"Seduce me all you want." His hot and moist whisper caressed her ears, causing goosebumps to travel over her skin.

"I… I don't know how…" Evie said dazedly. She could not help it. He has yet to kiss her, and she was already feeling drugged by his hypnotic gaze and everything he say or do. Everything about him was just so intoxicating. "I don't know how to seduce…" her voice trailed off in embarrassment.

"That's not true, love… you always know how to drive me insane. You get under my skin like no other does. You're an effortless seducer, Evie. Even right now…" his throat worked. "You don't even realise how ravishing you look right now… oh, gods… I want to…" he squeezed his eyes close tightly.

Gavriel was distracted by the sight of her luscious and plump lips. The whole time during the last two days were excruciating for him. He remembered when he parted with her before the battle started. She had told him that he had the permission to touch her once he returned and that he told her if he did not die waiting first. Well, he almost died. He gave a dry laugh as that thought ran through his mind again – and not for the first time.

Waiting for her to wake up so he could finally hear her voice again and see her smile was proving to be the longest days in his life. He was with her again at last and yet she was unconscious. And even if she was awake right now, it was not quite the right timing for some hanky-panky to be enjoyed. She still needed a lot of rest, and what he wanted to do to her was the complete opposite of that. So, his waiting time was far from over. He could only endure with a long-suffering smile.

Gavriel had tried his very best not to kiss her the moment she woke up. Because he knew it would only provoke his hunger for her. He was never very confident with his self-control whenever it comes to her, much so now that she had expressly given her agreement for him to touch her. Now even more so, he was determined not touch her until she was fully recovered. He knew that once he started, nothing short of a world crisis would be able to get him to stop.

But his dear Evie, had surprisingly showed such possessiveness over his person at the worst possible time. Why was his wife always… always ending up in a provocative situation with regards to him at the wrong place and the wrong time? Be it on purpose or not, Gavriel wanted to punish her with so much pleasure until she cries to him for mercy for putting him in this endless and increasing torture of only being able to see and scent her but not being able to have her the way it truly matters most.

Groaning, Gavriel suddenly straightened. The only thing that was keeping him from pinning her down right now and finally taking her was the dark thought that he was the main reason why she was in this state currently and that he was the one who had put her in grave danger. This reminder effectively cooled his boiling blood. Knowing that it was only a little more that he would have drained her dry of her life's blood just caused ice to flow in his veins.

The mere reminder of him biting down and drinking his precious woman's blood cleared Gavriel's thoughts in an instant. Nothing better to sober a person than to remember how he almost murdered his own wife. He still resented himself for putting Evie in danger and he would not be forgiving himself for doing that – forever. Because nothing would ever change the fact that he, of all creatures, nearly killed her.

Suddenly, the fiery air between them cooled significantly. As they stared mutely at each other, Evie saw the haze of lust quickly disappear from his eyes.

"Alright…" he smiled sweetly. "I'll listen to my little wife and be good and go put on some clothes. Give me a moment." He winked at her as he walked off to do what he said.

Evie was left blinking. Confused and disoriented. What just happened? She had really thought he was definitely going to kiss her and… he suddenly stopped? It felt as if she was taken up into a whirlwind, spun around crazily and then dropped to the ground – all in a matter of seconds.

"Now, let's go." He came back fast and scooped her up again. "You need to eat to regain your strength."

…

That afternoon, Gavriel took great care of Evie's every single need. He coaxed her to drink the incredibly awful tasting medicine Leon had brewed for her. It honestly tasted like it came from a witches' brewing cauldron. Evie could not help but stick her tongue out every time she took a mouthful, causing those looking on to chuckle at her making funny faces.

Evie felt a lot better when night-time came. She must say that Leon's medicine was incredible. She felt fully recovered now and even quite energetic too.

"Did Leon have some sort of magic?" Evie asked suddenly as Gavriel and her were taking a leisurely stroll in the garden. Gavriel was initially sceptical in letting her move around but Evie insisted that she was fine now.

"Why would you think that?"

"His medicine is incredibly effective. I swear I feel that I have fully recovered now. I even think I've become a little stronger than I was before this." She grinned happily.

Gavriel searched her face and then smiled. "Perhaps."

"Can we continue to take a stroll in the town? I don't want to be sitting and lying down after sleeping in bed for two days." she said when Gavriel paused. "I really feel like an invalid even if I am not." She pouted cutely, trying to push her point across.

"No, wife. You just woke up. And it's cold outside…" he trailed off at the sight of Evie's expression. "Alright, how about you try and persuade me?"

Evie stared at him. What was she doing all these while if not trying to persuade him? The reason why she had made that request and wanted to go out with him was because she somewhat felt that Gavriel seemed not to want them to return to their chambers for whatever reason it was. He had brought her to places where there were many vampires around.

Gavriel had previously always taken her somewhere where they could be alone, so now she was curious as to why he was suddenly bringing her to busier and bustling places now. She also wanted to talk to him privately but because vampires were around, they could not even have a decent private conversation for fear of having their talk being eavesdropped on – not that it was on purpose. Evie could not even consider whispering, knowing how sharp the ears of the vampires were. Vampire's hearing was superb and cannot be compared to mere human hearing. Could it be because Gavriel did not want her to ask about the things she saw in the dungeon?

Facing him, Evie stared deeply into his silvery moon-like eyes. And then suddenly, she tiptoed and reached out for his face and caught it between both her hands and brought her mouth against his decisively.

____

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