Chapter 83 - Kiss

Aleister frowned as he walked towards her, ''Do you think I will go blind if you close your eyes?" 

Esme opened her eyes realizing what she did. ''I... Have you shed off your decency? Stop coming here...'' Although her gown was still covering her body properly, her shoulders and a limited part of her back were entirely exposed to his view. ''You...'' 

''Be quiet or else you won't like my ways of making you quiet.''

Esme opened her mouth before she closed it. Her face was burning when he came to stand behind her, ''Can you turn around? I will quickly wear....'' 

Without giving her a chance to respond, Aleister pulled her into his arms before he carried her. 

Esme was stunned, ''What...?"

''Do you want me to kiss you?" Aleister tilted his head down as he looked at her seriously. 

Her eyes widened. He... He has been brazen but not this brazen. She covered her face in her palms, ''Do you want me to die?" The amount of shame that she had felt in the past two days was going to take her life. 

''Don't worry. You won't die if I kiss you,'' Aleister placed her on his bed as he leaned closer to her. 

''You can't do that,'' As she watched his face coming closer to her, her lashes fluttered. 

''Turn around,'' He whispered. 

''Mm?" She blinked. 

He looked at her lips before looking back into her eyes, ''Turn around. Show me your wound.'' 

Esme snapped out of her daze when he pulled back from her. She slowly looked down at her exposed shoulders before covering them with her arms. 

''I have already seen it. Don't make me repeat,'' His tone was sterner this time. 

Esme frowned, ''I don't want to.'' 

''Did I ask what you want?" Aleister narrowed his eyes. 

''Then, you should learn to ask. I am not turning around. What will you do about it?"

To him, her expression was like 'Come, bite me. Am I afraid of you?' as she turned her face to the side. 

''Turn around,'' Aleister coldly said. 

Esme was stubborn as a mule as she shook her head while clutching her gown in her other hand. 

A vein on his forehead throbbed as he pinched her chin with his fingers, ''Then, I will do what I said,'' he glanced at her enticing lips before looking back at her widening eyes, ''And if you are going to argue, I will take it as if you want me to do it.''

Noticing how serious he looked, Esme pressed her palm on her mouth before he could do anything, ''Close your eyes then,'' She spoke while having her palm on her mouth. 

The corner of his lips twitched but he closed his eyes. 

Esme made a small movement, pretending to turn around but all the while her eyes were fixated on his face. Noticing that he did not open his eyes, she finally flipped such that her back was facing him, ''Do you want to help me with my wound?'' She paused before quickly adding, ''Don't open your eyes.''

''What else do you think I want to do?" He extended his hand before poking her shoulder. 

''Sss...'' Esme sucked in a cold breath, ''You are trying to kill me, aren't you?" He was venting his anger on her. 

Aleister's lips thinned as he opened his eyes, ''With my eyes closed, how do you expect me to help you?" He moved his palm to the glaring purplish mark on her shoulder before running his fingers on it, ''Did it happen when the branch fell?''

Esme made a small affirming sound but she suddenly froze and turned her face to look at him, ''You...'' Her face grew warm. 

Aleister grabbed her shoulders, pinning her to bed gently enough, ''Stop moving. Half-seen things don't excite me,'' Even though he said that to her, his eyes were darkening at the sight of her snowy skin and her delicate back. 

Aleister averted his gaze as he ran his fingers on the wound and the wound started healing rapidly. 

Esme felt numb as his thumb grazed on her back. She buried her face in the pillow, deciding to not show it to anyone again. 

Aleister's fingers paused as he let the wound heal. His gaze traveled to her chemise and her half-exposed back. A glint flashed in his eyes and he closed them for a few seconds. 

He opened his eyes and glanced at the woman who was not saying anything anymore, ''Are you trying to choke yourself to death?" He whispered as he extended his hand and brought her long hair to her back, properly covering her exposed skin. 

Esme did not respond to him. 

Aleister stroked her hair, ''Get dressed. We will eat together. And don't we have a lot to talk about?" When she did not respond, he pushed himself to his feet, ''I will be outside,'' His gaze traveled to her neck when she slowly moved her head and his throat ran dry. 

Without waiting for her to say something, he walked out of the room in large strides. 

Hearing the sound of retreating footsteps, Esme removed her face from the pillow as she gasped for air, her face flushed red and she pushed the pillow away from her as she shook her head. 

After a few moments, Esme leaned back on the headboard with her unkempt hair framing her face. She exhaled before combing her hair with her fingers. 

As the servants set the table and left, Esme and Aleister had their breakfast quietly. 

Aleister noticed her quiet countenance for a few seconds before he said, ''Do you feel pain?" 

Esme paused eating. She gulped the food that she had stuffed in her mouth, ''No. Grateful for your help,'' With that said, she started eating again with two things in mind. She was hungry and she did not want to talk to him.

Aleister raised an eyebrow, ''How about your undying love?" He paused before continuing, ''You say that you love me with all your heart and you will jump into the sea to give up on your life....''