1. Intimate Secret (Part 1)

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She couldn’t stop his hand from slipping under her skirt. Staring at the red scar etched like a tattoo on his hand, she could only blink helplessly. His long, thick fingers opened and slid into her slit.

“That’s—”

As his hot hand pried into her underwear, the woman’s white flesh quivered. Her pale skin, almost translucent enough to show veins, was crushed under his fingertips. She tried to resist the sensation dominating her body, but she couldn’t stop the moans escaping through clenched teeth.

“You shouldn’t touch… haah… there.”

“Why not?”

His deep, rough voice tickled Daria’s ear.

“You’re already mine.”

Despite Daria’s feeble resistance, his hand didn’t stop. No, it only made him do more obsc*ne things. He spread her legs wide to observe the flesh she herself had never properly seen. Her already labored breathing quickened under his gaze.

“Ah.”

“Daria, you are my slave, a slave who will serve me forever.”

He whispered, brushing through her coarse red p*bic hair.

Daria tried to protest, but fearing a moan would escape, she bit her red lips. It was true she worked for the Count, but only as a maid. She was neither his slave nor a wh*re. She cleaned and managed the house. That was Daria’s job. This was not part of their contract.

“I’m just a maid.”

“Lies.”

His fingers pushed between her moist, soft folds. Her body heated up at his touch.

“You have the makings of a perfect slave. From the moment I first saw you, I wanted to delve my fingers deep inside you. With those moist eyes and those red, lewd lips, you tempted me.”

“Ah… Hngh…”

“Or else, why didn’t you try saying no.”

He laughed softly. The sound scratched at Daria’s mind. But she didn’t have time to study his expression. His fingers jabbed into her twitching hole. Before she could say no, her delicate flesh clung to his fingers. 

I should say no, I should say no——.

But with each thrust of his hard fingers, no protest escapes her mouth, only a moan. Her hips heaved, and her br*asts peeked through the loosened corset.

“Count… Ahh…”

“Daria, you are mine.”

At first, she resisted his words, but perhaps it was true. From the moment she first entered this house, greeted the Count after being led by the butler, and her fingers brushed his while serving tea, maybe she had wanted these strong hands to ruin her. 

Yes, maybe it was me who tempted him…

]

Eirin was so engrossed in writing vulgar and lascivious words that she forgot what time it was or where she was. Her white hands were stained with ink from writing all day, and her wrist ached, but she couldn’t stop.

Click.

The sound of the door opening echoed through the study. Eirin’s hand, which had been moving the pen without rest, stopped at the unfamiliar sound.

Who is it?

She looked up and swept a hand through her disheveled red hair. Bright light streamed through the cracks in the thick oak door, and a man slowly stepped through the flood of light. 

He was tall, so tall she had to tilt her head back to look up at him, with a solid build, soft brown hair, and slightly tanned skin from the sun. Eirin gasped at the appearance of a man who had no reason to be in this study.

Why is he here?

Eirin, who had been sitting at the desk, hurriedly stood up and slightly bent her knees.

“Alexander, oh, no. Your Grace.”

Alexander Bellaston, the Duke. He was a close friend of Eirin’s brother, Stefan. He had been staying here for several weeks due to an investment business he was involved in with Stefan. They had been living in the same mansion for weeks, but he had never come to the study before. 

I thought he was out hunting with Stefan today!

Eirin took a deep breath, feeling like her chest would burst, and looked at him. His intimidating gaze was fixed on her. He raised one of his thick eyebrows slightly and tilted his head in a greeting.

“Apologies for the intrusion.”

His words were polite, but his tone was quite stiff.

“Ah, um, it’s alright.”

Eirin blushed at his words. As her lips moved awkwardly, Alexander’s gaze shifted from her flushed face to the notebook spread open on the desk.

Oh, the notebook.

Eirin had completely forgotten about the notebook in the surprise of Alexander’s appearance. In her shock, the notebook lay wide open. Fearing he might see it, she quickly reached out and closed it. The ink, still wet, would smudge and stain the other pages, but now was not the time to worry about that.

The man’s gaze lingered on her hands.

“Am I interrupting? What were you doing?”

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Yes, I was writing an erotic romance novel. Indulging in forbidden sensual fantasies that a lady should never have, putting into words my desires for a man I have never touched, even though I am twenty-four now.

She couldn’t say that, could she?

It would be less humiliating to throw herself into the lake on the estate than to let Alexander know this.

I must never let him see it. 

Pressing her fingers firmly on the closed notebook, she stammered out a clumsy excuse.

“I was… writing in my diary.”

“Diary?”

His stern mouth twisted slightly.

It would have been better if she had come up with a more clever story, but in her panic, nothing came to mind.

Alexander and Eirin had always been quite close. Since childhood, whenever school breaks came, Alexander would often visit Eirin’s home, Knightley estate, following Stefan. Even Eirin, who didn’t particularly enjoy talking with men, found her time with him enjoyable.

Alexander might know that she doesn’t really keep a diary.

“You were writing in a diary?”

Nothing would be more humiliating than for him to see it. To be found out would be death.

Eirin gripped the quill in her right hand and held down the notebook with her left. She was desperate not to let the trembling show.

“Yes, a diary.”

“A diary, huh? Did something interesting happen today?”

He rubbed his smooth chin, looking puzzled. The deep scar on his right hand caught her eye. A red, deep wound. He had mentioned it was from a battle. Seeing that scar, Eirin looked away as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

His tone, implying that her life couldn’t be interesting, offended Eirin. She blurted out,

“Just because I’m stuck at home doesn’t mean my days are filled with boring things.”

I’ve had some interesting things happen in my own life.

Like whether my novels bring joy to others.

Pouting, Eirin clutched the notebook to her chest and quickly walked away from the desk.

“You came to the study for something, right? I’ll step aside.”

“I didn’t mean to mock you.”

Alexander’s crooked smile didn’t match his words.

“I’m sure you didn’t.”

Eirin swallowed back the words ‘How could you not’ that she wanted to add and gave a polite smile instead.

“Anyway, I’m done, so feel free to use the space.”

“I just wanted to borrow a couple of books. No need to leave.”

Eirin shook her head at Alexander’s words. She wanted to leave quickly. The study at Duke of Hamilton’s Knightley estate was vast and full of books, but his strange, sweet scent filled the large room.

What on earth is that scent?

Do all men smell like that?

No.

I never noticed such a scent from my brother, Stefan.

Alexander always exuded a sweet scent that made her swallow hard, and it made her body heat up.

She couldn’t write while sharing the same room with him. 

My heart disease will take over and I’ll die quickly.

Shaking her head, she spoke.

“No, I’m done. I’ll be going.”

Clutching the notebook like a lifeline, she began to walk out. Her green dress fluttered as she walked briskly.

Of all days, she wore a dress she didn’t like.

A redhead in a green dress. The worst. 

If I had known he was going to show up in the study today, I would have worn the new dress I bought last week.

But it was too late to regret. She just wanted to get away from his sight in this shabby appearance. She reached the door quickly, but Alexander, leaning against the doorframe, didn’t move. He just looked at her, slightly bent.

He needs to move for her to pass.

She could force her way through, but their bodies would touch. Eirin finally lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“Weren’t you here to borrow a book?”

Go to the bookshelf already, please.

Alexander smiled crookedly at her displ*asure. That smile was etched into her mind.

‘Alexander, that guy is dangerous. He lures women with that smile.’

She remembered what her brother Stefan, who was just as popular with the ladies as Alexander, had said. He was right. Even Eirin, who had seen his smile a hundred times before, felt her legs weaken at Alexander’s grin, though they hadn’t even touched.

“The book——.”

He chuckled before continuing.

“Right, I came for a book.”

“Then look for it. And move so I can leave.”

In response to her annoyed voice, he raised an eyebrow and slightly moved.

“Excuse me.”

He could have moved further but he only stepped back once. Eirin glared at him sharply, but he didn’t seem to intend to move any more, leaning against the oak door.

Eventually, she let out a small sigh and shifted her feet. Her slender shoulder brushed lightly against his chest. Even though they didn’t touch skin to skin, the slight contact sent a shiver through her body and down her leg.