Josselyn bit her lip as Yorick's touch stopped just above one of the scars on her back.
The room fell silent.
She still stood with her back to him, wearing only a thin undergarment that barely concealed anything.
Yorick's fingertips slowly traced the length of the scar across her skin.
"These are whip marks…" he murmured.
That touch should have hurt, should have reminded her of the cruelty she endured under her uncle.
But something strange happened instead.
Josselyn's body trembled faintly. Warmth spread from the place Yorick touched, slowly flowing through her entire body.
Up to her shoulders.
Across her chest.
Down to her lower abdomen.
Her breath suddenly hitched.
"Hngh…"
A soft sound slipped from her lips. Barely audible, almost like a whisper.
But it was enough to make Yorick freeze. His hand stilled against her back.
'Damn it. His touch is driving me crazy,' Josselyn groaned inwardly. 'What is wrong with my body?'
Even she looked startled.
She quickly covered her mouth, her face flushing red.
"I… I should rest," she said.
Her breathing grew heavier. She grabbed her clothes and, with unsteady steps, moved toward the door.
But Yorick caught her hand. He pulled her gently, and under the potion's effect, her body easily fell against his chest.
"Put your clothes on properly first," he whispered. "In this palace, the walls have eyes and ears."
His breath brushed against her ear, sending a shiver through her body.
'Hhh… he keeps provoking me,' Josselyn closed her eyes, trying to hold herself together. The garment she had been holding slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
"What are you feeling?"
At such close distance, Yorick studied her. His moss-green eyes seemed to pierce straight through her.
"I… don't know…" Josselyn was not entirely lying. She truly did not understand what was happening to her.
The heat grew stronger. It felt as if her skin was burning from within. Her breathing became more uneven. And worst of all, the pulsing sensation low in her body grew more pronounced.
"Hot…" she murmured.
Yorick frowned.
"A fever? Do you feel chills?"
Josselyn shook her head weakly. "No…"
She swallowed.
"This is… strange…"
Her eyes were half-lidded.
"My whole body… feels hot…"
She bit her lip, as if trying to hold something back. But her body moved against her will.
She pressed herself closer against Yorick's chest. When the sensitive peak of her body brushed against the fabric of her own clothing, another soft sound escaped her lips.
"Ah…"
She looked up at Yorick, who had gone completely still. Her arms slipped around his neck, pulling him closer, increasing the pressure between them.
"Please… help me get rid of this heat," Josselyn urged.
Yorick's eyes flickered, as if he had just realized something.
"Is this the effect of the truth potion?" he murmured.
Josselyn rested her head against the hollow of his shoulder. "Potion… what?"
Her lips brushed against his neck.
Instinctively, Yorick tightened his grip on her waist, at the same time becoming acutely aware of the pressure building low in his own body.
"I want that…" Josselyn whimpered. Her hands tightened around his neck, and in an instant, her legs wrapped around his waist.
Startled, Yorick instinctively pressed her downward, trying to make her release him. But instead, the motion only increased the pressure between them.
They both let out a sharp breath at the same time.
"Josselyn," Yorick's voice grew hoarse as he pressed her back against the wall, her legs still around his waist. "Look at me."
She lifted her head, revealing hazy hazel-green eyes.
"Are you aware? Of what you're feeling right now?"
Josselyn stared at him blankly for a moment, then whispered,
"Hot…"
She pressed her palm against his chest.
"Here…"
Then her hand slid slowly down over his firm abdomen.
"And here…"
Yorick swallowed. Even through the fabric, her touch burned against his skin.
"Does it hurt?"
Josselyn shook her head.
"No…"
Her breathing grew heavier.
"I just…"
She paused, then spoke in a quiet voice.
"I want… to be touched…"
Yorick went still.
From the way he looked at her, Josselyn knew something had shifted.
"What?" Yorick's voice trembled. He tried to focus, but his gaze kept drifting to her flushed lips. "Do you understand what you're saying, Josselyn?"
Her hips moved again. This time, the position was just right, intensifying the sensation despite the barrier of fabric.
"When you touched me earlier…" she whispered. "It felt… better…"
Yorick held his breath. His hand pressed against the wall, tense.
"Josselyn, don't move—"
But she did not seem to hear him. She tried to open his shirt.
Yorick immediately caught her wrists and pinned them above her head against the wall.
"You…" he growled.
But Josselyn only laughed softly, her face flushed.
"I feel strange… like I might die from this heat…"
Part of her knew this was wrong. But another part of her hoped Yorick would not stop.
Yorick stared at her in disbelief.
Her thoughts were no longer clear. Her skin felt overly sensitive. Every touch made her want to gasp, to ask for more. Especially the ache low in her body, which now seemed to crave him.
"You asked for this," Yorick said quietly.
"Don't regret it."
He could barely think.
His hands moved without permission, gripping her waist to keep her from falling as he leaned closer.
Josselyn smiled, her heart pounding wildly. She knew he would ease the burning inside her.
Just as their lips were about to meet, a knock sounded at the door. Yorick immediately pulled back.
"Yorick."
A deep voice came from outside.
"Are you in there?"
Yorick cursed under his breath. "Darius…"
Josselyn was still looking at him, her breathing uneven.
"What?" she murmured, confused.
"Quiet."
Yorick quickly set her down and guided her toward the corner of the room, behind a large herbal shelf.
"Don't make a sound."
Josselyn blinked slowly. A strange disappointment crept into her chest.
"Why?"
"Someone's outside."
Before she could ask anything else, Yorick had already walked away toward the door.
He paused for a moment, his shoulders rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing before opening it.
"What is it, Darius?" Yorick asked as the door opened.
From behind the herbal cabinet, Josselyn could hear the irritation in his tone.
She rubbed her face, then accidentally caught her reflection in a mirror.
'I need to get out of here,' she thought. 'That was too close…'
Her eyes scanned her reflection. Her hair was a mess. Her face was flushed. And her body, she instinctively covered her chest with both hands.
"You're insane, Josselyn," she muttered.
She could not even remember when her clothes had come off. When she tried to recall it, her head only throbbed harder.
"Ugh…"
Her groan came out louder than she intended.
"Josselyn?"
That deep, steady voice. Darius.
She quickly grabbed her clothes and put them back on.
"Josselyn, are you here?" Darius called again.
"Darius, don't you think your visit is a bit late?" Yorick said.
Josselyn peeked through the gap in the herbal cabinet. She saw Yorick positioning himself to block Darius's view.
"The Queen needs Josselyn."
Yorick leaned casually against the door.
"I'll inform her. You can go back now."
Josselyn frowned. 'The Queen? Did I make a mistake with her medicine?'
She tried to recall the formula she had prepared earlier that afternoon. But again, her mind felt clouded.
"May I come in?" Darius asked, his tone firmer now. He stood very close to Yorick.
"For what? I'm busy preparing a stronger remedy for the Queen's recovery."
"Alone?"
Darius's eyes swept across the room. By chance, his gaze met Josselyn's.
She immediately crouched down. 'Did he see me?'
Josselyn bit her nail.
"Josselyn," Darius called again. "Do you need my help?"
Yorick let out an awkward laugh. "Need help? What do you mean?"
Josselyn scratched her head, even though it did not itch. Finally, she stood and peeked out from behind the herbal cabinet.
She looked at them with half-lidded eyes, her brown hair messy, her face flushed.
"Hi, Darius. What is it?"
She forced a wide, normal smile. She even gave a small wave.
"Yorick…"
Darius slowly turned toward Yorick, his gaze filled with suspicion.
"What is she doing here this late?"