The Tyrant's Pet

Aries didn't know how and when, but she eventually fell asleep last night. When morning came, she woke up at the same time she usually open her eyes. But the second she opened her eyes, what welcomed her was a perfectly honed chest.

She blinked countless times, flinching when an arm pulled her body closer. Aries planted her fist on Abel's inked chest on instinct, eyes carefully moving up to see him asleep.

'Right... last night...' Aries pursed her lips into a thin line, staring at his shut eyes. She didn't have a nightmare after he came in, making her sigh in relief. But waking up, she felt oddly calm despite seeing him first thing in the morning.

'He is gorgeous, no doubt.' She thought, studying his face up close. 'They said people looked harmless when asleep, but he looked like someone who shouldn't be disturbed unless they don't want to live.'

Abel's beauty was undeniably out of this world. It was as if God personally handcrafted him with care. If only he was even the slightest bit of normal. But then again, the lines between normal and not had been blurred.

"If you stare like that, you're going to puncture a hole in my face." She flinched when his coarse voice reached her ears. His thick and long lashes tenderly fluttered open, immediately catching her gaze. "What do you think?"

"Pardon?"

"The sight you will see first thing in the morning. What do you think?"

Aries needed a moment to think of his inquiry while blinking. "Good...?"

"Good?"

"... morning."

Abel looked at her for a moment before he laughed, taking a deep breath while pulling her closer. He leaned his face forward, planting a brief peck on the apex of his nose.

"My pet never ceases to impress me," he mused, keeping her still as he closed his eyes. "Good morning, darling."

Aries bit her tongue, congratulating herself for dodging the question. If she answered him honestly, she would anger him for sure. Not that she hated the sight of him, but waking up next to him was something she would never get used to.

On the other hand, if she lied to him... Abel might not point it out. However, she didn't want to lie to him over and over until he get used to it. The trust she wanted to build with him might not happen at all.

Her plan remained the same after all. Be in a friendlier term with him until he found a replacement for her and get his mercy, so he would let her go when the time came. She would play along with him until then.

Aries thought that was the best course of action. She wasn't wrong, though. There was just one question she didn't consider; would there be another Aries in this world to replace her?

"I can hear the gears in your head turning." She froze, feeling his hand on the back of her head. "Don't scheme so early in the morning. You better sleep some more."

"I always start my day during this time."

"..."

Aries cautiously looked up after hearing silence as a response. His eyes were closed again and his breathing gradually turned heavy. He looked a bit exhausted, she thought. But Abel slept before her; she was certain because she stayed up for another hour last night.

"I usually start my day earlier than this," he spoke lazily after a moment, eyes closed, feeling her delicate body in his arms. "But I stayed until you wake up. You're cruel."

'Did I annoy him?' she wondered, not expecting to hear such a confession. Of course, she knew Abel was a busy man. He was the emperor. 'Fine... let's stay like this. It's not like my activities are more important than his.'

Aries relaxed her tensed body, using his arm that was slipped under her as a head cushion. Her eyes fell on the inked mark on his chest. She couldn't see the entire permanent body art, since what was showing was just a small part of it. She had seen it before when they bathe together. But this was the only time she actually paid attention to it.

Out of curiosity, Aries raised a finger to touch it. But just as her fingertip was a centimeter away from his skin, she looked up, only to see him staring down.

The side of his lips curled up into a smirk. "Darling, stop touching me."

'I'm not touching you. You're the one who is trapping me in your arms.' Aries bit her tongue. She was only using a finger to touch the tattoo on his chest. Why did he have to make it sound like she would grope him?

"Heh." His smirk grew into a grin, biting his lower lip to stop it from stretching. "Last night..." Abel trailed off when her back stiffened. "... you bit me."

Her eyes fell on the slight bruise on his lips. It was swelling a little, but it could go unnoticed since people would usually stare into his beguiling eyes.

"I... Uhm... was a bit surprised. My apologies." She lowered her eyes, taking a peek at him after a few seconds. "Did it hurt?"

"Pain and pleasure go hand in hand, darling. I was aroused."

"Then, why...?"

Abel quirked a brow. "Why?"

"If you were aroused, why did you stop?" she asked curiously after careful consideration of asking about this. Last night, she was certain Abel wanted to take her — there was no doubt about it. But he didn't in the end. So, she was curious; this was also to expand her data about him.

She studied him as he stared at her in silence. There wasn't much change in his expression, but she held her breath in anticipation.

"Do I look desperate to you, darling?" Aries shook her head almost at the same time he inquired. "Then there's your answer. I don't like forcing myself on others, although there are a few exceptions. Just stop seducing me. I can worship you like a god, but that doesn't mean I can't fuck you like a whore."

Aries's mind went blank. She never tried to seduce him; what was he saying?

She cleared her throat and cautiously wanted to clear this misunderstanding. "I don't..."

"Darling, every time you breathe, you're seducing me."

"...."