Be Gentle, Immortal Master

I was speechless.

I had thought earlier that he was able to calmly let me sleep in his arms because … he could control himself to not feel anything for me. The thought hurt a little, but knowing how solemnly he always carried himself and feeling his embrace completely devoid of desire, that was the only natural explanation I could think of.

And now, from how hot and how hard he was, I finally realized that he had only been suppressing it this whole time.

I brushed my fingers over his cheek. The heat from the touch burned me. "Bai Ye, I …"

If he didn't mind, then maybe …

He caught my hand. "Qing-er." He knocked on my forehead, and I ouched. "Stop whatever absurd thoughts you have in here. I may be able to ease your discomfort, but I can't fully overcome the power that's weakening your body. Not yet. You need rest, not … more excitement, either physically or in the form of abrupt spiritual power fluctuations." He lay back down next to me, only holding one of my hands this time to keep his power flowing into me slowly. "Sleep, otherwise I'll really have to send you back to your room."

His hand lay on top of mine in the barest touch, but that was enough to scorch me while I turned his words over in my mind. He was trying so hard to hold himself back only because of this? Because of me?

I suddenly remembered a time when I was still a child and my mother first explained marriage to me. "I hope you will find a husband who loves you, Qing-er," she had said. "A man who doesn't just want your body, but treasures you and truly cares about you."

"What is the difference?" I asked her then.

"You will know it when you grow up. It doesn't take much for a man to want a woman, but for him to consider her feelings and needs—and most difficult of all, to place them above his own—requires true love and determination. I was fortunate enough to meet your father, and I hope you will find your own destined man someday."

Now, with my heart pounding in my chest, I realized that this man had always been there, right next to me.

I flipped onto my side and turned him over to face me. His eyes were dark, but I saw the light gleaming from within. My hand reached behind his nape. "I won't be able to sleep any better in my room," I said. "I'll miss you … and I'll miss this." I pulled him in and kissed him again.

He grunted a muffled groan, and his hand dropped onto my waist, trying to push me away. But as our breaths mixed and quickened, the force from his push weakened, and his palm slid under my night robe instead, gently stroking my thighs.

I sighed as his caress sent soft tickles dancing all over my skin. This wasn't enough, but if it was all I could have … I could live with it. I deepened the kiss, encouraging him to continue. But the moment he brushed over the loincloth wrapped around me, his hand snapped back, and he pulled away from my lips.

"Don't test my self-control." His voice was unsteady, and it sounded almost like a beg.

I met his gaze. "I'm not testing you." My fingers slipped through the wide collars of his robe and grazed down his chest. "I … I just don't want to see you endure it like this."

My hand glided along his abdomen, beneath his breeches, and I held him.

A groan escaped his throat. He broke our gaze and closed his eyes. "This is not why you are here tonight," he whispered. But his hand only slid behind me, lightly squeezing my bottom.

I inched forward under his push, pressing my lips onto his as I stroked him. "It isn't," I breathed into his mouth. "It's only a consequence of me being here, and I want to help fix this consequence."

Heat swelled and pulsed under my palm. He was harder and hotter than usual, and I wondered how much effort it took to hide his feelings all this time. Something fluttered in me at the thought. I deepened our kiss, swiping my tongue across his mouth in rhythm with the motion below. His breaths grew heavy, and the throbbings within me grew with it.

His hand glided between my legs, slowly massaging the inside of my thighs. I sighed at his touch. "I wish I could do something for you," he said softly under our shared breaths.

I smiled. "You are doing it …" I nudged his lips. "It satisfies me to see you pleased."

My thumb reached over to his tip, brushing gently over the wetness at the top. He broke the kiss and heaved a sigh against my lips, his hand pausing at the top of my thighs. Dim moonlight caught on the sharp features on his face as he leaned back slightly, his eyes shut, his lips parted.

I meant what I said. He was such a breathtaking sight, and I never knew until now that simply looking at him, watching his pleasure and seeing him lose himself in the joy I gave him … could be such a euphoric feeling, and it answered the aches in me in ways that I didn't think were possible.

"Bai Ye," I pecked his lips, "you must be the god of beauty and love."

He slid his hand back up to my shoulders, gathering me in a light embrace and thrust gently into my grip. "Then you must be the devil of temptation," he said.

I chuckled and tightened my hold on him, picking up speed. "That would make us a perfect match."

I kissed him again, giving him all the fire I had. Heat swelled and throbbed as I measured him from hilt to tip, over and over, until finally a pulse ran down his shaft, and with a half-sigh, half-groan, he filled my grip. His body stiffened, and with a long heave, he went soft within my palm.

I sighed along with him. The yearnings within me were still alive and well, but seeing and feeling his relief … brought me as much satisfaction as any ecstasies ever could.

"Qing-er.." He brushed his lips over my cheeks in a slight tremor. "You are a little devil indeed … and now will you go to sleep?"