I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
“Stop…”
Cesar, who had been pressed against the floor, lifted his head at her words. Then, he moved even closer, so close she could feel his breath on her skin. His face was too close. He continued to sniff, his warm breath tracing a path up her neck, between her collarbones.
“Stop… please…”
Her ragged breaths grew more urgent as something warm and fleshy licked up her neck, so slowly. A damp, burning sensation spread through her.
“Oh…”
A cry threatened to escape, but she squeezed her eyes shut and held it back. The heat on her neck retreated.
Her relief was short-lived. A warm, wet feeling spread across her injured palm. She startled, her eyes flying open.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Cesar licked the blood flowing from her hand. The sound of liquid sliding down his throat, a wet, sucking noise, echoed in the room. The strangeness of the situation, more than the pain, made her eyes widen. He remained lost in the moment, his face pressed against her palm. He looked like a young animal seeking milk, his movements just as frantic and desperate.
A sharp, dizzying pain shot through her as his tongue worried the wound.
“Hhh…”
Each time his teeth grazed the open skin, a jolt of anxiety went through her. She had no choice but to clench her jaw and endure.
How much time passed? It felt like an eternity, yet also like only a moment. He continued to lap at her blood, oblivious, while she wiped her watering eyes with her other hand.
Then, something incredible happened. The dark veins that had stood out on his cheeks began to fade. His grotesquely contorted limbs seemed to realign.
“What?”
The change was so astonishing that she forgot the pain. Cesar slowly lifted his head.
Their eyes met once more. The chilling intensity in his gaze was gone. He wore the contented expression of a sated beast, a smear of blood on his lips as he gave her a sheepish smile.
“Ha…”
The tension drained away. As she breathed out in relief, tears she’d been holding back streamed down her face. He hesitated, searching her expression.
He looked less like a raging monster and more like a frightened animal. Perhaps all that growling had been out of self-preservation. The thought crossed her mind.
Perhaps that’s why she decided to try speaking to him again.
“Hey…”
Instead of answering, he rested his head on her lap, subtly looking up at her. He nuzzled in, as if expecting her to cradle him.
Without thinking, she reached out and slowly stroked his hair. Cesar flinched at her first touch, but quickly surrendered to the caress. He even tilted his head, pressing it further into her hand. Emboldened, she slowly moved her hand to his cheek.
She worried he might bite her, but something else bothered her more. She pulled up her sleeve and wiped the blood from his face. He was such a mess.
Cesar licked his lips and whimpered, then let out a small laugh. Ah, seeing him smile, she realized he had a rather endearing face. She stroked his hair again. She felt strangely at ease.
She couldn’t be certain, but she didn’t think he would hurt her. As a child, she had secretly kept a dog, or rather, she had fed a stray. At first, it had bared its teeth and kept its distance, but once it realized she meant no harm and its belly was full, it warmed up to her.
Once the barrier was broken, the rest was easy. The dog would bury its face in her lap at every opportunity, much like Cesar was doing now. Her senses, somewhat numb from exhaustion and fear, began to return as she cautiously spoke to him, continuing to stroke his hair.
“Good boy, that’s right, good boy,” she murmured, her voice soft and soothing.
His dark, glossy hair was even softer than the stray dog’s. The warmth and weight of his head in her lap felt real, tangible. A sense of contentment filled her. His eyes began to droop, and then he yawned widely. She couldn’t believe it.
‘Was he actually falling asleep?’
She considered waking him, but she didn’t want to shatter the fragile peace she had found. The rain outside had stopped, and the only sound in the bridal chamber was Cesar’s even breathing. His sleeping body radiated warmth. As the tension finally released its hold, she felt herself drifting.
Her eyes fluttered closed.
