Chapter 62: I WON’T LET THIS PASS
Ashen’s arm slipped around Lumina’s waist, deepening the kiss. Lumina was too shocked to regain her senses.
She just sat there in shock and could hardly move. His mouth moved over hers as though he had been waiting for this moment, holding it back for far too long.
His lips were hot, demanding, leaving her no room to breathe or think.
Lumina’s heart stumbled in her chest. Her hands pressed against him, feeling the hard, fast beat of his heart beneath her palms.
His scent wrapped around her, smoke and fire, pulling her deeper into him. Like she regained herself she pushed at him, lightly at first, then harder, until at last he let her go.
She drew back, gasping, one hand flying to her lips. Her breath came unevenly, her chest rising and falling as though she had run a great distance. Her lips were now tingling, swollen, and hot, her cheeks flushed with heat.
That was her second time he kissed her unexpectedly and left her in a state of shock.
Ashen leaned back on one elbow beside her, his eyes fixed on her with a slow, knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Yo... You.. Yo." She couldn’t even form a correct word than so she just pointed at him speechless.
"Next time you hide something from me," Ashen said in a low voice, his gaze still locked on her, "I will do something worse than this and you would sure hate me for it."
Lumina’s lips trembled. She tried to find words. Her heart was still racing. Her fingers slowly moved up to touch her lips again, as if trying to understand what had just happened.
"I... I didn’t hide it. I just didn’t think..." She paused again and then she flared up.
"You don’t steal kisses like that!" she said finally, her voice shaking. He only leaned forward again, closer, and smirked.
"You don’t look like someone who didn’t like it."
Her face flushed, and she turned her head quickly, grabbing her cheek with her hand as if trying to hide it from him.
Ashen smirked and pulled closer to her his hands encircling her waist as he whispered so close to her ear.
"You love it.." he let out and her eyes widened.
Ero opened the door again and immediately looked down at his shoes, trying to disappear into the floor. His ears were red, and he looked like he wanted to run; they had come back with the herbs needed only to meet them this way.
"My lady," Stella said from behind Ero, holding a wooden tray. "The herbs and warm water, just like you... ahhh." Stella’s words paused as she stared at them both in shock.
Lumina quickly jabbed Ashen on his stomach trying to push him away,
"Aww!" Ashen groaned and she gasped again trying to comfort him, her cheeks still hot with embarrassment.
"I am sorry... I didn’t mean to." she apologized and he pulled her closer again not minding the both shocking gazes boring at them
"It will only heal when you are closer to me," he whispered, his voice low as his breath caressed her face.
Ero scowled and smacked his face lightly in frustration. Adam had made sure Ashen was mercilessly flogged with the Ember Rod, the hottest whip in the realm, leaving Ashen’s back scorched. The fire of the rod had branded him so badly yet he is refusing treatment.
"You need to treat your wounds," Lumina reminded him, her voice calmer now.
Ashen rolled his eyes without another word and lay back on the bed like he was too tired to care.
Lumina turned her face toward where she heard Ero and Stella’s voices.
Stella, you can step outside, I need to clean his wounds."
"Of course, my lady, I will wait outside," Stella said, placing the tray gently by the side and stepping away.
When the door closed, Lumina turned her face toward Ashen again.
"I need you to take off your robe."
Ashen lifted a brow but said nothing. He sat up and slowly pulled the dark robe from his body.
Though blind, she could feel all the scars the whip had caused on his back the moment she touched his back.
She didn’t miss how he stiffened under her touch.
She took a cloth and dipped it into the warm water, gently squeezing it.
She cleaned each wound slowly and he would hiss at every touch.
Wiping the blood and rinsing the cloth with the help of Ero. She then applied the soft herb paste Stella had prepared. Her hand trembled once, and she quickly steadied it.
When she finished, she finally spoke up, "There...It’s done." Ero smiles at this, his master hardly takes care of his wound, and guess the lady would be reminding him to do so now.
Ashen sat up again, his voice calm but firm. "Now it’s my turn."
She frowned at him this time. "What?"
"You didn’t treat your wound did you?"She stood up in shock.
"It’s nothing..." She protested but he cut her off.
"Ero," Ashen said suddenly, and Ero stiffened.
"Yes, master?"
"Leave us."
"But..."
"I said leave." Ero bowed quickly and stepped out.
Ashen stood from the bed, his robe still on the floor as he moved closer before she could grasp he pulled her back to the bed.
"Turn around."
"No. It’s not.."
"Turn around, Lumina." His voice was low but full of command.
"Hey I am a lady." she reminded him.
"Yeah... and you are my lady." With that he turned her back to face him, shutting her up.
His fingers brushed her long hair aside. She felt her breath catch again. His fingers touched her skin lightly and she flinched.
"I knew it," he whispered.
He touched the bruise at the base of her neck, where her dress collar had failed to hide it.
"You let me get treated while you walked around with this?" he asked, annoyed.
"I didn’t think it was serious."
"You think wrong... this is why you should tell me every detail of whatever happens to you," he barked, leaving her loss for words.
"You are a lady and you can’t see your wounds, would you be happy when you finally see and your skin is filled with scars by then?" Lumina didn’t give a response as she just sat still rethinking his words.
She had never cared about her wounds, Stella is the one who always scolds her, sometimes reminding her also of being a lady.
He reached for the cloth, dipped it into the water, and pressed it gently against her skin.
"Awww," she mumbled, and then his fingers moved slower this time around so as not to hurt her too much.
She felt each stroke, every moment of his touch. Her body leaned slightly forward.
When he applied the salve, his other hand rested on her shoulder to keep her still.
Then he spoke again, voice low and dangerous near her ear.
"Did Stella know about this?" Lumina tilted her head. "What?"
"Did she know about your bruises?"
"I told her not to tell you about it."
"Then I am not going to let this pass."
She squinted her face trying to understand his words.
"W-what are you saying?"
He leaned slightly close to her this time, so that she could feel the warmth of his chest on her back.
"I am saying," he whispered, "Stella’s getting punished."
Her body tensed at once. "Wait... Ashen...what?"
But before she could finish, he leaned on her shoulder, his lips brushing just behind her ear.
"That will teach her next time that I can be way more dangerous than you."