Alluring

You are gone,

But we are living a thousand lives together,

In my head.

—Ben Maxfield

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Ah well, what did it matter? Most likely, they would be mad at him for not attending the scheduled meeting. If he had the choice, he would spend every second with Birdie but because of those fricking responsibilities as they call it, he couldn't be near the only person who he wanted to stay with.

Fucking Fates...

Eva, who saw him getting distracted for a minute, knew something was wrong from his sudden change of expression.

"Do you have to go somewhere? It's okay I can-"

"No, no, I don't have to go anywhere," he assured her and took a step closer. Theo realized that he was attracted to her like a magnet and needed to stay near her whenever she was around. It was the automatic reaction of his body to their intimacy which he didn't mind one bit.

"You want to take a bath?" he asked, and Eva slowly nodded her head up and down. She was feeling dirty after sitting on the mucky ground of the forest for so many hours and needed to clean herself to think clearly.

Theodore approached her and Eva turned to look where he was heading for. She watched as his hands went to her back as he quickly started to untie the strings that held the dress together.

Eva hurriedly moved forward, away from him and the heat that was enveloping her just a few seconds ago. Had he finally gone crazy? Why was he undressing her?!

"Don't you need help to remove the dress?" he asked in an innocent tone but Eva could swear she saw his eyes glimmer in mischief when he approached her again.

"I think I am perfectly capable of doing so myself," replied Eva, raising her chin to meet his gaze defiantly.

She wouldn't back up this time either!

"I think you're scared of my touch. Pity, I was just trying to help," he spoke in a careless tone, folding his arms across his chest and Eva gulped seeing his veins pop out on his bare arm.

If only he was an ugly man with no respect for women. Not denying that he isn't a pervert with his actions but still... he cares.

When Eva heard him accusing her of being afraid, all her cautiousness around him disappeared in the blink of an eye. Oh, she would show him who was afraid! The reckless behavior she had hidden for so many years within her came out in full force and she turned around with her back to him.

"I am honored that the King is taking his time to unbutton the dress of a mere commoner," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Theo chuckled softly, looking at the ground. "It is I who should be honored. You are allowing me to touch you willingly."

Eva kept her mouth closed, not answering him back. She knew that whatever she would speak, he would take it as his form of amusement and twist her words to his advantage.

What a sly man...

Her body turned stiff as she felt his hands on her back, his fingers taking their sweet time to pull the strings one by one, unlike before when he was quick in his actions.

Eva felt as if she was punishing herself by taking his help to undress. His touch was like a burn on her skin as he brushed his fingers on her bare shoulders and back which were now revealed openly to him. His hot breath hit her neck and Eva held her hands in front of her, not knowing where to keep them.

She felt as if she was going to combust into flames as she felt his shirt brush against her bare back. It smelled strongly of him. A little minty with a mix of ash and spice.

His fingers slowly trailed down her spine and she unconsciously shivered even though the fireplace was burning with logs and the balcony doors were closed. Her body temperature was rising and it was all because of the man who was seducing her painfully from behind. Her breath hitched as she felt him step closer, his front briefly touching her skin.

Finally, after what seemed to be decades, he slipped his finger inside the dress and loosened it open after pulling the last string which held the back together. Feeling the material fall off her shoulders, Eva held it up with her hands when she heard a sharp inhale of breath behind her.

"What's-"

"What happened to your back? Did he do this to you?" he asked, trying his best not to raise his voice too loud as he stared at her injured back in horror.

Eva frowned and walked towards the bathroom with Theo following close behind. Turning sideways to look at herself in the mirror, she let out a small gasp seeing small scratches on her back with dried-up blood staining her spine. She remembered how the rough bark of the tree had cut into her back and she hurriedly turned around to assure Theo that it wasn't the Lord's fault this time.

"He didn't do it to me. I was leaning against a tree and must have scratched my back accidentally," she spoke and saw him breathing heavily as he tried his best not to look at her wounds.

It was all his fault... He had done this to her by shouting at her, if he hadn't gotten angry then she would've never returned to the room-

His train of thoughts was cut short when Eva placed her hands on his face, cupping it in her soft palms.

"Look at me."

He looked and looked and felt that he could never get tired of staring at her face which could only be described as utter perfection.

"It isn't your fault. Stop blaming yourself." she tried to calm him down and realized that he easily relaxed when she touched him skin to skin. It wasn't new for her to comfort people but it was her first time being so close to a man of her own free will.

Theo closed his eyes, focusing on her and her touch on his face. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and focused on her worried face.

She was worried for him?

"I'm not angry-" he started speaking when she was the one to interrupt him this time.

"I don't want you to blame yourself and be in pain because of me," she explained and Theo wondered how he could deserve this angel who looked as if she just fell from heaven into his arms.

Placing his hand on her cheek, he caressed it softly and sighed. "Do you need any help in bathing? It's better if you wash before I take care of the cuts."

"I'll come out in a few minutes."

"No, take your time. I'll go-"

"Stay," she spoke and saw the familiar glint coming back in his eyes. Eva internally sighed in relief. He was no longer blaming himself at least even though he was back to pervert mode.

He couldn't help the smirk that formed on his face at her words, "I'm not going to kill the man, you know." he spoke and Eva wondered if he could read her thoughts.

"Okay." she took a step back and waited for him to bring a dress from the closet. Theo soon came back with a too-comfortable-looking silk nightgown in his hands. The top and bottom were trimmed with lace and the dress looked as if it would reach to her knees only.

It was black and she wondered why he chose this dress out of all the simple nightgowns which were more... decent and less revealing. Less alluring.

"I'll be outside when you come out," he spoke and Eva gave him a small smile as she closed the door when he left.

Phew. Now she could at least breathe a little easier!