Apologizing then blaming me in the same breath! Ah, but that ridiculous smile is way too cute, I hate it. Ohh, it’s on.
“Fine. Close your eyes.”
“Of course.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close enough so that I could feel his breath on me. His lashes fluttered before his golden eyes warm with love. Then, as his eyes shut, I whispered into a kiss, “You’re such a terrible person. I love you so much I could scream…”
Our lips met slowly and softly. I saw his eyelids tremble and felt his lips stiffen just a little, like he was trying to contain his reaction, but I could feel the heat beneath my hands where they rested on his skin.
Mwah, mwah…
I shifted position slightly with each kiss, enjoying how adorably awkward he got. And just when I thought he was too dazed to respond, he mumbled something against my lips that made my heart twist.
“You’re so unfair.”
“Mm, but I’m being honest. I love all of you. Mm!”
I gave a soft little laugh and slipped my tongue into his mouth, and that was all it took. His arms suddenly tightened, and the pressure of the kiss doubled.
“Haah, L-Lukie… What?”
He curled his arms around me tighter, one hand sliding right over my chest and giving a light squeeze. The other slipped down to pull my skirt up, exposing my bare thigh, and then slowly caressed my skin. I felt my whole body flush with heat.
“No stockings today, hm? Guess that explains why you feel different in my arms. Man, Majaar’s fashion is kind of dangerous, isn’t it?”
“I-it’s just how the outfit’s designed, okay?”
It’s not like I wasn’t self-conscious about wearing something so revealing. I just hadn’t thought about it. Not really, anyway. Not when I was with him. It didn’t occur to me how I might look to anyone else. I shook my head, eyes stinging, and Lucas’s face softened into something sweet and seductive all at once.
“Yeah, but it’s fine. Because you’re mine.”
“…”
I suddenly couldn’t look at him. I’d grown too accustomed to living with someone I could drop my guard with, considering how I was, letting him expose my skin like it was nothing. I turned my head, flustered and guilty, only for his lips to brush against my neck.
“It’s because it’s me, isn’t it? That makes me so happy. You look incredible today, too, you know. My Cecilia…can I leave my marks on you?”
I knew he wanted to leave a mark right there on my neck. Something to show everyone that I belonged to him. I should’ve said no. I should’ve told him that was way too embarrassing. But instead…
“Just don’t make it hurt…”
Not only did I not refuse, but I basically gave him permission to go even harder.
“Don’t make it hurt, huh? Then you’ll have to tell me how much is too much.”
I couldn’t even look at him since he was so overcome with hungry desire. I just nodded.
And then his lips latched on and sucked, sharp and sudden and hot. I gasped and grabbed the back of his head without thinking.
“Ahhh!”
The burning feeling on my neck made my lower stomach clench, and my legs twitched reflexively.
He rubbed my leg gently, trying to calm me, but at the same time coaxing me for more. I was already anticipating the pleasure and tipped my neck back.
“Mm, that reaction… You okay?”
“Y-yeah, I’m fine. Just do it again…” I nodded again and again, like I couldn’t help myself, and he groaned and pulled me in even tighter.
“Damn it, I just want to devour you, Cecilia.”
“Ahh!”
He sucked hard on me, lightly nipping at my skin. A sudden pain blossomed on my skin, far sharper than a hickey would have caused, drawing a moan out of my lips. But I wasn’t afraid. I almost felt intoxicated that I could drive Lucas to this kind of fervor.
“Nngh, mm… Lukie…”
“Cecilia… You’re mine, all mine.” His voice trembled with emotion, like he was desperate for me. And every part of me yearned to respond.
“Y-yes…” My fingers slid into his soft, dark hair, and he flinched, then let out a long, ragged sigh.
“Sorry, I lost control. Did I hurt you?”
His lips brushed the sore spot, and I felt the warm tingle of healing magic set in. Then he shyly buried his face against my shoulder, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“I’m fine, really.”
Just the idea that he cared this much about leaving a mark on me made my heart ache with love for him. I tried to calm down as I watched him breathe slowly, leaning in to try to kiss him again.
His eyes met mine, gold and glossy, and the second our tongues brushed against each other, his hand slipped down inside my panties, rubbing right against my slit and making me yelp.
That’s not allowed!
“Ah, w-wait! Not there! This is a fitting room, remember?!”
“You already said yes. You were clinging to me and moaning. What, do you think I can stop now?”
Oh, that pout… That fake wounded look… Oh, don’t you dare…
I opened my mouth to yell right as I heard the storefront bell jingle and the door slam open.
“Sis! Is it true the Hero’s at the bazaar?!” a kid’s voice cried out loud enough to drown out the bell’s jingling. “Do you think he’s gonna beat the General’s record at the coliseum?! Who do you think is stronger?!” I just stared, frozen.
Hero… the General… He’s talking about Lucas and Marshal Webber…
I glanced over at Lucas, and he let out an exasperated sigh, staring in the direction of the curtain with a dead look in his eyes. I quickly scrambled off his lap.
“Talk about ruining the mood. Who’s out there?” he grumbled.
Uh-oh. I might’ve been saved, but Lucas’s mood just took a nosedive…
I’d fix my disheveled clothes later. First priority was covering up what happened here—and covering Lukie up while I was at it. I grabbed one of the dresses I planned to try on and spun toward Lucas.
“Lukie, why don’t you try something first?”
My first mistake was trying to change the subject to protect myself.
“Heroes are strong,” the kid was saying, “but they only use swords, right? That’s why I was hanging around the blacksmith’s shop, hoping he’d show up. I wanted to show him weapons from Aram. But he never came! The General only fought with a sword, too. Maybe they just can’t use anything else? Oh! Or maybe he slipped off to one of the brothels while his wife was out shopping, like Prince Islan does…”
The boy’s voice started out cheerful but quickly trailed off just before another voice spoke up, calm but terrifying. “How dare you utter the word brothel when my mistress is right by Prince Lucas’s side? Such an offense is punishable by death.”
Anna?! She got there even faster than Lucas! What triggered that?! And is she threatening to execute a child?!
“Wh-what’s your problem?! This shop belongs to Princess Yana, one of Prince Islan’s favorites from the Aram tribe! You think you can just bring weapons in here?!”
Did she have her sword out, too? That’s going too far!
“I-I’m sorry! My little brother doesn’t know any better. He just really admires the Hero! He was really excited to see him today, that’s all. Please, forgive him. I beg you!” the shopkeeper, who must have been the boy’s sister, pleaded.
“We’re truly, truly sorry!”
I heard the sound of the shopkeeper and the other employees falling to their knees. Uh-oh. This is getting worse by the second, and I still can’t get dressed properly because I don’t know how to put these clothes on yet!
I didn’t expect that the owner of this boutique would be Princess Yana of the Aram tribe, the woman who was rumored to be Prince Islan’s favorite.
So was she scared because she’d been warned not to upset us? Since she was royalty, she should have been used to dealing with other nobles, but she still seemed nervous.
I reached for the side clasp on my dress, but the voice that spoke next made my hand freeze in midair.
“You’ve insulted him twice now, Yana Salkishan.” Finn’s voice was perfectly level, but the fury in his words chilled me to the bone. “My master personally brought Princess Cecilia here to give you the chance to make things right, and you allowed them to endure such disrespect. Do you even realize how much he suffered because of you? And now, instead of gratitude, you show us this? You should be grateful you’re still breathing.”
“Ahh! P-please, I beg you! Have mercy!”
He said “twice.” That means she did something to Lucas during his last stay here. Something that pissed Finn off, and that took a lot…