Chapter 1
My stoic husband seemed to hate me. Every night, he buttoned his pajamas all the way up to the top and slipped a scripture next to my pillow before bed.
I'd finally had enough and was ready to hand him the divorce papers when a barrage of floating comments suddenly appeared before my eyes.
[Poor Dragon Lord, about to be heartlessly abandoned right during his mating season.]
[This side character is so blind. What the male lead is putting by your pillow isn't scripture, it's the Orcish Kama Sutra.]
[Hey, why don't you just touch him? The Dragon Lord is about to explode. If he wasn't terrified of scaring you off, he would've taken you long ago.]
I froze, my hand holding the divorce agreement hovering in mid-air.
Then, I reached out and ran my hand over his abs.
Mateo Knight looked at me with his usual detached expression, his amber eyes calm.
"What are you doing?" His voice was cool, as always.
More comments floated by.
[How is he still holding out? It's the third day of his rut, and he's still holding back.]
[What's his crime? He's just scared of frightening his wife away, forcing himself to play the pure lover. He's utterly devoted.]
[Can't blame his wife for thinking he hates her. Tonight, she'll storm off to a club, get caught with male escorts, letting the male and female leads finally meet.]
Male escorts? Getting caught?
They were talking about something that hadn't even happened.
I glanced away from the comments.
"Nothing... you just had something on your shirt. I was brushing it off."
*****
Mateo didn't say a word, just stared at me for a long moment, so long I thought he'd figured out the divorce plan.
I grew nervous, about to secretly crumple the papers, when I saw him pick up his bathrobe and head to the bathroom.
A wave of disappointment hit me.
He was taking a shower just because I touched him? Was he that disgusted by me?
The comments, however, went wild.
[Silly girl, it's not disgust. It's because he's... you know...]
[Whoa. He finally cracked. One touch from the wife, and he's off for a cold shower.]
[Ah. He's even muttering her name in the shower.]
My face flushed.
An hour later, Mateo emerged from the bathroom, his tone noticeably clearer.
He said, "There's a charity gala hosted by Owen tonight. You're coming with me."
I frowned. "I'd rather not..."
Those events were exhausting and dull.
Mateo reached out and tugged gently on my sleeve, his voice softening almost pleadingly. "Just this once."
The comments exploded.
[Such a shame. Even with the male lead lowering himself to beg, the female lead still refuses and goes to find male escorts.]
[The Dragon Lord, suffering through his rut alone, then catches his wife with escorts. Heartbroken, he's later comforted by the true female lead, starting their love story.]
[Female lead, just say yes. If you refuse, your story with him ends tonight.]
[Not just over, but without his protection, you'll be tormented half to death by his admirers.]
A chill ran down my spine. My refusal morphed mid-sentence. "Alright. Just for you, this once."
The comment section went into meltdown.
[Huh? She agreed?]
Mateo seemed to subtly let out a breath of relief.
I would've missed it before.
But now, armed with the comment "A dragon's throat is an erogenous zone," I boldly looked closer.
And I saw it.
The tips of his ears were flushed red. Unlike his usual icy demeanor, a faint, suspicious warmth colored his skin.
Almost unconsciously, I reached out and touched his Adam's apple.
Mateo shuddered violently. His breathing hitched, and a low, rough sound rumbled in his throat. "You... you..."
I snatched my hand back, scared. "Sorry. You don't like it, I won't do it again."
This reaction was nothing like the "begging for pets" the comments described.
The comments fired off rapid-fire.
[Do you even know how to touch him? If not, let me. This isn't hate; Mateo is thrilled.]
[Mateo's inner thoughts: My wife touched my throat. She touched me. Do I have a chance to be a dad now?]
Skeptical, I glanced between the comments and Mateo.
The next second, he suddenly grabbed my hand and pressed it firmly against his own throat, his voice muffled. "I like it."
My eyes nearly popped out of my head.
I was shallow. A sucker for looks.
The first time I saw Mateo three years ago, I was a goner.
A year ago, when I heard the Knight family was seeking a marriage alliance, I fought my way through a crowd of socialites to marry into the family.
Who knew? The marriage happened, but I've been living like a widow.
Mateo either sleeps in his study or a guest room. On the rare occasions he was in the bedroom, he might as well be on another planet.
If that was all, maybe I could have endured it.
After all, getting to see Mateo's handsome face every day was its own reward.
But these past few days, he'd been pulling me into his arms in the middle of the night, always mumbling someone else's name.
"Shelly... Shelly..." he said.
My name was Nora, damn it, not 'Shelly'.
I couldn't take it anymore. This morning, I was dead-set on divorce.
But now, looking at Mateo blushing crimson just from my touch, I stroked my chin with my free hand.
Maybe I could stick it out a few more days.
Judging by these comments, we might actually share a bed soon.