The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 49: Her Truth Angered Him

The curtains dropped engulfing them in a comfortable darkness. Jessamyn pressed her lips as his face magnified in front of her. His eyes were clouded and she felt the pang of pain again, trying to paralyze her.

"Oh..." he sighed, his warm breath rushing its way to fall on her trembling lips bringing along his masculine scent. A lot of things happened leaving Jessamyn frozen. Mainly, the pain rendered her motionless.

His arm was around her waist and he fixed the hair on her face with the tender touch of his finger. A drop of his tear fell at the corner of her mouth. He let out another deep breath.

She understood he too was in pain—just like her.

Why? Why did you leave me after I waited for you for two years? What did I do wrong?

She dreaded asking him now because she already had the answer.

His hold on her tightened as if he dreaded letting her go. She felt his yearning. His hand held her cheek gently with a watchful touch. His eyes—a reflection of the stars far away, met hers, wishing to convey a plethora of emotions.

Why are you hurting, Jerrick? She wanted to ask. Why are your actions always gentle with me but your words tear me apart? Which one should I trust—your actions or your words?

Jessamyn sank into the depths of his eyes for a second. His lips curved a little as if the wind blew away the dark gloomy clouds hiding the moon. Did she give in to her wishes or was something else going on? She couldn’t say.

But the pain was gone, and there was a stillness—a blissful peace.

She closed her eyes relaxing to the sound of his breath. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

His nose touched her forehead as he kissed the bridge of her nose gently; it felt like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings. In a moment, she was transferred back to the garden where they were close. In her heart, she heard his gentle voice pleading with her to allow him to rest on her.

The flutters spread around over to her eyes and cheeks. With each flutter landing on her face, her abdomen had flutters—the good kind that warmed her blood. Her chest constricted as his hold tightened. His sweet provocations made breathing laborious. She had to part her lips to get more oxygen. He moved over her, his warmth spreading as his masculine scent engulfed her.

She clutched the sheets as his lips moved closer to her lips. She heard his racing heart as his bulging warmth nudged on her.

His lips grazed hers, and his intoxicating scent made her heart pound. Her face tingled, and her body craved intimacy. A fire burned inside her, kindled by his beguiling scent and enthralling touches. Her chest curved, and she held a tuft of his hair at the back of his head, pulling him closer, guided by pure lust.

Meeting his eyes, she opened her mouth. "Jer~" She paused as something snapped inside her. It was as if her blinds were removed and her sanity returned. Her eyes widened, and the excitement fell as reality hit her.

What am I doing? What was I about to do?

"Myna," he crashed his lips on hers.

"Stop! Stop it!" she pressed his chest, stopping him from going further. His bulging warmth had gotten bigger, and she knew what he wanted. She didn’t want him to continue.

He stopped for a second but then, leaned to her face, clutching her hair. She couldn’t stop him anymore.

"What are you doing?" she shouted, pushing him back, but he was leaning heavily on her, kissing her.

"Enough, Jerrick!" she pushed him back and kicked his abdomen as hard as she could.

Jerrick grunted, holding his abdomen, and fell to the side. She rolled down from the bed and got a safe distance from him.

She was shocked by what was happening. How she allowed to let it get that far, she couldn’t say. It was as if...she was hypnotized.

Whatever it was, I did nothing wrong. He started it, didn’t he? I went with the flow. Flow? How could I? How could I...with...him...? How?

This was not even the first time. At least she could blame her intoxication for the first time. But this time... She was pretty much sober. What prompted me to do this?

Her confusion and shame manifested as anger. "Did Imogen ask you to serve me in bed too? Is that why you’re doing this?" she asked, fixing her clothes and hair. How he managed to unbutton her, she didn’t know.

"Imogen?" Jerrick, still holding his abdomen, turned to face her. His hair was lazily falling on his face, adding to his allure.

Jessamyn instinctively took a step back with her mouth agape, and her finger pointing at him trembled.

Jerrick ran his finger through his hair to set it back and let out a deep breath. His eyes unwaveringly observed her. "Imogen?" he asked again.

This was the second time she mentioned a dead person while they were intimate.

"Yes, Imogen, your dead wife," Jessamyn said, taking in a deep breath. She had regained her composure, and with that, her hurt returned. "Aren’t you marrying me for Imogen’s sake?" she asked.

In the silence that hung heavy between them, Jerrick observed her, shocked by her statement. He didn’t think she had heard that far of his conversation with Duke Lagergren.

Her glare pierced through the air like a silent accusation, each disdainful flicker a testament to the depths of her wounded spirit. No words were needed to convey the depths of her hatred; it hung palpably in the air, a suffocating miasma that threatened to consume them both.

And in that charged moment, as her gaze bore into his soul with unwavering intensity, he could discern one thing—she hates Imogen more than she hates me.

That realization dropped his heart to his gut. It can’t be!

"Imogen doesn’t deserve such scorn just because I married her," he said.

Jessamyn scoffed. What a lovely husband! He couldn’t bear me hating on his dear wife. Love does turn people stupid. Heh!

"Do not delude yourself into thinking you have such influence over my aspirations and antipathies, Your Grace. I’ve never liked Imogen in my life. I hated her even before your arrival," she said the truth.

"Liar!" Jerrick jumped from the bed and marched at her, raising his hand. His eyes reddened with anger, and the corners of his face twitched as he clenched his jaws. "You’ve started lying now?" He shouted.

Jessamyn retreated until her back hit the wall and covered her head instinctively. She had never felt unsafe in his presence.

All because I talked about her!

Her heart pounded out of fear as she heard his thumping footsteps approaching her.