The door opened, and the waiter pushed in a fancy food cart, carefully placing it on the long table in the middle of the bedroom.
"But that was just my guess, and it was quickly cleared up. When we kissed just now, your saliva didn't taste human." He spoke lightly, as if discussing everyday matters, but his words made her face turn as red as a ripe cherry.
At the other end of the long table, the man folded his hands, propping up his chin firmly, his deep eyes fixed on her.
Had she really kissed a man just now? She had thought it was just an overly realistic dream...
Recalling her unconscious response to that entanglement, Ivina even felt a bit promiscuous.
"Why haven't you sat down yet? If this table doesn't suit you, we can switch to another one."
This statement caused Ivina to abruptly lift her head from her shame and immediately sit down on the soft cushion.
"No, no, no, I like it, I like it very much." She didn't know why this stranger was treating her this way, but she was certain that if she refused casually, one of the servants would suffer as a result. Recalling the scene at the banquet, she had already recognized the cold-blooded side of vampires.
She swallowed the food in front of her in large mouthfuls. Perhaps because she was so hungry, her sense of taste had become dull, and even the delicious food tasted like chewing wax.
The bedroom was deathly quiet, with only the sound of Ivina's cutlery. The atmosphere was stiff and cold.
Finally, she raised her head with all her courage, only to find that the man was still staring at her intently, as if deep in thought.
"I'm sorry, I… I'm full." Ivina remained seated, holding her breath as she waited for his response.
"Are you from another clan?"
"Huh?"
"Which clan?" Compared to other women, her overly slender build was unsuitable for outdoor activities, let alone procreation. Add to that her long black hair… He couldn't think of any clan that would have such physical features. What was even more astonishing was that when she opened her eyes, he saw a pair of clear, black eyes, as transparent as water, yet her origins remained as murky as a mystery.
"I…" Ivina was at a loss, and what made her even more panicked was that the man had left his seat at some point and was now approaching her step by step.
"I… I should go back." In her panic, she blurted out an excuse that even she found awkward.
"Oh? Where are you going? To your master's place?"
As the man's footsteps crept silently closer, Ivina hurriedly backed up a few steps. Finally, she stopped helplessly, having already reached the corner of the wall.
"Yes, my master. He's very worried…" She wasn't lying; at least Niditara would be frantically searching for her.
Ivina tried to turn her body sideways to find an opportunity to move away from the corner, but by the time the man's body pressed tightly against hers, she was so tense that she couldn't even think about escaping.
"I asked you, which clan are you from? This is the third time. This is the limit."
"I'm just visiting my relatives in Segi…" Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"What? I didn't hear you." The man leaned in, pressing his ear to Ivina's lips, while his sensual lips lingered on her delicate neck.
"I…" Ivina's mind was in chaos.
His hand gently wrapped around her slender waist, moving upward along her waist until it reached her soft side. Through the fabric, his thumb teased her sensitive spot, making her almost hear her own gasps.
"No… uh…"
"Is it that difficult to simply state your origins?" He continued his caresses as he spoke.
"I said... from Segi..."
"I said... I don't believe you." A mocking laugh accompanied the magnetic voice that brushed against her ear. His tone was calm, yet it effortlessly pierced through the lie.
Sliding off the cumbersome clothing, his kiss landed on her trembling shoulder. His hands held her tighter, and his steady breathing became unusually heavy for the first time for a woman.
Her upper body was nearly half-naked, with only a few pieces of flimsy cotton fabric barely covering her exposed chest.
She struggled to push away this stranger before her. Was it her imagination? In the moment she was pushed away, a hint of surprise flashed across his face. But faster still, through the faint moonlight, she saw his eyes clearly.
Mesmerizingly deep.
No... how could that be?
Black-gray eyes