Hellbound Heart

Chapter 381  Kyle and Lilith (Part 3)

A delicate blush crept across Lilith's cheeks, like the first brushstrokes of dawn painting the sky. The softness of the light seemed to dance over her features, accentuating the gentle curve of her cheeks and the subtle parting of her lips. Her eyes, reflecting a mix of emotions, were pools of depth in the serene night.

Observing the subtle changes in her expression, Kyle let out a soft chuckle, a sound that seemed to weave a spell of warmth and intimacy in the cool night air. He drew her closer, his embrace tightening with a tenderness that spoke of years of pent-up longing, a yearning that had simmered beneath the surface, now finding its quiet expression in this simple yet profound act of holding her. His arms around her tightened even more in a more secure embrace, enveloping her in a cocoon of warmth and affection as he whispered, "Don't worry," his breath caressing her ear. "Though I won't deny my desires, this moment—holding you like this—is more than enough for me now. You can't imagine how much I've yearned for this, Lilith. So please... allow me to hold you, to cherish this closeness for as long as you can bear it." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

And Lilith just found herself melting into his embrace. His presence, so near and filled with unspoken yearnings, was like a fire in a world of ice. Each second in his arms was a drop of warmth, seeping into her very bones, threatening to liquefy the resolve she had so carefully crystallized over years.

And Lilith just found herself melting into his embrace. His presence, so near and filled with unspoken yearnings, was like a fire in a world of ice. Each second in his arms was a drop of warmth, seeping into her very bones, threatening to liquefy the resolve she had so carefully crystallized over years.

In that serene room, time seemed to suspend its relentless march. They held each other in a silent communion, cocooned in a world of their own making, where the outside world of duty and fate blurred into the background. They lay there, entwined, as the night deepened around them. No words were exchanged, for their heartbeats and the warmth of their bodies spoke a language more profound than words could ever convey.

The moment stretched on, an eternity captured within the confines of the night. It was a precious interlude, a pause in the relentless march of time, where they could simply be together, away from the complexities of their lives.

But the dawn soon approached and the first rays of sunlight began to seep through the window, casting a warm, golden glow over the pair. Yet, even as the sun rose, Lilith made no move to break the magic of their embrace. She remained still, savoring the feeling of being held in Kyle's arms, a feeling she wished could last forever. When the sun climbed high in the sky, casting its warm light through the window, Lilith's voice, finally broke the tranquil silence. "Aren't you thirsty?" she asked, her tone imbued with concern. Despite the question, her body remained motionless, comfortably enveloped in his embrace. "I think you should at least have something to drink," she suggested softly, mindful of his needs and his situation.

Kyle was lost in his thoughts so he did not respond immediately, his silence stretching out between them. Sensing his preoccupation, Lilith gently disentangled herself from his arms to study his face more closely.

And there he was, the handsome vampire prince, his features etched in contemplation. His eyes, usually so expressive, seemed distant, as if he was pondering over something utterly important.

"Kyle?" she called out, her voice a delicate whisper.

He blinked, returning from his reverie. A sad yet tender smile graced his lips, a bittersweet expression that tugged at her heart.

As he opened his mouth to speak, Lilith preempted him, her curiosity evident in her tone. "What are you… thinking?"

His gaze lingered on her, the smile slowly fading but leaving behind a dreamy sheen in his eyes. "I'm thinking of… asking you not to say goodbye to me, yet," he confessed, his voice a soft murmur and his words like a soft prayer, filled with a desperate hope for a few more moments in her presence.

The words struck Lilith with an intense ache in her throat, even though his tone bore no trace of pain. "I have to… send you away, Kyle," she responded, her voice heavy with the weight of their reality. "We're just… not possible."

He drew her close again. "I was actually thinking of telling you that I can definitely live without sex as long as I'm with you, like this, Lilith. As long as I can stay beside you, hold you, talk to you… just be with you… that is all I ever needed. That to me, sex with you is a want I'm willing and will sacrifice just to be with you. But then, I know that wouldn't be fair for you… that would be cruelly selfish of me to—"

He stopped abruptly as Lilith suddenly pulled away, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and disbelief. The earnestness in his declaration, the depth of his willingness to forsake his desires for her, was written clear in his gaze, a gaze that held her with a gravity she could scarcely believe.

Kyle's fingers hesitated at his lips before drifting through his hair, a motion that spoke of internal conflict and a fleeting sense of vulnerability. An embarrassed smile, tinged with a self-aware wryness, then briefly illuminated his features. "I know how absurd—"

"Are you... really serious?" Lilith interjected, her voice slicing through his words with a mixture of disbelief and a desperate need for confirmation.

Kyle's gaze, previously wavering, steadied as he met her eyes. "I am, Lilith. I might sound crazy, but I am," he affirmed, his smile carrying a mix of earnestness and resignation. Then, gently yet reluctantly, he released her from his embrace. "But that's also exactly the reason why I can't blame you for needing to send me away again."

"Why… would you think that?" "Because of the sheer unfairness of it. I am a vampire with a very long life ahead of me... you are a witch and will live less compared to mine."