5. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Part 5)

Ethan, startled, hesitated for a moment before removing the hand that had been modestly covering himself. His member, freed, bobbed slightly, causing the water to ripple.

“Is that not allowed?”

Ethan was momentarily at a loss for words at her bold request. He had never expected her to ask for something like this. But he didn’t shy away from it.

“No, there’s no reason it wouldn’t be.”

“….”

“You’re the one who suggested it, Cecilia, so don’t look away. Watch until the end.”

Her unusual boldness seemed to provoke Ethan. Fixing his gaze on her, he grasped himself. His hand moved casually along his length, but the intensity in his eyes made it seem as though he could devour her at any moment.

Cecilia’s eyes remained fixed on his lower body. As his hand moved, the foreskin stretched, revealing the smooth head completely. The slit at the tip glistened as it oozed clear fluid, and the veins bulging along the shaft became more pronounced. The sight was lewd yet strangely mesmerizing.

“Mm.”

Between the sound of splashing water, a low groan escaped Ethan’s lips. He tilted his head back slightly, spreading his thighs wider. Looking down at Cecilia with a slightly raised chin, his face appeared sharper than usual. With one hand, he brushed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead.

“Cecilia…”

As his movements quickened, Ethan’s breathing grew heavier. The veins on the back of his hand became more prominent as he gripped himself firmly. His slightly parted lips revealed a glimpse of his red tongue, which was both sensual and provocative. He gazed at Cecilia’s body as though he were licking her with his eyes, his hand working himself harder.

Cecilia’s pale chest glistened with water, her pink n*pples standing er*ect. Seeing this proof of her arousal up close, Ethan let out a languid smile. Though Cecilia had her knees tightly pressed together in apparent tension, it only fueled Ethan’s imagination.

In his mind, he envisioned parting her legs and exploring her flushed inner folds. He imagined sucking on her plump cl*toris like a dog, plunging himself into her dripping entrance, and gripping her hips to pound into her relentlessly.

Ethan’s back twitched involuntarily. He began to subtly move his hips as though he were thrusting into her. The rising heat of pleasure caused his face to contort slightly, and his member swelled even more in his hand.

“Ah!”

With a sharp gasp, his body jerked violently. His lower abdomen contracted rapidly, and stars seemed to explode before his eyes as he cl*maxed.

“Hah…”

Catching his breath, Ethan slowly raised his head. When his gaze landed on Cecilia, his eyes widened slightly.

“…”

Drops of his s*men had landed on Cecilia’s flushed face. The milky fluid dripped slowly down the valley of her br*asts. Just as Ethan reached out to her in embarrassment, she surprised him.

Licking her lips, Cecilia tasted the fluid that had landed there. Her expression turned slightly odd, as though the flavor was unexpected.

“So this is what it tastes like.”

“…”

“I was curious, but to be honest, it’s not very good. It’s not unbearable, though.”

Ethan pressed a wet hand to his forehead, feeling lightheaded from the sheer eroticism of the moment.

‘Damn it.’

A string of crude words hovered on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them down, unable to say such things in front of Cecilia. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, 

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“What did I do?”

Ethan reached out and wiped the traces of himself from her face. He scrubbed her skin clean until it squeaked, then poured lukewarm water over her body. His touch lingered on her chest, blurring the line between washing her and caressing her.

“It feels like you’ve been teasing me on purpose.”

Cecilia frowned slightly as she replied, 

“You’re the one who provoked me first.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Splashing water at him, Cecilia continued, 

“You tied my wrists, came into the bathtub with that thing standing upright, and even came all over me. How is it fair to blame me for everything?”

Ethan’s gaze softened. He accepted the blame she had thrown back at him without protest.

“Is that so?”

Standing up, Ethan stepped out of the bathtub and lifted Cecilia into his arms. Startled by the sudden change in perspective, she let out a short scream.

“Ah!”

Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and her arms clung to his neck. Their wet bodies pressed together with no space between them. She could feel his intense heat and the firm muscles that expanded with each breath.

Ethan whispered in a low voice, 

“Then let’s say it’s all my fault.”

Carrying her across the bathroom, Ethan set Cecilia down on the windowsill. Though it was early dawn and relatively dark, Cecilia couldn’t ignore the fact that the glass behind her offered a clear view outside. The thrill of such exposure sent a shiver of excitement through her.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

Even in the humid summer air, her wet body didn’t feel cold. If anything, Ethan’s heat made her feel almost too warm. Reflecting on their earlier conversation, Cecilia let out a small laugh.

Watching her, Ethan’s lips curved into a smile that mirrored hers. He gently tilted her chin up with his fingers.

“All you have to do, Cecilia, is let yourself be swept away.”

Ethan bent down and kissed Cecilia. He captured her soft lips, swallowing the shallow breaths that escaped between them. It was as if he intended to take away all the burdens weighing on her delicate shoulders, the guilt she felt toward him, and the stray thoughts drifting through her mind.

As his tongue delved deeply, Cecilia’s fingers gripped the windowsill. The water pooled on the sill made her hands slip, causing her body to tilt backward. Ethan, noticing this, reached out and firmly supported the back of her neck.

This wasn’t one of the usual mind-shattering kisses that left them both breathless. It was closer to an act of sharing warmth. The tingling sensation that began at her lips slowly spread to her heart.

In the serene dawn, where it felt as though the world consisted only of the two of them, they kissed for what seemed like an eternity. They lingered in the moment, rolling unspoken words on their tongues like candy, dissolving them slowly over time.

***

From the fateful meeting at the ball, Merilyn had developed a romantic relationship with Lawrence Blake. Despite the numerous suitors among the noble youth who pursued her, Merilyn, who had fallen in love, seemed to see no one else but him. Her already lovely face began to glow like a fairy’s once she started experiencing love.

Thus, Cecilia invited Lawrence to the estate. While part of her intention was to assess whether he was truly a good man, she also wanted to give Merilyn more time to spend with her lover.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for inviting me. The garden is so beautiful; I was admiring it the entire way here.”

Lawrence smiled politely as he handed over a bouquet of flowers. Cecilia responded with a smile of her own.

“It’s the pride of the estate. Perhaps you and Merilyn could enjoy a walk there later.”

“Oh, would that really be all right?”

“Of course. As much as you’d like.”

Cecilia, Merilyn, and Lawrence then took their seats in the dining room. The table was laden with dishes prepared just for the occasion.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“Yes, it’s excellent.”

The meal proceeded in a warm and cheerful atmosphere. Lawrence was a polite yet witty young man. His speech carried the confidence of someone well-educated, and his table manners were impeccable. His cheerful yet straightforward personality also earned Cecilia’s approval.

Most importantly, it was clear that he genuinely liked Merilyn. Throughout the meal, he kept an eye on her plate to match her eating pace, ensuring her glass never emptied. When Merilyn cracked a joke, he would laugh as though it were the funniest thing in the world.

‘He’s a good man. I’m glad Merilyn has a good eye for people.’

Having warmed to him slightly, Cecilia smiled and said, 

“Thank you for taking care of Merilyn at the ball. I heard you stayed by her side the entire time.”

“It was my honor. Are you feeling better now?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve improved a lot.”

Merilyn’s gaze briefly landed on Cecilia’s face before darting away, her lips curving into a subtle smile.

“That’s good. You’ve been looking well lately.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Your complexion looks better, and you seem to smile more often.”

Is that so?

Cecilia tilted her head as she took a sip of her wine. Looking at the two seated across from her, she remarked, 

“I suppose this is my cue to excuse myself?”

Lawrence waved his hands in protest. 

“What are you saying? I’ve greatly enjoyed our conversation, Madam.”

“So have I. Let’s do this again sometime.”

“If you invite me, I’d be delighted.”

Leaving the young couple behind, Cecilia rose from her seat and returned to her study. Standing by the window, she could see Lawrence and Merilyn walking side by side in the garden.

‘They look good together.’

The two appeared to be the perfect couple. Cecilia acknowledged that Lawrence was an excellent match for Merilyn. There was no reason to oppose their relationship. Smiling, she blessed the young lovers’ future in her heart. Seeing Merilyn happy genuinely pleased her.

But for some reason, her chest felt hollow. Cecilia sat down heavily in her chair, burdened by an inexplicable melancholy.

“Let’s just get to work.”

As she organized her desk, her gaze fell upon a wooden rabbit figurine. Picking it up carefully, she smiled softly.

‘How cute.’

Cecilia held the wooden figurine tightly in her hand. Though she knew it was impossible, she felt as if warmth emanated from it. At the same time, she realized the source of the faint sadness that had been lingering inside her.

Strangely, the reason that made her smile was also the reason her expression hardened. Cecilia murmured quietly, 

“Ethan…”

She felt as though she had been pulled back from a dream into reality. The more she recognized how perfect Merilyn and Lawrence were as a pair, the more she became acutely aware of the incomplete relationship she shared with Ethan.

A relationship that couldn’t even begin without the resolve to face its inevitable end.

A relationship where both would have to sacrifice so much to be together.

A relationship where, despite their mutual attraction, they hesitated the moment they tried to express it.

‘Yes, that’s the kind of relationship we have… I’d forgotten.’

Cecilia tightened her grip on the figurine. In the humid air, her palm began to sweat. Normally, she would have frowned at the discomfort, but today, it didn’t bother her. It felt like proof that summer still lingered.

For the first time in her life, Cecilia wished summer would never end. She didn’t mind if she never got to enjoy the cool and refreshing days of autumn. She wanted to melt into this summer and disappear within it.