She cursed herself for being so naïve as to believe the words of the hungry beast.
"Light, here. I'll massage your waist." The wolf felt embarrassed for losing control.
But even though he felt guilty, he didn't regret it.
For the first time since his mate entered the Underworld Palace, he'd had his fill and felt refreshed.
Smearing some flame oil on his hands, he climbed on the bed and knelt beside his limp mate.
His heart instantly warmed and a tender smile spread across his features. Gently, he placed his hands on her waist, and with slow, gentle strokes, he massaged her waist, her round hips, her beautiful back, and her shoulder blades.
The slick oil and her smooth skin made his task enjoyable.
In the future, I should do this more often.
As he started thinking about how he'd mate with his beloved every ice night and massage her body to soothe the pain away every warm morning, a lewd smile replaced the tender one.
"Light, in the future, I'll massage you more often, okay?"
"Un!" Unaware of her mate's thoughts, the naïve serpentine gave a drowsy consent.
Sigh, she felt too tired...
Heart overflowing with excitement and joy at securing mating sessions, the Werewolf King became even more passionate about his task.
The better I massage, the easier I'll coax her into bed!
With that thought, he pulled her arms, massaged and kissed, then proceeded to her beautiful hips, round, fair bottom, then calves, legs, and then to her pink and small feet.
"Sigh, even your feet are beautiful." The Werewolf King felt justified in desiring her so much.
When even her feet, the ugliest part of any beast, were so beautiful and lovely, how could he be blamed for wanting to touch, kiss, and glue her to himself at all times?
What to do? He wanted to suck on her lovely toes!
Would she kick him if he did it?
Sneaking a peek at his mate, the wolf debated for a while, before deciding to discard the thought.
It wouldn't be a big deal if she kicked him. He could just rub the sore away and shamelessly get back in bed.
But if she began to avoid him because of this, then he'd shed tears of grief and remorse for an entire week.
Focusing back on the enticing pink toes, his eyes flashed with reluctance and deep regret.
I'll make do with the massage for now.
Heh...in the future mating sessions, I'll satisfy this desire of mine.
With a new goal in mind, the Werewolf King went back to reverently service his mate.
By the time Versailles completed her nap, the wolf had already dressed her in her favorite white robe.
He placed a tray of dishes on the bedside table and turned.
"Slept enough?"
"Hmm! Slept really well!" She contentedly replied, the satisfaction and happiness clear in the crescent folds of her eyes.
"Good. Now come and eat well too." Ramose smiled and brushed her fire-hair out of her face and pulled her into his arms.
With her sitting on his lap, he scooped a spoon of soup.
"Say ahh!"
"Fuhaha!"
The scene was too comical. Versailles couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ramose, you're the Werewolf King. What will your Betas think if they saw you like this?"
"They'll think I'm absolutely and senselessly smitten with my mate..." Deep and husky, his low tone hid a seductive note.
"Now eat." He needed to feed her well to mate with her all night long.
At the thought, a familiar heat rose in his body. But Ramose took a deep breath and suppressed it.
It wasn't the time to get distracted.
It was still early. He still needed to fill her with the energy to last all night.
"Light, be good and open your mouth."
Versailles raised her head and obediently opened her mouth. Ramose's throat bobbed up and down at the sight of her lush lips, but his expression remained impassive as he placed the spoon in her mouth.
"Delicious?"
"Hmm! Very delicious!" The Nar! Since when did I become so meek and tame?
Black lines crossed the serpentine's forehead as she started thinking about her recent changes.
Before coming to the Underworld Palace, she was filled with rage, hatred, deep resentment, bloodlust, and ruthless edge.
Her thirst for vengeance was so deep that she was willing to wipe out any beast that got in her way.
But now...
She couldn't find a trace of that deep resentment in her heart.
It was almost as if her mate had erased all the negative emotions buried in her heart and soul, with his attentive care, indulgent behavior, and boundless love...
But was it alright for her to be so happy and content?
In every single one of her past lives, she'd died tragically alone and abandoned, with not a soul to shed a tear for her.
Her endings were so brutal and savage, that she'd even begun to believe happiness wasn't in her destiny.
And in a place like the Nar realm, the least she expected was to find that very happiness she'd given up on.
"Light, what's wrong?" Seeing her silent and still, Ramose immediately felt alarmed.
Didn't she like soups? Or did her taste change?
Anxious and nervous, the Wolf King lifted her chin to look into her sparkly violet eyes. In their depths, there was a faint trace of amusement.
"I only went quiet for a bit. If others saw your anxious face, they'd think I was dea..." Warm fingers fell on her lips, silencing her mid-speech.
The wolf's black orbs intensely held her violet pupils.
"Light, don't say that word so casually. Such a day won't ever come. Because before anything ever happens to you, I'd destroy the source of threat..."
His mate was his life. Her existence was his source of light.
Before her, he'd never felt so alive.
And after her, there'd be no point in living.
He never saw a future before her, and now, he could no longer imagine a future without her.
If she was gone, he'd be plunged into eternal darkness.
His arms wound around her waist as he tightly embraced her and snuggled his head on her shoulder.
If he could, he would've molded her into his trembling body.
"Ramose, I was just joking..." The serpentine was caught by surprise.
She didn't expect her little lapse in words to evoke such a strong reaction.
"Hmm...I know. But Light, don't say things like that even as a joke. I don't like it."
"I promise. I won't ever again." Versailles wound her arms around his neck and returned his tight embrace.
A peaceful silence settled over the room and the two sat clinging onto each for almost thirty breaths of time.
By the time Ramose calmed down, the soup had cooled.
"It's no longer warm." Versailles pouted.
The wolf's eyes glinted at her cute expression. He wondered how many different expressions she had...would eternity be enough to explore them all?
Just as he was thinking this, she crinkled her little pink nose, folded her arms across her chest, and raised her head high.
Da**! His mate was too breathtaking!
He couldn't help but notice his little member stirring.
"Ahem!" He couldn't lose control. The day was still early.
After he chanted the words in his head for a few heartbeats, his boiling blood finally calmed down.
"Light, the soup isn't warm. I'll help you warm it up." Since he couldn't do the deed until later, he'll make do with little rewards.
Raising the bowl of soup, Ramose poured the content in his mouth. And before Versailles could react, he gripped her chin and pressed their lips together.
"Mmm..." The serpentine inadvertently moaned at the contact and the wolf stroked her tender neck. The moment she gasped, he poured the content in his mouth into hers.
The serpentine instinctively swallowed and their tongues entangled.
"Hmm...Light, you taste delicious!" The wolf loudly exclaimed once they untangled.
Versailles held her chest, her breathing coming out in rough gasps as she glared at Ramose.
Unbeknownst to her, the Werewolf King hardened again at the sight of her rosy cheeks, lush cherry lips, and bright violet eyes.
The Nar! Light must be purposely provoking me!
How could her every expression make me harden?
The wolf's eyes narrowed suspiciously at the glaring serpentine.
"What?" The serpentine hissed.
"You're seducing me." The wolf growled and pointed down at his raised robe.
"Wha..when...you beast!" Embarrassed at the implication behind his words, the serpentine jumped off his lap and kicked.
Holding his leg, the wolf innocently blinked.
"Didn't you already know I was a beast?"
"You! I don't want to talk to you anymore!" Exasperated, Versailles brushed her hair aside and turned to leave.
Ramose hastily rose to his feet and embraced her from behind.
"Light, I was wrong. Don't be mad...hmm?" He meekly rubbed his cheek against hers.
Versailles's heart instantly melted.
She couldn't slap away a docile and ingratiating mate.
"Is it possible for me to ever be mad at you?" Though low, the words entered Ramose's ears as loud as thunder.
His heart shook.
His mate could never be mad at him...
Though simple and plain, to Ramose's ears, the words sounded like a love confession.
Because one could only be patient, tolerant, and never get mad or angry, to the one they loved.
"Uhm! I know." Basking in the thought of his mate's love for him, the wolf held her tighter and closed his eyes.
Versailles lifted a hand, hesitated for a split second, then slid it in his hair. She gently stroked and ran her fingers in the silky strands, rubbing his scalp and temple in a rhythmic pattern.
Ramose melted in his mate's caress.
His eyes drooped drowsily and he had an urge to sleep in her lap.
"Light, if I were still a cub, you'd hold me in your arms and cuddle me against your chest." He wistfully whispered.
Versailles's mind flashed back to the battlegrounds of the Battle of Wars.
At that time, Ramose had shifted forms to follow her and she'd carried his miniature figure in her arms while they navigated from one battleground to the next.
Although it hasn't been more than 10 ice nights at most, it felt like a century since then.
A silent sigh passed her lips and her muscles relaxed.
"Who said I can't hold you in my arms now?"
"Huh?" Ramose was drowsily lamenting about how he could only make do with a hug for a cuddle when he faintly heard his mate's words.
Lifting his head, he looked confusedly at his mate.
Versailles smiled.
She untangled herself from his arms and pulled his hand.
"Come with me."
She led him to the bed and climbed to the center. Then sitting with her legs splayed out in front of her, she motioned him to climb.
Ramose's brows knitted in confusion. But he obediently climbed the bed and slid to her side with a curious and expectant expression.
Is Light going to make love to me?
It was the only thing done on the bed, so he felt he must be right.
Just when his body was heating up in anticipation, Versailles pulled his arm and he fell forward on her legs.
"Light...?" Did she want his help to undress?
But before he could act on the thought, her soft and gentle hands wound around his head and she laid him on her thigh.
Now Ramose's head lay on her thigh, close to her womb. She changed her hands to her arms and tightly held him against her belly.
Ramose's mind went blank for a split instant before his muscles relaxed and his heart overflowed with warmth.
His arms wound around her slender waist and he lovingly rubbed his nose on her womb.
Laying on his mate's soft thigh, his nose pressed against her belly with her mounds rubbing on his head as she gently stroked his hair, Ramose deeply inhaled her fruity fragrance and drowsily closed his eyes.
In all his life, he'd never felt so warm, happy, and at peace.
"Light, I love this cuddle better than the other one."
Because this wasn't one of adoration for a tiny creature.