324: Call Me Arlan

Call Me Arlan

Then Arlan realized, these days Oriana would sleep right away, as if she was overworking her body. Even if the sky fell, she would not wake up. 

He normally would not mind letting her sleep, but not tonight.

His hand moved below her neck, and she raised her head as if to look up at him. He was sure she had her eyes still closed. 

Just as he lowered his head to kiss her again, she moved her head back. 

"Are you trying to  kill me through suffocation?"

He chuckled. "I won't let you die."

"You are overbearing, Your Highness."

He held her chin with his free hand. "You dare fall asleep at this moment?"

"But I am tired," she mumbled, her voice full of guilt.

"I had given you a chance to go back but you stayed. You cannot back out anymore."

Like a stubborn child, she nuzzled into his nape once more and said, "You smell so good...so comforting…It is strange not to sleep when we're like this…"

Arlan frowned. Acting like this, wouldn't it be inconsiderate of him to demand more? She sure knew how to pour cold water on his desires. 

'But time is not on our side.' 

He could not afford to listen to her as this was their last night together with her as Lady Ria. 

"For this disobedience, you would be punished greatly."

"Hmm." She seemed to not bother with him. 

There was a light smirk on his lips, as his hand traveled along her back and his fingers started to work on loosening her dress. It did not take long for Arlan's nimble hands to trace the sensitive skin down her nape, and before she could react, she was lying on the bench with a cushion under her head and he was hovering over her. 

Her eyes flung open in shock, sleep no longer lingering in her eyes. "Your Highness!"

"Why so surprised? You should have expected this when I said I won't be holding back tonight."

"You said you would respect the boundary."

"I sure will but that doesn't mean I will let you sleep just like that." His hands moved to her shoulder and she found him moving her loosened dress off her shoulder. 

She grabbed that dangerous hand. "Your Highness—"

"Call me Arlan."

She was taken aback. "How can I?"

"You sure can. In fact, only you can."

Amidst the darkness, she gazed at his silhouette in confusion. 'What does he mean? Why make such a demand all of a sudden?'

As she wondered about the prince's intentions, Arlan dived into her neck, both his hands taking their sweet time to slide her dress down her shoulders. Earlier, he had loosened the laces securing the back of her dress so it was easy to pull her dress down. The sensation of fabric gliding down to her arms made her heart pound hard. 

"Your High—"

"Arlan," he corrected once more.

He kissed and licked the delicate skin of her bare shoulders. A soft moan left her mouth as she tried to weakly push his hand away. 

"Don't…my dress…"

He moved back to seal her lips and said once he freed her, "Won't be coming off entirely." 

"But…"

"Trust me." His hand moved to her face and covered her eyes. "Remember to keep your eyes closed."

Oriana could only comply with his wishes. Arlan moved back to her exquisite neck, his hand below her nape causing it to arch, his tongue skillfully moistening her skin, followed by his teeth grazing it dangerously.

"Uhm….Don't leave any marks," as usual, Oriana reminded him, attempting to maintain her composure under those seductive touches.

"You can manage it by concealing them," his intentions evident that he wouldn't be heeding her words.

Her hands were attempting to stop him, but he pinned them to the side as he spoke while still focussed on her delicate neck, "Do not worry about it. Just experience these moments. We might not have a chance to be together like this again."

At these words, Oriana ceased her struggling. She understood better than him that this might be their last opportunity. Observing her surrender, Arlan released her hands, guiding them to rest on his shoulders. His tall and strong body pressed against hers soft and delicate one, keeping her secure beneath him.

From his shoulder, Oriana's hands glided to his neck and then to the back of his head. As he had suggested, she began to relish in what he was doing to her. Her dress had slipped down her shoulders, leaving them exposed to his caresses. Gentle moans escaped from her throat, signaling to him that she was also deriving pleasure from it.

Just as he moved further down and his fingers were ready to pull her dress to expose that feminine delicate part of her body to feast on it, she held his hand as her body trembled.  "Don't take it off."

Arlan lifted his face to gaze at her. Even in the dark, he could sense the panic in her action and hear it in her voice. "What's wrong?"

"Anywhere, but here," she said, her hand gripping his hand firmly against her chest, intending tostop him from exposing her. 

"Don't reveal my chest," she said.

Her voice clearly conveyed that something was amiss, and he didn't take it lightly. He somehow sensed that she was troubled.

Arlan withdrew slowly, guiding her to sit beside him, his mind filled with concern for her. She hadn't reacted this way when he had been more intimate with her the previous night, so why now, all of a sudden?

"I didn't mean to stop you..."

"It's alright," he interrupted her, his hand gently securing the veil on her face.

She felt guilty. "I really don't mean to... You can..."

Arlan said nothing more and stood up. He walked over to the lamp hanging inside the gazebo and lit it. Once he finished, he returned to her.

Oriana gazed at him with a guilty expression as she held her dress firmly in front of her chest.

Arlan still said nothing and began to adjust her dress on her shoulder, his expression solemn.

"Are you angry? Did I disappoint you?" She couldn't help but ask.

Just a while ago, he was so passionate and eager to continue, but in an instant, it had vanished, and he was unusually calm.

"Turn around," he commanded.

She lowered her head and complied, worried that she had made a mistake.

As she turned around, Arlan moved her long hair aside and began securing her dress by tightening the thin laces he had loosened earlier. Once he ensured her dress was properly set, he spoke again.

"You can turn around now."

Oriana obeyed, but she didn't dare to meet his gaze, overwhelmed by guilt. Arlan gently held her hands, which were still unconsciously covering her dress below her neckline.

"Now, tell me, what happened?"

"It's... nothing..." Her voice was barely a whisper.0

"I insist that you tell me."

"It's something embarrassing, and I'd rather not share."

"I still insist. After this, we won't be seeing each other, so there's no need to feel embarrassed in front of me."

She lifted her head, her eyes moist. "I don't know how to put it into words."

He tenderly caressed her hands. "You can trust me."

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