Chapter 5

They pressed their lower bodies together, indulging in each other. The squelching sounds grew louder in the darkness. As their movements grew more intense, the cool night air and the scent of grass filled each breath. To be secretly having s*x here, in the fresh air and within earshot of people’s laughter, made Lorraine feel a thrill of forbidden pleasure.

“More…, more…. Ha….”

Lost in excitement, Lorraine moaned, and the man bit his lip. Lorraine moved her hips more vigorously. With each thr*st, her body burned hotter, and as their movements grew faster and deeper, her inner walls clung tightly to him.

She no longer thought of what she’d read in novels. The pleasure of friction endlessly stimulated her. Her mind was filled with nothing but ecstasy.

“Ha… it’s so good….”

Lorraine’s wanton m*ans filled the garden.

“Deeper…!”

Her body trembled. Her breathing grew rough, and she pressed her hips closer to him. Her walls squeezed his p*nis, racing toward cl*max.

“M-My Lady, wait…!”

The man tried to lift Lorraine in alarm, but she only pressed deeper. Soon, with a trembling body, he poured everything inside her. Lorraine felt his cl*max as she reached her own.

They collapsed together on the damp grass. Lorraine’s first experience far exceeded her expectations. Her heart pounded as if it would burst, and the afterglow lingered in her body.

She couldn’t easily escape the lingering sensation of her first real cl*max. She sank into sweet exhaustion. It hardly felt real that she’d just had her first s*x with a man whose name and face she didn’t know.

All the descriptions in the novels were true. In that moment, it felt like the world contained only the two of them, and each wave of pleasure sent shivers to her toes. Her first experience, with a stranger, was immensely satisfying.

Faint music from the ballroom drifted across the garden, as if waking her from a dream. The cold air brushed her skin, clearing her mind little by little. The union felt almost like a dream, and an awkward silence hung between them.

Then, the man spoke first.

“But…, we still don’t know each other’s names.”

Lorraine drew a short breath. Adjusting her mask, she replied in a calm, composed voice.

“We’re just two people who happened to meet by chance at a masquerade ball.”

There was no need for introductions now. The hem of Lorraine’s dress was still disheveled, but unlike the earlier intensity, her demeanor was serene and collected.

‘It’s just a one-night affair—there’s no need to risk giving my name.’

Lorraine slowly stood and straightened her clothes, thinking to herself. She had tried this once out of curiosity, but never again. She had no reason to get involved with this man anymore, and she didn’t want to risk telling him her name.

“At the very least, I suppose it’s only polite to tell you my name.”

When Lorraine drew the line, the man seemed to understand her thoughts and nodded. Then, slowly, he removed the mask covering his face.

The moment she saw his face, Lorraine caught her breath. Under the moonlight, his sharp features were revealed. A face so perfect it was hard to believe. The man standing before her was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. No, ‘beautiful’ wasn’t enough—he looked as if sculpted by the gods.

His deep, dark eyes quietly gazed at Lorraine. A face too precious to spend the night hidden in darkness. The man laughed softly and said,

“No matter what, we can’t just part ways like this.”

Lorraine couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“My name is Ian Lindsay.”

She was shocked not just by his looks, but when she heard his name, Lorraine snapped to attention. In her mind, she recalled all the talk at tonight’s ball about ‘that’ Ian Lindsay.

Everyone at the ball had been talking about him, so Lorraine had heard plenty, even unintentionally.

“Lord Ian….”

‘Isn’t he the man who meets many women casually but never officially dates anyone?’

He was rumored to be a playboy, meeting many women but never committing to a relationship; women who spent the night with him couldn’t forget the bliss and kept seeking him….

Lorraine quietly recalled his reputation, then wondered. Certainly, tonight’s s*x was satisfying, but was it really unforgettable? Maybe she didn’t know enough about s*x since it was her first time.

Lorraine had always thought Ian Lindsay was someone who had nothing to do with her. Yet here they were, meeting like this. Shocked, she found his looks even more vivid in her mind. His smooth eyes seemed to mesmerize. She was sure she would never forget the way he looked at her.

Ian spoke cautiously.

“Could you at least tell me your name, My Lady?”

Lorraine hesitated. Perhaps it was the afterglow of s*x, but his faintly flushed face was irresistibly attractive. Lorraine wanted to know more about him. Deep inside, she felt a desire to meet him again.

‘He seems used to these “casual” relationships—maybe it wouldn’t hurt to meet a few more times and leave it at that? Just my name….’

Women who spent the night with him couldn’t forget him, but if he was someone who started and ended things easily, maybe she could meet him a few more times. If she gave him her name, and met him again, maybe she could experience that unforgettable s*x everyone talked about.

After some thought, Lorraine finally answered, giving just her first name.

“Lorraine.”

Just her name, no family name, was enough. If he wanted to see her again, he would quickly find out her family. And if he didn’t remember her after tonight, there was no need to give more.

“Lorraine, Lorraine…. That’s a beautiful name.”

Ian repeated her name a few times, then smiled. The gentle curve of his lips and the faint dimples beside them made him look almost boyish.

A brief silence passed between them, then Ian asked again,

“May I… see you again, My Lady? If the opportunity arises….”

Lorraine narrowed her eyes, then smiled as she replied,

“If we meet again, that would be another stroke of fate.”

Even if they met again, she meant that tonight would remain a secret. Ian seemed satisfied with her answer and nodded.

“I hope I don’t have to wait too long to see you again, Lady Lorraine.”

Lorraine bowed her head lightly to Ian in farewell, then returned to the ballroom. The hall was just as lively as when she’d left, filled with music and laughter. She had achieved her purpose for coming to the masquerade and had no reason to stay any longer.

Avoiding the crowds, Lorraine quietly slipped out of the hall and climbed into a carriage bound for home. On her way, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. What troubled her most was that she had exchanged names with him. Was it wise to tell him her name? Would she become just another of the many women who couldn’t forget him?

Yet, a quiet hope began to rise in her heart—that this one night might not remain just a memory.