Chapter 17 – Things So Obvious They’re Overlooked

Beyond the mirror, Lucien bared his teeth and locked eyes with her, his gaze intense. Like a predator before its prey, Serenia felt a chilling sense of danger, to the point where she imagined his pupils narrowing. Ironically, the mix of instinctive fear and trust in Lucien turned that chill into a stimulus that only heightened her sensitivity.

“Hng… Ah, it hurts… Mm.”

“Does it? So… Hoo… Do you like it?”

“No, that’s not… Mm!”

“See, you’re tightening up again.”

Every time he nipped at her shoulder, her inner walls clenched around his member in excitement. Already at his limit, Lucien gasped at the pressure, so strong it was almost painful. He couldn’t hold back for her any longer. Clutching Serenia’s trembling body, still shivering from the aftershocks of her cl*max, Lucien’s movements grew faster.

“Ah! Ah… Hng!”

Serenia’s languid m*ans suddenly broke into short, sharp cries. Each thr*st sent a powerful sensation through her, making her body jolt. The lingering heat of her cl*max flared again, and the pleasure she had just reached floated back, more sensitive than before.

“Ha… Ugh… Nia… What am I supposed to do with you, huh?”

“Ah! Ahh… Mm!”

Lucien’s words at her ear no longer formed sentences. Only his hot breath and ragged m*ans reached her, becoming the desire she longed for, urging her on. Whether she was a substitute for someone else or simply the object of his desire, it didn’t matter. In this moment, Serenia’s heart soared at the fact that she was the one he wanted most.

Her body, now sensitive everywhere, reacted to every touch, and she cried out in his arms with a voice she could never have imagined before. For Serenia, being the focus of his longing, even for a brief moment, was enough to make her deliriously happy.

The thick member drove into her, elevating her body, while the satisfaction of being desired pushed her relentlessly toward the peak of pleasure. As feeling faded from her toes and passion threatened to overwhelm her, Serenia let out a long, silent m*an as her body tensed in cl*max.

“……!”

“Hng… Ugh… Ha… Haa… Nia… Ugh.”

Her unfocused eyes trembled, wandering into the air. At the sight of Serenia’s shocked, trembling expression, Lucien’s brow furrowed. The cold, overwhelming cl*max swept away the heat that had been boiling inside, leaving Lucien growling like a beast, unable to form proper words for a while.

Despite the friction making her inner walls swell and throb, the two, bodies pressed together, only panted, lost in the high of their cl*max. Thick fl*id spilled from Lucien’s tip, filling her inside.

Serenia placed her hand over Lucien’s as he stroked her belly. No words were needed; their eyes said everything. Their hunger was not yet satisfied, and this lingering desire was soon filled with new, tangled m*ans.

As always, the feelings that started everything faded into questions, leaving only desire for each other, and the nameless emotions were set aside as the day ended in longing.

***

It had already been a month since Serenia followed Lucien into the military. At first, her family worried and contacted her almost every day, but once they learned there was no real combat and she was quietly working on paperwork at headquarters, they seemed much more at ease.

“Why? Are you not feeling well?”

“No, it’s just… A little uncomfortable.”

Lucien, who had been sneaking glances at Serenia’s profile as she pretended to read documents, finally couldn’t resist speaking up when he saw her shifting in her seat more than usual. Serenia, spinning her pen as she focused on her paperwork, looked up in surprise, then trailed off.

Her wide, startled eyes and her nose scrunched in embarrassment…

“You look like a rabbit.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, uh, hmm, no, never mind.”

His thoughts slipped out, and Lucien was startled by his own nonsense, shaking his head in flustered embarrassment.

Fortunately, Serenia didn’t catch what he’d said and, as if used to Lucien’s strange behavior, turned back to her paperwork. Even though she seemed indifferent, the redness at her ears told Lucien she wanted to change the subject.

“Was I too rough yesterday?”

“……”

“But you definitely asked for more…”

“Please, just…! S-say it more discreetly!”

There was only one thing that could make her back ache despite all her training. Lucien, who hadn’t let go of her until dawn, feigned concern while shamelessly making lewd jokes, making Serenia panic.

At times like this, Lucien could barely hold back his laughter. When aroused, Serenia could be surprisingly bold and easily tempted, but her shy, innocent face during the day was what Lucien liked most.

Her secret, sensual side was a part of her that only he knew.

Serenia cut him off and fanned herself, making Lucien smile with satisfaction and shift in his seat. He’d meant to focus on paperwork, but it seemed that would be impossible today. Thanks to bringing in such a capable subordinate, the Supreme Commander now enjoyed a leisurely schedule, while his workaholic companion was, of course, Serenia.

“Why are you here? Go do your work.”

“How can I focus when you’re uncomfortable? Did you strain a muscle? Want a massage?”

Serenia shot him an incredulous look at his obvious intentions. But Lucien naturally turned her chair and squeezed between the desk and her, blocking her view of the paperwork. Not only other subordinates close to her, but even those stacks of paper seemed to annoy Lucien now.

“If you feel better, you’ll work more efficiently, right? Just for a moment, so…”

Lucien leaned in, showing off his handsome face and trying to seduce her, but was suddenly interrupted by an unwelcome voice.

“I’m back!”

Even before the door opened, a booming voice rang through the office, and then the door burst open noisily. Their suspicious posture made Serenia jump up, pushing Lucien away and standing from her chair. Lucien, bumping his hip on the desk, cursed under his breath and glared at the cause of all the trouble.

“Oh, I see a new face! Hahaha.”

A middle-aged man scratched his head and laughed heartily. He was Lucien’s closest aide and the one on long-term leave, whose position Serenia had been covering.

“Ha, d*mn… Derkan, why are you here now?”

Just his presence made Lucien grit his teeth. Derkan, bewildered by his superior’s intense glare, only blinked his large eyes and tilted his head in confusion.