XVI

Shit. My entire body aches. Did something heavy fall on me? It feels like I’ve been hit all over—especially down there—where the pain and burning sensation are unbearable.

F*ck. Something definitely happened between Yohan and me last night. We didn’t stop until early morning, and I eventually passed out from exhaustion.

"Hmmm..."

I felt someone wrap their arms around me from behind, followed by soft kisses trailing along my bare shoulder and back.

"Y-Yohan, I can’t move… my body hurts," I murmured as his hands began exploring my body again.

Does this man never get tired?!

I must look like a mess at this ungodly hour with Yohan clinging to me.

"I know, Cosette. I won’t do that to you again," he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear. "I just want some milk first."

I frowned and slowly turned to face him, wincing at the soreness in my body. But as soon as I saw Yohan’s face up close, I momentarily forgot my pain.

Why does he look so angelic when he just woke up? His tousled hair, the way his eyes gleamed as he looked at me—damn, even the light stubble on his face only added to his rugged appeal. My throat went dry as my heart pounded uncontrollably.

What’s happening to me? Shouldn’t I be mad at him?

Why does my heart feel like it’s softening for Yohan? Argh!

"Cosette, I want to drink milk," he repeated, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.

I blinked at him, my irritation flaring. Does he seriously expect me to get up and make him milk right now? I can’t even walk!

"I can’t walk, Yohan! My body hurts from what you did to me last night! You didn’t stop—remember?!" I snapped, unable to hold back my frustration. And now he has the nerve to ask me for milk?!

Yohan chuckled softly, lowering his head. Then, before I could react, he leaned in, his breath hot against my skin as he licked and nibbled on my earlobe.

I gasped, gripping his arm as I bit my lip to suppress a moan.

"You don’t need to leave this bed, mi esposa," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "All you need to do is moan my name and enjoy what I’m about to do to you."

My mouth fell open as his hands cupped my breasts, his lips trailing down to my neck, then lower…

"Ahhh!" I moaned as Yohan latched onto my breast, his tongue teasing me with slow, deliberate strokes.

And then it hit me.

Oh, my God.

He didn’t mean actual milk.

He meant me.

"Y-Yohan, stop! I’m hungry," I protested weakly, even as my body betrayed me, shuddering under his touch.

He finally pulled away, his gaze meeting mine. But instead of his usual smug smirk, he smiled—soft, genuine, almost affectionate.

That smile… it was different.

I blinked, trying to calm myself, but my heart pounded even harder.

"Before we eat, I’ll get you showered," he said.

I barely had time to react before Yohan suddenly scooped me up into his arms, completely naked.

A startled squeal escaped my lips as I instinctively clung to him. I refused to acknowledge his still-eager member pressing against me—especially since the soreness between my legs reminded me exactly why I could barely move in the first place.

Yohan led me into the bathroom and carefully placed me in the bathtub. I didn’t complain—moving my body was nearly impossible. I wasn’t a fan of exercise to begin with, and after last night, when Yohan had carried me multiple times, every muscle in my body ached.

He turned on the faucet, filling the bathtub with water, his expression unusually serious. As I sat there, my gaze briefly drifted to his still-erect manhood. Is that even normal? Won’t he catch a cold if he stays naked like that?

"Your eyes, Cosette."

I flinched at the sound of Yohan’s voice, realizing I had been staring at him—down there—without even noticing. Heat rushed to my face. God, does he think I’m obsessed with him now?!

Clearing my throat, I quickly looked away, pretending nothing happened. Silence fell between us. I watched as he continued preparing the bath, pouring in a generous amount of bubble bath. Wanting to distract myself, I helped him create the foam, swirling my hands in the water.

A few minutes later, the tub was full, water and bubbles spilling over the edges.

Yohan stepped into the tub and sat facing me. My breath hitched as our gazes locked. His eyes held an intensity that made my stomach twist. I was the first to break eye contact, focusing instead on gathering bubbles to cover my chest and shoulders.

"Does it hurt?"

I looked up at him again. His voice was softer this time, filled with concern.

I nodded slowly. It really hurt.

Without another word, Yohan leaned in and kissed me. But this kiss… it was different. Softer. More tender. It wasn’t like the hungry, possessive ones he had given me before.

I froze, staring at him in shock as he pulled back and smiled. Then, he reached out, gently stroking my cheek.

"I’m sorry for hurting you last night, mi esposa," he murmured. "I couldn’t stop myself. You’re so damn irresistible… and your body belongs to me, Cosette."

My breath caught as his hands trailed down to my waist, his face mere inches from mine.

"You’re mine, Cosette," he whispered before pressing his lips to my neck.

I shivered at the sensation, my fingers instinctively tangling in his hair.

"Say it," he urged, his lips brushing against my skin. "Say you’re mine."

I swallowed hard. The truth was undeniable—I had completely fallen for Yohan.

"I-I’m yours, Yohan… yours only," I confessed.

Since I could barely move, Yohan took care of me for the rest of the day. He stayed by my side, carrying me when necessary, refusing to leave the villa. His unexpected gentleness left me speechless.

What’s with this different side of Yohan? He was so… soft. He kept smiling at me, never once frowning or getting irritated. It was unnerving. Could this be because of what happened between us? Or maybe he just pities me for not being able to walk properly?

At one point, he even considered buying me a wheelchair, but I shut that idea down immediately. That would be way too embarrassing. What would I even tell people?

"Oh, I’m in a wheelchair because my husband completely drained my stamina last night?"

No way.

So, I opted to stay inside the villa, relieved that Yohan chose to stay with me.

Thankfully, after some rest, I could walk again. Now, I was at the seaside, watching Yohan surf the massive waves. I hadn’t asked him why people here seemed to know him—it was obvious he must visit often.

Before heading out to surf, he invited me to swim with him, but I declined. I wasn’t in the mood, and more importantly, I didn’t know how to swim in open water. The thought of getting swept away by the waves terrified me.

So, here I was, lounging on a beach chair in my two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses, soaking in the Hawaiian sun. The heat wasn’t unbearable, so I let my skin bask under the warm rays. Around me, plenty of other people were doing the same, sprawled across the sandy shore.

I watched Yohan as he finished surfing and started swimming. A small part of me wanted to join him, but fear held me back.

Just as I was about to close my eyes, I noticed a woman approaching him.

I narrowed my eyes, adjusting my position on the lounge chair. Who was she?

Yohan surfaced, slicking his hair back with his hand. His movements stilled when the woman spoke to him. He turned to her, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

She smiled at him, saying something I couldn’t hear.

Then—

Yohan suddenly laughed and nodded at her.

My body stiffened.

What the hell?

What did she say? Why was he nodding?

I had no idea what was going on, but my mind was already spiraling.

I’m going crazy!

I stood up from the lounge chair, feeling the urge to approach them in the sea. But before I could take a step, I saw Yohan turning away from the woman he had been speaking to earlier. He started walking toward the shore, and for some reason, everything around me seemed to move in slow motion. My mouth fell open as I clutched my chest, feeling my heart pounding wildly.

What’s happening to me? Why does it feel like my feelings for Yohan have changed?

As he walked, it felt like I was watching a scene from a Korean drama—everything slowed down, background music playing in my head. He looked at me and smiled. Even his smile seemed to be in slow motion.

F*ck. What’s going on?!

"Cosette, are you okay?"

I blinked, snapping out of my daze to find Yohan standing in front of me. He was drying his hair with the towel he had wrapped around himself earlier. Then, to my relief, he draped it over his shoulders, covering his body—saving me from another awkward moment.

"I-I’m okay," I stammered, forcing a smile, trying to act normal.

Yohan nodded before placing a hand on my waist, sending a strange sensation through me. I fought the urge to react.

"Let’s eat. I’m starving," he said casually and started walking, still holding onto my waist.

My heart continued pounding as I followed him, unsure when this overwhelming feeling would subside.