[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke novel Chapter 243

Chapter 243: Beneath The Blanket

Morning crept in with a new chill. Even when the hour came to rise, the sun remained hidden behind dark grey clouds, shy, like a maiden after her first night.

The North stayed cloaked in darkness as if coaxing its people to remain curled beneath their warm, cozy furs a little longer.

But Darius was already awake. Not from restlessness, rather, he’d slept so soundly, so deeply, that his body stirred before the morning call.

Despite the dimness, the slight light from the crystal lamp was enough to make out the figure beside him.

Xion.

Soft breaths ghosted against Darius’s chest as Xion’s face tilted slightly toward him, the younger man still lying comfortably on his back, deep in sleep.

The Archduke didn’t know how it happened, but half the blanket had slipped to the floor, and the rest barely covered their feet.

Perhaps Xion was looking for warmth, one of his legs had hitched over Darius’s thigh, and his arms... gods, his small hands were holding onto Darius’ arm as he would to a pillow in his sleep.

But what made Darius go still, frozen even, was the way Xion’s shirt had ridden up, revealing the soft plane of his lower stomach.

Pale and smooth, it gleamed under the golden firelight like a delicate pastry enticing him to lean in and take a bite.

Worse still, his own hand was resting exactly there, half-hidden beneath the hem. The warmth of the delicate skin gave him tingles of heat.

Did I do that?

Darius inhaled sharply, trying not to let the hitch in his breath become a groan. He should immediately move his hand away. He thought so, but his fingers refused to listen.

Instead, they inched up slowly, reverently until they brushed along the delicate curve of Xion’s ribs and the dip of his chest... so soft and fine like porcelain.

He could feel every breath Xion took, every slow beat that thumped under the fragile bones.

His fingertips drifted higher, skimming just beneath the thin fabric that shielded Xion’s chest buds from his gaze. Just a little more... Gods, he was being such a degenerate.

Just then Xion squirmed.

The motion startled him and he stilled. The younger man murmured something unintelligible, face scrunching slightly as he turned in his sleep and now he was facing Darius directly.

Close. Far too close.

Xion was now curled up against him, his knee was brushing over Darius’ thigh, higher than before.

And now, it wasn’t just his hand that rose. The familiar pressure beneath his waistline stirred, awakening something primal, pushing against the fabric of his pants.

Shit. He clenched his jaw, shutting his eyes as if it would somehow force the sensation to go away. It didn’t. Not with the heat of the naked skin tingling under Darius’s fingertips.

Control yourself, he hissed silently. He’s not ready. You promised.

He sucked in another breath, deeper this time, and forced his arms to wrap over Xion’s torso and not to move even an inch.

But gods, he wanted to. He wanted to drag his hand over that back so badly it hurt.

His gaze drifted up, from the prominent collarbones that were looming in his sight, to that neck he wanted to sink his teeth in, and then to that face. The same face that had haunted his memories. _{freeweɓnovel.cѳm}