3.4

Ending the kiss with a short peck, Lucian pressed his lips to her nose and laughed.  

“Your hands are honest. Is undressing someone your preference?”  

“…Maybe?”  

Honestly, Lucian, you are my preference.  

Unable to say it aloud, Iliana averted her gaze. Whether he interpreted her silence differently, Lucian buried his lips against her neck and spoke.

“You have quite refined tastes, Lana.”  

“You’re saying that just to tease me, aren’t you?”  

“Not at all. Quite the opposite.”  

Biting into her soft skin, he trailed kisses along her neckline and nuzzled her cheek. “It excites me,” Lucian murmured, his voice spreading into the air as he pressed his teeth to her collarbone. A sharp sound escaped her lips.  

Leaving red marks as he bit and sucked on her tender skin, Lucian lifted his head and smiled. Iliana instinctively placed her hand on his cheek and gave him a quick kiss.  

For some reason, the heat surrounding them made her head feel even foggier, and she exhaled shakily. As if pleased by her reaction, he wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her closer. Their bodies pressed tightly together.  

Caught in an awkward position—neither sitting nor standing—Iliana’s legs trembled. When she tried to steady herself by digging her toes into the ground, Lucian, who had been exploring her mouth with his tongue, stood her upright and slid his leg between hers. His firm thigh pressed against her from below. Lucian’s deliberate actions were relentless, as if he wanted to show her his desire to devour her.  

Feeling exposed, Iliana averted her gaze. The string of saliva connecting their mouths stretched long before breaking.  

Finally managing to steady herself on both feet, Iliana caught her breath. Watching her regain her balance, Lucian lowered his head and moved his hand.  

“…It tickles.”  

The cravat around his neck came loose and dangled against her skin. Iliana suppressed her laughter and stared at Lucian, who, looking dissatisfied, shrugged off his shirt.  

“If you’re reacting to something as insignificant as a cravat, Lana, your tastes really are refined.”  

You should be focusing on me.

Saying things he usually wouldn’t, Lucian untied the ribbon and loosened the strings on her back. Beneath his heated gaze, which lingered as he undid the laces, Iliana caught sight of his tightly sculpted muscles. She bit her lip, trying to cling to her fleeting rationality.  

She had never thought muscles could be attractive before.  

Why was I only realizing now how appealing they were? Was it because of the alcohol? 

Her desires seemed to outweigh her reason. As Lucian slowly untied the strings with his fingers, Iliana, having ended her hesitation, raised her hand.  

“Ugh.”  

When her trembling fingers traced along the lines of his muscles, Lucian, who had been undoing buttons with his teeth, let out a groan. His rough breathing made Iliana freeze, her face turning as red as if it were on fire.  

It was a sound that stirred a strange sense of conquest within her. She wanted to hear it again. Moving her stiff fingers, she explored his muscles in her own way, pressing and tracing along their contours.  

Lucian, having successfully slid her clothing off her arms, flicked her n*pple and chuckled lowly. 

“Your touch right now… it’s quite perverted. Were you that eager for my muscles?”  

“…It’s not like that.”  

“Then why is your face so red? Look, it’s not just your cheeks anymore—it’s spread all the way down your neck. Even further below. Ah, though this part was already red, so I suppose it doesn’t count.”  

Trailing his long fingers along her neckline, Lucian flicked the hardened peak before teasingly squeezing her chest. 

“Ah!” 

Startled, Iliana gasped, and Lucian took the opportunity to slide his leg between hers and step onto the chair.  

The sudden change in height startled Iliana, making her flail. Lucian, wrapping one arm around her waist, leaned down and sucked on her n*pple.  

“Hah… mm… ngh…”  

The way he rolled his tongue over her was so intense that Iliana clung to his back. She was more afraid of losing her balance and falling than of running away from the pleasure. She hated pain, after all. Convincing herself with that excuse, she curled her shoulders, but his lips, buried in her skin, showed no intention of letting go.  

It felt as though the mark he left would swell by tomorrow. Finally, after thoroughly sucking on her, Lucian moved his lips and looked up at Iliana.  

“Lana, kiss me.”  

He was trying to act cute. He rubbed his head against her chest before pulling back, his gaze making her heart race. After a moment’s hesitation, Iliana leaned down.  

Though her movement was clumsy and abrupt, Lucian didn’t seem to mind. Smiling lightly, he tilted his head to close the gap.  

Their tongues intertwined once again, the kiss deep and fervent. Iliana struggled to keep up with his relentless pace, her breath growing heavier as she clung to his back. 

“Mm… ngh…” 

Soft, youthful moans escaped her lips.  

As she focused entirely on the kiss, she suddenly felt something firm pressing against her hips.  

Though the sensation wasn’t particularly intense, the pleasure it brought made her lower body wet with *rousal. She found herself wishing he would hurry. With that thought in mind, she pushed against him, trying to break the kiss.  

Lucian frowned in displeasure, biting her neck in response. As he continued to tease her, his hand skillfully stimulated her, drawing out more moans.  

“Ah… mm… ngh…”  

“Don’t push me away. Desire me. That’s why you’re flushed red, isn’t it?”  

I was already desiring you. Couldn’t you tell how by how wet I was? 

Feeling embarrassed, Iliana pressed firmly against his shoulders. 

“If you’re going to spout nonsense, let go.”  

Understanding her intent, Lucian slowly lowered his leg and stepped back.  

Iliana sighed in relief as her feet finally touched the ground. She looked at Lucian, who was now biting his thumb as he stared at her. His strange behavior made her chuckle softly.  

“Your lips are as red as they look.”  

That damned redness.  

She didn’t know why, but a sense of defiance rose within her. One thing was certain: Iliana was feeling impulsive as well. Using the alcohol as an excuse, she grabbed him by the neck and asked, 

“Do you really want to see me red?”  

“Yes. If possible, I’d like to see you as red as you can be.”  

His shameless reply, paired with his mischievous smile, ignited a strange desire within her.  

If I turn red, will you crave me? Like that night?  

Burying her conscience beneath the sound of her pounding heart, Iliana reached for the wine glass on the table. 

“Watch carefully.”  

Murmuring softly, she tilted the glass and poured the wine over her chest.  

The crimson liquid trickled down her pale skin, following the curves of her chest. The cold sensation made her frown, but the droplets clung to her skin, leaving a faint reddish hue.  

“…It’s red enough, isn’t it?”  

Her dark clothing, still partially on, absorbed some of the liquid, but who cared? Iliana shot Lucian a challenging look, as if to ask if he was satisfied.  

Lucian, his blue eyes wide like a startled rabbit, covered his mouth. 

“I never thought I’d be the kind of person to get turned on by something like this…”  

Lowering his head, he muttered softly, 

“What do I do, Lana?”  

“What do you… ngh… ah…”

Simultaneously, as the wine dripped, he wiped it off with his palm and began to explore her body. He smeared the wine across each joint as though applying it, his hand lingering near her abdomen. The overtly sensual act made her lower body tremble involuntarily.