The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 48: Moral Lesson 101 with Professor Nightmare

Chapter 48: Moral Lesson 101 with Professor Nightmare

That night...

A memory of that night suddenly came flooding into my mind; his feverish touch, passionate kiss, the weight of his body on top of me, the overwhelming pressure of his lower body...

I remembered the wild, beastly glint inside his usually gentle silver orbs. His face at that time bore no semblance of the Natha that I knew, and it was quite scary.

But it also...how should I say this? Good? Hot?

Uhh...I felt embarrassed just thinking about that. I was so overwhelmed with complicated feelings and anxiety right after that I didn’t even properly think about what happened that night.

But now that I did...it occurred to me that it was rather...erotic? It was the first time for me, to get pinned down with a full-grown male weight, and—umm—groped? While my lips were being plundered.

It was only the next day that I understood that he probably had an intention to...undress me? And probably going even further...right?

God—my mind was such a mess.

It wasn’t like I never thought about that. I mean...wasn’t it normal to have one or two naughty thoughts while sleeping in the same bed? It was just...in reality, being the object of other’s sexual desire was rather...terrifying.

I couldn’t help but become flustered as the whole scene replayed inside my head. Especially because the one who did it was right in front of me. I felt like my face was burning, and even without looking in the mirror, I knew I was beet red already. I was so flustered that I ended up turning my face away from him, in a pathetic attempt of hiding my embarrassment.

"I’m truly sorry," he whispered into my palm, and it turned my fluster into confusion.

Even though it still felt like my face was burning, I looked at him again. "Why?"

This time, it was Natha who looked taken aback. "Why?" He turned his body to face me properly. "Don’t you think what I did was horrible?"

Horrible? I tilted my head. It was shocking and a bit terrifying since it never happened to me before, but...I didn’t think it was horrible though.

"Sweetheart..." for the first time, I witnessed a flabbergasted look on the Demon Lord. "I was forcing myself on you. It was wrong of me to do that without even asking for your consent,"

Oh...

Oh, was that the case? I had to admit I didn’t think that far, nor I realized that it was a problem. Perhaps because I was quite lacking in the matter of human relationships. Of course I knew that forcing yourself on someone was considered sexual assault, but...

I didn’t think it was a problem since I was technically his bride, and by that definition, we were considered lovers...right?

"I...didn’t mind—"

He cupped my face before I finished what I wanted to say and the look in his eyes made me stop talking instantly. His eyes were cold, and he frowned slightly. But rather than angry, he looked like he was concerned.

"You can’t say that sweetheart," his voice was stern. "You should mind. You can’t think that having other people forcing themselves on you is fine."

Well, of course, I got it. I would of course mind it if it was others who did it. I’d punch, and kick them, using my magic to send them flying. It wasn’t like I’d let just anyone touch me.

"But...it’s you," I gave him my reasoning, in a half-confused and half-defensive tone. I didn’t like that he seemed to think I was somewhat easy. "I didn’t mind because it’s you."

He let out a long sigh then, and stared deeply into my eyes. "Even if it’s me, you can’t just let me force myself on you. It was still an assault, and I hated myself for doing it to you."

Honestly, it was surprising for me. Was I being too innocent? No—too naïve ?

"Ah... it probably sounds ridiculous coming from someone who forces you to be a bride, huh?" Natha suddenly chuckled, although it sounded strangely bitter. "Still, I want you to cherish yourself more, sweetheart."

The only thing I could do at this point was blink. It felt so weird, being reprimanded because I didn’t get angry. What could I do, anyway, since I didn’t feel enraged by what he did?

"Well, I still don’t—"

"Val," he cut me, and I held my breath unconsciously. Uhh...he used my name? Not that nice-sounding pet name he always used? "You were scared."

His thumb caressed my cheeks gently, and the sternness in his eyes faded into a soft gaze. "You were scared of me—of what I did, of what I was about to do to you," he caressed my hair next, voice gentler than ever. "You might think it’s okay since I didn’t go further at that time. But what if I did? If I went further, and force myself on you completely?" he leaned down and brought his face closer, brows taut.

"...what?" my mind couldn’t help but play a scenario then.

A continuation of that night, where his relentless kiss was consuming my mouth. Where his hand would sneak further, exploring my skin. It made my stomach tingle, honestly.

But then it continued, and now his hands were yanking my clothes off, stripping me bare. And then—

"Uhh—" I closed my eyes shut, hands grabbing the edge of my coat. A shiver ran down my spine, and that tingling feeling vanished, as my heart was beating loudly not in anticipation, but dread.

My eyes fluttered open as he lifted my face to look at him. "If I went further, it would be rape."

"Oh..." I bit my lips, finally realizing the seriousness of the situation.

What would become of us then, should such things happen? Would I be able to look at him like this, thinking about how much I missed him, and how much I wanted to stay with him? Or would I be trembling in dread every time I thought of him? Shrinking at his every touch?

Natha stopped caressing my cheek and hair, and grasped my hand gently instead until I stopped biting my lips. "The only reason why I could stop myself was because I could sense your thought; that fear you don’t even remember now," I pressed my lips at his words, and he continued. "It scared me to think what might happen if I don’t have this ability. I wasn’t even in my right mind at that time."

It occurred to me then, how different Natha seemed that night. The shaking eyes, the beastly gaze, the clenching jaw. And above all; the burning skin.

"What do you mean by not in your right mind? What happened?"

He pulled back a little then, a subtle bitter smile playing on his face. "I was in a rut,"

"...a what?"

"It was my heat cycle,"

I paused and blinked my eyes repeatedly. It felt like something I heard in a n*atg*o channel or something. "Uh—umm...like estrus?"

He smiled deeply, and it was me that felt bashful. "Wh—" I opened my mouth only to close it the next second. I knew this world had a fantasy setting but...this was too new for me. As far as I saw inside Valmeier’s memory, humans had no intense heat cycle. "Is that demon’s trait or..."

Natha leaned back on the swing, propped up with his elbow on the backrest. "No," he smirked. "Just the one with the alpha seed."

So, was it because he was an ’alpha’? Like a system to make the alphas produce a lot of descendants or something? To ensure the continuation of pure demon blood?

Huh—but he took me as a bride despite that?

But there was something else that made me more curious than that. "So, umm...is that mean you’re getting really—uhh..."

He leaned down to whisper in my ear, spelling the word I couldn’t comfortably utter with a smirk. "Horny?"

"Uh—yeah, that. Are you saying you can’t control your impulse during that?" I tried hard to shove that word far in the back of my mind.

"Yes, unfortunately," he answered with a shrug. "I had to lock myself in an isolated room for the duration of my rut while drinking potions."

"Oh!" I clapped my hands reflexively. "So that’s why you went away again in a hurry."

"Ahh~I should have told you about that beforehand, then my sweetheart wouldn’t have to feel anxious," he put his head on my shoulder, arm circling my waist.

This Demon Lord, who usually acted stern and cool, was now lazing around while making cute, teasing remarks with a dawdling voice. It kind of made me wonder what he looked like when he was in all Demon Lord mode.

Like that time when we met for the first time and negotiate the term of our exchange, probably? That business-like smile and inquisitive gaze.

I wondered if he used this kind of tone and soft gaze he used while talking to me to anyone else. I wondered if I was special in any way—

"You are," he looked up, a captivating smile on his lips. "You always have been,"

How unfair.

I looked at him with a frown, and he caressed my cheek, slowly tipping my face lower. "Kiss me?"

So unfair.

It was unfair how he looked so charming among the reddish greenery and white-painted swing, under the shower of morning autumn sunlight.

And it was unfair how firm and sure his lips on mine were. Cool, like mint candy. It melted all the longing I had for the past week; the night I dreamt about him, and the morning I sniffed at the pillow to trace his leftover scent.

Before I knew it, my body already moved, looking for a better position, and unconsciously ended up on his lap, legs straddling the Demon Lord. The kiss was gentle, and soft, as if he was taking his time savoring my lips with little nibbles and touches.

It was nice, for my last memory of our kiss was wild and sorrowful. This one, with his gentle hand caressing my back and nape, within the beautiful labyrinth that hid us from the world, was slow enough for me to taste it properly. My arms, which had been clutching his clothes, circled his neck and shoulder before I realized it.

When I pulled away slightly to take a breath, he whispered softly, in a voice that only I could hear. "Open your mouth, sweetheart," he said, alluringly, and I parted my lips in reflex, welcoming his tongue inside.

His tongue felt even colder than his lips, and the feeling of it touching the flesh of my mouth sent shivers down my spine. It made me wriggle unconsciously on his lap, as I sunk deeper into the blissful feeling of being held, being tasted.

I had no idea how long we were locked in that slow, gentle, savoring kiss, but at one point I couldn’t help but gasp, pulling myself away to look down at the palpable intrusion I felt between our bodies.

Smirking mischievously, Natha held my waist and chuckled. "Ah...sorry about that."