73: Chapter 74 The Tenderness of the Night, Like Dry Wood and Raging Fire.

"Good night, Tianxue." Yu Bo whispered into her ear, his voice filled with an inseparable depth of affection and satisfaction.

"...Good night." Yin Tianxue replied very softly, her eyes closed.

The night was very quiet, with only their intertwined breathing audible. Yu Bo maintained his posture of holding her, not daring to move, fearing he might disturb this hard-won closeness. He could feel the body in his arms slowly softening from its initial stiffness, and even... it seemed to unconsciously nestle deeper into his embrace.

This subtle movement was like a pebble thrown into the lake of his heart, stirring up ripples in the depths of Yu Bo's soul. He cautiously tightened his arms, holding her more securely, and rubbed his chin gently against the top of her soft hair, like a large dog that had finally found its owner, letting out a sigh of satisfaction.

"Tianxue..." He called her name again in a low voice, this time with a hint of a spoiled, nasal tone, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

Yin Tianxue did not respond, only her eyelashes trembled.

Yu Bo's heartbeat accelerated slightly. He tested the waters; his hand, which had been resting properly on her waist, twitched slightly, and with a very light, ingratiating gesture, he rubbed the fabric of her pajamas at her waist twice. Seeing that Yin Tianxue did not resist, and that even her breathing had not changed, he grew a little bolder.

His hand moved slowly upward, carrying a scorching temperature, through the thin silk pajamas, stroking her flat abdomen, moving to her side, and then slowly upward, finally resting on her shoulder blades, kneading gently and soothingly. His movements were slow and soft, with a near-reverent caution, as if he were touching fragile porcelain.

Yin Tianxue's body trembled almost imperceptibly. His touch carried a familiar warmth, awakening the sleeping memories of her body and stirring up complex emotions in the depths of her heart. She kept her eyes closed, not moving, letting his fingertips linger on her back, feeling that long-lost intimacy and... a faint, imperceptible flutter of excitement.

Yu Bo's breathing gradually deepened. Her acquiescence and the softness of her body were like a silent encouragement. His kiss fell gently on the back of her neck, on that delicate and sensitive skin. It was first a feather-light touch, filled with hesitation.

Yin Tianxue's body trembled again, this time more noticeably. She could even feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing slightly on end.

Having received the signal, Yu Bo's kisses became dense and lingering. He pecked and kissed the back of her neck and behind her ears, one after another, and even cautiously took her small earlobe into his mouth, his tongue gently sweeping across it.

"Mm..." A very light, almost imperceptible moan escaped from Yin Tianxue's throat. She bit her lower lip hard, a burning heat instantly rushing to her face. The instinctive reaction of her body made her feel ashamed, yet she could not suppress it.

To Yu Bo, this low moan was nothing short of heavenly music. All his restraint and caution were on the verge of crumbling at this moment. He could no longer hold back; he applied a little force, turning her body around to face him.

In the darkness, their eyes met. Yin Tianxue's cheeks were flushed, her gaze somewhat dazed, and she carried a hint of panic and shyness that she hadn't had time to hide. Yu Bo's eyes were astonishingly bright in the dim light, surging with intense affection and long-suppressed desire.

"Tianxue..." He called her name in a low, hoarse voice, his thumb stroking her slightly warm cheek, his gaze locked tightly onto her eyes, as if seeking final permission.

Yin Tianxue looked at the handsome face so close to her, looked at the complex emotions of unabashed love and pain intertwined in his eyes, looked at the fresh stubble on his chin, and her heart felt as if it had been hit hard by something, feeling both sour and soft. She thought of the "Yin Angel" plan, thought of all his clumsy ingratiating and caution tonight, thought of his haggardness and pain over these past few days, and also thought of... the thorn stuck in her heart.

Contradictory emotions fought fiercely in her heart. The memories of her body were awakening, her emotions were longing for closeness, but her reason and wounded self-esteem were sounding the alarm.

Yu Bo did not urge her, but merely traced her features with his gaze over and over again, waiting patiently as if he could wait until the end of time.

In the end, emotion overcame reason, or perhaps, deep down in her heart, she still craved this warmth and intimacy. She closed her eyes, ever so lightly.

This signal of acquiescence caused the last tightly strung chord in Yu Bo's heart to snap completely. He lowered his head, and with a kiss full of immense cherishing and apology, he landed his lips on hers.

At first, it was just a gentle touch, filled with hesitation and comfort. Their lips pressed together, warm, soft, and familiar. Yin Tianxue did not respond, but she did not push him away either. Encouraged, Yu Bo began to deepen the kiss, his tongue gently prying open her teeth, inviting her to dance with him.

The familiar masculine scent mixed with the faint smell of aftershave flooded all of Yin Tianxue's senses. His kiss carried the ecstasy of recovering what was lost, deep regret, and also unabashed love and desire. His technique had always been very good, and at this moment, he used it to the fullest, being extremely gentle and lingering, teasing bit by bit, deepening bit by bit, attempting to awaken the most primitive memories and responses of her body.

Yin Tianxue was still a bit stiff at first, but under his patient and passionate onslaught, her body gradually softened. Her hands, without knowing when, had climbed onto his shoulders, her fingertips unconsciously clutching his pajama fabric. Fragmented, suppressed sobs spilled from between her lips, indistinguishable as either resistance or compliance.

This kiss felt as long as a century. Only when both of them were panting and almost breathless did Yu Bo reluctantly pull back slightly, his forehead resting against hers, their hot breaths intertwined.

"Tianxue..." He called her name again, his voice hoarse beyond words, thick with intense passion and unfulfilled desire.

Yin Tianxue opened her eyes, her gaze misted with moisture, her cheeks flushed, and her lips slightly swollen. She didn't speak, just looked at him, her eyes complex, carrying the lingering afterglow of passion and a trace of imperceptible confusion.

Yu Bo understood her hesitation and struggle, but he was currently submerged by surging emotions, his self-control on the verge of collapse. He said nothing more, simply lowered his head again, and kissed her slightly parted red lips. This time, the kiss was deeper, more scorching, carrying an irresistible sense of plunder, yet strangely mixed with a kind of almost humble pleading.

His kisses followed her graceful jawline all the way down, branded onto her slender neck and exquisite collarbones. His warm breath sprayed onto her sensitive skin, inciting waves of subtle tremors. Yin Tianxue couldn't help but tilt her head back, a difficult-to-bear soft moan escaping her throat, her fingers sinking deeper into the muscles of his shoulder blades.

The buttons of her pajamas had been undone at some point, and the silky fabric slid down her shoulders, revealing a large expanse of fair, delicate skin, glowing with a lustrous sheen under the dim bedside lamp. Yu Bo's breathing suddenly deepened, his gaze becoming deep and scorching, as if two dark fires had been ignited. His scorching palm stroked her shoulder, following the graceful curves all the way down, and everywhere it passed, it ignited clusters of prairie-fire flames.