Second Time

Chapter 54 - Closer

"Do you still need me?" Cai Fei asked out of nowhere, hanging out in the bedroom with Shao Yue.

"Huh?" Shao Yue blinked. "What do you mean?"

"If you want someone strong enough to be beside you, Liezhu meets the requirements," Cai Fei said, sitting down on the bed and trailing her fingertips over the blanket. "If you want someone with closed meridians, once your Dao of Time progresses, you'll be able to close anyone's. You've even taken a disciple that you want to be your successor. Do you still need me?"

Shao Yue sighed and faintly smiled. "I suppose I haven't really made my feelings clear, huh? I should start being more direct." She strode over to Cai Fei. "It's not that I need you. It's that I want you. I don't want someone strong at my side. I want you at my side."

Cai Fei avoided meeting Shao Yue's gaze. "But, why me?"

"You silly thing."

Shao Yue placed her hand on Cai Fei's shoulders and pushed her down onto her back before crawling on top of her. Shao Yue tilted Cai Fei's face up and firmly joined their lips, kissing deeply and passionately.

Cai Fei was confused at first, but gradually closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Shao Yue's waist. She didn't know why she was being kissed, but she wasn't about to complain.

After a few minutes, Shao Yue pulled away and smiled gently, stroking Cai Fei's hair. "Because, I love you."

The words had an immediate, profound effect on Cai Fei. The knots in her heart untied themselves. She felt fifty pounds lighter. She beamed up at Shao Yue with misty eyes. "I love you, too."

How long had it been since the 'engagement'? Several years, and yet, they had never once said 'I love you' to each other. Breaking that final barrier brought endless relief to Cai Fei.

Shao Yue kissed Cai Fei again, then kissed her cheek, then her neck. Shao Yue's hands undid Cai Fei's robes and she continued trailing her kisses lower and lower as her hands ran over Cai Fei's soft skin.

Shao Yue had never taken the leading role in bed before. Cai Fei focused on enjoying herself as Shao Yue explored every inch of her body over the following hours.

At the end of it all, Cai Fei curled up happily between Shao Yue's arms.

Shao Yue gently stroked Cai Fei's body. "Now do you understand? No matter how many people are around me, you're the only one I'll let get this close. Even if I had a thousand disciples and peers to talk with, I would still be lonely without you."

Cai Fei had long since been used to Shao Yue's nearly indifferent attitude towards their relationship. The direct, loving words pierced straight into Cai Fei's heart. "You saying that makes me really happy. Um, that thing you said before, could you repeat it?"

Shao Yue smirked and leaned in to whisper in Cai Fei's ear, "I love you, Fei."

Cai Fei shuddered and let out a content sigh. "I love you too, Yue."

Over the next few days, they moved closer and closer. They no longer had reservations about showing affection in public and would hold hands or casually touch each other regularly, even going so far as to share a long kiss while in the gardens, not caring if anyone was watching.

Perhaps they went a bit too far with their addiction to each other when Ren Meili brought Jin Liling up to their room to discuss something one evening and they didn't bother to stop until the last moment.

Ren Meili opened the door to let Jin Liling inside, a normal behaviour which she had done many times before with the other disciples. With Shao Yue's powerful divine sense, Ren Meili had no need to announce the arrival or knock.