Chapter 18 : Love making and Confession 1
Raven's POV
Her body shifted slightly under the soft, luxurious sheets. The faint scent of Kai's cologne still clung to the pillows, wrapping around her like a second skin. Her dream was deep, heated, and vivid.
She was with Kai.
His hands were rough and strong, gliding across her bare skin like he owned every inch of her. He murmured her name like it was a prayer. Her body was pressed against his, their breath mingling, hearts pounding like tribal drums. His lips found her neck, and she arched into him, fingers clawing at his back as he whispered how much he wanted her.
She didn't resist. In the dream, she craved him. Wanted to feel him. Needed him.
His lips trailed lower, and she moaned his name.
Then—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
She shot up, chest rising and falling rapidly. The damn alarm clock buzzed beside her head. Her face was hot, her thighs clenched involuntarily under the covers.
"What the hell was that?" she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow.
Her body was still buzzing, her core tight with longing. That dream... it felt real. Too real. And the worst part? She liked it.
"No, no, no... stop thinking like this, Raven," she groaned.
But her eyes drifted to the empty space beside her. Kai wasn't there.
She sat up fully, brushing her tangled hair out of her face. She grabbed her phone and stared at the screen. Nothing from him. Tch.
"Where did he run off to?" she muttered, getting out of bed.
She peeled off her nightwear and stepped into the steaming shower, hoping the water would cool her body and erase the sinful images from her mind. But the warmth only reminded her of his touch. The way his lips felt against her skin. The way her name rolled off his tongue when he was losing control.
Her fingers ran down her stomach.
Stop it.
She cursed under her breath and forced herself out. After dressing in a soft black sundress that showed just enough thigh and collarbone, she tied her hair up and grabbed her sling bag. She typed a short message to Kai:
"I'm heading out. Need air. Don't wait up."
Without waiting for a reply, she slipped out of the hotel and onto the early morning streets of the city.
The chill of the breeze did little to soothe her. The streets of China were still waking up. Vendors opened their stalls. Shopkeepers swept dust off the sidewalks. The aroma of sizzling oil, spices, and steamed buns drifted through the air.
She wandered until she reached a quiet food stall tucked beside an alley. A wrinkled man with kind eyes stood behind the cart, stirring a pot that smelled divine.
Raven approached with a soft smile. "老板我想来一份辣鸡面加煮蛋,再来一杯姜茶.
English Translation:
"Hello, Master (Chef), I would like one serving of spicy chicken noodles, with two boiled eggs, and also a cup of ginger tea. Thank you."
---
The man blinked. "你会说中文?"
English Translation:
"Your Chinese is really good, miss. Are you Chinese?"
English Translation:
"No, I just learned a bit of Chinese. I like the food here."
She nodded no. "会一点."
English Translation:
"No, I just learned a bit of Chinese. I like the food here."
( I'm not sure the translation are correct, so if you are Chinese or understand Chinese please help out and sorry for destroying your language)
He grinned and quickly got to work.
She sat down, the smell already making her mouth water. When he handed her the spicy chicken noodles, the boiled egg glistening on top, and the hot ginger tea, she thanked him.
She dug in, savoring every fiery bite. The spices danced on her tongue, waking up all her senses. She moaned slightly, not caring if anyone heard.
"Damn, this is good," she whispered between bites.
When she finished, she stretched, sipping the last of her tea as she wandered into a small park nearby. The sun was rising higher now, casting gold across the grass.
Children ran around, their laughter sharp and innocent. Raven found a bench, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, her eyes watching them.
She blinked slowly.
"Would I ever have one of those?" she murmured.
A child. A family. A real home.
But she was Raven Castillo. The mafia queen. Trained killer. Cold-blooded assassin.
Yet... Kai. He made her feel things. Dangerous things. Like warmth. Like safety. Like she wasn't alone.
"Should I divorce him?" she asked the wind.
But what had he done wrong? He protected her. Let her sleep in his arms. Kissed her forehead. And that dream...
She shivered.
Her thoughts shifted again. That puppy. That little muddy mutt with mismatched eyes. She grinned.
"Hope you didn't pee all over the room, you cute furry devil."
She pulled out her phone and began browsing pet stores, sipping the last of her ginger tea while plotting what accessories to spoil her new fur baby with.
And somewhere deep inside, a warm feeling began to grow again.
Maybe life wasn't so cold after all.
---
Raven walked back into the hotel, the golden lights from the chandelier casting a soft glow on the marble floors. As soon as she stepped into the lobby, her eyes caught a familiar figure leaning casually by the elevator — Kai.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He looked effortlessly deadly in black. His sharp jawline, cold stare, and the way his fingers danced around the edge of his phone made her stomach twist. But not in fear — in something warmer… something dangerous.
What's wrong with me? she thought, suddenly shy. Her cheeks flushed as she stood frozen at the entrance. She had never felt this way around him. Butterflies? Heat creeping up her neck? This wasn't her.
Was I drugged? she questioned herself for a moment, biting her lower lip. But deep down, she knew what this was — attraction. The raw, unfiltered kind.
She shook her head, forcing herself to snap out of it. She squared her shoulders and walked towards him with practiced elegance.
"Kai," she said coolly, hoping he didn't hear the slight tremble in her voice.
He lifted his gaze to her. Those icy eyes softened for a brief moment. "Raven."
Without another word, she passed him and headed to her room.
Once inside, she dropped the act and let out a long breath. Her heart was still racing.
The soft bark of her puppy drew her attention. She turned and broke into a smile.
There he was — curled on the bed with his muddy white fur looking cleaner than yesterday, his mismatched green and white eyes staring up at her innocently. He wagged his little tail, and she immediately pulled out her phone.
Snap.
Snap.
She took several pictures, giggling like a child. "You're seriously the cutest little thing."
She posted one on her private story before going to her laptop. With a few clicks, she ordered luxurious pet items — a velvet dog bed, silver feeding bowls, grooming kits, squeaky toys, and a tiny hoodie with the words "Little Boss" stitched in gold.
Satisfied, she grabbed a blazer and fixed her hair in the mirror. Her eyes lingered on her reflection. You've been through a lot, Raven, she told herself. Time to face him.
Because something told her that tonight's discussion with Kai wouldn't be about small talk.
---Fast Forward - - -
Raven stood by the window for a moment, watching the city lights of Shanghai twinkle in the distance. Her fingers nervously played with the hem of her silk robe. Her mind was a mess—thoughts colliding, heart racing, emotions running wild.
She turned away and walked to the bed, picking up her phone with a shaky breath. With hesitation, she dialed his number.
"Come to the room," she said softly.
A pause. Then Kai's voice replied, calm as always, "I'll be there in seven minutes."
She ended the call, tossed the phone aside, and sat on the edge of the bed, her palms clammy. Why am I even doing this?
Exactly seven minutes later, the door opened.
Kai stepped inside, hair slightly tousled, looking a little flustered. His black shirt clung to his toned chest, sleeves rolled up, and his eyes looked darker than usual—focused. Serious.
"You called?" he asked, voice low and smooth.
She stood, back straight, but heart trembling. "Sit down. Please."
He raised a brow but obeyed, taking a seat on the couch in the room. Raven paced for a second before stopping in front of him. She took a deep breath.
"…Should we divorce?"
Her voice broke just slightly at the end, and her eyes widened as the words left her lips. Shit. Why did I say that?
Kai blinked, clearly caught off guard, then leaned back casually with a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "No."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't you want an heir?"
His smirk grew just a little. He reached out and gently took her hand, his fingers warm against her cold skin.
"I do."
Her throat tightened. She pulled her hand back slightly, voice firmer now. "Then… who will birth your heir?"
He leaned in, grin lazily curling up his face. "My wife, of course."
Her cheeks burned, and she looked away. That damn smile of his always made her lose her train of thought.
"Don't joke," she muttered.
"I'm not."
She turned sharply to face him again. "We don't love each other, Kai. This marriage—was forced. It's just a deal."
Kai's expression didn't change. He simply stared at her. Calm. Quiet. Dangerous.
"And yet," he said, standing slowly, closing the distance between them. "You called me here."
She took a step back, but he didn't follow.
"This marriage might've started with force," he said softly. "But now, Raven… tell me honestly—do you want out?"
She stared at him.
Silence.
Her breath hitched.
"…I don't know," she whispered.
---
She was caught in his gaze—deep, unwavering, and frustratingly calm. Her chest was rising and falling faster now, her fingers trembling slightly by her sides.
The silence between them felt heavy.
Before she could stop herself, her lips parted, and the words fell out—too fast, too raw.
"I like you."
Kai blinked.
Then, that cocky grin stretched across his face, the one that made her want to both slap and kiss him.
"A bit too small of a word," he said, stepping closer, voice smooth with amusement. "Maybe love?"
Her breath hitched again.
His eyes softened slightly, then his expression shifted. It was more serious now—more intimate. His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
"I love you, mia cara."
Raven's heart felt like it skipped a beat. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Kai reached out, gently brushing her cheek with his thumb, his touch softer than she ever expected from the infamous mafia king.
"And Raven," he added quietly, "this wasn't exactly a forced marriage."
She looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
"I initiated it."
She froze.
"I saw you the first time in that elevator," he confessed, his gaze never leaving hers. "You were fierce, annoyed, slightly out of breath. You looked at me like I wasn't worth a second of your time—and I couldn't stop thinking about you."
Raven's lips parted. Her thoughts scrambled.
He continued, "I asked my cousin about you. I arranged the marriage. I made sure it was you. I just didn't want to scare you away… so I let our families take the credit."
She stared at him, her knees nearly weak. "You loved me… since then?"
He nodded, his eyes gentle now. "Since then. And every moment after."
She swallowed hard.
His hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer gently but firmly. Her heart was pounding, her mind cloudy.
He leaned in, his forehead resting lightly against hers. "Now tell me again… is this really just a deal to you?"
She felt like crying. Laughing. Screaming. Or maybe just kissing him.
But all she did was whisper, voice cracking, "I don't know what this is anymore."
Kai smiled softly. "Let me show you then."
He slowly kissed her ears and whispered do you want this?
She shakily replied yes.
Not more than 10 Minutes later, whimpers, moans and groans could be heard inside the room, confession of love were silently whispered.