2.6

What kind of absurd…  

She wasn’t sure if the word she understood matched Lucian’s intended meaning or its dictionary definition. Her mind, which had been lightheartedly wondering how he felt about her, was now in complete disarray.  

But Lucian didn’t seem to intend to let Iliana sort her thoughts. Bringing her hand closer to him, he spoke.  

“I’ve been having a dream I can’t quite remember lately.”  

“…”  

“I feel like if I kiss you, I’ll figure it out.”  

His gaze carried a strange intensity, different from his usual green-eyed warmth. As Iliana opened her mouth in shock, he smirked and leaned closer.  

“Can’t I?”  

His light question and the way he gently pulled her closer entered her vision. They say blue flames burn hotter than red ones. It felt exactly like that. Emotion overpowered reason.  

Their lips brushed. The gap Lucian had been closing was finally bridged when Iliana leaned in herself.  

She moved purely on instinct. Tilting her head, she kissed him briefly, and as the heat on their cheeks grew similar, she parted her lips.  

A sweet scent invaded her mouth. The fragrance overwhelmed her nose.  

“Mmh.”  

As she let out a soft moan from the ticklish sensation, Lucian cupped her head with his large hand, pulling her closer to prevent her from escaping.  

When she responded to his kiss by moving her tongue, Lucian chuckled softly. Embarrassed, Iliana bit his tongue lightly, prompting him to lick her lower lip as he pulled away. His glistening lips were flushed red.  

“I think I was right.”  

Licking his lips, Lucian smiled brightly as he slowly straightened his back, taking hold of her other hand as well.  

“It’s the scene from my dream.”  

Then, without warning, he pushed her down. In an instant, Iliana found herself pinned to the table, her arms trapped. She exhaled in a daze.  

“…Ah.”  

Her heart pounded violently, as if it would burst. Regaining her senses, she covered her lips with her hand. The saliva on her palm was unmistakably his.  

This isn’t right. I can’t get caught up in this again. What if he remembers this time?  

Realizing instinctively that there weren’t many people in the annex, Iliana glanced at Lucian’s firm arm holding her wrist. Feeling ashamed of her opportunistic tendencies, she wondered if giving in wouldn’t be so bad after all.  

…No, Iliana. What a drunk person does cannot be considered consensual.  

If Lucian remembers what happens today, you’ll have to confess everything you’ve been hiding. Are you prepared to endure the harsh gaze that might follow?  

Her emotions clashed with her reasoning, leaving her mind blank. As if the alcohol was rising back up, she shook her head and tried to move away from the table. But Lucian’s neatly stretched leg trapped hers between his calves.  

“Lu… Lucian…!”  

Her lips curled up awkwardly as she found herself completely trapped. The uncomfortable situation sent a thrill through her chest. 

This really isn’t right. 

While she muttered under her breath, Lucian leaned down and kissed her ear.  

Really?  

She couldn’t tell if it was his whisper or her own inner voice, but the transparent desire made her bite her lip.  

“Look at me.”  

With her vision crossed, Iliana clasped her hands together as if making a wish. Lying flat on her back, she looked up at Lucian, who smiled in satisfaction and kissed her as if he had been waiting.  

“Mmm…”  

When she closed her eyes, she could vividly feel their tongues intertwining. As his tongue brushed against her lower lip and his hands explored her shoulders, Iliana relaxed her body, trying to make it easier for him to deepen his intrusion.  

She let out a nasal moan as she gasped for air. His hand, which had slowly caressed her neck and moved downward, came back up to her cheek, gently stroking her face before pulling away.  

“Hah… Ugh.”  

He sucked on her tongue with an audible sound before breaking the kiss. As he exhaled, he stroked the corner of her eye.  

“If you had pushed me away, I wouldn’t have gone any further, Iliana.”  

…If I were going to push you away, I would’ve done it earlier.  

Her legs pressed together as she internally responded to his oddly scraping voice. She nodded. Taking that as consent, Lucian once again leaned into her.  

Placing his weight on her, he lightly kissed her cheek before finding the hollow of her back. His middle finger traced along her spine, the sensation making her exhale sharply and squirm.  

His hand, which had been fondling her soft flesh, untied the strings at her back. Her chest, now exposed through the loosened strings, quivered modestly. Feeling awkward about the lukewarm air brushing against her skin, Iliana subtly raised her hand.  

“Why… Why are you laughing?”  

“You’re the one…”  

Lucian blinked slowly before letting out a low laugh and pressing his lips to her neck.

“Why cover it? What a waste.”

As his warm breath traveled down her neck, shoulder blades, and collarbone, Iliana’s toes curled. The natural way his lips descended and his hands removed her clothing left her mouth dry. She stroked the lustrous black hair before her, and Lucian smirked as he pulled down the hem of her dress.

“Ah…”

Her body, now exposed to the rough air and his coarse fingers, reacted sensitively. The sensation of his touch made her skin tingle even more when she closed her eyes. His hand, which had been exploring her side, moved centrally, pressing and releasing the hollow below her navel.

Iliana, flustered by his teasing as he inserted his finger into her belly button, twisted her body.

“Why… Why are you touching me there, Lucian?”

“Because it’s a place that still holds traces of how small you used to be…?”  

Isn’t it cute? 

His sly answer to her flustered question came as he kissed her stomach and looked up with a smile.  

“What…?”  

“You look so taken aback. But I’m not wrong, am I?”  

Raising his body slightly, he brought himself closer to her, extending his hand further. Pressing his thumb gently on her soft flesh, he tapped just above her navel as he continued.  

“I wondered if I could reach this far, but I also thought it must have been difficult to even fit a finger into this hole.”

“What are you…!”  

“Your face is so red, Iliana. You understand, don’t you?”  

The heat spreading over her face was both embarrassing and strangely pleasant. It sounded as if Lucian was expressing a desire to dominate her—or at least a physical attraction toward her.  

Even though his words were vulgar, a sense of anticipation crept up. As she hunched her shoulders and averted her gaze, he kissed the back of her hand covering her chest and gently pulled it away.  

“Ah…!”  

Her chest bounced slightly as her arm lost strength.  

“You really do understand, don’t you? I can tell from how hard they’ve gotten.”  

Lucian’s gaze fell on the stiff peaks of her chest. Lowering his eyes, he flicked her n*pple with his finger.  

“Were you expecting this?”  

“Hng…!”  

As he took the hardened tip into his mouth, Iliana let out a faint moan. Embarrassed by the sound that escaped her, she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. As if waiting for that moment, Lucian buried his face into her chest.  

He lightly nibbled before sucking deeply, the sound shamelessly loud. Unable to bear the sight, Iliana could only let out more moans as his tongue stimulated the sensitive flesh.  

The growing dampness below made her legs twist together. It feels good. The conflicting sensations of pleasure and the urge to flee left her mind in chaos.  

As she tried to push her body away from the floor she couldn’t quite reach, Lucian pressed his head deeper into her chest, drawing another moan from her.  

“Hah, ah… ngh, ugh! Lucian…!”  

Was I always this sensitive that night? 

The thought that she shouldn’t get used to this crossed her mind as she met his gaze.  

But the moment she saw him biting and flicking her other n*pple, she regretted it.  

“Ah, Lucian, ngh!”  

“Mm, it’s so red, Iliana…”

Hearing her name, Lucian raised his face from her chest and flicked the n*pple with his hand.

“Good girl.”

Satisfied, Lucian stroked her cheek, brushing aside the strands of hair that had fallen over her face as he smiled.

“Your lips, your skin… even the corners of your eyes are all red now.”

“…”  

“Don’t rush me. If you turn any redder, I won’t be able to hold back…”  

“They’re not that red—ngh…!”  

Before she could finish her sentence, his long fingers slipped into her mouth, scraping against the roof of her mouth with his middle and ring fingers. Her words came out muffled.  

“Stop biting your lips.”  

Then stop teasing me.  

“Good girl.”  

As she glared at him with a hint of dissatisfaction, Lucian kissed her forehead as if he’d been waiting for it.  

His tongue lapped at her tears as his hand gradually moved downward. Feeling his touch on the soft flesh between her thighs, Iliana hurriedly tried to close her legs, but the dress bunched under her abdomen left an opening.  

“Ah, ngh!”  

Was it because of the unique nature of her unrequited love? Her body reacted earnestly to the ticklish sensation of his fingers teasing the tender flesh.  

Even just his touch on the swollen area was enough to send her over the edge.  

“Hah…!”  

As her hips bucked, his fingers brushed against her cl*toris, the trembling of her body causing the contact to repeat.  

“You came, didn’t you, Lana?”  

Muttering softly, he reached his hand toward her most intimate area.  

“You’re wet.”  

“W-wait, Lucian, I already—ngh, ah…!”  

Ignoring her protest, his fingers roughly parted her l*bia, plunging into her entrance. His soothing voice accompanied the intrusion of his middle finger, which explored her insides. Despite her lingering tremors, the pleasure from his touch left her mind blank.  

“Hah, ugh… ngh…! S-stop, ah!”  

Iliana tried to push Lucian’s arm away, but it wouldn’t budge. Instead, he only pressed closer. It felt much thicker than when it had entered her mouth, and her heart pounded fiercely.  

The rough breaths falling on her neck wouldn’t stop.