Everett clicked his tongue and looked at Zaiyila. "Seems like you really want it to be a dream," he remarked.
"Of course not!" Zaiyila shouted, but she soon realized something was off. She looked down and noticed their position—her face flushed immediately. She wasn't wearing anything underneath, and Everett's chest was bare as well. With the oversized shirt joining them together and her tightly hugging him, he was possibly feeling the weight of her chest. "I... I..." she stammered, not knowing what to say.
Everett sighed and placed her on the cabinet, then moved his head down from the shirt, teasing her breasts slightly before leaving the shirt for her.
"We are legally married. There's no need to be shy," he murmured, observing her flustered expression.
Zaiyila's heart raced faster. Just looking at that handsome face and well-defined abs, she almost drooled. The shirt was far too big on her, making her look like an immature child inside it. Combined with her bashful expression, if someone were to witness this scene now, they might think Everett was some kind of pervert forcing himself on a young girl.
Seeing her expression, Everett was amused and leaned in closer. His face was so near that her heart pounded even louder.
"What? The way you're looking at me... don't tell me..." He smirked, making his meaning clear.
Zaiyila held her chest, trying to control its frantic rhythm as her gaze fell on his lips. "You... you are the Serpent King?" she questioned.
Everett released his forked tongue and licked her face, confirming her suspicion. His smile never faded, keeping Zaiyila from feeling fear and instead drawing her deeper into his charm.
Zaiyila licked her lips and swallowed hard. "Then... then... then this... this isn't a dream?" She stared straight into his eyes.
Everett chuckled and kissed her lips. "Who taught you to believe that anything that happens between us is a dream?" he whispered.
Zaiyila's mind was in complete disarray after the kiss. "Is it not because I always dream about you?" she thought. "I'm just afraid that all of this is just a dream... and once I'm sacrificed to you, I won't be treated nicely," she murmured, lowering her head.
Everett's brows knitted slightly before his expression softened. He lifted Zaiyila's chin so she could look at him. "No dreams, okay? And I will never treat you unfairly," he vowed.
Zaiyila's eyes widened. "You promise?" Tears welled up in her eyes. "You're the Serpent King with trillions of followers—you can't lie to me!" she choked out.
Everett gazed at her tear-filled eyes, his brows furrowing. "How come my bride feels so unsafe like this?" he thought, before pulling her into his embrace. "Why do you think my mark is on you? If I ever do something that displeases you, all you have to do is punish me. That's all," he assured her.
Zaiyila sobbed. "I'm... I'm... I've fallen in love with you," she confessed. "Even though I only saw you in my dreams, I had already fallen for you. You're the only one who treats me well, the only one willing to get close to me—even to marry me. You didn't care about the fact that I'm cursed," she cried.
"You are not cursed!" Everett's brows knitted, and his voice turned cold. "It seems my bride isn't aware of who she really is. You can't allow others to bully you. You are the Serpent Queen—you must never bow before anyone," he declared.
Zaiyila sniffled, wiping her tears away. She pulled away from his embrace and looked at him before nodding. "I'll be obedient," she whispered, smiling through her tears.
Everett kissed her forehead before returning to the meal he was preparing. Soon, the food was ready, and the table was set.
However, Everett only served food for Zaiyila and not for himself. He simply sat beside her, staring at her charming figure with a hungry gaze.
"Are you not eating?" Zaiyila asked, looking at him curiously.
Everett was about to reply, but his gaze fell on her beautiful snow-white collarbone, awakening something dark inside him.
"Is there a need to eat now? Finish your meal, and I'll have mine after," he responded.
Zaiyila furrowed her brows in confusion. "You should eat, or you won't have any energy," she pointed out.
Everett chuckled and leaned closer. "Won't have any energy?" he murmured before suddenly lifting her up, making her sit on his lap, facing him.
In that position, Zaiyila could feel his hard demon pressing against her. Her face flushed as she realized what he was referring to, and she immediately lowered her head, allowing her hair to shield her face.
Everett laughed and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Does my wife still think I don't have any energy?" he teased, kissing her neck.
Zaiyila was already feeling hot inside, but it was still under control. After all, he wasn't really doing anything to turn her on.
"That... it's hard. Can... can I help?" she stammered, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. She realized that he was always the one pleasing her, and since she knew how difficult it was to hold back, she couldn't help but worry about him.
Everett chuckled and rested his head against her chest while holding her waist firmly. "Eat something, dear. Don't worry about me," he reassured her.
"But..."
"Shh, eat and let me listen to your heartbeat," Everett interrupted in a soft voice, silencing her immediately.
Her face became even redder, and her heart pounded wildly. She tried her best to control it, but the more she tried, the harder it was.
"Maybe if I eat, it will get better," she thought, taking her bowl and eating as calmly as she could manage.
After a few minutes, Zaiyila finally ate to her satisfaction and set the bowl down. "Eve... Eve!" she called softly, but there was no response.
"Are you asleep? Did you not sleep last night?" she asked in a whisper, but still, there was no reply.
She smiled, and her gaze fell on his long, beautiful, shining hair. She couldn't resist the temptation to touch it, so she gently ran her fingers through it, marveling at its softness.
"Is it really not a dream? I really don't want it to be a dream. Am I being selfish for wanting this?" she thought absentmindedly, completely unaware of the murderous smirk that appeared on Everett's seemingly gentle face.