Yun Kui, with a heart set on death, waited miserably until the seventh day.
She begged a friendly kitchen worker for wine, hoping only that her death wouldn’t be too painful.
The cook, noticing her strange state and fearing alcohol might worsen things—especially since she was meant to serve the Crown Prince that night—kindly made her a bowl of fermented rice dumplings to satisfy her craving.
Having lost her appetite for days, Yun Kui’s stomach was empty. She finished the bowl and found herself slightly intoxicated.
Drunkenness usually led to bragging, rowdiness, or reminiscing, but with no one around to listen, she could only cry while recounting her wretched life.
As a child, she had lived with her uncle’s family—fatherless, motherless, and unloved. Neighborhood children bullied her, mocking her mother for being unchaste and her father for abandoning his wife and daughter.
Later, when her aunt tried to marry her off to a fifty-year-old landowner, she fled in desperation, at one point living worse than a beggar on the streets.
After entering the palace, just when she thought she might finally have food and shelter, a hunched old eunuch lusted after her beauty and tried to take her as his "companion." If not for Aunt Bi Zan passing by and saving her, she wouldn’t have escaped that fate.
Only after joining the Imperial Kitchen did her life begin to improve.
No matter how hard things had been, she endured, believing that as long as she lived, there was hope—hope to leave the palace, marry a decent man, and never again live under someone else’s roof, wandering and groveling.
But everything changed after entering the Eastern Palace.
She had felt the terror of walking on knife’s edge countless times, watching people die before her eyes. Those in power treated lives like weeds, and she was nothing but an ant in their eyes, swept along without any ability to resist.
Obeying meant death. Disobeying meant death.
After crying her fill, what could she do?
She had never even killed a chicken, let alone had the courage to poison someone—especially someone as exalted as the Crown Prince. Before him, she had no chance to strike, and even if she did, her fate would be worse than Cai Ju’s.
Yet she couldn’t swallow her anger!
Though the Crown Prince hadn’t forced her to take the Seven-Day Poison, he was undeniably involved!
Her misery had begun in the Eastern Palace, and now her impending death was all because of that damned Crown Prince!
Why should she suffer for his crimes?
Why did the true villains hide in the shadows while innocent maids like her were sent to die?
She hadn’t lived enough—hadn’t known a single day of happiness. Her dream of marriage was ruined, and she hadn’t even enjoyed a man’s touch!
If she were outside the palace, she’d spend her ten taels of gold on a strong, strapping man for pleasure! Money meant nothing in death—she wouldn’t leave it to anyone. If she was going to die, she’d die satisfied!
But inside the palace? The Eastern Palace was inescapable. Sleeping with a guard meant death for both, and she couldn’t drag someone else down with her.
After much deliberation, the only man within reach was that damned Crown Prince!
So what if he was noble? So what if he was untouchable?
She was going to die anyway!
Either he’d kill her, or she’d die on his bed, her guts spilled, scaring him to death!
Before, when the Crown Prince had groped her waist or touched her chest, she had never fought back, only seethed inwardly. But why should she be the one denied pleasure?
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" Yun Kui had made up her mind—tonight, she would do what she had always dreamed of but never dared.
She was going to sleep with the Crown Prince!
She was going to pin him down and kiss him fiercely!
She was going to touch his chest, his abs, explore every inch of him!
Otherwise, all those romance novels, those erotic illustrations, those dreams of passion—what had they been for?
She couldn’t take that knowledge to her grave!
With the slight buzz from the fermented rice dumplings, she rushed to the Crown Prince’s chambers. Seeing the regal man seated on the bed, she threw herself at him in a drunken impulse, pressing her lips to his.
For a fleeting moment, when she met his dark, stormy gaze, she hesitated. But the alcohol, his breathtaking beauty, and the urgency of her mission spurred her on. No time to waste—straight to the point!
Yet she was so nervous that the moment their lips touched, her blood rushed, her lashes fluttered violently.
The Crown Prince had expected her to beg for mercy or even attempt to poison him in exchange for the antidote. But this audacity? Unthinkable.
Women who tried to seduce him were always demure or coquettish—none had ever charged at him like this.
"You are utterly insolent."
He gripped her neck, forcing her to meet his eyes.
As she lifted her head, a tear clinging to her flushed lashes fell—plop—onto the back of his hand.
He froze, momentarily stunned.
Yun Kui saw the tear too, but her foggy mind fixated on his hand—elegant yet powerful, veins tracing beneath pale skin.
A hand like that could control any part of her...
Without thinking, she wiped the tear from his hand, then tremblingly guided it to her slender waist.
The Crown Prince watched her damp, glistening eyes. Though he complied, his expression remained icy, intimidating.
"Your Highness," she swallowed nervously, daring to bargain, "could you pretend this never happened?"
The Crown Prince smirked. "Am I a corpse?"
Yun Kui lowered her head, too afraid to meet his gaze. But... there was no turning back. She had already kissed him—kneeling and begging wouldn’t save her now.
So why hold back?
Gritting her teeth, she kissed him again, this time aiming for his tightly pressed lips.
There was a saying: "Knowledge from books is shallow without practice." As a child, she had overheard a scholar reciting it. Right now, it fit perfectly.
She had pored over erotic illustrations, even dreamed of passionate kisses—but reality was clumsy and awkward.
She tried to ignore his burning black eyes; one more glance would shatter her courage.
Yet his scorching breath, his dangerous aura, made her pulse erratic, her chest heaving, her teeth chattering against his lips.
Why? In her dreams, Aunt Bi Zan had easily parted the lips of the honor guard captain. They were always like fire and tinder, igniting at the slightest touch. Wasn’t this how it was done?
The more she panicked, the more her lips trembled.
This wasn’t working. After fumbling, she gave up.
Frustrated, she moved to undo his belt. Forget the kiss—she’d touch those abs first!
Though she couldn’t fathom why the Crown Prince offered no resistance, there was no time to dwell on it. Like a reckless thief eager for forbidden pleasures, she impatiently yanked open his belt and plunged her hand beneath his robes.
To her dismay, layer after layer of fabric barred her way.
The Crown Prince’s arrow wound had healed, and his condition had improved. Unlike before, when he wore only a loose inner robe, his formal attire was far more intricate than that of an ordinary guard. In her nervousness, she had completely forgotten the dressing techniques Aunt Wei had taught her. Unable to tear or tug the garments open, she grew frantic, beads of sweat forming on her brow.
The Crown Prince had endured enough. Seizing her wandering hand, he abruptly lifted it.
Yun Kui gasped. Before she could react, he had flipped her onto her back, pinning her wrists above her head and forcing her to meet his smoldering, piercing gaze.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
His grip was ironclad, effortlessly trapping her beneath him. Yun Kui couldn’t even twitch a finger. The thought of failing before she’d even begun filled her with bitter frustration.
Fine, kill me then! A clean slash to the throat would be better than dying from a ruptured gut.
What’s so special about being the Crown Prince? If I were the Emperor, I’d have you all executed!
If you’re so powerful, why not kiss me to death?
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than his cool, moist lips crashed down on hers. Yun Kui’s eyes flew wide.
Wait… is he serious?
Does he know what I’m thinking…?
The kiss was far from gentle—it was punishment for her audacity.
Burning with icy fury, the Crown Prince crushed his lips against hers, forcing them apart with ruthless dominance.
Though this was ostensibly what she’d come for, the sheer intensity of his assault left her trembling in panic.
His grip was unyielding, denying her any retreat.
He stole every breath, leaving her flushed from ears to neck, her limbs melting like wax under his relentless siege.
She’d seen his tongue before—soft and delicate. Yet now, it felt heavy enough to crush her.
Ugh, this is awful.
Hearing her thoughts, the Crown Prince bit down sharply on her lip.
Outside the chamber, Cao Yuanlu, unable to hear their conversation, grew anxious. Worried Yun Kui might do something reckless to provoke His Highness—or worse, endanger him—he cautiously peeked inside.
What he saw stunned him: the Crown Prince had her pinned to the bed, kissing her fiercely!
Flushing crimson, the old eunuch hastily retreated.
The Crown Prince’s eyes snapped open at the sound of footsteps. Gazing down at the tearful, trembling girl beneath him, something inexplicable stirred in his chest.
After a long pause, his grip loosened slightly, the brutal invasion softening into teasing licks and nips.
Beneath him, Yun Kui gasped for air between kisses, her hair disheveled, eyes rimmed with red, her slender wrists fragile in his grasp.
So bold, yet so pitiful.
And the more pitiful she looked, the more he wanted to torment her—to bite, to make her regret her shameless audacity today!
His anger flared, his kisses turning rougher, refusing to relent even as she struggled for breath.
Finally, Yun Kui could take no more. Tears spilled freely as she whimpered, “Y-Your Highness…!”
I can’t… I can’t…
She truly felt like she was dying—breathless, boneless, lips numb and throbbing. Even if he released her wrists, she couldn’t lift them.
Has the seven-day deadline arrived?
Are my guts rotting yet…?
The Crown Prince frowned at her thoughts.
Gripping her chin, he brushed his thumb over her swollen lips, his voice low and rough. “What exactly did you come here for today?”
Freed at last, Yun Kui gulped air, her breathing ragged. After a long moment, she steadied herself.
Trying to suppress her anguish, she hunched her shoulders and murmured weakly, “Your Highness, this servant is dying… I’ll never be able to serve you again…”
“Is that so?” The Crown Prince sounded indifferent.
Heartless bastard.
She was about to die, and he couldn’t even feign concern—not even a cursory “How are you dying?”
A chill settled over Yun Kui’s heart. Sniffling, she whispered, “Given that we’ve… slept together a few times, might Your Highness grant me the mercy of an intact corpse?”
The Crown Prince scoffed.
With a ruptured gut, there won’t be much left intact.
Suddenly, her eyes lit with hope. “You’ve seen much of the world—do you know of a painless, dignified way to die?”
“No,” he replied coolly.
Yun Kui’s eyes welled again. Abandoning pretense, she sighed and resigned herself to fate.
Useless Crown Prince. Can’t even help me die properly, and now I’m dying because of you.
Amused, he taunted, “If you hate me so much, why not kill me?”
She clenched her jaw, refusing to answer.
I’m not like you, killing people on a whim.
After a pause, she inched closer like a clingy kitten. “Your Highness, as a final favor… might this servant ask one last wish?”
“Speak.”
Yun Kui hesitated, then softened her voice. “I’d like… to serve you one last time. May I undress you?”
The Crown Prince smirked. So the little schemer had switched tactics from force to flattery?
Tearfully, she confessed, “Someone poisoned me. They said they’d only give me the antidote if I killed you… But I’d rather die than harm Your Highness.”
“How touching,” he drawled.
“That’s not what I meant!” Yun Kui shook her head frantically. “They say you’re ruthless, but I don’t believe it. You’re domineering, yes, but also gentle and kind. My only regret is not seeing your wounds heal before I die…”
That kiss was terrible.
At least his chest was nice to touch before.
The Crown Prince: “…”
With skills like that, I’m not holding out hope for the rest. Why exhaust myself before dying? I just want one last look, one last feel…
His expression darkened. “Let’s retire for the night.”
Yun Kui gaped at him.
Wait—did he mishear? I’m about to die, and he wants me to sleep with him?!
Is he not afraid I’ll die in his bed?!
The Crown Prince’s stern gaze brooked no argument.
Yun Kui rose in confusion, smoothing the wrinkles from her dress where he had pressed against her. In the end, she decided not to undress—dying naked and disemboweled on the Crown Prince’s bed would be far too unsightly… What would the underworld’s Black and White Impermanence think of her? How could she even explain herself before King Yama’s court?
Better to remain properly dressed.
Before she could make another move, she noticed the Crown Prince avoiding her like a thief, retreating behind a folding screen to undress on his own.
Yun Kui: …
"Stingy people drink cold water!"
Once the Crown Prince had settled onto the bed, she dawdled her way to the bedside. "Your Highness, this servant truly isn’t joking…"
The Crown Prince cut her off coldly. "I never repeat myself."
Gritting her teeth, Yun Kui kicked off her embroidered slippers and clambered onto the bed.
A dying woman had nothing to fear. She tugged at the brocade quilt and squeezed right up against him.
Though they had shared a bed before, the Crown Prince’s quilt was vast and warm, spacious enough for three or four people. When he chose to draw near, their bodies would fit together seamlessly, but when he was indifferent, she never dared to seek his favor, leaving a frigid chasm between them.
Tonight, she spared no further thought—since he was the one who’d demanded her presence, why should she hold back?
She inched closer, their body heat mingling. His warmth was noticeably fiercer. The moment her fingertips brushed his firm, powerful arm, a strange tingling surged through them.
Unbidden, the memory of his earlier weight pressing her down resurfaced—the way his lips and tongue had teased sensations that burned down her throat and seared into her chest, setting every nerve aflame.
An indescribable feeling. It hadn’t been entirely painful.
But it certainly hadn’t been pleasant either.
Hesitantly, her small hand pressed more firmly against his solid arm. Even through the thin underrobe, she could trace the sinewy contours of his muscles, veins coiled like dragons beneath his skin.
Just clinging to him like this filled her heart with contentment.
But once satisfied, greed was quick to follow.
She peeked up. His eyes were closed, seemingly indifferent to her antics, so she grew bolder, sliding her hand further in.
With only a single layer of thin underrobe, it was easy to slip beneath. The Crown Prince’s torso was still wrapped in bandages, so she sought out the unbound areas.
His skin wasn’t as smooth as a woman’s, yet far from coarse—a masculine beauty, robust and vigorous, carrying a faint woody fragrance with a hint of bitterness.
Rather than her palm resting against his chest, it was more accurate to say his well-defined pectoral muscles filled her grasp. Not excessively thick or bulging—any larger would have been intimidating—but just right: firm, resilient, yielding slightly under pressure before springing back.
But the moment she pressed down, his breath hitched, his body tensing so abruptly she couldn’t push further.
Yun Kui nestled tightly against him, her ears burning.
She’d imagined countless times marrying a tall, imposing man like this—spending every night curled in his strong, protective embrace. She adored this ineffable sense of security, as if someone could shield her, hold up the sky for her.
A pity she was about to die.
She’d done nothing wrong in her life. Why had fate dealt her such a wretched, humiliating end?
Quiet sobs shook her frame against his chest, tears quickly dampening his sleepwear.
"Thank you, Your Highness…"
The words "for letting me touch your pecs" never left her lips.
In return, she resolved to divulge a life-or-death secret before her demise. "A few days ago, the Empress gave me a secret drug, ordering me to administer it to Your Highness. She claimed it would make you dote on me endlessly. But before I could use it, I had a dream."
When he showed no curiosity—not even a flicker of reaction—she clenched her teeth and pressed on earnestly. "In that dream, the moment you took that drug, blood gushed from your orifices. You died horribly."
Crown Prince: "…"
Yun Kui raised a hand as if swearing. "This servant isn’t trying to frighten you."
Crown Prince: "Mm."
Yun Kui: "…Your Highness isn’t the least bit surprised?"
"Feels like casting pearls before swine."
Only then did the Crown Prince’s expression darken slightly.
Yun Kui sighed. Someone as astute as His Highness surely grasped her meaning.
A dying woman’s words were sincere—otherwise, she’d never dare, even with ten extra lives, to sow discord between the Crown Prince and the Empress based on nothing but a fleeting dream.
With her final affairs settled, she mused aloud, "This servant never imagined getting to take liberties with you before death… Now I can die without regrets…"
Between quiet sniffles, mischief stirred in her heart. Her hand ventured lower, creeping inward with cautious boldness.
When her fingers brushed against something peculiar, she scratched curiously—
The man beside her jolted violently, seizing her wrist in a vice grip. "You’ve crossed every line tonight!" he hissed through clenched teeth.
Yun Kui blinked, momentarily dazed, before realization dawned. A sly grin curled her lips. "Since I’ve already crossed them all, one more won’t matter."
The night had deepened, the water clock’s drips counting down her dwindling time.
Fearless now, Yun Kui refused to be deterred even with one hand captured. Her free arm shot out, raking audaciously across his chest.
Crown Prince: "…"
He drew a slow, seething breath, his smile chilling. "You’ll regret this."
"Then I’ll regret it in King Yama’s court!"
With reckless abandon, Yun Kui flipped atop him, pinning the Crown Prince beneath her. "Since it’s come to this, this servant won’t hide it—I’ve always lusted after your body! Every day, I’ve schemed to take advantage! I’ve seen many strapping men in dreams, but none compare to Your Highness’s peerless grace. Yet you’re always so guarded, so dull. If you won’t let me touch, I’ll touch anyway! This is just the beginning—I still need to count your abs properly. Ah, and I’ve yet to meet Little Highness…"
The bolder her words, the stormier the Crown Prince’s expression grew—murderously so.
Then, a crisp drip echoed from the copper water clock.
Midnight had arrived.
Yun Kui’s body locked rigid, the sound nailing her in place.
The eighth day.
Strictly speaking, the seventh day had ended at yesterday’s Shen hour—yet she hadn’t died. She’d assumed the poison might take until midnight to act, hence her audacity in storming the Crown Prince’s chambers.
But now, unmistakably, it was the eighth day.
Cold sweat beaded on Yun Kui’s brow as a fire simultaneously raced up her spine.
Trembling, she looked down into a face frozen in icy wrath.
Her mind spun into chaos, her body going limp as she collapsed like a lifeless sack onto the man’s chest.
Furious beyond measure, the Crown Prince shoved her off. "Kneel."
Her body moved faster than her thoughts. Before she could process anything, she’d already slid numbly onto the footrest, kneeling upright.
The Crown Prince straightened his robes and sat up, his entire being radiating lethal frost.
Outside the chamber, Cao Yuanlu, who’d been monitoring the commotion, could no longer hold back. He hurried in on hushed footsteps.
Recalling Yun Kui's earlier actions and words, cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he sighed repeatedly: "Miss, you... Ah, truth be told, the very day after you were poisoned, His Highness the Crown Prince asked Military Doctor He for the antidote to the Seven-Day Powder and put it in the pear soup you drank. Your poison was neutralized long ago."
Yun Kui collapsed to the floor.
Her poison had already been cured?
Then what had all her terror and dread these past seven days been for?
And tonight—all her shameless tantrums, unreasonable demands, and insolent words...
Her mind was a tangled mess. The joy of being alive was quickly overshadowed by the horror of her earlier misbehavior. She didn’t dare recall what she had done, yet those humiliating memories surged up like fish rising to the water’s surface before a storm, scrambling to the forefront of her mind.
She had drunkenly forced a kiss on the Crown Prince.
In truth, she hadn’t been that drunk—just using the alcohol as an excuse to embolden her audacity.
Not only had she groped the Crown Prince, but she had also shamelessly clawed at his chest, declaring that she wanted to take advantage of him every day—even boldly threatening to touch his "little prince"...
Yun Kui squeezed her eyes shut in agony.
"I’d rather be dead. At least then I wouldn’t have to face this..."
So she did have a sense of shame. The Crown Prince scoffed coldly and turned to Cao Yuanlu. "What is the punishment for someone who dares deceive their master and climb into their bed?"
Yun Kui knelt on the ground, trembling head to toe.
Cao Yuanlu, recalling how the Crown Prince had been the one to kiss her earlier, chose his words carefully. "For those with ill intentions, death would be a light sentence. But Yun Kui never sought to harm Your Highness. If you favor her, keeping her would not be unreasonable..."
Before tonight, Cao Yuanlu might not have fully trusted her. But after this incident, he could see that despite her recklessness, she had a good heart. She’d rather die from poison than harm the Crown Prince. Keeping her by His Highness’s side would put Cao Yuanlu at ease.
The Crown Prince’s gaze was icy. "If she stays, will you take her punishment for her?"
Cao Yuanlu chuckled awkwardly. "She spoke wildly and acted without restraint—a light punishment would still be appropriate."
"She must be punished, or where would His Highness’s authority stand?"
The Crown Prince: "..."
Yun Kui pressed her forehead to the ground, wishing she could shrink into a ball and disappear into a hole.
"Fine, punish me. Nothing in life comes free. Since I dared to take liberties with the Crown Prince, I should pay the price."
"But what could he possibly do to me? Maybe he’ll just kick me out! Honestly, I envy the palace maids who get reassigned by the Imperial Household Department—anywhere would be better than serving in the Eastern Palace! As long as I’m not near this living demon, the Empress and her people won’t come after me again."
"He wouldn’t actually chop off my hand for touching his... little prince, would he?! Oh heavens, just kill me now..."
A sharp crack—like knuckles tightening—sounded above her. Yun Kui braced herself for the verdict.
"Starting tomorrow, you will guard the palace gates at Donghua Gate for me."
She looked up in shock. "G-Guard the gates?"
The Crown Prince glared down at her. "You claimed someone poisoned you. Since you didn’t die, the culprit will surely return. You will remain there until the mastermind is found. Only then may you return to Chengguang Palace."
"Perfect! The farther I am from this living demon right now, the better!"
The Crown Prince: "..."
Suppressing her delight, Yun Kui bowed in gratitude.
Too ashamed to stay, she scurried out of Chengguang Palace like a beaten dog.
Back in her quarters, she sprawled on the bed in a starfish pose, pinching her arms and patting her stomach to confirm she was still warm and soft. Only then did she exhale in relief.
She was alive!
Who would’ve thought the Crown Prince—infamous for his detestable temperament—would actually save her? It was unbelievable.
Giddy, Yun Kui rolled around the bed, then jumped up to throw a few clumsy punches before stiffly mimicking the alluring Hongluo Dance the head maid always showed off.
Exhausted, she flopped back onto the bed. After a moment’s thought, she dug out the poison, lip rouge, and that thick stack of silver notes hidden at the bottom of her chest.
She hesitated, then gritted her teeth and stuffed them into her sleeves before heading back to Chengguang Palace to hand them over.
---
Chengguang Palace.
The Crown Prince lay with his eyes closed, sleep evading him.
His mind replayed the girl’s brazen words and shameless actions.
What did she take him for? A brothel attendant? A kept man? One of those bodyguards who sold their looks?
The audacity.
His punishment had been too lenient. He should’ve thrown her into the interrogation chamber and let her taste all eighteen tortures—only then would she learn her place.
But her skin was so delicate. Just gripping her wrist had left red marks. If he tied her up and let the ropes dig in, her flesh would swell horribly. A couple of lashes, and she’d cry a river.
Unbidden, the image of her beneath him surfaced—her tearful eyes glistening, the delicate flush at their corners, her small nose tinged pink, lashes trembling with unshed tears. Her lips, still damp from his kiss, parted slightly like petals crushed by a storm—a temptress weaving spells.
Tonight had been... different from the usual nights she slept beside him.
His gaze darkened, a dull ache throbbing in his skull. Restlessness prickled under his skin.
Just then, Cao Yuanlu announced from outside: "Yun Kui requests an audience, Your Highness."
What could she want at this hour?
The Crown Prince closed his eyes. "Let her in."
Yun Kui entered, her sleeves heavy with bottles and jars. After a quick bow, she murmured, "Earlier, my mind was muddled. I’ve yet to properly thank Your Highness for saving my life."
The Crown Prince ignored her, his burning gaze fixed on her.
She laid out her haul in a neat row at the foot of his bed. "I’ve come to surrender the poisons I received."
His eyes flicked to the porcelain bottles.
Yun Kui pointed to the leftmost one. "This secret drug was given to me by Her Majesty the Empress. This one came from an unfamiliar eunuch. The poisoned lip rouge was from a palace maid I didn’t know. And... this thousand taels in silver notes was her bribe."
Her duty was simply to hand everything over. Whether they were poisons—and what kind—was for the Crown Prince to investigate.
Noticing his stare lingering on the exquisite black lacquer box inlaid with mother-of-pearl, she helpfully explained, "The mastermind probably thought I was favored by Your Highness. They wanted me to wear this rouge before... serving you, so you’d ingest the poison when kissing my lips—"
"Enough."
The Crown Prince’s face darkened as he cut her off sharply.
Yun Kui pressed her lips together, then glanced at the silver notes. Though it pained her, she had to surrender them. If they were discovered on her later, no amount of explaining would save her.
After a long internal struggle, she forced out, "Your Highness may keep these silver notes if you wish."
The Crown Prince: "..."
As if he were confiscating her pocket money.
Expressionless, he picked up the stack and summoned Qin Ge. "Trace the origin of these notes."
Yun Kui watched mournfully as Qin Ge bowed and left.
"My silver notes... wuuu, gone before I could even warm them in my hands..."
"That Qin Ge though—so tall and strapping, but his waist is surprisingly slim."
With the Crown Prince ahead, she didn’t dare stare openly, so she averted her gaze once he walked away.
But when she turned back, she was met with the Crown Prince’s suddenly dark and icy expression. Yun Kui trembled in fright.
"He’s so fierce."
"But he looks even more handsome when he’s angry."
"I wish I could touch him again!"
Recalling where her fingers had just been, she licked her lips, savoring the memory.
