2.7

Leon couldn’t bring himself to look directly at Ellen, soaked by the rain, so he quickly turned his gaze away and tried to shake off some of the water clinging to him.  

“You might catch a cold, Miss Novary. It would be best to shake off the water as well.”  

Though he couldn’t help her dry off, Leon glanced at Ellen’s dress, thinking of ways to assist her. The moment his eyes fell on her, his body froze once more.  

Her drenched dress clung to her body, and because it was a light yellow color, it became almost transparent. Her full chest, slender waist, and beautiful, smooth curves were all vividly outlined.  

“Please, cover yourself with my coat.”  

Leon removed his outer coat and handed it to Ellen. For some reason, he felt embarrassed. He needed to suppress the rising desire within him. If he didn’t, he feared he would regret it.  

He had to reduce the visual stimulation. Covering what was visible was the only solution.  

“It’s already wet, so you don’t need to give it to me.”  

Ellen thought there was no point in accepting wet clothes, so she tried to return the coat. But when she noticed her own body, clearly outlined in her soaked dress, she gasped in shock. Her chest, prominently outlined, made her blush.  

“Oh my!”  

Flustered, Ellen quickly wrapped Leon’s large coat around herself to cover her body. It was the first time she had ever revealed her figure to a man. She felt deeply embarrassed.  

What if he thinks I’m an indecent woman?  

Shrinking her body as much as possible, Ellen tried to hide herself and glanced at Leon. She was worried he might think poorly of her.  

However…  

Leon’s gaze was completely different from what Ellen had feared. His damp eyes were intense, and within them, there seemed to be a flicker of desire.  

“….”  

When their eyes met, time seemed to stop. A subtle silence lingered between them.  

The cold air grew heavier, and it felt as though waves were rippling through their bodies. It was as if a strong magnetic pull connected them.  

As Ellen reached out her hand to touch Leon’s cheek, his lips descended upon hers before she could make contact. His lips, wet from the rain, burned with heat as they pressed against hers.  

His tongue swept across the roof of her mouth, exploring every corner. Ellen responded to his kiss, moving her tongue in sync with his.  

Soon, their tongues intertwined, and a wave of intense excitement washed over them.  

The kiss grew deeper, and like the stormy weather, Leon’s kisses became rough and relentless. They were fierce and aggressive.  

Even though they had kissed earlier, Leon kissed her as if he were parched with thirst.  

Water dripped from their rain-soaked hair, but neither of them noticed. The kiss was so overpowering that even breathing became difficult.  

They focused solely on each other, their lips locked, their tongues entwined. The air between them grew hotter the closer they became.  

Leon’s hand once again trailed down Ellen’s soft curves.  

Feeling that a kiss wasn’t enough, Ellen took Leon’s hand and placed it on her chest. The warmth of his hand seeped into her rain-soaked skin.  

“!”  

Startled by the soft resilience beneath his hand, Leon’s eyes widened. He felt a surge of heat in his lower body.  

D*mn it.  

Though he knew he should stop, Leon couldn’t. No matter how much he tried to resist, he couldn’t reject the temptation.  

The moment he saw her rain-soaked figure, he lost all sense of reason. Just the feel of her soft, enticing form against him ignited his excitement.  

How could a woman’s chest be so beautiful?  

The sensation of her flesh, bouncing under his large hand, threatened to drive him mad. He felt an overwhelming urge to experience her bare skin.  

Leon’s hand moved to her back, loosening the laces of her dress. The fabric slackened, and he pushed aside the undergarment covering her chest, grasping her fully.  

“Ah!”  

Ellen cried out in surprise, pulling her lips away. Leon cupped her cheek with his other hand, bringing their lips together again.  

“Mmm.”  

The sound of their mingling saliva was drowned out by the rain. Leon’s hand, resting on her chest, gently traced its contours.  

Her skin was soft and supple, like that of a newborn. Even with minimal stimulation, her n*pples hardened and protruded. When he twisted one lightly with his fingers, Ellen’s body flinched.  

So sensitive.  

The more he touched her, the stronger his desire grew. Leon wanted to explore more of her soft, delicate skin.  

He wanted to strip her clothes off and take her right then and there. Though he knew he shouldn’t, he couldn’t stop himself from yearning for her body.  

Ellen, too, began to touch Leon’s chest, her hands moving tentatively. Even through his damp clothes, she felt the heat of his body.  

D*mn it! How could this be so arousing?  

Every time her hands brushed against him, he felt himself harden even more.  

Ellen was surprised. It was the first time she had ever aroused a man.  

The more passionately they kissed, the more her lower abdomen throbbed. Despite the cold air, her body warmed wherever his hands touched.  

Should I have seduced him with my body sooner?  

Ellen regretted her past hesitance. Leon’s reactions to her body made her feel less lonely than she had before.  

Still, she didn’t expect much. She thought Leon would stop midway, as he always did. Though he might lose control momentarily, he always regained his composure and suppressed his instincts. He was a man of restraint.  

As expected, their blissful moment ended as soon as the rain stopped.  

The moment the rain ceased, Leon, who had been lost in the kiss, came to his senses.  

“I’m sorry.”  

He muttered an apology, his voice heavy with guilt, and managed to pull himself away. Though his body burned with desire, he knew he had to stop. Once again, he regretted his actions.  

You fool! You deserve to be scorned!  

Leon cursed himself for succumbing to his instincts, for nearly giving in to the sweet temptation. He needed to regain control.  

For lovers, kisses and more intimate touches might be natural. But since they weren’t truly lovers, he shouldn’t have acted on impulse. If he let things continue, Ellen would be the one to suffer in the end.  

Hearing his apology, Ellen felt the lingering heat of excitement fade.  

There’s no need to apologize….  

She found it amusing, even endearing, that Leon had apologized after losing control again. It meant she had shaken his resolve.  

“You can continue if you’d like.”  

Ellen wanted to provoke him further, so she spoke boldly without adjusting her dress.  

“Let’s stop here for today. There are people around us.”  

Leon’s response was a rejection. Though she had hoped to use the visual effect to her advantage, he avoided her gaze.  

Feeling disappointed, Ellen considered pushing further but decided against it. She lowered her hand, which had been reaching for his face.  

There’s still time… Yes, let’s stop here for now.  

As Leon said, people began to appear as the rain stopped. Ellen didn’t particularly enjoy public displays of affection, so she followed his lead.  

The silver lining was that Leon’s walls seemed to be crumbling, little by little.  

Though he had drawn a line today, he left room for more in the future. If she pushed harder next time, she might succeed.  

She still wondered if she could find satisfaction with just physical intimacy, without love. But for now, the growing hope in her heart was enough.