Chapter 2.3

Both Leonid and Katia trembled at the intensely thrilling sensation. Without giving her a chance to catch her breath, Leonid lunged for her lips. Holding her head firmly, he kissed her deeply. Their tongues entwined like snakes. Simultaneously, his hips began a desperate thrusting motion. Their pubic hair tangled, stimulating their sensitive lower regions. The wet flesh rubbed together, creating squelching noises.

“Ah, mm, ah! Ahh!”

“Damn, Katia… Katia.”

“Ahhh!”

Katia clung to Leonid’s neck as if hanging from a cliff. Her nails dug into his back, but Leonid didn’t feel any pain. Dimples formed deeply on his b*ttocks, and his thighs tensed. His hips pulled back, leaving only the gl*ns at the entrance, then drove in forcefully. The pounding sent her body sliding upward repeatedly. Katia felt her mind slipping away with the explosive pleasure bursting inside her.

The mere fact that someone was exploring her body comforted Katia. It was a ridiculous notion, but it seemed to erase the unpleasant feeling of insignificance she had felt. Excitement flared like a fire, consuming her from her toes upward, while the dizzying sensation of intoxication surged alongside it. Gradually, she lost consciousness.

The p*nis scraping her inner walls felt like a heated brand. Her lower abdomen burned, making her tremble. Her lower body was already a mess from the fluids she had spilled. The sheets had long been stained with wet marks. Katia rubbed her nose against Leonid’s shoulder, bumping her forehead against him, and began to sob. It was an unresolved sorrow. From her lips, a single name flowed repeatedly.

“Ah… Alehin… ah, Your Highness…”

The moment she uttered that name, Leonid’s movements became more violent. Her upper body lifted like a scarecrow, and she found herself straddling the man’s thighs. Muscles bulged as the captain of the guard’s arms wrapped tightly around her, trapping her. Holding her body captive, he thrust his hips upward hard.

“Ahh! Ah!”

“Goddamn…”

“Ah! Too deep, ahh! Ahh!”

The relentless pounding of the man’s massive member targeted her deepest parts. With each thrust aiming to penetrate to the end of her womb, Katia felt her mind slipping further into oblivion. 

Save me, save… 

Eventually, Katia lost consciousness.

She regained her senses only after the sun had risen high in the sky. It wasn’t a peaceful awakening; she was startled awake by the rational voice in her head shouting, “I have to go to work!” She flailed about as she rose.

“Oh my, what time is it… ah, my head…”

The alcohol Katia had consumed the previous night clung stubbornly to the back of her head. Her mind was ringing and heavy, making it impossible for her to sit up. Eventually, she groaned and lay back down. On top of that, her body ached in a way that couldn’t just be attributed to a hangover. It was as if someone had beaten her. Katia groaned, clutching her head, and turned over.

But the moment she turned, she froze in place. There, looking at her with a smile, was a face she had never expected to see.

“Did you sleep well?”

“W-what… what on earth…?”

Katia’s tongue felt tied, refusing to move. And for good reason—there was someone lying in her bed who absolutely shouldn’t be there.

Leonid, with a soft smile on his face, was lying on his side, propping his head up with his arm. Katia nearly screamed. The man wasn’t wearing a shirt. His broad, muscular chest was fully exposed before her eyes. His slightly tousled hair, as if he’d just woken up, only added to his allure, making him irresistibly attractive. But Katia had no time to admire his beauty.

She quickly checked her own body. The moment she glanced downward, she clenched her teeth. If she hadn’t, she might have cursed in front of her superior.

Just like Leonid, Katia was completely n*ked. It wasn’t just a matter of not wearing clothes—her chest and arms bore bruises that unmistakably pointed to the man before her as the culprit.

Katia hastily pulled the blanket up to her chin to cover herself and scooted backward. Leonid, however, simply watched her with a leisurely expression.

“I’ve already informed the aide’s office. I told them you’re not feeling well and won’t be able to come in today.”

“Why… why would you… No, you shouldn’t have done that!”

“Don’t worry. I didn’t deliver the message personally.”

No one would suspect that the two of us are together. 

Leonid knew exactly what Katia was worried about. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish, then tried to scoot back again. Inch by inch, she retreated until she awkwardly perched on the edge of the mattress, only to lose her balance entirely.

“Ah!”

With a loud crash, Katia tumbled off the bed. While she rubbed her sore back and hips, Leonid’s face suddenly appeared above her, peeking over the edge of the bed. His face twisted as if he was holding back laughter. He extended both arms downward, his hands slipping easily under her armpits. With his strong arms, he effortlessly hoisted her back onto the bed.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But… why… how did this happen…?”

“You were the one who grabbed me, Evlaine. You begged me to comfort you, pulling me toward you and kissing me without permission.”

“…What?”

Me? 

Katia’s face went blank, clearly unable to recall anything. Leonid chuckled, as if he’d expected this reaction.

“You really need to be careful when you drink.”

“Did I… really…?”

“I refused, of course. But you were the one who initiated it.”

Katia pulled the blanket over her head, clutching it tightly as she groaned. She couldn’t believe she’d done something so reckless. Sure, she’d been feeling pretty down yesterday, frustrated by the thought of not being loved by the person she liked. But how on earth had that led to her dragging Leonid into her bed?

Then again, wasn’t it his fault for showing up uninvited in the first place? But Katia was too flustered, too hungover, and too sore to confront him about it properly. Especially since the ache between her legs made it clear they’d gone all the way. She’d slept with a man she wasn’t even dating, while drunk… What on earth had she done?

And why, of all people, did it have to be Leonid Karev? Suddenly, Katia thought she understood why she’d made such a crazy decision.

Because both he and I are nursing unrequited loves. 

She must have been drawn to the fact that this infuriating man shared her pain. She’d needed someone to share in her sadness and loneliness, and Leonid had appeared at just the right moment.

Peeking out from under the blanket, Katia whispered an apology in a small voice.

“I’m sorry. I was reckless.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

“But doing that with someone you don’t even like… it’s not exactly pleasant, is it?”

At her words, Leonid pressed his lips together. His eyes seemed to hold a lot he wanted to say, but he remained silent. Instead, after a moment, he reached out and gently brushed Katia’s hair back. His touch was so tender that she felt comforted.

“Are you saying you found it unpleasant, Evlaine?”

If she were to call it unpleasant… Honestly, Katia couldn’t remember much. But if she pieced together the fragmented emotions lingering in her memory, it hadn’t been all that bad. In fact, it might have been rather satisfying. She just couldn’t remember the details.

So she shook her head.

“No, it wasn’t that. I just feel bad… for you. You must have feelings for Lady Ivans.”

“What?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The way your eyes light up when you’re near her…”

They practically blaze. 

At her words, Leonid looked strangely dumbfounded. Seeing his expression, Katia felt certain she’d hit the mark. And then, like a lightning bolt, a crazy idea struck her.

Katia knew how insane her thought was. But at the same time, she didn’t think it was entirely bad. The real question was how Leonid would take it. Still, since they’d already crossed a line, she doubted he would outright reject her. After all, he’d seemed far more sober than she had been last night.

Hesitantly, Katia spoke.

“Did you… enjoy last night, Captain?”

“I…”

Leonid seemed to carefully consider his words before answering.

“I hate to admit it, but yes, I did.”

“Well then, Captain, I…”

Katia hesitated, then quickly blurted out her words, making sure she couldn’t take them back.

“Can we… do it again?”

“What?”

“I know. I must be crazy. I think so too. But… we’re both lonely and upset. And maybe… this kind of comfort isn’t so bad.”

“Do you realize what you’re saying, Katia Evlaine?”

“Yes?”

“You’re asking me to be your… partner. For times when you’re struggling because of His Highness.”

When you put it that way… 

Katia turned pale.

She had just said something utterly insane to her superior. To someone she’d have to keep seeing. Katia stammered, trying to backtrack, but Leonid’s interpretation was undeniably accurate. She couldn’t think of a way to spin it positively, and her mind went blank.

‘You’re insane, Katia! Are you still drunk, or have you really lost your mind? How could you say something like that?’