When Erina was taken by those men, she didn’t even know, as death flashed before her eyes, that it was probably one of her last moments. Either she would perform a crucial spell that might reveal her as a werewitch, or she was going to be dead.
But never in her wildest dreams did she come to the conclusion that Arden would end up saving her, knowing that he just bought her and that he can easily replace her with the royalty girls who’re thirsty for his attention. She knew that her loss wouldn’t cause him too much damage at all.
That’s why, when she heard him at that moment, to see him in the middle of her life and death situation, she couldn’t believe that he was there, showing up to save her.
Arden’s hand trailed down her neck, his thumb on her jaw, while his other hand remained resting on the headrest of the sofa as he continued to kiss her persistently, exploring her mouth and tasting every corner his tongue could reach.
Erina gasped breathily as if her energy were fully consumed by his kisses, making her body submit to her needs as she could feel the heat of his body coaxing her for more.
“Come here,” he said in between his kisses, his hand pulling on her waist.
Erina shifted her position, just like how Arden wanted it, as she sat on his lap, her hand on his shoulder, while they continued kissing each other. Arden leaned against the headrest of the sofa as both of his hands went to her waist while her legs were folded on each side so she could sit properly on him.
She doesn’t have any idea how intimacy works. She hasn’t seen anything about it, nor has she learned in her own way how to please a boy’s body. She just let her instinct rule over her, just like how she learned to kiss back when Arden started kissing her.
Erina doesn’t know if she was doing the right thing or whether her kisses are good, but knowing that Arden didn’t stop and let her lips battle with his, she knew that she was on the right track.
“If getting his trust requires physical touch, affection, and intimacy, then you must submit to him, Erina. Worship him. Make him feel that he fully owns you, because when the right time comes, once you bear his child and he’s fully smitten by you, that’s the time that we finally defeat all of the Gunners through their son, Arden Gunner.”
Her mother’s words rang in her ears that she got desperate to please him, to let her body rule her.
Arden’s other hand went to her chest, which he fondled gently. Her body arched. The foreign sensation is so overwhelming that she can’t help but whimper.
He stopped kissing her lips as they traveled down to her jaw and the length of her neck, and both of his hands fondled her chest, molding and caressing it on the thin fabric of her satin dress. She could feel his calloused hand, and it sent shivers down her spine. And even the kisses on her neck are tormenting her body as she arches it, the heat penetrating her skin that she felt so hot.
He pulled her until she sat in the right place where she could feel the thickness of his length in his pants, seeking to be freed. He pressed himself against her softness, pleading with her and rocking himself just enough to feel her.
Erina gasped as the trickling pleasure attacked her continuously. It was so addicting that every time it grated against her, rubbing her soft spot, she couldn’t help but whimper.
Arden stopped kissing her as his hips continued to move to watch her expression as she writhed in pleasure, her brows knitting, her lips parted, and her eyes looking at him sleepily.
“You like that, huh?” Arden’s lips stretched and licked his lower lip.
Erina started moving on her own too, meeting him halfway. It wasn’t just the lust that drove her crazy, but her dominance striking against her to fight back, making sure that she was also pleasing him as well.
Arden’s jaw clenched. He pulled down the zipper at the back until her dress fell, revealing her chest. He crouched down as his mouth claimed one of her mounds, while his other hand cupped the other entirely, fondling it while swirling his tongue on its tip.
Erina gasped, her hand gripping his hair, as Arden continued to pleasure her body, making her feel the foreign things she never imagined existed.
She looked down as her body moved in sync with his movement, the pleasure blinding her as if something were about to explode on her any minute.
Arden looked up, his fierce eyes boring into hers as his tongue swirled and sucked, the pace of his grind changing as it became fast, raw, and aggressive.
Erina shut her eyes; her body trembled as she felt how her world crumbled as if something had triggered her to explode.
“You came,” he whispered as his movement stopped.
Erina was panting when she realized what he meant because she could really feel the liquid between her thighs. She blushed profusely, as she couldn’t hide the fact that it made her excited.
Arden’s lips stretched for an amusing smile. She cleared her throat and decided to stand up as she went into the bathroom to clean herself up.
Damn it, Erina…
As much as she wants to deny to herself that she did that for her sole mission, which is to seduce Arden, at the back of her mind, she knew exactly why she submitted to the lust, why she likes every bit of it, and why it excites her even more.
This is bad. I shouldn’t feel this way. I should be the one who’s seducing him, not the other way around! Damn it, Erina! You’ve been trained for years, and you’re going to fail just because he made you turn on?
It bugged her mind that she was trying to avoid Arden’s eyes every time he looked at her. But in the back of her mind, she knows that deep intimacy such as love doesn’t exist to him. Whatever he’s been trying to make her feel, his main intention is to deceive her, and that’s why Erina always makes sure that the boundary between them is always there.
“The Rockwell is here, my Lord,” Arthur, the head of the guard, announced early in the morning, which caught Erina’s attention.
Arden was sitting on his throne as the King of the Rockwell made its way to him. He bowed his head a bit as the two guards remained at his sides with their alert stances.
“Did you get the threat I sent to you with your two wounded men?” Arden asked, and his face darkened.
King Rockwell remained with his head down as he couldn’t say anything. Arden stood and went down to his throne, which made him swallow and shut his eyes, bracing for his cruelty.
“You sent two of your men to kidnap the woman who’s going to bear my child, and you almost killed her,” Arden said while drawing out the sword on the side of his waist.
Erina’s eyes narrowed when Arden aimed his neck. She looked at Mrs. Gunner, who remained sitting on her seat as she fanned herself, a bit shocked, but she couldn’t talk as well.
“I’m sorry, My Lord…” King Rockwell trembled in fear as he couldn’t lift his head while the side of the sword kissed the skin of his neck.
“Do you want war between our kingdoms?” Arden asked, and his face remained darkened.
King Rockwell immediately shook his head as he looked up pleadingly; his other knee on the ground almost trembled.
“No, My Lord…”
“Your arm or your leg. Choose,” Arden said brutally.
King Rockwell’s eyes narrowed. His lips trembled more.
“Or do you want me to choose for you?” Arden rested his sword on his arm.
“I’m sorry, My Lord. Please forgive me,” he said pleadingly.
“One… Two…”
Erina swallowed hard until she saw how Arden was about to strike his sword, aiming to slice his arm when Erina shouted.
“Arden!” she called in horror.
Arden’s sword came to a halt in the air. He glanced over his shoulder and looked at Erina, who was shaking her head.
“Just don’t,” she said frustratingly.
Yes, the King put herself in danger, but she realized that she didn’t want to witness the violence that she almost encountered.
King Rockwell glanced at her as well. He looked at Erina with pleading eyes. Arden’s brow shot up.
“This is the man who ordered someone to kill you. And you want to spare his life?”
“I’m safe. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. If he promises that he won’t do it again, then it’s fine. Besides, I survived. Erina said.
“You survived because I came to rescue you. If I hadn’t come there, you should have been dead by now,” Arden said seriously.
Erina could feel the intensity of Mrs. Gunner’s eyes on her as if she were judging her to the core. Even though she was sent by her mother for a mission, she doesn’t want to inflict violence because of her. She’s there on a mission because her mother promised that once they cursed the Gunners, they would achieve the peace they’ve been longing for.
It wasn’t her angelic facade speaking, but her truth. She wanted to avoid violence and stop the killing. She wanted Arden to stop his cruelty.
“Just let him go. Let him pay for it without harming him. I know he’s at fault, but killing him won’t solve the problem at all. You just repeated the same mistake he has made, which is another act of violence. If he’s been punished for it, then who’s going to punish you?”
Arden looked at Erina for a while, but as seconds passed, he slowly drew his sword back to his waist, putting it into its cover.
Mrs. Gunner’s brows furrowed when her heartless son listened to the mere lady he just bought. A lady she thinks is cheap has affected her son with her words, which shocked her because she knew how hard it was to tame Arden.
“Drag him out of the mansion,” Arden ordered, and turn his back.
If Erina didn’t say anything about it, he would probably slice his arm. He doesn’t show any remorse to those who don’t even deserve it at all. But because Erina didn’t want any violence at all, he followed her order.
The guards pulled King Rockwell up. King Rockwell looked at Erina and smiled weakly.
“Thank you,” he uttered while the guards were pulling him away.
Erina smiled a little and nodded.