The covers billowed on the broad bed.
His Holiness the Pope, usually coldly beautiful and imposing, was now curled in his arms like a docile cat.
A dreamy mist veiled her amber eyes, and her slender fingers clung tightly around Su Yu's waist.
"Xiao Yu..."
She murmured his name, her voice carrying a tenderness and dependence she would never ordinarily reveal.
At her call, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up in Su Yu's heart.
He lowered his head and gently pressed his warm lips to her forehead, then lingered down her delicate nose to her slightly swollen, reddened lips.
"I'm here."
He reached out and gently brushed aside the sweat-dampened purple strands clinging to her cheek.
"Sleep, Teacher. I'll protect you from now on!"
Su Yu gently drew the brocade quilt over them both, then closed his eyes and sank into sleep.
They slept peacefully through the night, undisturbed by dreams.
The next morning, golden sunlight spilled through the carved window lattice onto the bed, fine dust drifting in the air.
Bibi Dong's lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, still languid and hazy from waking.
The moment awareness returned, the blush-inducing scenes from last night surged uncontrollably into her mind like a tide.
Su Yu's commanding whispers, his scorching breath, and those repeated calls that had wound around her ears!
"Your Holiness the Pope," spoken with a touch of teasing insistence...
"Mmm..."
Bibi Dong unconsciously gave a faint whimper and quickly buried her burning cheeks in the pillow beside her.
As though doing so could bury every one of those embarrassing memories.
The usually imposing, aloof Pope now resembled a girl experiencing her first stirrings of love, a scarlet blush reaching even the roots of her ears.
She quietly turned her head and looked beside her.
Su