3. Divergence (Part 1)

Without knowing who moved first, their lips met. Ethan’s hands supported Cecilia’s nape and back, while Cecilia cupped his cheeks with both hands, pulling him closer. She found herself half-reclined on the sofa.

Soft lips pressed together, noses clumsily bumping in their unskilled passion. Even the slight sting of it transformed into excitement. When their slippery tongues met, a shiver ran through her, accompanied by a sensation she had never experienced before.

“Haa.”

Even in the rough breaths they exchanged, and in the saliva that flowed between them, there was the sweet and bitter taste of wine. It felt intoxicating—once from the alcohol, and once again from the kiss. Cecilia’s eyes grew hazy, a mixture of intoxication and pleasure clouding her vision. Her seductive expression completely unraveled Ethan’s self-control.

Ethan obsessively sucked and bit her lower lip. Whenever she, equally inexperienced, opened her mouth to breathe, he seized the opportunity to delve deeper, intertwining and rubbing his tongue against hers. The dizzying sensation coursed down her spine, making her feel like she was losing her mind.

More. More. Even more than now.

Driven by desire, Cecilia wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck. Her head pressed firmly into the soft sofa as Ethan’s large, solid body loomed over her like a canopy. When his thick tongue swirled inside her mouth, a soft, moaning sound escaped through her lips.

Ethan’s hand, which had been supporting her back, slid gently down to grip her slender waist tightly. His touch burned through the fabric of her dress. As their positions shifted, one of Ethan’s knees slipped between her slightly parted legs.

At that moment, Cecilia’s eyes snapped open. Tilting her head back slightly, she broke the kiss. Ethan, breathing heavily, gazed down at her in silence. The innocent, boyish look he once had was nowhere to be found. In this moment, he was a fully matured man.

Sweat glistened on his forehead and neck. His scent, a mix of soap and his natural musk, overwhelmed Cecilia, leaving her dizzy. His eyes, clouded with desire, were utterly sensual. Cecilia’s eyelashes fluttered as she felt the dampness soaking through her thin undergarments.

In a whisper, Cecilia spoke.

“Tomorrow… you might regret this.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“Cecilia, are you saying that you would?”

“No, you might.”

Cecilia slowly released her arms from around his neck.

“You want more than just one night, don’t you?”

Ethan pressed his lips together, unable to deny it. Cecilia shook her head slightly.

“I can’t promise you that, Ethan.”

For a moment, Ethan said nothing, lowering his gaze. His slightly swollen lips parted.

“I understand.”

With his resolve seemingly firmed, the hesitation disappeared from Ethan’s face. He locked eyes with Cecilia, as if trying to gauge her true feelings beyond her deep blue irises.

“What I’m curious about is not my own feelings. I already know them well.”

In a low voice, Ethan asked.

“Cecilia, do you want me to stop?”

“What if I said yes?”

“Then I will.”

At his firm response, Cecilia’s eyes widened slightly. Ethan continued, speaking slowly.

“If you tell me to stop, I will stop. If you tell me to forget, I will forget. If you tell me to leave, I will leave. And if you tell me to stay, I will stay. It’s only natural.”

“……”

“So, do as you wish. Whether you indulge yourself or push me away, I will follow your command.”

Ethan handed over complete control to Cecilia. His face bore no trace of deceit as he promised to obey her, even if she ordered him to forget or leave. Swallowing hard, Cecilia parted her trembling lips.

“I…”

At that moment, Ethan whispered in a barely audible voice.

“Even if it’s just for one night, I don’t mind.”

His breath tickled Cecilia’s lips. In that instant, goosebumps rose all over her body, and her stomach tightened. The thread of reason, which had been hanging by a thread, finally snapped.

“I… I don’t want you to stop…”

Cecilia’s words were cut off. Ethan had already captured her lips again.

This time, the kiss was far more intense and sensual than before. He sucked on her tongue like candy, brushing it against her teeth. The overwhelming sensations made Cecilia struggle to stay conscious as her mouth filled with saliva.

“Haa.”

Cecilia pushed against his chest to catch her breath. Ethan obediently pulled back and swiftly removed his shirt, tossing it onto the floor. Cecilia involuntarily gasped at the sight of his bare upper body.

She had always known Ethan had a good physique. No matter what he wore, his build stood out, and the muscles revealed through rolled-up sleeves or an open collar were impressive. But the sheer impact of his n*ked body was incomparable.

‘A man’s body can be this beautiful.’

Her gaze traveled from his thick, long neck to his sharply defined chest and perfectly sculpted abs. His broad shoulders tapered into a narrow waist and hips, forming an inverted triangle. His body looked like a masterpiece crafted by a genius sculptor. As her eyes roamed over him, his muscles twitched and moved.

At that moment, Ethan’s hand reached toward Cecilia’s neck. He paused, seeking her permission, and looked into her eyes. When she nodded, he carefully traced her nape with trembling fingers.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

In stark contrast to how he had practically torn off his own clothes, Ethan delicately unfastened the pearl buttons on her dress. His nervous fingers fumbled several times, making Cecilia chuckle softly. His clumsy movements eased her tension slightly.

After undoing all the buttons down to her waist, Ethan gently slid her dress off. The luxurious, silky fabric slipped away, revealing her radiant white skin. Only a thin undergarment, barely concealing her prominent peaks, remained.

“Ah.”

A soft gasp escaped Ethan’s lips, tinged with admiration. Half-n*ked, the two of them stared at each other with dazed expressions. Their hearts pounded as if they might burst. The alcohol-induced haze seemed to dissipate entirely.

Awkwardly lowering her lashes, Cecilia asked.

“…Should I take off the rest?”

Lifting her hips slightly, she removed the thin dress completely. The soft fabric pooled on the floor like a shed skin, exposing her pale thighs. Lacking the courage to remove her undergarments herself, she awkwardly covered her chest with her hands.

Faced with her dazzling beauty, Ethan felt himself swell painfully below. As he unbuckled his belt, Cecilia flinched and tightly shut her eyes. Her shy reaction only made her more irresistible, and Ethan struggled to suppress the urge to bury his face in her neck as he discarded his pants. Pulling down his soaked underwear, his hardened length sprang free, pressing against his abdomen.

Ethan leaned over Cecilia, who lay on the sofa, and opened his mouth, his voice hoarse with longing.

“Cecilia.”

“……”

“You’re beautiful.”

Ethan lightly kissed Cecilia’s cheek. Despite the stormy circumstances below, the kiss itself was tender and innocent. His mind was on the verge of exploding. He had never even kissed anyone before, let alone experienced anything beyond that. Though he hadn’t asked, it seemed Cecilia wasn’t experienced in such matters either. Her flushed face and stiff demeanor were proof enough.

The first night shared with someone he loved. Perhaps the only night they would ever have together.

Ethan wanted this night to remain a good memory for Cecilia. Though clumsy, he wanted to do his best to satisfy her. Adjusting his position carefully, he spoke.

“If you feel even the slightest discomfort, please tell me.”

“…Alright.”

“If you feel good, tell me that too.”

Ethan pressed his lips to Cecilia’s slender neck. Her soft scent overwhelmed his senses. His lips, which had been brushing against her neck, gradually moved down to her collarbone, and then to her dry chest. Cecilia frowned at the unfamiliar sensation.

“Ah…”

Ethan took the peak of Cecilia’s chest into his mouth, even through her undergarments. Her body jolted in response.

“Ah…!”

Sucking and nibbling gently over the fabric, he soon removed it entirely. Her chest, not particularly large but beautifully shaped, swayed as it was revealed. The pale pink peaks of her n*pples fixated his gaze like nails.

“Don’t stare so closely.”

“They’re too beautiful not to.”

Embarrassed, Cecilia turned her head away. At that moment, Ethan’s hand softly cupped her br*ast. Cecilia instinctively covered her mouth to suppress the strange sounds threatening to escape.

Ethan began kneading her br*ast while looking directly at her face. The sensation of her flesh being squished under his hands evoked an inexplicable sense of shame in Cecilia. When his fingers flicked her n*pple, the embarrassment was almost unbearable.

“It’s strange. It feels so strange…”

“Should I stop?”

Ethan asked, his lips now enclosing her hardened n*pple.

“Ah!”

Cecilia couldn’t even answer, twisting her body in response. Ethan’s tongue licked and sucked her br*ast as if savoring candy. When he circled the peak with the tip of his tongue, her body trembled uncontrollably, and her toes curled. Her flat stomach rose and fell with her heavy breaths.