Chapter 24

‘Scary!’

He was known for his difficult personality and being extremely selective with people, but she never expected the Northern Duke to openly show such hostility.

Overcome by fear, Neria instinctively cried out,

“I-I’m sorry!”

He didn’t seem like a man who would use violence, but one could never be sure. Neria tightly closed her eyes. Whether it was fortunate or expected, there was no sign that he would raise his hand.

Instead, he reached out and grabbed Neria’s chin, making her open her eyes herself. Aaron’s eyes burned with intensity as he raised the corners of his mouth in a smile.

“Sorry? I didn’t mean to interrogate you so harshly… But, in any case, are you saying you’ll take responsibility for your actions?”

“Sorry, but I didn’t say I’d take responsibility…”

“So you’re not just a shameless woman after all. Good.”

“Are you even listening to me…”

“Kiss me. And just like in that outrageous dream, touch me and make me finish with your hand.”

“…What?”

Neria stared blankly at Aaron, who was laughing impatiently as he said something insane. She didn’t even have time to point out how abruptly he’d dropped the formal speech. He was a man who wore commands well.

But more importantly.

‘Did I hear that right?’

She was stunned by the unrealistic demand and situation. For him to say, with his own mouth, that she should touch him and make him finish…

Aaron Denicar, who had never cared about women and had always driven away every woman who approached him?

Neria pictured a cross and asked,

“…Who are you?”

“Aaron. Try calling me Aaron.”

Aaron covered Neria’s hand, which was touching his chest.

Neria looked at her hand, trapped beneath his, then raised her chin. Aaron was gazing at her gently.

“Excuse me, may I say something?”

“As much as you wish.”

“I think you’re a little out of your mind.”

“That’s truly impolite.”

“That’s why I warned you in advance.”

“To joke around in front of a man dying of thirst… Neria, you’re the most heartless in the kingdom. You know that yourself, don’t you?”

“In a dirty world where only the best survive, such praise… Ah.”

Her fingertips touched a small, cute n*pple. His chest was perfect, as always. Neria swallowed and pressed it, then scratched it lightly with her nail.

“Ugh.”

Startled by Aaron’s groan, Neria tried to pull her hand away. But before she could, Aaron grabbed her chin.

“Why are you stopping?”

“You made that sound just from me touching your chest, it feels weird.”

“I’ve gotten sensitive thanks to someone’s biting, sucking, and touching.”

“And who, ah. That’s me.”

“That’s not all. You saw every part of me, even those I didn’t want to show.”

What Aaron meant by “parts I didn’t want to show” was surely his past.

“I didn’t look because I wanted to… Is that why you hate me?”

“…No.”

Aaron looked down at her with softened eyes. The heat in his gaze made her cheeks flush. Aaron raised his hand and gently cupped Neria’s cheek, then made her look up at him.

“D*mn, you’re lovely. That’s why I burn with impatience even before touching you.”

“…”

Aaron smiled subtly.

“Neria Warwick. If it’s you, you can have all of me. Not some fake innocence from a dream, but my real innocence.”

Neria took a breath. For some reason, she felt tears might come. She wished she could come up with a cool reply to his confession-like words, but nothing came to mind. Flustered, Neria tightly closed her eyes. It was a subtle sign that he could kiss her.

The Duke smiled softly and lowered his head. Soon, soft, feather-like lips landed on hers.

***

The fire in the fireplace was burning diligently, but the air inside was still cold.

Neria sat alone on the bed, wearing only her underwear.

She had told Aaron she was embarrassed by the bright daylight. Unlike in dreams, she was shy, so Aaron carefully closed the curtains before leisurely walking to the bed.

Neria swallowed dryly. The blue eyes fixed on her face and body were blazing hot, filled with open desire. She thought he could devour her with just his gaze.

“Neria.”

He called her name with a sigh, and Neria’s shoulders flinched.

Aaron knelt on the mattress. He wore a thin muslin shirt and tight black silk trousers. He was already aroused, making his pants look uncomfortably tight.

“Kiss me.”

Aaron happily complied with Neria’s request. He gently lifted her chin, tilted his head, and pressed his lips to hers. Into her slightly parted lips, his tongue slipped in, licking, rubbing, and tracing her teeth.

“Mm, mmph.”

She couldn’t even manage her breathing and quickly ran out of air. While she squeezed her eyes shut, Aaron enjoyed observing how inexperienced Neria was at kissing. Her flushed cheeks and flustered expression stoked his desire.

When Aaron finally pulled back, a thin strand of saliva stretched and snapped. He felt a possessive urge to monopolize her sly yet clumsy appearance.

“I want to touch you. More than this.”

Aaron bravely placed his palm over Neria’s round knee, then glanced up at her.

Neria, about to nod again, shot him a look at his passive attitude.

“Are you going to ask every time you want to do something…?”

Aaron blinked, then made a silly sound. After thinking for a moment, he replied with a mischievous smile.

“I’ve always been the one getting dominated by you, Neria, in weird and forceful ways. Do I even have a choice?”

“…”

‘So this is my fault, too.’

Neria’s cheeks burned as she muttered,

“If you promise to be gentle, you don’t have to ask every time.”

Aaron looked at Neria with renewed heat in his eyes. Her words made him want to do even more. Stroking her thigh, he tilted his head to look down at her from the most handsome angle.

“Then… I’d like to go down on you. Gently, as promised.”

“Ugh. With your tongue? N-no.”

Neria, appalled, closed her spread legs and contradicted herself. Leaning in and pressing his hips closer, Aaron whispered,

“Why not? Compared to what you did to me, it’s pretty ordinary. Besides, we’ve already done it before—and you liked it.”

“…”

She couldn’t argue.

Aaron didn’t rush her. He leisurely nibbled on Neria’s earlobe with his lips. The soft, ticklish sensation sent a shiver down her spine.

When she didn’t relax her legs, Aaron found her lips again and gently persuaded her.

“I heard it’s good to loosen up down there first. Unlike in a dream, if we just go for it, you could get hurt. Let me do it, just a little.”

“Mm…”

She couldn’t respond, as his kisses landed endlessly around her lips. They were light but full of affection. Her reluctance to be kissed down there was simply because it was unfamiliar—and this was reality.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of her. Blushing, Neria hesitated, then nodded. Having gotten what he wanted, Aaron smiled perfectly at her. He bent down, kissed her knee, and slowly slid his lips downward. His mouth brushed her inner thigh, then reached a certain spot.

“Ah…!”

Aaron gripped the back of Neria’s knees, holding her firmly so she couldn’t move, then began to lick her intimately.

“Ah, mm!”

Neria groaned, clutching his dark hair. His thick tongue rubbed her sensitive spot, making her want to close her legs. Excited by her grip on his hair, Aaron latched on and thoroughly tasted her. Soft moans escaped her lips. It was far more intense than being touched by hand.

“By the way, I’m curious about something.”

“Mm, mm. Yes.”

“Have you ever brought other men into your dreams besides me? I won’t be jealous, so answer freely.”

“No, ah, Aaron, you were the first.”

“Really?”

“Mm, yes, really… Ah!”

Aaron studied Neria’s face and was convinced she was telling the truth. Satisfaction radiated from his smile. Neria, eyes half-closed, looked down at the man clinging to her with playful defiance.

“If I said yes, what would you do…?”

“Not much. Just a little bit of his blood on my hands, a very little?”

‘…That’s really not “not much.”’

“As you vouched, I grew up as an odd adult… Haa…”

Finishing his words, Aaron buried his face again. His tongue, which had been licking the protruding part, now busily explored between the folds.

Not only his tongue, but his lips worked as if nibbling, attacking every layered part, driving her crazy.

“Mm, mm, mm.”

It wasn’t just her who was excited—Aaron’s breathing became hurried as he licked her.

“Haa…”

Neria shuddered with pleasure. Her legs gradually opened, her lower abdomen tightened, craving more sensation.

“Mm!”

Neria squirmed her hips. What flowed from her mixed with Aaron’s saliva and soaked down to her bottom. As Neria’s thighs trembled and she lightly cl*maxed, Aaron finally pulled his tongue away with satisfaction.

Then, he gripped his shaft and poked at Neria’s entrance.

“Relax. I’m going in.”

Soon, the thick head of his member traced between her folds. Rubbing up and down, he found the perfect spot and braced himself.

The waiting entrance stretched achingly as he slowly pushed in.

“Haa…”

With a gasp, Aaron barely pushed in the tip, then pulled back, teasing with his large, blunt head, moving his hips shallowly.

“Mm, mm…”

“Haa, mm.”

Squish, squish. Wet sounds filled the air.

His thick thumb pressed her sensitive spot again. As he pushed in, the skin of his shaft was pulled tight halfway up.

With every rub against her sensitive flesh, her inner walls grew slick, making way for him. It didn’t take long for their lower bodies to press tightly together.

“Ah…”

Aaron let out a moan mixed with awe, savoring the blissful sensation.