Yu Zhen certainly did not lie. His tongue had brought her to the peak of ecstasy not once, but twice. Li Xueyue thought that was the end of it, but it wasn’t. He continued to ravish her. He did under false claims of making it up for the lost time in the bath.
Regardless of his reasons, Li Xueyue was beyond exhausted. By now, she’d need another bath. Her body was covered in sweat, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“Tired?” Yu Zhen mused from beside her. She was lying on the bed, her body turned to him. He sat beside her, running a hand through his hair.
Yu Zhen let out a smooth chuckle when she glared at him. Her chest was still red from their heated passion. He reached a hand down and lazily caressed her cheek.
“You shouldn’t have provoked me,” he soothed.
“You’re just a bully,” Li Xueyue grumbled.
Despite her words, Yu Zhen pulled the blanket higher up to cover her body, fearing she would catch a cold.
“The food is cold,” she added on.
“I can give you something else to eat.”
Li Xueyue glanced up at him, smiling in amusement. Was he finally going to let her do it? She had felt guilty he was continuously pleasuring her, whilst she didn’t give any in return.
During their lovemaking, she had asked him if she could also pleasure him, but he said it wasn’t necessary, claiming entwining their bodies was enough.
“Perhaps I should just eat you,” Yu Zhen murmured, as his fingers touched the corner of her mouth. It was bruised from his kisses—some rough, some gentle.
“Or you can let me eat in peace,” Li Xueyue retorted, despite the burst of desire entering her system. His thumb rolled her bottom lip down, his eyes darkened.
“No, I don’t think so.”
Yu Zhen bent down to capture her lips again. She dodged, and his lips landed upon her cheek. He didn’t mind, as he lavished more kisses upon her. She giggled in response, pushing at him.
Li Xueyue’s effort was futile. He was simply too strong. She couldn’t believe her years of training were useless against him.
“It tickles.”
“Really now?” Yu Zhen mused, pulling back to let her breathe.
Yu Zhen’s heart raced when he saw her bright smile. There was a twinkle in her eyes. They resembled shimmering stars at midnight. He could do nothing but admire it.
“I want another bath,” Li Xueyue stated.
Yu Zhen supposed she was right. They had a strenuous exercise. Well, not too strenuous for him, but certainly for her.
“Does it hurt anywhere?” Yu Zhen asked whilst scooping her into his arms, blanket, and all.
Li Xueyue slowly shook her head. “Just a bit tender down there.”
Yu Zhen raised a brow. “Why didn’t you say so?”
Li Xueyue didn’t want to respond. She covered her face and looked away from him. How could she voice her concerns when it felt so good in the heat of the moment?
“Well?” he pressured on whilst carrying her outside.
When Yu Zhen passed a servant who had her head bowed. He commanded for the food to be reheated and the bedsheets changed. The servant nodded at the command and scurried off without another word, all the whilst keeping her eyes to the ground.
“Are we going to sleep in different bedrooms?” Li Xueyue suddenly asked, hoping to change the topic.
His grip on her tightened. His jaw clenched and his eyes were set ablaze. He stared into the distance, not wanting to look at her.
“Sure.”
Li Xueyue was confused by his sudden irritation. Did something happen? “It’s just, there are two estates. One for the Crown Prince, and the other for me.”
“Right.”
Li Xueyue was infuriated by his curt responses. Was it something she said?
“We’re married,” she added on.
“Really?”
“Yu Zhen!” Li Xueyue exasperated.
She didn’t like this side of him. She hated the silence, the cold shoulders, and the simmering rage. She preferred his gentle gazes and his uninhibited laughter, though the latter was rare.
“What?” he demanded.
Li Xueyue gritted her teeth. “You can’t tell me to voice my concerns and not do the same!”
Li Xueyue’s eyes widened when his head snapped down to her. They had stopped in front of the bathhouse, but he didn’t make any move to enter.
Yu Zhen bit back a reply. It’d hurt her. He could already see it—the anguish in her eyes. She was upset by his reaction. Did she finally understand how he felt?
“If you wish to sleep in different estates, that is fine with me.”
Li Xueyue’s shoulders dropped in disappointment. In the palace, it was common for wives and husbands to sleep apart. The reason was that it’d be easier for the husband to please his concubines. But he didn’t plan to take any… right?
“But I don’t want that,” she whispered.
Li Xueyue liked sleeping with him in both senses of the word. The night spent in his arms was the best one she had in awhile.
She was frightened by his apathetic behavior. Did he not want to sleep with her? What could be the cause of that? Was it because she moved too much? Or maybe, she snored?
“In that case,” he slowly said. “Every morning, I expect to hear your snores, and every night, to see your face.”
Li Xueyue gaped up at him. “I don’t snore.”
“Was that all you heard?” he mused.
“Practically, yes.”
Yu Zhen let out a laugh. A strange weight on his shoulders was lifted. “You can’t take back your words, Sunshine.”
He shifted his gaze to her. “My estate is your estate now. Even after we have heirs. I want you to wake up in my room, and go to sleep in my room.”
Li Xueyue smiled. She reached up and hugged him. “That’s all I wanted.”
– – – – –
After their dispute, Yu Zhen finally entered the bathhouse with her.
“We’ll strictly bathe,” she sternly said as he lowered them into the enormous pool of water.
Yu Zhen raised a brow at her words. He submerged both of them whilst bringing both of their bodies to the same corner as they were at previously. When he pulled back to admire her beauty, she clung onto him.
“What is there to be shy about?” he softly asked. “I’ve already seen everything.”
Despite his words, Yu Zhen loosely wrapped an arm around her. How could he not? She hugged him so tightly, her legs on either side of him.
“Still,” she mumbled, resting her face upon his broad shoulders. His hand weaved into her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp. She let out a sigh of pleasure, melting against his body.
“But you’re so beautiful,” Yu Zhen stated.
“You should see yourself,” Li Xueyue said. She chuckled when his body tensed at her words.
“And what do you think of me?” he asked.
Li Xueyue hummed in response. She pretended to think for a while. “I think you’re very pretty. In fact, you’re also cute.”
“I’m not cute,” he scoffed.
“You are.”
“Am not.”
Li Xueyue refused to engage in this silly argument with him. Instead, she hid her smile in the nook of his neck. He smelled delectable. Like herbs and spices.
“What are you doing?” Li Xueyue whispered when she felt something graze her back. It was wet and soft.
“Just relax,” he said, pressing a kiss upon the side of her head.
Li Xueyue was skeptical of his words. Nonetheless, she obliged.
