Chapter 8 (Part 10)

The sensation of his tongue brushing her n*pple but not fully touching it left her with a strange feeling. Instinctively, she leaned her upper body forward slightly, and Cardin captured her n*pple with his lips, sucking on it. Meanwhile, his thighs moved relentlessly. The thick member pressed against her inner walls, filling her mind with nothing but arousal.

When he slightly twisted her hips while thrusting, her mind went completely blank. Sensing her reaction, Cardin moved his thighs even faster.

“Stop, uhnh, mm, please…”

She barely managed to speak through clenched teeth. Despite her plea, Cardin seemed intent on hearing more of her moans, pushing her further. Gripping her hips with both hands, he thrust upward with enough force to produce audible sounds.

At that moment, a loud, thunderous noise echoed. The play seemed to be reaching its climax. The sounds grew louder, and Cardin’s stimulation intensified. His thrusts repeatedly hit her most sensitive spot, pushing her closer to the edge. She instinctively tried to pull away, but Cardin held her waist firmly with one hand.

“Uhnh!”

Her back arched as a wave of pleasure surged through her. At the same time, a desperate cry and sobbing echoed from the stage. For a moment, the surroundings fell silent, followed by an eruption of applause. It seemed the play had finally ended.

She exhaled shakily, tears streaming down her face. Cardin held her tightly, breathing heavily. Judging by the sensation below, he had cl*maxed as well. Lying against his broad chest, his heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears. 

Was this really okay?

Surely the theater hadn’t provided a private box for this purpose.

Regret washed over her as she tried to pull away, but Cardin didn’t release her. Instead, he pulled her closer, burying his face in her shoulder.

“Let’s stay like this a little longer.”

His low voice tickled her heart. Slowly, he exhaled against her shoulder. It was warm—just like his chest.

As they remained like that for a while, worry began to creep in. The noise below had grown lively, but the silence between them only made her more anxious.

“Do you think they can see us?”

Her voice trembled slightly. Cardin chuckled softly, lightly nibbling on her earlobe.

“They can’t see us. Besides, I told them before the play started not to look this way while performing.”

Startled, she pulled back slightly to look at him. Cardin smiled calmly, meeting her gaze.

“You didn’t mention that earlier.”

“Well, wouldn’t it make you more nervous and excited?”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. The fact that he had done this on purpose left her speechless. Thinking back, her worry that the actors might see them had made her even more aroused…

Unexpectedly, Cardin was a bit of a deviant. He had deliberately withheld that information. Avoiding his gaze, she tried to move her legs to stand, but Cardin furrowed his brows and let out a soft sigh.

“Ha, Brienne.”

Cardin held her tightly, exhaling deeply. A sense of unease crept over her as she tried to pull away, but Cardin grabbed her waist.

The strength of his grip made her pause. He spoke firmly.

“Don’t move. I’ll pull out.”

She remained still at the unexpectedly low voice. Cardin held her quietly for a moment before lifting her into his arms. Overcome by sudden pleasure, she could only exhale softly. It seemed he felt the same, as his upper body tensed with effort.

Breathing heavily, he gently set her down. She adjusted her dress straps and tidied her appearance. As she turned around, her eyes caught on the front of Cardin’s trousers, dampened with fluid, making it an awkward sight. 

Moreover, it hadn’t subsided yet, as the fabric was still taut.

“What should we do?” 

He laughed. 

“I’ll just cover it with my jacket.”

As if he’d done this many times before, he skillfully draped his jacket over his left arm, concealing the area between his legs. It certainly made him look composed.

Cardin raised his right arm slightly, inviting her. Hesitating, she looped her arm through his. As they descended the stairs together, the surroundings grew noisy. She turned to glance around, and he bent down to whisper in her ear.

“It’s the audience on the first floor. The exit we’re using is different.”

That was a relief. 

Just as they stepped out of the theater, the night around them was dim and quiet.

“Shall we come again next time?” 

Though his tone was casual, her face flushed deeply, thinking beyond his words. Still, she wanted to return. Sincerely.

After taking a steady breath, she replied, 

“Next time, let’s just focus on the play without doing anything else.”

She had been curious about the story, but she couldn’t focus at all, which left her feeling regretful. Cardin smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Alright.”

His voice carried an unusual vibrance, as if sealing a promise. 

A light breeze blew. Despite the carriage being right in front of them, Cardin placed his jacket over her shoulders. The gesture felt oddly awkward as they walked silently toward the carriage.

Once inside, Cardin suddenly leaned in and kissed her. It was as though he had been holding back the entire time they were alone. As she shifted slightly to the side, he cupped her cheek with one hand, leaning further in. His lips moved over hers, deepening the kiss, their tongues intertwining as he nibbled lightly before pulling back, only to dive in again.

His hand naturally rested on the strap of her dress. Instead of pulling it down, he toyed with it for a moment before slowly letting go. At the same time, he pulled his lips away.

Their breaths mingled briefly. Fixing his calm gaze on her, he asked, 

“Shall we share a room tonight?”

Feeling there was no longer a reason to sleep alone, she nodded. Cardin’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. He kissed her lips, her cheek, and even her neck before laughing brightly.

“Let’s stay in the room we used to share. I’ve been keeping it ready all this time.”

The fact that he had always kept it prepared touched her. Unlike her, who felt an inexplicable heaviness in her chest, he spoke with a cheerful energy.

“Should we replace some of the furniture this time?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Cardin gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand. It didn’t seem intentional; rather, he appeared lost in thought, doing it unconsciously. As she continued to watch him, he spoke softly.

“Once the matters at the royal palace are settled, I plan to return to the estate.”

Cardin slowly met her gaze.

“I’ll take care of my mother, so don’t worry about her.”

He seemed deeply concerned, studying her reaction intently, his brows furrowing as he watched her face. Sensing he was waiting for a response, she spoke honestly.

“I don’t care about your mother anymore. I don’t want to, either.”

At that moment, the carriage came to a halt. They had arrived in front of the mansion. Without hesitation, Cardin opened the door. As she moved to step out, he took her hand and, in one swift motion, lifted her into his arms.

Looking up at him in surprise, she saw him chuckle.

“You must be tired.”

Even in the darkness, his smile seemed to shine, lighting up her heart. She stared at him blankly as the sound of hurried footsteps echoed nearby.

“Your Grace!”

Cardin’s brows instantly furrowed. His expression hardened as though the voice was entirely unwelcome, and he continued walking forward.

Finally, Damon stood beside them. Without even glancing at him, Cardin spoke.

“I told you not to come directly at night.”

Unlike his tone in the carriage, his voice was now icy cold. Damon lowered his head apologetically.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. It’s an urgent matter.”

Cardin didn’t respond, striding into the mansion. He climbed the stairs swiftly, entering the room they usually shared.

Damon’s words lingered in her mind. Urgent matter. What could it be at this hour? Just then, Cardin gently laid her on the bed.

Simultaneously, his soft lips brushed against hers, tenderly sinking in. As she turned her head slightly, their eyes met.

“Cardin, if you’re busy, you should go.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s late, and I’d worry about you.”

Cardin gazed at her intently, his face stiff.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes. And I’m tired now, so I just want to sleep.”

She meant it. After their time together at the theater, her body felt utterly drained. The late hour only added to her exhaustion. In Peroy, she never stayed up this late.

Sensing his hesitation, she deliberately kissed his cheek. Cardin paused, looking at her.

“Now I really can’t leave.”

His voice was as low as the still air. His gaze was so intense that it seemed he might pounce on her at any moment, so she hurriedly pushed him away.

“I want to sleep.”

Feigning greater fatigue, she closed her eyes. Slowly, Cardin stepped back from the bed and pulled the blanket over her. Finally, he kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

Once the door fully closed, her eyes opened. She stared at the dark ceiling for a moment before getting up and heading to the bathroom. She felt sticky and wanted to wash up.