Chapter 57
****
"Now, wait. You can’t tear these here."
Louise hastily pulled off her chemise. They'd been traveling and hadn't packed enough clothes. Caius buried his lips in the white mound in front of him.
"Ah................"
She shivered, her body still warm from the hot springs. Thick palms ran frantically over her smooth back and waist.
"Damn it, you really had something to be softer."
Louise barely understood the man's murmured words against her flesh, ecstasy tingling down her spine at his touch.
Louise clung to him like a child, clutching the back of his head as he sucked on her. The soft hair tickled her palm.
"Oh, so..................."
He looked up at her unintentionally spilled words.
"Too much?"
Louise chewed on her bottom lip for a moment.
Normally, she would never have said the words. But the magic of the day's events on the silver platter still lingered in her heart.
She made a small noise, hoping to prolong her earlier happiness.
"Very good, Your Highness."
Caius tilted his head as if he didn't quite understand. Louise whispered steadfastly, avoiding eye contact.
"It feels good. Quickly.................. embrace me (f*k me)."
His golden eyes, which had been slowly unraveling, suddenly became clear. He cupped Louise's chin in one hand and held her gaze.
".................. Say that again."
His thick thumb grazed her hesitant lower lip. The heat of their gaze was like a delicacy, and Louise swallowed hard.
"Embrace me, Caius. Quickly..................."
The pale golden eyes were so close she could see the scattered patterns on his irises, and the moment waiting for him seemed to stretch on forever.
"..................ha."
A raspy breath tickled the delicate flesh at the nape of her neck. For a moment, her body seemed to float, and then it overlapped.
"Aaaah...............!"
His large hand held her face roughly.p. An impatient finger pried her lips apart, and a rough fingertip pushed against her lower lip, invading it, pressing against the tongue hidden deep inside.
Louise lifted the tip of her chin and licked and sucked without hesitation at whatever he offered.
Anything was good: his scent, his temperature, the familiar pressure.
The man's eyes flickered to her waist, and she suddenly realized he was watching her. Withdrawing his hand from her tongue, he demanded in a wet voice.
"I want you to move."
"......?"
Caius reached down and clasped his hands around Louise's waist in a suggestive gesture.
"You do it. I want to see."
Louise shook her head, her face bright red.
"Oh, I can't."
Caius tilted his head.
"Your Highness..............., I can’t."
Louise wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, but the man didn't look up.
"You can do it. It'll be easier than skating."
Louise bit her lip.
He meant to sit on him and sway her hips. There was no way she could do that. Strong hands gripped both sides of her waist firmly, lifting her up and pulling her down with a thud.
"...I"
"Ha, on your feet."
He still hadn't taken off his pants.
Louise realized in hindsight that she was the only one clinging to him, naked, and embarrassed.
"But..................."
Caius rubbed his cheek against soft flesh. His hard jaw brushed over the hardened nipple.
"Oh................"
Louise moaned and pressed her lips to the nape of his neck. Her tongue darted out, and the man flinched, lifting her chin to engage her lips.
A silvery thread ran between their parted lips.
He clutched her slender waist again, then released her. Blue tendons rose at the nape of his neck as he tried to suppress the heightened sensation.
"Come on."
The voice was wet, a whisper, their lips almost touching.
Louise forced herself up on her heels. She lifted herself up a little, holding the man’s arms, then set him down.
All the while, the man's golden gaze grew intense. He kissed her deeply, as if in praise. The soft flesh of his lips pressed against hers, crushing the tip of her nose. Louise stood on her tiptoes again.
She looked down at the man she had always looked up to, and it was different. She liked the intensity of his gaze, the way he looked up at her, the way his face contorted.
She didn't close her eyes anymore.
Their dark gazes moved back and forth, like breathing. He held her waist, matching the speed with which she moved.
"Oh..............."
"You're so much better at this than skating."
She pressed a light, birdlike kiss to the man's lips. Heat quickly flared in his golden eyes. The room quickly filled with the sound of eager breathing.
***
When she woke, she was still in his arms.
They were only together because there was only one bedroom, and she felt both joy and sorrow at the same time. She resented the way her heart pounded in his arms in the middle of the night.
How could she feel such affection for a man who would soon abandon her? She was like a fool running full speed toward a shipwreck.
Still, she loved the way he looked with his eyes closed, and she held her breath.
She counted the strands of his eyelashes and imagined the golden sun sleeping within them.
As beautiful as it was, the pill she hadn't even swallowed yet was already bitter.
***
The next evening.
Soft waltz music echoed gently through the great hall. Caius gently held out one hand toward Louise, even as he caught the couple's playful glances.
"Are you ready for this?"
This unexpected ball had been organized by Caroline as a surprise for the newlyweds.
"It’s just the two of us, but what the heck, I saw you on the ice yesterday, and you're not the average couple."
She burst into laughter as she said it, but Louise couldn't help but laugh along.
In fact, on the ice, she just slid in his direction. If she danced formally, she'd be a mess, even though she'd practiced with her mother.
"Not ..................really."
She reached out a trembling hand and clasped his, and the music, which had been a whisper, grew a little louder.
They walked slowly toward the center.
After they stopped walking, Caius placed his right hand on Louise's shoulder and stretched out his other hand, still clasped together. Louise placed her hand on his shoulder.
The hardness of the man's body against her fingertips was awkward; despite the many nights they'd spent together, she'd hardly ever touched him.
She looked up at him, unsure of herself. The countless candles in the chandelier twinkled like stars in his golden eyes.
"You need only follow me. I'll forgive you if you step on me once or twice."
Louise cleared her throat. Caius nodded slightly and began to move in time with the thumping rhythm of the music.
Louise took a step back as he approached, then approached again, spinning in a circle. Her toes stiffened with nervousness, but she managed to avoid stepping on the man's foot.
A beautiful melody ensued. By now, the Count and Countess of Nas were dancing close by.
Louise caught Caroline's glance toward her and returned it with a smile. Caius caught sight of them and muttered almost to himself.
"You are a woman worthy of the name Ermoli."
A compliment? But he thought of Ermoli as an enemy.
But the moment their eyes met, Louise saw a gorgeous smile tugging at the corners of the man's mouth.
Her heart fluttered and she closed her eyes for a moment. For the first time, she was happy to hear the name from the man’s lips who had brought her to his side.
Louise Henriette Ermoli.
For the first time, she was happy with the name her parents had given her.
***
The three days in Nas were like a dream.
There was no particular schedule, which was relaxing, and she was able to watch Caius work all day.
He was even more affectionate in front of the Count and the Countess than he had been in Burg, and Caroline told her stories of her mother in her youth.
About her mother as an orphan, something she wished the people of Melk, who mocked her, could have heard.
The hot springs and mountain delicacies they enjoyed every day were blissful.
Perhaps she had let her guard down too much in the meantime.
Or perhaps the man's acting was so natural that even she mistook their public conjugal behavior for the truth.
On the morning of the fourth day, the Count and Countess saw them off.
"I know you must be busy, but thank you for staying a few days. It was a pleasure, especially in the dead of winter."
At Caroline's parting words, Caius smiled.
"Same to us, Madam, and thank you for looking after us for a few days."
But Caroline, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly let out a small sigh.
“Others shouldn’t interfere in such matters, but when you get older, you become more meddling. Please forgive me, Your Excellency.”
***
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Write a comment
LC (Wednesday, 23 October 2024 21:05)
Thank you for translating!! I can’t wait to read more ❤️