Chapter 23 023 Imagination Running Wild

Chapter 23: Racing Thoughts

The girl's eyes fluttered as she grasped his meaning. During the first few days of their marriage, they would share a room, and thereafter, they would adhere to his proposed three times a month. After a moment's deliberation, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Qiao Wanyue reasoned that separating on the very first night wouldn't look good if word got out. People might think Qin Yan didn't care for her, which would be troublesome. Behind closed doors, a couple could do as they pleased, but couldn't let outsiders see any cracks.

She burrowed back into her book. Qin Yan glanced at her before heading off to bathe and change. A short while later, the man emerged in his nightclothes, and hearing no movement from the bed, he extinguished all the lamps. In an instant, the room was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"Hey, what's going on? Zhu Qing, why are the lights out?" The voice from the bed called out loudly.

Zhu Qing had already withdrawn; she couldn't possibly hear.

Qin Yan strode over and replied, "I turned them off. It's late; time to sleep."

It was barely seven in the evening. Since when was that late? Besides, she had slept most of the day; how could she possibly sleep now?

Qiao Wanyue wasn't having it. As he approached, she said, "I can't sleep. I want to read for a while. Light the lamp."

The man lay down beside her calmly. "When you're in bed, you sleep. If you want to read, sit up and read. Reading on your stomach will ruin your eyes. Don't do it again."

She was furious at what Qin Yan said. How she read was her business! What did it have to do with him?

"I'm not sleeping. If you want to sleep, you sleep. Besides, this isn't a military camp with lights out at a set time."

Having said that, she stormed to the door and called for Hong Mei to come in and light the lamps. Hong Mei entered reluctantly. She had overheard every word of their exchange and was sweating bullets for her mistress.

Two people with such different personalities and habits thrown together – she wondered how their life would turn out. Hong Mei thought she should find an opportunity to remind her young mistress.

Hong Mei lit one lamp and then retreated. Qiao Wanyue proceeded to light the others, and the room instantly brightened considerably. The harsh light irritated Qin Yan. He sat up, pushed aside the bed curtain, and glared at her, wearing a very sour expression.

Qiao Wanyue met his gaze defiantly, chin raised, and walked over slowly. "I won't disturb you. You go ahead and sleep."

He couldn't sleep with the light on. Even if she didn't make noise, it was useless. Qin Yan asked helplessly, "Why didn't you read during the day?"

"I was sleeping during the day." She answered matter-of-factly. That was her habit: waking up very late and going to bed very late.

Qin Yan took issue with her habits. "You sleep too much during the day. You need to change that habit first."

"Change overnight? Not that easy."

Qiao Wanyue slept on the inside. Getting into bed, she crawled over him, accidentally pressing on his thigh. She gave an apologetic smile and then nimbly scurried to her spot.

Qin Yan glanced at where she had pressed him. His eyes darkened slightly, and he stared at her without blinking. Catching his gaze, Qiao Wanyue turned her head and added, "Besides, I have trouble sleeping in a new bed. That makes it even harder to fall asleep."

The slyness in her eyes was caught by the man. Liar. She was lying again. She had slept soundly last night; why was she suddenly picky about the bed tonight?

Qin Yan lay back down, closed his eyes, and after a moment of silence, he relented. "Don't stay up so late from now on. Get to bed earlier."

"Mm, I know, I know."

Qiao Wanyue was secretly delighted. She lay on her stomach, ignoring him, and read her book. Marriage was about mutual tolerance, she thought. In the future, if Qin Yan had any bad habits, she would tolerate them too.

With that thought, she felt no guilt and immersed herself in her book.

Qin Yan, on the other hand, was uncomfortable. Having another person beside him made it impossible to sleep. A faint fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, and the muffled contented laughter echoed in his ears, all of it affecting him. He opened his eyes and turned his head to glance at her. The girl was biting her lip and smiling, a sweet, sincere smile that seemed more genuine than the ones she gave him.

Irritated, he turned over, his back to her. It was a little better; his mood calmed slightly.

After an unknown amount of time, the person beside him grew tired and finally tossed the book aside, lying flat to rest. The light still glared. Qin Yan got up, extinguished the lamps, and came back to bed.

The newlyweds lay back to back, a chasm between them like a river dividing them.

A moment later, they both turned over at the same time. Neither of them had fallen asleep.

Earlier, Qiao Wanyue had lied about being picky about the bed, but now she truly couldn't sleep. Her eyes darted around. She inched her head closer and whispered, "Marquis, you're still awake?"

"Mm. Why can't you sleep?"

"Didn't I tell you? I have trouble sleeping in a new bed."

Qin Yan didn't expose her lie. He simply asked, "How come you fell asleep last night?"

He had a clean, crisp scent, a lot nicer than those stinky guys at Feiyun Manor. She took a few sniffs. "Yesterday, I was too tired."

As soon as she said it, the sounds beside her died down, and even breathing seemed to grow lighter.

Qiao Wanyue realized belatedly that her remark was inappropriate. That sounded like a veiled hint. She hoped Qin Yan wouldn't overthink it.

She turned back over. Otherwise, it would be too awkward, as if she was hoping for something.

The man behind her stared at her with a direct gaze, particularly at the exposed nape of her neck. In the moonlight, he could see how smooth and soft it was. He couldn't help reaching out and giving it a gentle pinch.

The girl shuddered, her body instantly tensed up. "Marquis."

What's he up to? Why pinch me?

Qiao Wanyue couldn't stop her thoughts from running wild. Then she decided Qin Yan wasn't that kind of person. He wasn't someone who indulged in carnal pleasures. Besides, he was twenty-eight. They'd been at it for half the night last night. Surely, he couldn't go again tonight. He needed to rest.

He was weak but had a big appetite, Qiao Wanyue thought to herself.

"If you can't sleep, why don't you go read in the study?" she suggested, actually wanting him to leave. Lying together was too awkward.

His warm palm stroked gently, not moving for a long time. Qiao Wanyue couldn't figure him out.

Just as she was getting confused, Qin Yan suddenly asked, "Why should I go to the study to read while you read in the bedroom? What's the meaning of this?"

He wanted to see how she'd explain herself. But her mind was quick this time. She shot back immediately, "I don't have a study. You do."

Qin Yan paused, then let out a soft, derisive snort. Quick on her feet. He pressed a little harder, causing a twinge of pain. Qiao Wanyue tried to move away, inching further inside. But the moment she stirred, he pulled her back, pulling her firmly into his chest.

A hard chest pressed against a soft body, melding together perfectly and harmoniously.

Qiao Wanyue tried to turn over, but he held her in place, forcing her back to him.

The girl said tremblingly, "Marquis, what's gotten into you?"

"Mm."

His broad palm moved from the back of her neck, slowly sliding forward until it rested on her throat. With just a little force, he could strangle her. Qiao Wanyue nervously pushed at his hand, thinking wildly. Could Qin Yan have some peculiar fetish? Hope he doesn't torture me to death.

"I... I'm thirsty. Let me get some water."

She tried to use this as an excuse to get away, but Qin Yan saw through her immediately. He didn't answer, but his hands did the talking.

His fingers, used to holding a brush, crossed that boundary, venturing into the enchanting snowy peaks that made one reluctant to leave. Qiao Wanyue let out a soft, sultry moan, and Qin Yan's breathing instantly grew heavy.

It was strange. His heart had been like still water for years, yet in her presence, desire came fierce and fast, an uncontrollable, wicked urge. Why? Qin Yan couldn't figure it out, so he stopped thinking. He simply followed his primal instincts and cherished her properly.

Qiao Wanyue hadn't been planning on doing anything tonight, but at this moment, she also understood that Qin Yan was ready again.

She called out sweetly, "Marquis."

"Mm." He answered in a low voice, then asked, full of desire, "Seventeen?"—his pet name for her.

"Yes, that's right."

The girl was young but had a good figure, curvaceous in all the right places, with a heavy, fragrant, and soft pair that were hard to let go of.

Qiao Wanyue didn't know why he asked, and now he wasn't talking—truly strange. Qin Yan just thought that her chest didn't look like it belonged to a seventeen-year-old.

"Wait, wait a moment."

Another "wait a moment." Qin Yan asked distractedly what was wrong.

He had her all confused, and she couldn't think of a suitable excuse. She stammered for a long time without getting anything out. Besides, she could feel it, poised and ready, already eager to plunder her.

Qiao Wanyue's heart trembled. She pursed her lips and stayed silent, feeling numb and tingly, her body hardly felt like her own anymore—so unfamiliar that she didn't recognize it.

Soft moans slipped out, betraying her pleasure. Not long after, Qin Yan turned her around to face him. In her flushed, radiant face, he slowly lowered his head. The next moment, a strange yet familiar sensation washed over her, and Qiao Wanyue realized what he was doing.

Embarrassed, she didn't know where to put her hands, let alone what would happen next. She could only tilt her head back and let herself drown in it with him.

The bothersome clothes were finally tossed aside, lying forgotten on the floor all night.

Cicadas chirped, mingling with the harsh creaks of the bed, loud in the silent night. Occasionally, dirty talk slipped out, adding to the eroticism and stirring the imagination.

She must have learned it somewhere—her mouth never stopped, calling out with fresh words each time. Qin Yan breathed heavily and said, "Enough talking."

Qiao Wanyue was sweating, her skin flushed pink, a tender bundle, her face ablaze with desire. She looked at him slightly dazed.

"Don't talk? Which part?"

Her mind was spinning; she couldn't think of anything. Last night her body ached a bit, and she hadn't fully experienced it. Tonight, though, she thoroughly tasted it—just like the books had described—so good.

She wanted more.

Qin Yan slowed down, sweaty, and asked, "Not a single word?"

She hummed, turned her face away, and refused to look at him. Then came his stern warning.

"Ah..."

"I'll talk. I want to talk."

Her stubborn little mouth started up again. Qin Yan's temples throbbed. He told himself to hold back, not to get too wild. But glancing at the girl beneath him, he ultimately lost control.

After a long time, Qiao Wanyue fell asleep from exhaustion, while Qin Yan remained awake. His racing heartbeat gradually calmed, and only then did he realize how crazy he had been—like a beast that had devoured its prey right down to the bone.

He hated himself like this—mindless, taking and taking.

Frustrated, Qin Yan got out of bed to wash up. He thought about calling someone to help her but decided against it—seeing her in that state wasn't fit for others. So he fetched water himself and gently cleaned her up.

When he saw the glistening wetness, he narrowed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and kept going.

The girl's body was covered in marks—her skin was just too delicate.

After tidying up, he held her and slept until dawn.