Chapter 122
Her pupils dilated enormously.
The woman looked up at him with a lost thought; then, she swallowed hard and asked:
“What way do you mean?”
“... Fine.”
He passed a hand over his mouth as he put on his leather gloves and examined her thoroughly.
A faint flush spread across her skin, which was as pale as crystal, showing just how uncomfortable the man's gaze made her. Suddenly, Varkas felt a strange dryness in his throat.
He pulled roughly at the suffocating collar of his coat and murmured with some gruffness:
“At the very least, this won't simply consist of lifting your skirt and getting it over with in a hurry.”
The crimson that stained her face had now spread to her earlobes and the back of her neck.
In vain, he bit the inside of his cheek; then, surrendering to the desire to touch her, he leaned over the bed.
She tensed her shoulders firmly and drew her legs in, gathering the folds of her skirt to cover her knees.
He held the contour of the cheeks of the woman, who was watching him warily, and scrutinized her eyes intently.
“Do you agree?”
“You must tell me... something specific about what you want...”
“It will take time for you to accept it calmly and without rushing.”
He brushed his thumb against her lips, which seemed stained with the color of clotted blood, and her dark blue pupils, flooded with moisture, vibrated violently.
The woman, looking at him with terrified eyes, turned her head to the side to avoid his hand.
“Is there a need for that? Isn't it better for both of us to get this over with quickly?”
He withdrew his arm and threw her a gaze as cold as snow.
“If you have no intention of accepting my demand, then leave this room. It seems you don't care about being treated like a breeding mare, but I do not intend to tolerate that treatment.”
Her face, which before wore a pale pink hue, lost its color in an instant.
Varkas braced his determination, which was about to waver. If he took a step back now, he would end up repeating that tragic night once more.
He crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head, as if inquiring: "What is stopping you from standing up?" The woman bit her lower lip while gripping the folds of her skirt tightly, and then let out a trembling voice:
“Then... grant me just one condition in my way.”
He awaited the rest of her words in silence.
The woman remained silent for a long moment and then continued with a rigid face:
“At least, turn off the lights. If you do, I will endure whatever you decide to do.”
His expression twisted.
He knew that woman did not say it with the intention of insulting him. However, his stomach tightened automatically at that attitude of hers, so similar to that of a martyr about to suffer an ordeal. If he weren't aware that she was truly terrified, he would have turned around to leave immediately.
Varkas contemplated her closely and then walked toward the window.
He extinguished the candles on the candelabra in front of him one by one and then lowered the fireplace damper. Nevertheless, the sunlight, which had not yet completely faded, continued to filter into the room through the large window.
He looked at the dark clouds of violet hues and the golden sunset behind the glass, and then returned his gaze to her. His wife remained there, clutching the edge of her dress and watching him with suspicion.
He felt some annoyance, but if the darkness was going to calm her down, there was no reason not to yield on that point.
He drew the curtains over the glass as well. Finally, a dense darkness took possession of the room.
“Is this enough now?”
Talia nodded slightly. Then, she replied in a choked voice, perhaps thinking he wouldn't be able to see anything in the dark:
“It's... it's enough.”
He waited for his eyes to adjust to the dimness and then slowly approached the bed.
The woman extended her hand immediately upon sensing his closeness. He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned his body forward to allow his wife to touch him.
Soon, her fingers, as cold as ice, brushed his neck.
He wrapped those fingers with his hand and guided them toward his face; the woman shuddered as if she had been startled, and then began to stroke his cheeks gently.
