Chapter 96

“…”

The carriage door suddenly shut.

I blinked in confusion. It seemed Alec had closed the door.

Before I could fully process what had just happened, the door opened again, but this time, Andrew was gone. Alec stepped inside the carriage with his usual composed expression and secured the latch.

“We’ll be departing shortly,” he said.

“I see. What about Andrew?” I asked, still puzzled.

“He said he would ride in another carriage.”

“I see.”

It was odd, since just a moment ago, Andrew had seemed ready to ride with us. But I quickly brushed it off, assuming he must have changed his mind for some reason.

“I noticed you woke up early this morning. Aren’t you tired? You should rest during the trip,” Alec suggested.

“Can I borrow your shoulder then?” I asked teasingly.

“…My lap would be more comfortable,” he replied in his usual calm tone.

I smiled at his remark. Normally, he would have blushed and panicked at my request, but now he was offering his lap without hesitation. It was a remarkable change.

When Alec picked up a soft blanket, I shifted from my seat to sit next to him.

The thought of spending the entire day alone with him filled me with a sense of peace and warmth. Sitting right next to him, I gazed up at him with affection.

He must have noticed my stare, as he paused mid-motion, holding the blanket, and looked at me intently.

As the carriage began to move, I asked him with a playful smile, “Would I be too heavy if I sat on your lap?”

“…”

His eyes wavered for a moment, and his lips parted slightly before he answered, “It would take at least three of you to weigh me down.”

I covered my mouth with my hand, blushing. Talking like this with my own husband felt like I was actually dating, just as Eloise had once said.

Without warning, Alec lifted me into his arms and settled me onto his lap. He wrapped one arm securely around my back and pulled me close, making sure I wouldn’t fall.

I leaned against his chest, biting my lip to keep myself from laughing too much. He was so broad and strong that my head rested easily against his chest.

“Are you uncomfortable?” he asked.

“Not at all. I’m more worried your legs might cramp up.”

“I’m fine. But do let me know if you feel uncomfortable.”

“Will do.”

I gazed up at him lovingly, and he met my eyes in return. How perfect it would be if time could stop right here. I wanted to stay in this moment forever.

Unable to contain my contentment, I whispered, “Alec, I’ve sat on some really comfortable chairs in my life, but none of them fit me as well as your lap does.”

“…”

He had always been a man who was nice to look at, but now he was holding me in his arms with such tenderness. It felt almost unreal, like a dream. His expression became more serious, deepened by something unspoken between us.

When I gently closed my eyes and lifted my head toward him, he leaned in closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling his lips against mine.

So this is what it feels like to connect with someone through just a glance.

‘It really feels like we’re a real couple…’

Not long ago, before our journey to the North, he was still distant, but now, just from looking into each other’s eyes, we found ourselves kissing. It was like a dream come true, this relationship I had longed for.

As his lips captured mine, he parted them slightly, and I responded by pressing myself closer, wrapping my arms more tightly around his neck. His hand behind my head pulled me closer to him, ensuring I wouldn’t lose my balance, while my lips parted further, deepening the kiss.

Our tongues intertwined, filling my mouth with warmth, melting away any remaining distance between us.

“Ah…”

The sweetness of the moment made me sigh softly. Our breaths mixed together, with no space left between us. Even though we had a long journey ahead, it suddenly felt like time would fly by in no time.

My heart was racing, pounding in my chest from the intoxicating sensations of his touch. When our lips finally parted, I looked up at him, a little dazed, and noticed his usually composed eyes were slightly disheveled.

He was always handsome, but there was something even more captivating about seeing him like this, his eyes full of heat and passion.

“I’ve always wondered something,” I murmured.

“…Yes?” he replied, still catching his breath.

“Why does it feel so good when we touch tongues?”

“…”

His eyes widened in surprise at my sudden question. I gazed at him even more affectionately.

“Don’t you ever wonder? I’ve been curious about why it feels so amazing…”

This was the first real kiss I had experienced, and the sensation was more enchanting than I had ever imagined. The more we tangled together, the more my heart melted. My breath quickened, and I couldn’t help but want more.

Was there some kind of magic in kissing?

He finally answered, his voice low and sincere.

“I haven’t really thought about it. I just know that I want to keep doing it…”

“…”

Oh.

That was not the answer I was expecting.

He looked at me again, his eyes still burning, before tilting his head and leaning in for another kiss. I closed my eyes and parted my lips, welcoming him once more.

It felt as natural as breathing, and the kiss went on, slow and deep.

“Ha…”

Eventually, my back met the soft surface of the seat beneath me, and his body followed, leaning over me.

“Louise,” he whispered.

I looked up at him, now flushed and heated, as he gazed down at me with even more intensity.

I swallowed hard, my lips slightly damp, and asked in a soft voice, “Do you think… we’ll be caught if we do it here?”

“…”

Why was it suddenly so hot in the carriage?

My cheeks felt like they were burning.

Alec briefly lowered his gaze before looking me directly in the eyes again.

“As long as we don’t move ‘too’ much, we should be fine.”

“……”

My heart sank.

As my pupils shook wildly, his lips pressed deeply against mine once again.

He and I were in a situation where we simply couldn’t stop.

With trembling hands, I undid his cloak.

Since we hadn’t been on the road for long, there was little chance that the carriage would suddenly stop.

There was no window in the compartment connected to the coachman’s seat, and unless I screamed, the sound of our voices would likely be drowned out by the noise of the wheels turning.

The window in the carriage was covered by curtains.

Still, I had no intention of taking off all his clothes, nor did I intend to undress completely.

Our breath came in quick, ragged gasps, our lips and tongues mingling without either of us knowing how.

His hands caressed my body with a lingering touch, and I gently stroked his waist in return.

For some reason, my heart was racing.

The cramped seat in the carriage only made me feel more restless.

When one of my knees lifted, his hand slid beneath my leg.

Fingers moved hastily, neither of us knowing who was undressing whom.

“Haa.”

The air inside the carriage brushed against my leg as the hem of my dress lifted.

When he gently pressed me down, I flinched, my body trembling in response.

Though I bit down hard, the overwhelming sensation of his touch caused my breath to spill out in short gasps.

It was a sensation I hadn’t known before we spent the night together.

I clutched the soft sheets tightly until my fingers turned white.

The unfamiliar yet intense feeling made my pupils freeze and left me breathless.

Even as he meticulously observed my reactions, his other hand was undoing the front of my dress.

As the tightly fastened garment loosened, my chest felt free.

But before I could fully appreciate that sense of release, his hand slipped inside my clothes.

It was hot and intense.

I clenched my teeth, enduring the sensation he gave me.

Meanwhile, it seemed that the state of his arousal was only becoming more serious.

“Ah, Alec.”

I think you can stop teasing me now.

“Louise.”

He exhaled warm breaths, burying his face in my neck, and whispered in a voice that was almost a groan.

“If it hurts, you must tell me.”

“Ah, it doesn’t—Ha!”

“…Louise?”

“Ah, it’s fine. It just feels… good…”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories