Sweet Hatred Chapter 78: Falling

"I wish I wasn’t, you jackass," she snapped. "You had a fever and kept muttering nonsense in your sleep. You were a nightmare—whining, clinging, sweating all over . And who the fuck gets drunk while they are at work? You better be glad I didn’t dump a bucket of ice on you."

I smirked, leaning over her. "I would’ve made that water boil, sweetheart."

She growled, shoving at my chest. "Tch! And now you’re acting like you didn’t just almost die! You’re insufferable!"

"I’m better now." I dipped my head, voice lowering. "And I’m pretty sure you liked taking care of ."

"I liked the part where I considered smothering you with a pillow," she muttered, brushing my hair back roughly just to make a point—but her hand paused at my forehead, checking my temperature again.

She narrowed her eyes. "You’re still warm. Or maybe that’s just your ego overheating from being such a pain in my ass."

"I’m always warm when you’re touching ." I gave her a slow, lazy grin. "Or are you finally admitting I make you hot too?"

Her hand slapped my shoulder, but her cheeks betrayed her.

"I hate you," she breathed, clearly lying.

"You say that," I murmured, leaning closer, "but last night, you were saying sothing that sounded suspiciously like ’don’t stop.’"

Her mouth fell open in outrage. "I swear—you keep talking and I’ll shove that damn towel down your throat—"

"You’d have to rip it off first." I winked.

"Fucking pervert." She muttered.

I leaned in close, lips brushing the shell of her ear.

"Careful," I whispered, voice low and wicked, "you’re gonna make hard again."

She hissed a curse at , punching my shoulder again, but I saw the corners of her mouth twitch.

There she was. My firecracker.

And for the first ti since yesterday, I felt like myself again. Her eyes were still sharp. Her tongue still lethal. And the air between us? Still electric.

God help , I never wanted this to end.

She was fuming. All heat and spitfire beneath . I could feel the rapid thud of her heartbeat against my chest—and I wanted more of it.

She shoved at my shoulder again, but I didn’t budge. "Get off Kael or your balls get it."

I studied her face for a beat too long—her eyes stormy, jaw tight, lips parted just enough to make my thoughts turn wicked. There was always sothing about her when she was mad at . That low, burning fury just beneath the surface. The way she looked at like I was both the poison and the cure.

"You’re beautiful like this," I said quietly, not teasing this ti—just honest. "When you look like you’re seconds away from killing ."

She narrowed her eyes. "I still might."

I smiled faintly, the kind that barely curved my lips. "If you do... make sure it’s after I’ve ruined you."

Her breath caught. She didn’t move, didn’t speak. But I saw it—the flicker.

I grinned and leaned in, just enough for her to feel it against her skin when I spoke again. My voice dropped low, like a promise whispered in the dark.

"You’re lucky Niko is in the sitting room. Or maybe you’d want him to hear you moan into my mouth, hmm?"

Her eyes went wide. "Kael—"

"What?" I drawled, voice husky now. "We both know how bad you are at staying quiet when I’m deep inside you. Just one sound, Aria. A whimper, maybe. And I’d have shut you up right here..." I tilted her chin up with the back of my knuckle. "...like this."

Her lips parted. Eyes locked on mine. Sothing shifted.

It was like everything slowed.

The smirk slid off my face. Her pupils were blown wide, breathing shallow—mirroring mine. Our mouths hovered, so close it hurt. I could feel her thoughts racing, crashing into mine like they belonged there. The tension wasn’t just lust anymore.

It was sothing more dangerous than that. More permanent. I almost kissed her. Almost.

But I blinked—and pulled back completely. Letting her go just to break the spell.

No. Not now. Not like this. Because whatever this thing between us was, it couldn’t be real. Not when I was still trying to convince myself it wasn’t.

"You need rest," she said firmly, like she hadn’t just been ready to throw off the bed three minutes ago.

I rolled my eyes. "I told you I’m fine."

She gave that look—eyebrows arched, arms crossed, full sass mode unlocked. "You think one night of sleep can undo how much you’ve fucked your body up? You were literally boiling last night. Your body’s not a machine."

I leaned back, groaning. "Aria—"

"No. Don’t ’Aria’ ." She pushed to the bed this ti and grabbed the covers, trying to tuck them around like she was a nurse in a psych ward. "You’re staying in bed. I’ll go get sothing for you to eat so you can take your dications. Maybe then you’ll actually act like you have a shred of survival instinct."

Before she could fully stand, I caught her wrist and tugged her right back into the bed.

"You know I can’t sit still when you’re near," I murmured, leaning closer, "So let’s just cuddle together."

She yanked her arm free with an exaggerated scoff. "Absolutely not."

"Fine," I sighed, flopping dramatically against the pillow. "I’ll stay. But If you’re getting breakfast, I want sothing you cooked by you."

She blinked. "Do I look like soone who cooks?"

"I don’t know. You look like soone who might secretly enjoy it. Little apron. Flour on your cheek. Cussing at the stove."

"You’re out of your damn mind," she muttered. "I almost failed Ho Ec. And you put too much faith in not to poison you."

I smirked. "That’s fine. I like my eggs burnt with a side of attitude and death maybe."

She glared at like I’d personally offended the gods, muttered sothing under her breath about needing divine patience, and stord out of the room like she was heading to battle.

I didn’t move. Just stared at the empty doorway, letting the silence settle. It was ridiculous how her absence made the room feel colder.

A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

She’s trouble, I thought, sinking deeper into the mattress, but maybe she’s the kind that saves you while setting your whole damn life on fire.

And God help —I didn’t think I’d mind the burn.