupped her breast with one hand, his thumb brushing upon her pearl. He twirled his thumb upon it, flicking it as her hips lifted off the bed. She bit her bottom lip, holding back a soft moan he loved dearly.

"I don't think I can take it anymore…" she whispered.

Yu Zhen raised his brows. He leaned down and kissed her again, this time, more gentle and sensual.

"Don't tell me," he rasped against her lips. "That you're tired already?"

Li Xueyue slowly nodded her head, only to be greeted with his taunting laughter.

"That's too bad, Sunshine. I've yet to be satisfied."

Yu Zhen brushed the hair away from her face, a wicked smile on his lips. With the flick of his fingers, he parted her hanfu. "So, behave for me, Sunshine. There's more from where that came from."

Yu Zhen leaned down and captured her mouth, diving his tongue inside. Her hand shakily clenched the blankets, knowing what was to come. She hoped to find a distraction from the pleasure, by grabbing onto anything that she could hold.

But if only he was that merciful. Yu Zhen sipped his hand under her fingers, forcing her to grip onto him.

"You brute," she whispered.

"Gladly, Sunshine," he chuckled. With that said, he flipped her over, and brought her to her knees and hands. Slowly, he thrust into her as she whimpered in response.

But her legs were still shaky from the first round. Eventually, it gave out from under her, but he held her hips in place, his legs going beside her knees.

"Yu Zhen, I-I really don't think I can do it any longer—"

"You will."

"A-arrogant rogue," she gasped out.

Yu Zhen made sure to thrust even harder into her until she was nothing but a moaning, pleading mess.

"Don't worry, Sunshine, I've got you," he teased. Yu Zhen knew she was trying to escape from him, thus, he slammed her hips back, forcing her to take his full-length.

Li Xueyue whimpered as the pleasure overcame her. She was so overstimulated, that tears came to her eyes. Even so, her mouth betrayed her, as breathless moans escaped.

At this point, she couldn't even think or speak properly. Her thoughts were overwhelmed with his scent, his SWEAT, and his occasional grunts.

"Would you like me to stop?" Yu Zhen teased, but before she could even respond, he pounded harder into her until she jolted, and squeezed her eyes shut.

It did not take long for her breathing to become shaky, and his brows to wrung together. Yu Zhen gritted his teeth, and brought her closer to him. He grunted one final time before thrusting deep into her, and not leaving until he was fully satisfied.

Only once he was done, Yu Zhen gently lowered her onto the bed. Careful not to put pressure upon her sensitive womanhood, he slowly turned her around, so that she was flushed against his chest, and in the same position that they started out this morning.

"Tired?" he asked in a soft voice, almost like a caress.

Li Xueyue shakily nodded her head and buried her face into his shoulders. "I-I might need a minute."

Yu Zhen smiled. He turned his chin and kissed the side of her head. "Take as long as you need, Sunshine. I will be right here when you wake up."

Li Xueyue snuggled against him, as she attempted to sling one leg over the defined ridges of his abdomen. But for a split second, her leg felt like water.

"Was I so foolish to think you'd spare me this morning?" Li Xueyue teased.

Yu Zhen loudly laughed, his chest rumbling at the sound. Instead of responding to her question, he gave her a quiet suggestion.

"Sleep, Sunshine."

She gladly did so, her eyes slipping shut.

Yu Zhen laid there for a while, awake and watching as she peacefully slept. Unbeknownst to him, there was a ghost of a smile resting upon his lips. She was fully his, in this lifetime and the next.