Chapter 38

Clarette was slightly taken aback by his unexpected reaction. She had heard that sometimes models and painters could feel possessive toward each other, but she hadn’t realized he’d reached that stage already. She answered in a gentle tone, as if to soothe him.

“I won’t be looking for any other male models for a while. Just painting you is already keeping me busy, Your Grace.”

“‘For a while’?”

Lionel glanced at her with a hint of jealousy, but Clarette just laughed it off lightly, thinking he was joking as usual.

“Anyway, thank you for coming today, Your Grace. Since it’s my first attempt, the work isn’t quite finished, but if I draw this pose a few more times, I think I’ll get much better. After a bit more practice, I’ll ask you to try a different pose.”

“Do as you please. I can handle anything. So, is that all for today’s session?”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work. The roads are dark, so please be careful on your way back…”

“What are you talking about?”

Lionel quickly cut her off.

“It doesn’t end with just the painting, Clarette. You have to keep your promise to me.”

“Ah… right now?”

Clarette fidgeted with her charcoal-stained hands. And she wasn’t even wearing a party dress like before, but a shabby work apron. Looking herself over, she hesitated and suggested,

“Your Grace, then I’ll go change my clothes. I should wash my hands, too. Maybe another day would be better…”

“No.”

He firmly interrupted her and tapped the empty spot on the sofa beside him.

“Come here. Right now.”

“Ah, then at least put on some clothes…”

Clarette averted her eyes from the nearly n*ked Duke, her face flushing. But he only smiled, seeming to enjoy her reaction.

“I don’t want to. I like it this way.”

“But it’s embarrassing.”

“Why? You were staring at me earlier.”

He called her over with a relaxed tilt of his head.

“Clarette, hurry. At this rate, it’ll be past midnight.”

If she didn’t go to him, the Duke might really spend the night in the annex studio. Plus, what he was asking for was a legitimate part of their deal.

She had agreed to let him do as he wished in exchange for him modeling n*de.

Clarette took a short, deep breath and walked over to him. Passing the easel, she felt as if she’d crossed a boundary into dangerous territory.

The Duke’s gaze never left Clarette. With each step she took closer, anticipation grew in his blue eyes.

“Last time, how far did we go?”

Before Clarette could even sit, the Duke’s hand gently reached out and wrapped around her waist. His touch was still unfamiliar. As Clarette hesitated, he stroked her left hand with his other hand.

“Was it this much?”

Just like that night at the auction party, he lifted her hand and softly kissed the back of it. Clarette quietly swallowed and stood still. If she sat down now, if their faces got any closer, it would feel too risky.

“Clarette, why aren’t you answering? If you’ve forgotten…”

“I remember.”

Her hand, where Lionel’s lips touched, tensed slightly. He looked up at Clarette and laughed softly.

“Your face gets red so easily.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Oh, really? I wish I could show you a mirror.”

Lionel reached up from her waist and gently touched her cheek. His hand was cool against her skin, making Clarette flinch. That meant her face was truly flushed.

She muttered in resignation, unable to control her body’s reactions.

“Your Grace, you must think this is all so silly. How I keep freezing up and getting embarrassed. I’m already twenty-five, after all.”

“I’m not laughing because it’s silly.”

“But… ah!”

As Clarette murmured, Lionel suddenly pulled her hand. She almost stumbled forward, but he firmly caught her shoulders and drew her toward him.

She regained her balance only after she was already in his arms. Clarette found herself sitting not on the sofa, but on Lionel’s thigh—the very body she’d just been admiring and sketching so intently.

“Your Grace! What are you…”

“Clarette, let me teach you one thing.”

Lionel gazed into her green eyes and spoke quietly.

“No man dislikes a woman who blushes every time he touches her. In fact, it makes him want her even more. It’s practically an invitation.”

“No, I didn’t mean to tempt you, Your Grace.”

Clarette drew a clear line, but even as she spoke, her ears grew bright red.

The feeling of his firm leg beneath her skirt was unfamiliar and embarrassing, and all she could see was his muscular upper body.

Unable to rest her hand on Lionel’s chest, Clarette clung to his arm instead. Even that made her heart race so much she could barely manage it.

Lionel gently tucked her stray hair behind her ear and whispered,

“I know. That’s why I want you even more.”

“Uh…”

His lips brushed her reddened ear as he whispered. The warm breath against her sensitive skin made Clarette shiver involuntarily. No one had ever touched her ear like this before—it was a kind of intimacy she’d never imagined.

“Your Grace, this is too… ticklish…”

“But you can bear it, can’t you? You’re not running away.”

“It’s not that I’m not running, I just can’t… Ow!”

If only he’d let go of her waist, she’d be able to escape. As she thought that, the Duke mischievously nipped her ear. When his teeth grazed her, and then his tongue followed, Clarette felt her head spin.

“Stop! I can’t… this is too…”

“Don’t like it?”

As she shrank away, the Duke let go and watched her wrap her hands around both ears in a defensive posture.

“Clarette, you have to tell me clearly. Did you dislike it? Or did it hurt?”

Honestly, she hadn’t disliked it. She’d just been startled by his teeth, and it hadn’t really hurt.

Clarette rubbed her ear where his tongue had touched, searching for the right words.

“Neither, really. It just felt… strange. Odd.”

“Strange and odd? That’s a good sign.”

“What? Why do you think that?”

She didn’t understand at all, but the Duke looked pleased. He murmured in a happy voice,

“I’m glad. If you didn’t dislike it, you’ll get used to it soon.”

How could she ever get used to kisses on her ear? Clarette’s eyes were skeptical, but the Duke sounded certain.

“You’ll see. It feels awkward now, but soon you’ll miss it. You’ll wonder why I didn’t kiss you there today.”

“That won’t happen.”

Clarette immediately denied it, but he advised her without hesitation.

“If you ever do miss it, tell me. Ask me to kiss you here.”

Lionel stroked the ear she was hiding with her hand, laughing softly.

She was sure that would never happen. Clarette pushed his body away and stood up. Lionel looked up at her, puzzled.

“Clarette, what’s wrong?”

“That’s enough for today. I’m too embarrassed, I can’t stand it any longer.”

Unable to look at him directly, she turned her gaze to a vague corner of the sofa. Lionel sighed, disappointment and longing mingling in his breath.

“Already? I only got to touch your ear.”

“But Your Grace, you hugged me with no clothes on, and that’s just… it’s embarrassing even to look…”

Her voice grew quieter as she explained, and he watched her before asking,

“Is it the clothes? Should I put something on and continue?”

“No, today is over!”

Clarette immediately backed away, waving her hands. Seeing her firm response, Lionel laughed and picked up his clothes.

“Really, we’ve got a long way to go.”

His voice from behind carried both disappointment and anticipation.

Clarette focused on the Duke’s disappointment and glanced back at him. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked,

“Your Grace, you’ll still be my model, right?”

“Of course.”

The Duke casually threw on his shirt and replied cheerfully.

“Don’t worry, Clarette. I’m enjoying this much more sincerely than you think.”

* * *

Three days later.

Fabian Kenneth, the Valentin family’s lawyer, visited the ducal residence for the first time in about two months since the inheritance was settled. He was deeply surprised by two changes he noticed in Duke Valentin after such a long time.