The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 173: Warmth of His Presence

Jessamyn’s mind raced, torn between the desire to close the gap and the fear of what it would mean.

Not leaving her to her thoughts, as if drawn by an irresistible force, Jerrick’s lips met hers. The kiss was soft, tentative at first, a gentle exploration of boundaries and feelings. His lips were warm and firm, moving against hers with a slow, deliberate grace that made her heart race.

Jessamyn’s mind went blank, her body responding instinctively to his touch. She knew he knew she was awake.

Gradually, the kiss deepened. Jerrick’s hand on her cheek slid to her jaw, tilting her head slightly to give him better access. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, a gentle caress that made her skin tingle. The kiss grew more insistent, his lips moving with a newfound urgency as if he were trying to convey all the feelings he couldn’t put into words.

Jessamyn’s resolve wavered, her body betraying her as she leaned into the kiss. Her lips moved cautiously against his, responding to the unspoken plea for connection. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them suspended in that moment of intimacy.

Just as suddenly as it had begun, Jerrick pulled back. His breathing was ragged, his eyes searching her face for any sign of regret or rejection. Jessamyn lay there, her own breath coming in short, uneven bursts, her lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss.

Jessamyn opened her eyes slowly, meeting his gaze. The depth of emotion she saw there took her breath away.

They remained silent for a few heartbeats, the air thick with unspoken words. Jerrick’s eyes were filled with a mixture of longing and uncertainty, his hand still cradling her face.

"What is this between us, Jessamyn?" he asked gently tracing his thumb over her lip.

Jessamyn searched for words to say. It was not mere lust, that much she knew. She wouldn’t do it with just about anyone. This longing that pulled her toward him wasn’t just love either. She was in love before and yet this feeling was more intent, something she couldn’t describe properly.

She rolled to her side, showing her back to him; she didn’t know what to answer him.

Jessamyn was the one who said she could never fall in love with him. Yet now, as he sat beside her, she realized that if he wanted to do more than kiss her, she would let him. This was not about uncontrollable lust—she had self-control. She had lived a celibate life for seven years. But when it came to him, her resolve wavered.

"What are you doing in my room in the middle of the night?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

She closed her eyes and clenched her jaws, bracing herself for his snarky reply. He knew she was awake and had allowed him to kiss her. She had kissed him back, essentially handing over her vulnerability for him to mock.

Yet, she waited and waited, but he said nothing. She could feel his warmth behind her. He was still sitting on the bed, unmoving, yet she could feel his scorching gaze on her.

She felt warmth over her arm and glanced. His hand hovered just above her skin. Was he hesitant to touch her or waiting for her permission? She had no idea.

"Jessamyn," he finally spoke, his voice soft and tender, taking his hand back.

She kept her eyes closed, her body tense, waiting for him to continue. The silence between them stretched, filled with the weight of unspoken words and emotions.

"Turns out, I cannot stay away from you even for a day. I tried..." he said. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

His words were sincere, devoid of the usual teasing or bravado. Jessamyn’s heart ached with the truth of them. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts.

"I don’t know what this is between us," she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. "But I know it’s not something I can easily explain or understand."

She might not be able to tell him everything, but she could say this much. Maybe it would give him comfort.

She felt a slight pull on her hair and glanced. He was twisting a bunch of her hair in his fingers.

"Shall I take you to the ocean?" he asked. "I’ll show you the glimmering waves."

"Now?" Jessamyn’s voice raised slightly in surprise.

"You can see the glimmer only at night. You think I’m lying. I’m not... I want to show you."

Jessamyn curled up, covering her face with the blanket. "It’s late, and I want to sleep..."

She was afraid, though she didn’t fully understand why. It was a simple question, but she knew the implications behind it. He said he couldn’t keep away from her. He missed her. Hearing that made her heart skip a beat.

If this continued, the day she fell in love with him was not far off. And she didn’t want that to happen. She couldn’t let herself be that vulnerable again.

But the truth was, she already felt her defenses crumbling. His presence, his words, his touch—they were all chipping away at the walls she had built around her heart.

As she lay there, curled up and hiding from her own emotions, she realized that maybe, just maybe, it was not wrong for her to rely on him. She didn’t want to be lonely.

Jerrick sat by her side for some time, playing with her hair. His touch was gentle, and each stroke of his fingers felt like a promise of comfort and safety. Jessamyn’s resolve wavered, the warmth of his presence seeping through her barriers.

Jerrick sighed softly, his breath ruffling her hair. He pulled away, and the bed shifted again as he stood up. Jessamyn felt a pang of loss as his warmth left her side. She remained motionless, her heart still racing, as she heard him walk towards the door.

"I told you I’d make myself scarce. I am right near you even if you can’t see me... Goodnight, Jessamyn," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Then, with a soft click, the door closed behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the lingering taste of his kiss on her lips.

Jessamyn lay there in the darkness, the room now feeling emptier than before. She touched her lips, still warm from his touch, and closed her eyes, a mixture of longing and fear swirling inside her. She knew she was on the edge of something profound and terrifying, and the choice to step over that edge or retreat into her solitude was hers alone to make.

She tried to let the silence of the night envelop her into slumber, but as his whispered words echoed in her mind, she couldn’t fall asleep. She felt hot all over, the heat not quenched by the cold breeze through the window.

Sitting up, she hugged her knees and let out a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. The night was alive with sounds and then, a wolf’s howl echoed from the forest.

She didn’t think it was a regular wolf.