Side Story 5

Ellen closed her eyes and leaned back into the chair as if sinking into it. The soft, rustling sound of her waist ribbon being untied and the sensation of her clothes loosening were vivid. His calloused, firm hand traced slowly down the nape of her neck.

All her senses were heightened, following his fingers. Her nerves, more sensitive than usual, felt only his touch.

Just then, a cool breeze from the canyon brushed against her delicate skin, making Ellen wrinkle her brow slightly and shudder. The hand moving downward paused for a moment.

“Lennox…”

Ellen opened her eyes slightly, trying to call his name, but swallowed her m*an and squeezed her eyes shut again.

His rough hand parted the collar near her chest.

Ellen hunched her shoulders and let out a quick breath.

Having been with Lennox many times, Ellen knew.

She knew how he looked at her, what expression he wore, what kind of passion he held. Imagining that made her shiver unconsciously.

Her hem slid down smoothly. Her white skin was tinged lightly with red. Lennox moved close to Ellen. Ellen matched him naturally, without resistance.

“You’re beautiful.”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her breath. Lennox kissed her lightly, as if kissing a sacred chalice.

Ellen’s slender fingers ran through his black hair and gripped it. Her fingers trembled as they held his hair.

Lennox buried his face in her chest. The faint scent of sandalwood teased his senses.

“Lennox. Really…”

Ellen muttered in a small, trembling voice. Lennox lifted his head from her chest. With his posture completely disheveled, he turned his head slightly and looked at Ellen with wet eyes that weren’t spiteful at all. He gently rubbed her eye with his thumb.

“Beautiful.”

Lennox whispered softly, kissing her pale skin.

“The way you look at me, the voice you use to call my name, your disheveled appearance—all of it is alluring and beautiful.”

His voice was thick with possessiveness and desire for Ellen. Even that unhidden, sticky desire didn’t scare Ellen at all. Instead, the thrill of being the sole target of his desire and possessiveness sent a shiver through her.

Lennox withdrew from her embrace and traced her skin with his fingers. His fingers circled her flat stomach and moved downward.

“Lennox.”

Ellen called his name desperately with her red lips. Her hand, gripping the beanbag tightly, trembled helplessly. Her whole body stiffened and shook slightly.

Ellen wanted to be held in his arms. She wished he would embrace her so tightly in his strong, hot arms that she could barely breathe. That’s what she thought.

“Lennox…”

Ellen called his name with a sigh, her desire unfulfilled.

“Ellen.”

Looking at the thoroughly disheveled Ellen, Lennox felt a destructive urge. He wanted to see Ellen clinging to him endlessly.

Tormented and dizzy, Lennox furrowed his brow and murmured.

“Ellen. You don’t know, do you.”

“Uh, huh?”

As Ellen looked at him with dazed eyes clouded by heat, Lennox kissed her eyelids and spoke softly.

“No matter how much I hold you, it’s never enough. I want you right now.”

“Lennox…!”

Before Ellen could answer, Lennox pressed her down. Ellen’s waist stiffened, and her pretty lips clamped shut.

Ellen’s mind grew foggy as she gasped for breath.

Her body ached with a thirst as if it might dry up, longing for something intensely. Ellen already knew the way to quench it. She desperately needed Lennox.

“Lennox. Give me everything of yours.”

Ellen demanded of him.

She wanted to have all of Lennox.

She wished he would show her that he wanted her this much, that he needed her.

At Ellen’s plea, Lennox smiled, kissed her ear, and whispered.

“All of me?”

Instead of answering, Ellen stroked the nape of his neck with her hand.

Lennox’s Adam’s apple bobbed deeply. Hoping Lennox would lose his composure just for her, Ellen whispered softly.

“So I can know I belong to you, and you belong to me.”

It happened at the same time.

Ellen embraced his head, and Lennox held her tightly.

Ellen clung to him, not realizing she was suffocating, holding him desperately as if to keep him from escaping.

Lennox did not hold back. He moved as Ellen wanted, as his own desire dictated.

Ellen, thrilled to possess his broad chest, was intoxicated by the sense of ownership and satisfaction of having all his heart to herself. Her rationality had long since flown away.

Lennox, holding Ellen, buried his face in her slender shoulder.

Their bodies, pressed together, did not move for a while. Only the occasional sound of insects and the river in the canyon mixed with their breathing, filling the surroundings.

Ellen’s blurred eyes gradually became clearer. The world, previously hazy, began to sharpen. The first thing Ellen saw as she emerged from the lingering sensation was—

‘The sky….’

It was the sky.

Beneath the night sky, a cluster of star clouds drifted along the canyon.

As a child, Ellen had once attended a servants’ party at Lennox’s invitation. She hadn’t mingled with the servants, but instead, she and Lennox had climbed a tree branch together and looked up at the sky. She remembered that sky as incredibly beautiful.

Maybe it was because she was in his arms now. Ellen thought the sky over the canyon, with its star clouds, was even more beautiful than the one she saw back then.

Ellen, possessing him completely, captured the unforgettable canyon night sky in her eyes.

The canyon’s night sky, star clouds, the scent of wood mixed with the tang of water, the smell of stone, his scent mingled within, the sound of wind, insects, river water hitting pebbles, his strong, solid embrace… All of it blended and was etched into every cell of Ellen’s body.

The vast canyon night deepened.

* * *

The next day.

After an early breakfast, the servants prepared to return.

On the way down from the villa to board the carriage, Ellen took a walk by the riverside below the villa with Lennox and Innis. The morning canyon was cool, so they couldn’t enter the water, but fortunately, Innis seemed satisfied just picking up and playing with pebbles.

When they returned to the carriage loaded with luggage, Innis’s small pouch was filled with tiny, pretty pebbles. Holding the pouch tightly with both hands and nestled in Lennox’s arms, Innis’s face was radiant.

Once inside the carriage, they saw a large piece of paper tied with a pink ribbon propped up against one wall.

“Is that the drawing Innis made yesterday?”

Ellen asked, stroking Innis’s hair as she poured out the pebbles from her pouch. Lennox, watching them fondly, nodded.

“Yes. It’s the first thing Innis drew since coming here.”

“That’s right. Our Innis came to this villa for the first time and drew that picture excitedly.”

Lennox rested his arm on the carriage window and his chin on his hand, speaking calmly.

“When we get back to the mansion, I’ll have to order plenty of big drawing paper for Innis.”

“Innis will probably lose interest after a few tries.”

“Anyway, we always keep paper in stock for records. It doesn’t matter if I add a few more for Innis to play with here.”

“Yeah, that’s true. Innis will love it. Because it’s a gift from Papa.”

At the word ‘Papa’, Lennox’s lips curved into a gentle smile. Ellen smiled brightly and tidied Innis’s messy hair as she played enthusiastically with the pebbles.

“Innis. Did you have fun?”

Innis picked up a blue pebble she liked and showed it to Ellen, nodding her big head vigorously.

“Yeah!”

“Shall we come again next time?”

“Yeah! I want to draw again. Pictures.”

“Alright. Next time, let’s come and draw again.”

“Come again?”

“Of course. We’ll come again.”

Innis looked at Lennox with eyes full of expectation. Watching mother and daughter, Lennox met Innis’s gaze and nodded. Innis broke into a broad smile.

“Promise!”

Innis held out her pinky finger to Lennox. Lennox gladly hooked his pinky with hers.

“Yes. Definitely again.”

As the carriage left the canyon, Innis, who had woken up early, soon fell asleep with her head resting on Ellen’s thigh. Ellen covered Innis with a soft blanket and gazed out the window.

Though they had spent a happy time, the road back to the mansion felt bittersweet.

“Next time…”

Ellen murmured wistfully, tracing the window with her finger. Lennox, watching Innis sleep, turned his gaze to Ellen. He stared at her profile as she looked out the window, waiting for her to continue.

Finally, Ellen turned and met Lennox’s eyes directly.

“Let’s come back next time. For a longer stay. Just our family, together. Here.”

“Of course. As much as you want.”

Lennox reached out his hand. Ellen held it tightly. On the ring fingers of Ellen and Lennox’s left hands, the rings they promised to wear together forever gleamed.

Their eyes, full of affection, met. Together with their daughter Innis, they carved another new memory. Ellen and Lennox held hands tightly, looking forward to more happy days together.

The carriage slowly left the majestic canyon behind, heading toward their own haven.