章節 70: Espionage (Ⅱ)

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Eric Olvasen:

The evening was thick with the chill of winter, and the soft sound of wind whistling through the trees outside made the ambiance in my room even more romantic… and erotic than it already was.

The room was a warm refuge from the biting cold outside and the fire crackling in the fireplace added a double layer of warmth between our intertwined, naked bodies.

I looked down at her, my Lila, her dark brown hair fanned out on the pillow like a halo. Her emerald eyes sparkled as her hands travelled all over my face and then at my chest before wrapping her arms and legs around me.

I felt my heart swell with a feeling I had been deprived off for so many years.

Love.

The scent of her lavender lotion mixed with the faint aroma of the burning wood, creating a haze that blanketed my mind and my rationality.

Her skin was soft and warm underneath my fingers, and as I traced the curve of her back, she sighed softly, her breath tickling my ear. I dug my face into her neck and moved my own lower body, causing her to let out small, ragged breaths. Her hand pushed subtly against my shoulder, but I pinned it back, over her head.

I had rarely visited her ever since Arthur and father just…vanished. And during this time of my absence, it had felt like a distance had been created between us.

I loved my family, yes, but I loved her just as much, if not more. She was the only one who had given back the love I had expended.

As if finally getting in a mood, her fingers closed around my hair and taking a fistful of them in both hands, she forcefully pulled me down. Her lips met mine with a wild, animal-like passion and I lost myself in the sensation of her touch, the taste of our kiss.

I held her tiny waist and pushed harder and harder, causing her teeth to sink into my lower lip and her back to arch against mine.

I pulled out, just a little, giving her a few fleeting seconds of respite after her release. Just as I entered again and leaned in to kiss the skin of her neck that was lined with multiple purplish marks, a sudden, insistent vibration shattered the climax that was just…right there.

The sound of Lila's phone buzzing on the nightstand was jarringly out of place in the cosy setting. I paused and my body tensed. Her legs that were around my waist forced them to close, making me move again.

"Ignore it," Lila whispered, her voice husky and her fingers threading through my hair to pull me closer. "It can wait. I have waited too long~"

I moved, slower this time. A bead of sweat rolled down my neck and then between my rhomboids.

"I told you to switch off your phone…" I whispered breathlessly. Breathless not because of the activity we were carrying on but because of the potential possibility of whatever I was thinking.

"Mm~ Forget it. It doesn't matter~"

I pulled out suddenly, the hold of her legs over my waist loosening. My length slipped out of her slick warmth with a soft, plopping sound.

"Hey…"

As I hovered over the nightstand, I saw an unknown number ringing her phone. That is, of course, it was unknown only to her. I knew very well who this number belonged to.

Behind me, Lila pulled the sheets back up, just enough that it hid her peaks but her cleavage was still visible. "A call from a random number is more important than sex?" Her tone wasn't harsh or anything, or maybe it was the anxiety and fear that made everything that came out of her mouth feel much more…tame. "You've been away for days, Eric, and now…this is…" She looked away.

"Lila…I can explain, just…I know who this is."

Her large, beautiful emerald eyes snapped back at me. "This is not about knowing if you know who called on my phone. It's about…dignity. My dignity."

She was right. But the current situation outweighed the measly indulgence of sex. I wasn't calling her measly, no, but the one calling could end it all.

I took a deep, shaky breath, steeling myself. The sound of the rain outside the window seemed to grow louder, matching the pounding of my heart.

I hesitated at first, the phone feeling like a heavy weight in my palm but after a few moments, I pressed the accept button and placed the phone against my ear.

"Hello?" My voice came out steadier than I felt, but the silence on the other end was unnerving.

A smooth, familiar voice finally spoke, sending a sweet yet frigid chill down my spine. "Colour me surprised."

The voice choked out any words I had managed to say.

"Your little girlfriend looks almost too good for someone like you."

My entire body was shaking. I had done my best to suppress any memory of Lila, or anything that could give away her existence.

When was it?

"That's disheartening to hear, mother." I replied, trying to act casual.

"Mother? Why is your mother calling on my phone?"

"Say my hello to her~!"

"What do you want? I am in the middle of something…"

"I said, say my hello to her." Her voice hardened like a blade and I felt like she could kill me even over the phone.

Removing the phone from my ear, I looked at her. "Mom says hello."

Lila looked the other way, fuming as she picked up her bra and started to wear it.

I swallowed hard, and continued to steal glances at Lila. She was looking down and her expression was unreadable, but I could see the annoyance in her jaw, the way her fingers gripped the edge of the sheet.

"What do you want?" I asked again, trying to keep my voice level, but the edge of fear was unmistakable.

"Haha~!" Mom laughed, "Oh sorry, it was just really funny hearing you talk so defiantly to me. For someone so talentless and pathetic, you indeed have a long tongue." The words felt like a dagger into my heart, renting it apart. I knew I didn't have the talent in context to Seven Syndicates and magic…but did I really deserve such treatment?

I understood it after a long while.

That it doesn't matter. My opinion or what I think is fair, doesn't matter. Those without power are nothing more than puppets for those who wield it.

"I am sorry for my tone."

"Mmm~ Whatever. There is something I need you to do. Come over~ Of course, you must know the consequences if you don't comply." The voice was so sweet that you could almost miss the fact that it was devoid of any emotion.

"I understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be there."

The call ended abruptly, leaving a deafening silence. I stood there, phone still in hand.

"And where are you going now? And for what purpose?" Lila asked, sitting in her undergarments now and her tone sharper than ever.

"It's complicated, Lila," I started, trying to keep my voice calm. "It's something I have to deal with immediately. But I will be back in an hour or two at best. I promise."

It was a shallow promise. But I wanted her to buy it. Even though I knew she wouldn't.

"Complicated?" She laughed bitterly. "Everything with you has been complicated lately. You disappear for days, you get mysterious calls, and you can't even stay in bed with me without running off. What's going on, Eric? Did you finally get tired of me?"

I wanted to tell her everything, to just tell her who I was. What family I was associated with. What exactly I am. But… but I couldn't.

Not yet. I couldn't risk her life. The world knew about Arcanum now, yes, but our existence was still a mystery.

"Please trust me, Lila. I'm handling it."

Her eyes flashed with frustration. "Trust you? How can I trust you when you keep shutting me out?"

The pain in her voice cut deep, and I reached out to touch her, but she flinched away. "Lila, I'm doing this for us, for our future. I need you to believe that."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her emerald eyes. "I want to believe you, Eric. I really do. But you're making it so hard. We can't work if you keep doing this. We've been together for 6 long years, and I expected our bond to grow stronger. But it has been the most fragile in the past month."

I felt a lump in my throat as I watched her, knowing I was the cause of her pain. "I promise, I'll explain everything soon. But right now, I have to go."

Lila's jaw tensed. The tears in her eyes welled up, but didn't roll down her cheeks. Pursing her lips once, she looked away and then glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "Get dressed up. I'm taking a bath."

She stood up and clicked the lights on, removing the romantic look of the room. The bright lights felt blinding but my eyes adjusted quickly to them. I looked at her as she walked to the bath. Her stride was as beautiful as ever.

At this moment, I wanted nothing more than to just pick her up and lay with her until she told me she wanted some space. But…having her alive was more important than giving her a momentary peace of mind.

As I wore my shirt, sweater and long-coat, I completed the whole ensemble with the muffler she had knitted for our 5th anniversary.

I hastily made my way towards the exit door but suddenly stopped by the bath where the sound of the tub's tap closing creaked subtly. I leaned my head against the door and closed my eyes. The sound of her body slowly sinking into the bath was visible in my mind's eye.

Shakily, I mumbled, ignoring the slight sting in my own eyes.

"I love you, Lila. Please, just hold on a little longer."