2.3

To be honest, any unmarried noblewoman in the Kingdom would have grabbed Pavel’s hand the moment he extended it. As for herself… well, she wasn’t sure, but she thought it might have been fun to date him at least once.

“And yet, you came to me and said, ‘Don’t marry that kind of man’?”

“That… I thought it was the wrong thing to do. I knew you might reject me, but at that moment, I just couldn’t hold back…”

So, this man, who lacked confidence in himself, couldn’t bear to see Larisa marry someone unsuitable. Even while thinking he might be rejected, he had come to her with a rather amusing proposal.

To think that someone could like her so much. For Larisa, it was a very, very pleasing thing.

If he truly liked her to the point where he couldn’t endure it, then he would probably accept anything she asked of him.

That was the kind of person Larisa wanted. Someone who loved her unconditionally, who would nod every time she threw a tantrum or made a demand, no matter what.

Pavel didn’t know it, but Larisa had made all sorts of demands on the men she had dated before. She had been fickle and even difficult, whether in daily life or in private.

The reason Larisa’s relationships had always ended quickly was because of this. Men, initially drawn to her beauty, couldn’t endure the way she controlled and toyed with them.

Each time, Larisa thought to herself: 

You said you loved me. Why can’t you even accept this?

If she didn’t like the tea, wasn’t it only natural to bring out something to her liking, no matter how many times it took? If she didn’t like one dress and preferred another, wasn’t it obvious that they should find a way to get it for her? If she disliked someone, wasn’t it expected that they wouldn’t speak to or even acknowledge that person?

If she wanted to watch them strip piece by piece, teasing her as they did, was that such an unreasonable request? If she asked them to wear a pretty accessory, was it really that difficult to comply? If she said, “Be my dog,” wasn’t it love to at least pretend to act like one?

For Larisa, these were perfectly reasonable things. Yet every man who came to win her favor eventually left, shaking his head.

But somehow, this time felt different. Pavel seemed like someone who would stay by her side until the end.

A deep sense of satisfaction filled Larisa’s chest.

She liked him so much that she wanted to mark him as hers right away.

“Pavel.”

“Yes, Larisa.”

“Kiss me. Right now.”

At her words, Pavel blinked before kneeling in front of the sofa where Larisa was half-reclining.

One arm braced beside her face, the other supporting the backrest, Pavel gazed at Larisa’s face for a moment before slowly lowering his head.

The moment their lips met, Larisa closed her eyes, overwhelmed by a tingling sensation. She willingly parted her lips, and Pavel accepted the invitation. Carefully, his tongue brushed against hers, gently intertwining with it.

Larisa raised her arms to wrap them around Pavel’s neck. Pavel, determined not to press down on her, held himself up firmly with his arms. Larisa clung to him, pulling him closer and tilting her head. Her movements caused Pavel’s arm, which had been supporting her beside her face, to bend slightly.

“Mm… closer… come closer.”

Larisa’s playful, coquettish voice made Pavel’s back shudder. Letting go of the backrest, he cautiously slid his arm behind Larisa’s back, cradling her. The distance between them vanished.

Larisa’s hands moved upward, tangling in Pavel’s neatly combed hair. Even as his hair became a mess, Pavel didn’t seem to care. He continued to kiss her, sometimes following her lead, sometimes acting on his own desires.

When Larisa’s tongue grazed the roof of his mouth, Pavel let out a low groan. His arms tightened slightly around her before quickly loosening, as though worried she might feel discomfort or pain.

At that moment, Larisa grabbed a fistful of Pavel’s hair and yanked his head back. With a soft gasp, their lips parted.

Larisa pouted her lips and spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“Did I… do something wrong?”

“I’m not going to break. You don’t have to hold me like I’m made of glass.”

Then, with a slightly sulky expression, Larisa unfastened Pavel’s cravat and tossed it aside. She went further, undoing the buttons of his shirt and pulling open the collar. Even as she did so, Pavel remained still and calm, a demeanor that set Larisa’s insides aflame.

She brought her lips directly to Pavel’s exposed neck. A sharp sensation accompanied the feel of his skin being drawn in as she sucked, causing Pavel’s eyes to narrow slightly. Yet, he neither pushed her away nor avoided her.

After a moment, Larisa pulled back, looking satisfied, and said, 

“If you keep being so careful with me, I’ll leave more marks on your neck.”

“Marks?” 

“Mm-hmm, like this. I made them by sucking.” 

Larisa pressed her finger against the red mark she had left on the nape of his neck. The mark she had made looked so beautiful to her. She sat up straight and, with a bright smile, added, 

“It’s so pretty.”

“Do you like it?” 

“Mm-hmm. I want to do more. It feels so good to mark you as mine.”

At her words, Pavel gazed at Larisa’s smiling face for a moment before smiling back at her. 

“Then please, do more.”

“Really?”

“Didn’t you say you liked it, Larisa?”

What should I do with this man?

Larisa’s cheeks flushed with joy and excitement. Without hesitation, she bit down on the other side of his neck. She nibbled and sucked thoroughly, causing Pavel’s body to twitch slightly. It even seemed like a faint, short groan escaped him.

Larisa left four distinct marks on Pavel’s neck. She deliberately chose areas high enough that even with his shirt buttoned and his cravat tied, the marks would still be visible with just a little movement.

She purposely didn’t allow him to button the top of his shirt. She wanted to see the marks she had made throughout the entire day.

“Shall we go now?” 

Larisa asked with a radiant expression. Pavel willingly took her hand and helped her up. Then, kneeling on one knee in front of her, he said, 

“Let me put your shoes on for you.”

It was an act more fitting for a servant, but Pavel picked up Larisa’s shoes with a willing heart. Larisa, too, accepted his service without hesitation.

When the two emerged from the private quarters past the arranged time, the maids bowed their heads. They, too, had eyes and could see the marks on Pavel’s neck. Bowing, the maids exchanged glances with one another.

What on earth? Seriously. Even ‘that’ Lord Pavel Ainsley goes to a banquet with marks like that after being with Larisa. 

Thinking about how extraordinary their lady was, they quietly followed the pair.

Although the maids must have noticed, only Bailey, the head maid, maintained her composure. She greeted them with the same gentle smile as always, her expression unchanging.

“Have a wonderful time, both of you.” 

Bailey said.

Larisa climbed into the carriage first, followed by Pavel. As soon as the door closed, the carriage began to move.

The Earl of Cerulina’s mansion wasn’t far. The carriage was moving slowly to avoid shaking too much, but even so, it would take less than 15 minutes to arrive.

Larisa gazed at the man sitting across from her. His neat appearance—although now adorned with risqué marks on his neck—caught her attention.

Truly, his face was one that could stir desire.

The profile of Pavel’s face, as he looked out the window, was flawless. Beautiful yet restrained. When he wasn’t looking at her, his expression was firm and cold, making it difficult to imagine him blushing or showing embarrassment.

And that made her want to break him all the more.

Larisa subtly spread her legs. In truth, she had chosen a dress today specifically so she wouldn’t need to wear a petticoat or similar undergarments.

“Pavel, look at me.”

At her voice, Pavel turned his head. His eyes widened immediately.

Larisa’s dress had been pulled up to above her knees, revealing the garter belt securing her lace stockings. Pavel, who had never seen the inside of a woman’s dress, quickly turned his head away, his face flushing red. Larisa chuckled softly at his bashful reaction.

“I said, look at me.”

“Why… why are you… lifting your dress like that?” 

“Earlier, I said I marked you as mine, didn’t I?”

Larisa raised her dress a little higher, revealing her pale thighs. Gently stroking the inside of her thigh with her fingertips, she spoke.

“I’d like you to leave a mark on me too, Pavel.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Mm-hmm, here.” 

She pressed her soft inner thigh with her finger. Pavel’s face, along with his ears and neck, turned completely red. Larisa chuckled softly. Watching his embarrassed expression was so amusing that she felt like she might lose her mind.

“Hurry up. Won’t you do it?”

“But…”

Pavel bit his lip, hesitating. Larisa, with an even more mischievous smile, lowered her voice.

“You’d better hurry and leave your mark here, saying I’m yours.”

“Larisa…”

“That way, whoever sees it will know. ‘Ah, Larisa Lochrain belongs to Pavel Ainsley.’”

“Who would… see such a thing?”

His eyes immediately flared with intensity.

Oh, this is so much fun. 

As Larisa met Pavel’s possessive gaze, her body tingled as if electricity coursed through her.

“Who knows? So, what are you going to do?” 

Larisa teased.

Her hand lifted her dress even higher, revealing her underwear that barely covered her most intimate area. She spread her legs a little wider. 

Hurry up, hurry up.