Arabella froze as Ferdinand captured her lips again. His arm around her tightened and pressed her body to his, even closer than before.
[What's this? I know I've been longing to kiss her again since our wedding. No, I've always dreamed of kissing her since the first time I met her. But is this how everyone else feels? I feel like I've been longing to kiss her lips for a thousand years. No, even longer.]
'Huh? Was Ferdinand always having these thoughts too while he kissed me in my previous life?'
She found it too uncharacteristic of the Ferdinand she knew.
However, the intensity of Ferdinand's kiss was a bit too much even for her who had experienced Icarus' needy and longing kisses.
Ferdinand was kissing her as if he had missed her so much. And even more so when he was no longer satisfied with close-lipped kisses and decided to open her mouth.
He nibbled at her lips until she gasped and he took the opportunity to enter and explore her. His thumb went to her chin so she wouldn't dare close it or bite him.
'No! Why is he suddenly doing this? He didn't try to touch me after I said I wasn't ready.'
Arabella tried to push him away but he pressed her even closer instead.
Or was he not even feeling that she was trying to push him? Did he think she was caressing his chest or something?
She shivered as she felt his warm tongue explore every nook and cranny of her mouth, tasting her. He teased her tongue with his.
It was so intense. Arabella felt her knees weakening and her mind beginning to turn mushy. She felt like her mind and body were both melting as Ferdinand kept kissing her.
'No! This isn't good. Why am I reacting like this? Is this body too new to this kind of sensation so I'm still so sensitive? I shouldn't be feeling this much from this man's kisses and touch anymore. What's wrong with this body?!'
She gasped for air when Ferdinand finally took pity on her and stopped attacking her mouth.
However, his lips trailed kisses from her cheeks to her jaw, and down to her neck. He attacked her sensitive skin next, and from how he was aggressively kissing her, she could tell he was aroused.
"No! Ferdinand, stop!" she uttered in a panic and covered her mouth when she realized she just said his name. No one dares to call his name.
[ She said my name, didn't she?! ]
"What did you say?" Ferdinand stared at her and Arabella tried to act as meek as possible. No one calls the Emperor by his name. Except for her, of course.
In her previous life, she had done all kinds of things in trying to provoke her husband. And calling him by his name was among them. It was disrespectful to the Emperor but Ferdinand allowed it. Probably because he knew why she was going through all sorts of things to piss him off.
Ever since learned their son's death was his doing, Arabella began being hostile to Ferdinand. But he had tolerated the things she did perhaps due to guilt, or just because he still needed her to remain as his wife even if just on paper and title.
But right now, it was too early to piss off Ferdinand. She has nowhere to run to and she could not escape from him with Alwin still around. That mage could just teleport anywhere. He would be able to find her so easily.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect you," Arabella quickly clarified before Ferdinand decides to punish her.
"You are my wife. I will allow you to address me directly. Say it again," Ferdinand ordered and there was no way of escaping as he waited for her to obey.
'Is this a trap? Does he want me to say it so he could give me an even heavier punishment?'
She tilted her head as she gazed into Ferdinand's eyes. She read his thoughts and saw a glimpse of him imagining her saying his name.
'Does he just want to hear his name? Maybe, I should obey him for now. If I get to his bad side so early on, I will lose my life before I get the chance to do anything.'
"F-Ferdinand."
Her husband was wide-eyed for a second before he captured her lips once again.
'Why does his aura seem so different now? Wait. . . This kind of kiss . . .'
It was how Icarus used to kiss her when he was happy with something she did.
'Ferdinand is happy? Does he actually like hearing his name?'
Her husband was getting weirder and weirder. Saying his name without honorifics meant one was not respecting or recognizing him as the Emperor. It was one of the highest forms of disrespect you could commit in Valeria. It was punishable by death.
But here he was allowing her to do so and feeling happy from it. This Ferdinand was truly weird.
"Where are you taking me?!" She gasped when he suddenly lifted her up.
"Here," Ferdinand eyed her and she froze as he gently settled her on the bed. He hovered over her. She was wide-eyed when she stared into his eyes and got a glimpse of him planning to do naughty things to her. He wanted to consummate their marriage.
"I'm still not ready for this," she quickly said to stop what he was planning to do.
"Why? We are husband and wife."
[Is she still thinking about that feminine prince? How long will that bastard occupy her mind? Just how much does she love him for her to keep longing for him even when she's my wife now?]
"Please wait a bit more," she tried to act as pitifully as she could.
Ferdinand sighed. But instead of getting off of her, he settled some of his weight on her and cupped her face.
"You are mine now. Forget about your former lover. If you keep on thinking about him, I will eliminate his existence so you would have no one else to think about," he threatened.