Chapter 108 Tender Moment (1)*

Ethan's POVThe small stream flowed through my hands and soon merged with the dark mana emerging from my index finger arriving at a delicate balance.

As the frost spread, it mapped the internal structure of the lock and weaved itself into its intricate pathways. Bit by bit, the energy solidified and shaped itself into the perfect replica of a key.

When I was confident in my precision, I turned the newly formed ice key in the clockwise direction.

A faint click echoed in the surroundings.

The heavy wooden gates loosened and their resistance faded. With practiced ease, I withdrew the dark key and watched as it emitted a cold misty fog before it dissolved back into my palm.

The dark cold mist was divided into two separate elements and they reintegrated into my body, leaving no trace of my actions.

I took a deep breath and carefully pushed the door open.

I stepped inside with the silence of a shadow with instinctive movements that mirrored a cat or a professional assassin. This ability of mine had been honed from years of experience in both of my lives.

This stealth was not merely a skill I had learned but it was ingrained in my very being and it was refined through countless dangerous missions and hunts.

In my previous life, I had been part of an elite special operations unit.

The term they used to call our unit was Ghosts. We were known to strike unseen and were proficient in eliminating threats before they could even realize we were there.

In this life, the wilderness and the environment of the dark forest had further sharpened those instincts.

Living in the dark forest had reinforced what I already knew and it reinforced the already strong points in my arsenal which were stealth and surprise.

Many a time, I had this thought that my talent and this degree of affinity for darkness was not just coincidence but it seemed like destiny.

Before, the darkness had resided in my soul. Now, it flowed through my blood. And I embraced it fully.

Without a sound, I approached the bed. The heavy dark curtains loomed before me and veiled the sleeping figure beyond.

With careful precision, I reached out and parted them, revealing the sleeping beauty resting on the big floral bed.

Virelle lay curled on her side in a half-fetal position. Her long, silken hair cascaded over her face and it concealed all but the curve of her cheek and the tantalizing fullness of her luscious red lips.

The dim lighting cast soft shadows across her form that accentuated the delicate elegance of her exposed shoulders.

The thin black lace of her nightgown clung to her frame but it was slipping slightly off one shoulder and because of it, the smooth expanse of her pale skin was revealed.

Her arms were tucked near her head which left the sensitive hollows of her underarms bare. The gentle rise and fall of her huge racks pronounced by the snug fit of her nightgown,sent an unexpected thrill coursing through my veins.

A sudden and primal awareness stirred within me at the sight of her in such an unguarded state. At this moment, she was vulnerable, breathtaking and entirely unaware of my presence.

I was compelled by an irresistible force and leaned in closer as I was drawn toward her warmth. But before I could make a move, she stirred. Her head snapped up in an instant.

At that same moment, my body instinctively reacted and shifted in response.

We stopped mere inches apart as our faces hovered just before an inevitable collision.

Two pairs of eyes, mine being dark crimson and hers, a bright crystalline red locked in the dim light. The air thickened between us and a silent current of tension crackled like lightning in a storm.

The room itself seemed to hold its breath.

Only the quiet sounds of our breathing filled the space, yet at that moment, they felt impossibly loud to my ears.

I could see the variety of emotions that flashed across her gaze in such a rapid succession. Flickers of shock, alarm, a flicker of hostility flashed inside her eyes before recognition dawned and her eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

I could see the raw turbulence swirling within her as the battle between caution and familiarity raged inside her in such a small moment.

Her parted lips trembled slightly, and in the soft dim glow, I caught a glimpse of something else beneath the initial shock. It was something vulnerable, something aching.

A small involuntary smile curled my lips at the sight. Then, to my surprise, she suddenly lifted her bare arms and reached for me.

Her delicate fingers which were slightly trembling at the moment caressed my face softly as if she was confirming that I was real and not an illusion. Her touch was featherlight, hesitant but I could feel the desperation in its urgency.

Something in me snapped.

Without any thought or hesitation, I closed the remaining distance and captured her lips with mine.

A soft gasp escaped from deep within her but that was quickly swallowed by the heat of our kiss. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

Her lips felt warm, lush and sinfully inviting to mine as they molded perfectly against mine and they felt if they had been carved by the gods to fit together.

I deepened the kiss instinctively and savored the intoxicating sensation as though I was drawing life itself from her.

For a fleeting moment, she remained frozen and I could see that her expression was still caught in the shock of my unexpected advance. But then her resistance started.

A jolt ran through her as she grasped my collar and her fingers tightened in an attempt to push me away.

But the effort she exerted was weak and her strength barely registered against me.

Instead, I tightened my grip and wrapped an arm around her slim waist pulling her closer. Her warm and supple body pressed tightly against mine.