Chapter 108

Lionel always handled Clarette with gentle hands. He soothed her when she was tense in unfamiliar positions, and at the same time, gave her intense pleasure as if it were a reward.

‘I finally understand why people like this. Honestly… the more we do it, the better it feels.’

Clarette, who had unintentionally led a rather abstinent life, had to admit it in the end.

She looked forward to spending the night with Lionel, and enjoyed it. Where she had once been awkward in bed, she gradually became accustomed to the pleasure he gave. She could accept the things Lionel tried, still embarrassed, but increasingly comfortable.

Her own m*ans, once only embarrassing, and Lionel’s gaze, which she couldn’t face directly out of shyness—these no longer bothered her. In fact, she sometimes wished he would be even bolder.

‘Lionel always seems to treat me carefully, matching my pace. I hope he’s enjoying it for himself, too.’

Clarette went up to the bedroom first. She knew she’d end up undressed anyway, but for now, she changed into a thin summer nightgown.

When Clarette climbed onto the bed, the airy fabric of her nightgown spread wide over the blanket. She let her hair down long.

Then, unfamiliar footsteps approached and the bedroom door opened. Clarette stared blankly at the man entering the room.

It was certainly Lionel. But he wasn’t in nightwear.

He was wearing the black formal uniform of the Imperial Army that he’d shown during the day. In the softly shadowed bedroom, Lionel standing by the door looked like a dark silhouette.

“Lionel, why…?”

Clarette was flustered, unable to take her eyes off him. Her heart raced at the unexpected sight of Lionel in uniform again.

But surely, he hadn’t come to ask her to paint him now.

Clarette asked in a bewildered voice,

“Why are you wearing that? I’m about to go to bed.”

“I’m planning to sleep, too. With you.”

Like a secret intruder, Lionel smiled lightly and quietly closed the bedroom door behind him.

The sound of his boots walking to the bed was heavy and dull. Clarette quietly looked up at him as he drew closer.

Standing beside her, Lionel’s body felt unusually large—no doubt because of the uniform.

He gently stroked Clarette’s pale cheek with his gloved right hand.

“You liked this, didn’t you? More than the blue.”

Clarette nodded obediently. Certainly, the black uniform carried a deeper masculine appeal than the blue.

Lionel sat on the bed and lightly touched the hem of her nightgown. Unlike him, who was dressed impeccably, Clarette wore only a single layer of thin nightgown.

Perhaps that was why she felt even more embarrassed. She looked down at Lionel’s gloved hand and murmured,

“Lionel, you can’t sleep dressed like that.”

“Right. If you don’t undress me, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Would he even sleep if she undressed him…? She doubted it, but she couldn’t just leave him like that.

Clarette hesitated, then reached out and removed Lionel’s black gloves. He smiled at the unexpected start.

“That’s fresh. Starting with the hands.”

“I like it when you touch me with bare hands.”

She set the gloves on the bedside table.

“It’s best when our bare skin touches directly. Don’t you think so?”

“Of course, the fewer clothes, the better.”

Lionel replied leisurely, taking off his boots. He moved closer to Clarette and whispered softly,

“If I’d known you found the uniform exciting, I’d have worn it more often.”

“No, at the ducal residence that would attract too much attention…”

Would there ever be another day when they could embrace so freely? Here, they didn’t have to stifle their voices or worry about sunrise.

They could simply have each other, as much as they wished.

When Clarette reached out, Lionel moved toward her as if he’d been waiting. Sitting back against the headboard, he accepted her kiss, and Clarette ran her hands over the uniform covering his body.

‘It’s rough…’

The feel of the uniform was strange and stiff, so different from his soft lips and tongue. The structure of the clothing was complicated, too.

“Lionel, how do I take this off…?”

“Study it well.”

Ignoring her hands at his chest, Lionel started kissing the nape of her neck. Clarette flinched at the stimulating sensation, barely managing to find the button hidden under the collar.

But as soon as she managed to undo one button at his neck, Lionel pulled her white nightgown down over her shoulders.

“Wait! Ah, it tickles…”

Lionel kissed and tickled Clarette’s shoulders and underarms. Her hands kept slipping in surprise, and he laughed, amused.

“At this rate, you’ll be the first to get undressed.”

“Can’t you stay still for a bit?”

“You’re moving too—trying to take off my clothes.”

“I’m not succeeding… mm…”

Lionel seemed intent on moving lower. Following the pulled-down nightgown, his lips slowly headed toward her chest.

At the sudden stimulation, Clarette instinctively let go of Lionel’s clothes and hugged his head. As she caught her breath, he rubbed his cheek against her soft skin and whispered playfully,

“Clarette, if you can’t undress me, I’ll do it all like this. Only you will be undressed.”

“No, that’s not fair…”

“If you don’t like it, hurry up and figure something out.”

Despite his words, Lionel kept distracting her. Finally, Clarette grew determined and grabbed his shoulders firmly.

“You said ‘figure something out,’ right?”

When he paused and looked at her, she pushed his large body back with all her strength. Lionel fell without resistance, and the bed shook loudly.

Clarette quickly climbed on top of him. With only one button undone, Lionel was still in his immaculate uniform.

“…Stay still.”

Clarette started to pull up her fallen nightgown, but stopped. Lionel was looking up at her with admiration, as if captivated, obediently following her command.

Clarette reached out and began unbuttoning Lionel’s uniform. The stiff, perfectly tailored jacket loosened, revealing the tie and shirt underneath.

Without hesitation, she pulled off the short decorative tie. The shirt buttons were much easier to undo.

“You’re good at this, surprisingly.”

With a light compliment, Lionel stroked Clarette’s thigh as she sat on top of him.

His hand began to lift her hem slowly. Not wanting to lose control, she quickly leaned forward.

As she pushed aside the opened jacket, Clarette kissed his neck for the first time. It was a clumsy attempt, but it worked.

As soon as Clarette’s lips touched his skin, Lionel’s hand paused.

Did she make him nervous? She took more courage, gently biting and licking his neck, softly, slowly, just as Lionel would do to her.

‘If it were Lionel, he’d do it like this.’

With her face buried between the open folds of his uniform, Clarette slowly kissed down to his chest. She wanted to see his expression, but couldn’t bring herself to stop.

His skin, warmer than hers, carried a faint scent. Clarette’s black hair brushed his skin, and Lionel’s muscles tensed. His senses were heightened.

“…Clarette.”

“Yes.”

Just before her lips reached his abs, Lionel finally couldn’t hold back and sat up. Clarette straightened her waist and met his gaze.

Both their faces were flushed. Their eyes were full of longing, and their clothes were a mess. Lionel’s uniform, with all the buttons undone, barely hung from his arms.

Clarette stared at his sunken collarbones and tense shoulders, propped up on her elbows. The abs she touched were rock-hard, and beneath her, she could feel a strong pressure through his trousers.

“Lionel.”

Clarette carefully reached out and stroked his chest. She could feel his heart pounding through her palm.

“Does this… excite you?”

She had gone so far, yet her question sounded too innocent. Lionel gave a wry smile and looked up at her.

“Yes, I’m excited. Very much.”

Clarette smiled in relief, happy she could give him pleasure, too.

“Then, I’ll keep going.”

Next, her hands moved between his legs. Lionel watched her fumble clumsily with his belt as she straddled him.

When she finally opened the front of his trousers, Clarette hesitated, looking at him as if asking for help.

Then Lionel quickly sat up and faced her. As she leaned back, he wrapped both arms around her waist.

Clarette instinctively tried to close her legs, but Lionel’s waist blocked her firmly. He roughly pulled down her nightgown, whispering in a heated voice,

“Now it’s my turn.”