That smile!! Evie really felt that she had zero tolerance for it. The moment he flashed it at her, her brain just turns off and all logic and reason fly out the window. Now, looking at him smiling at her, the heat he caused was too much that Evie felt like her face was now being scorched and smoking hot. Was her husband always this shameless before? God help her… because there was just no way she could even resist him now when he was like this!

However...

"Of course, if my wife is not in the mood, and if this will put you at ease, I would rather just close my eyes and try my best." He said in mock surrender when Evie could not respond for a long while.

Evie could only face palm herself. The audacity of this man! She gazed down at him as she nibbled the inside of her lips. Seriously? He is finally going to give up now after saying all that heart moving and spine-tingling words to her? She arched an eyebrow and pursed her lips as she looked at her husband who was pretending to be all docile and meek.

The next moment, Evie moved, and she found herself straddled on top of him. Gavriel propped his upper body on his elbows, mouth slightly agape and looking at her in surprise. She then lunged at him and hugged him tight.

"I'm sorry," she muttered into the muscular chest her face was buried in, "you are right. I am just too worried. I was afraid something bad will happen if we… if we…" she struggled to continue her line, "what would I do if we… we do it... and then something happens and you're too tired out to even go and…"

To Evie's surprise, she felt Gavriel's body start to tremble. She pulled away, worried for his health… just to see that infernal man trying his very best to stop himself from bursting out in laughter. However, the next second, he exploded in loud raucous mirth.

"W-why are you laughing?" she pouted her lips and Gavriel quickly cupped her face with both his hands and gave her a couple of pecks on her pouty lips. As Evie huffed, Gavriel gently bumped his forehead against hers, still chuckling to himself.

"Because my wife is being so goddamned adorable right now." He said still smiling wide and then he let his back crash back into the mattress as he pulled her down in his embrace on top of him. "Alright my love, you have beaten me up well and good this time. I will yield to your demands and sleep now, but you will need to sleep with me… wait, I mean literally sleep with me. I know I will be able to fall asleep if we do this."

He then rolled over to the side and landed her next to him. When they were facing each other, with their arms wrapped around each other, Gavriel kissed her forehead before his gaze became serious. "I understand your fear my love. But know that I would never risk your safety over my primal desires. Even though I can't deny that I am madly…" for some reason, he did not finish his sentence and just flushed a little before he cleared his throat, "just know that I wouldn't be so stupid to be intimate with you if we were to be engaged in dangerous situations right after that. Understand?"

Evie pressed her lips tight, and she snuggled into his embrace, fully reassured. "I'm sorry." She whispered and he caressed her hair.

"It's not your fault. You are worried and scared and yet your husband is being damned…" he sighed, not finishing his line again, "Gods… I'm worried you'd get sick of me one day for constantly jumping all over you like this like a big bad wolf who is always hungry."

"I would never!" Evie exclaimed in a loud voice as she pulled away, causing Gavriel to blink. "H-how could I ever get sick of you? I am actually the who's worried about that! And I never hated it when you're all over me and wanting me. In fact, it makes me feel happy and I always love it when you…" Evie's voice tapered off when she realised what she was saying, and she flushed again. Gods! What was wrong with her brain? She then closed her eyes tightly in embarrassment.

Gavriel's lips curved up, his face beaming like the sun, looking so goddamned pleased. But then, he suddenly cursed under his breath before he was suddenly on top of her and staring down into her eyes. "I was trying so hard to listen to you and go to sleep but look what you did to me. I think that deep down, you might not truly want me to sleep. You actually want me to make love to you, right, Evie?"

The heat between them suddenly seemed to ignite. Oh no…

She averted her gaze away. "I… I…" she stammered, "I want you, too… I admit it… but…" she met his gaze and continued, "your health and wellbeing are my top priority at the moment, my primal desire is only secondary." Evie explained after letting out a gentle breath, eyes soft and tender as she looked at him.

Gavriel blinked, speechless. Did she just used his own words against him? A long sigh escaped his lips and he lazily fell back into bed again, chuckling softly. His little wife is getting better at bantering with him.

"Alright, alright… I give up. Did my seduction effectivity lessened without me realizing? I guess I really need a nap it seems," he mumbled as he shook his head. He then pulled her close to him and shut his eyes. He had positioned himself lower so he could lean his head on Evie's chest and placed her hands on his head. Gavriel nudged his head into her hands, indicating that he wanted her to continue stroking his hair the way she did earlier. Evie smiled and thought how he was behaving like a big, pampered kid.

As Evie started to caress his hair, Gavriel spoke in a low, lazy voice. "I'll sleep now… but prepare yourself once I wake up, wife. Because this big bad wolf will definitely ravage you like never be…" his voice had slowly tapered off and suddenly stopped. And just like that, the big bad wolf fell asleep.