Epilogue.3

“…”

Satisfaction, anxiety, fear, joy—every emotion swirled together in a storm. Amidst it all, one strange realization emerged: she no longer needed to give up on this love. In other words…

Lucian loves me.

It wasn’t a misunderstanding; it was genuine. It wasn’t just physical; it was real. Ah, he loves me!

The realization that her feelings weren’t forbidden lifted a cloud from her heart, and the guilt buried deep within seemed to vanish.

Without a word, Iliana separated herself slightly and gazed into his green eyes.

He, drenched in her fluids, brushed the hair sticking to his cheek and met her gaze with a smile. Perhaps realizing he had pushed her too far, his eyebrows furrowed slightly in an odd expression.

That smile was tender. It was a look she had never seen before, yet it carried a familiar affection.

“Lucian.”

“Yes.”

“…I love you.”

With all her heart, Iliana whispered as she embraced Lucian.

“So hold me properly.”

Lucian’s face turned red.

“Can I?”

“Yes. I want you to.”

I want you to take me completely.

Lucian, watching Iliana’s bright smile, let out a helpless laugh. Her clear face seemed to glow as he carefully kissed her forehead. Each kiss made Iliana hold her breath, feeling as though laughter might escape her lips.

Despite having just released out, his *rousal was already standing firm. Aligning himself with her entrance, he rubbed against her cl*toris. Though their seated position made it easy to enter, he deliberately teased her, mixing his pr*cum with her fluids. Iliana, hearing the lewd sounds of him entering and pulling out, cautiously laid her back on the sheets and grabbed his wrist.

“Stop teasing and… inside, ah… ngh, ah!”

“Don’t rush me, Lana…”

As if ignited, he thrust into her all at once, running a hand through his hair.

Ah, so tight. 

The warm, snug interior that clung to him and refused to let go made Lucian groan.

Though the fullness inside her was overwhelming, it wasn’t unbearable. Was it because of the abundance of fluids already flowing? Ignoring the heat rising to her ears, Iliana released his arm and met his eyes, prompting Lucian to thrust his hips.

“Ah, ngh!”

The firm sh*ft stirred her insides. The pounding flesh was almost stinging. His gaze, filled with desire, seemed to devour her as he enveloped her completely.

“Ah, Lucian, ah! It’s too big, please, gentler…”

“Lana, stop clenching… ah, it’s so tight…”

Was it because her childhood friend’s manhood was unusual? The swollen flesh that seemed to grow even more was terrifying. Yet, the fact that the only person who could drive her to this point, the only one she could cling to, was him alone, made her heart burn with emotion.

Lucian Declan. Her childhood friend, someone she had known since the days they used to cut steak together. They knew the number of moles on each other’s bodies but were still unfamiliar with each other’s *rogenous zones.

Thus, they were a pair who needed time to truly understand each other as man and woman.

Ah. 

Overwhelmed by the fiery heat that satisfied her heart, Iliana shed tears of joy. The physiological pain mixed with moisture that flowed both above and below.

‘How did it come to this?’

His broad shoulders pressed against her chest. The way he drove his hips was more provocative than any illustration in a risqué magazine.

Lucian Declan, who desired her. Lucian Declan, who harbored affection for her.

Her chest swelled with fullness, to the point of overflowing. Just when she thought her body had already reached its peak, it responded again each time he knocked on her insides. The paralyzing pleasure was something she welcomed.

“Lu… ngh, Lu… cian…”

“Yes, Lana… ngh… ah.”

As she reached out to stroke his cheek, he seemed to instinctively understand her signal and lowered himself to kiss her. Her body, overwhelmed with fullness, tensed her abdomen, causing Lucian to let out a low groan as he entwined his tongue with hers.

“Ah, Lucian, I… I’m going to…!”

“Don’t… clench so tightly, Lana… ngh…!”

Her inner walls contracted. Startled, Lucian hastily withdrew, pulling out his manhood.

“Ah…!”

As he withdrew, the tip of his length brushed against her cl*toris, leaving Iliana trembling with a tingling sensation in her waist. Opaque fluid dripped onto her abdomen. Her mind went blank.

“Ngh, ah…”

“Hah…”

The two took a moment to catch their breath, staring at each other. Then, for some reason, they burst into laughter at the sight of themselves, like children who had collided awkwardly.

Their bodies were completely spent, falling limp. Lucian, who had been smiling with furrowed brows, stood up and tore off a piece of tissue from the table.

“Should I wipe it off?”

“Sure.”

Lying on the bed, Iliana nodded and watched as Lucian approached. Then, with a playful laugh, she spread the fluid across her abdomen with her hand.

“Too bad you couldn’t finish inside.”

“…Don’t provoke me too much.”

Lucian, rubbing his forehead as if asking where she had learned such things, was already aroused again. Watching him made her chest tingle. Strangely, it was unmistakable that he loved her.

Feeling overwhelmed with happiness, Iliana beamed brightly. Even the sight of Lucian sitting beside her with the tissue felt like a dream. She wished time would stop right here, yet at the same time, she found herself longing for this moment to become familiar.

As their eyes met, Iliana’s gaze softened. The gentle touch of the tissue wiping her abdomen made her close her eyes, and Lucian leaned closer to ask:

“Will you marry me?”

What kind of atmosphere-less proposal was this?

Opening her eyes, she saw Lucian leaning over her with one arm propped beside her head, looking down at her.

“What did you say?”

“I asked if you’d marry me.”

“…Is this a proposal?”

“If it sounds like one, then maybe it is.”

“You’re proposing while we’re practically n*ked?”

“…Ah.”

Iliana stared at him in disbelief. Lucian sighed shortly and pressed his lips together in a hurry. His flushed cheeks seemed to suggest that this wasn’t how he had intended to say it. It seemed impulsive.

As Iliana cautiously sat up, Lucian avoided her gaze. Watching him purse his lips, she couldn’t help but laugh, thinking he might have truly blurted it out on impulse.

“For the record, I was just thinking about it. I thought it might be fun to marry you. But I never intended to say it like this.”

“Really?”

“Even if I did, I planned to say something like, ‘Let’s date first since rushing things would be strange.’”

“Is that so?”

“…Lana, don’t tease me when you already know.”

As he pulled away and now even hid his lips, Iliana’s mouth twitched into a smile.

She decided not to push him further today. Muttering to himself, Lucian picked up the dress that had fallen at the foot of the bed and handed it to her. Remembering that he had been wearing a shirt the entire time made her feel oddly embarrassed.

As she dressed, the silence in the room felt oddly thrilling in a different way. 

So, what happens now? Are we dating?

Sneaking a glance behind her, she met Lucian’s eyes. For some reason, she felt he might be thinking the same thing. As she hesitated and approached him, Lucian, after much deliberation, finally spoke.

“So, what’s your answer…?”

“Huh?”

“I said we should start by dating. I know I fumbled my words… Ah, maybe I should just start over.”

Running a hand through his hair, he knelt down and extended his hand to Iliana. Unlike the first time he had offered her a drink, his gaze was now on the same level as hers. Slowly, Iliana placed her hand in his.

She had a feeling she knew what he was about to say.

“Will you date me with marriage in mind?”

It was undoubtedly an extension of the future she had always dreamed of.

“…Yes.”

Iliana nodded with a radiant smile, clasping his hand.

As the two left the room and headed toward the carriage, the cool autumn air brushed against their backs.

Only the warmth of their intertwined hands carried the heat of summer. Iliana secretly cherished the fluttering feelings of being caught between summer and autumn.

END