Chapter 18

She did not want to be among people who were irritated with her. She did not need sunshine nor summer and preferred this dream. Therefore, she did not regret this. “No I don’t,” she replied softly.

Ilyin felt a hand stroke her hair, and his breath was warm against her skin. She closed her eyes, and the Duke spoke in a gentle voice, “Are you scared?”

It would be a lie to say that she was not. Ilyin only had a faint idea about what would happen next, and since she could not see, her senses were heightened wherever she felt his touch. Will it hurt? Will I open my eyes? Will I freeze then?

“Are you scared that you’ll meet my eyes?”

“A bit.” Ilyin’s whisper was like a wisp, and she felt something soft on her wet eyes.

“Then, you don’t need to see them.”

A soft cloth covered her eyes, and she was in total darkness. Aden’s lips lightly grazed over the cloth, and Ilyin grabbed the blanket tightly. She felt his breath and she trembled. However, the Duke’s lips trailed over her until she calmed down and she felt his gentle care.

“Ah…” Ilyin let out a breath at his touch, and no lady who’d heard about the Biflten bride advertisement would have imagined this night. A man whose sword was faster than words and a harsh duke who remained in the cold with monsters. He was different from the person described in such rumors.

She felt his large warm hands caressing her trembling skin. Then, she felt a warm touch on her gown, and he undid the first button, exposing her collarbone and round shoulders.

Ilyin breathed in the cool night air as she felt his lips on her revealed skin. The Duke bent forward like he was asking her to get used to him, and it felt as if he left a mark on her shoulder where he’d last touched. He undid another button, and now the gown was open to her belly. Aden’s hands were on her shoulder and waist before she felt the cold, and as they warmed her, his lips kissed her between her bre*sts and then trailed downwards. Ilyin’s toes curled at the delicate touch, and she could hear the Duke growl. She felt his hands shake slightly as he gently held her waist.

Since she could not see, her skin was all the more sensitive to his touch. Ilyin felt his hands shake again as he pulled her gown open. His movements were gentle, but she heard the sound of cloth ripping. She flinched again but couldn’t see him bite his lips.

Aden hesitated as he breathed in, as Ilyin’s scent was drawing him closer to her. His head felt dizzy like someone had hit it, and his hand grabbed her bare waist as if he was lifting thin ice. Ilyin’s knees drew up a little and her underwear slipped down a bit, and she gasped before she could think about it, as Aden’s soft lips kissed her where no one had touched her before. She felt goosebumps as she felt his touch and it seemed like waves were coming up from below.

“If you want me to stop, grab my hand tightly.” His whisper was hot against her ear, and his hands held Ilyin’s hips as his lips went down again. The touch was longer this time, and he bit the cloth covering her nether regions, pulling it down with his teeth, and her hips writhed as her underwear went down halfway. Aden’s big hands protected her hips from the cold air and she felt herself getting wet. He kissed her inner thighs, and his warm breath heated her.

His lips had been about to delve deeper when he felt Ilyin’s body tremble and she tried to stifle a moan.

“Are you embarrassed? Or, are you worried that someone else may be here?” She knew that no one else was here, so it was not that. “No one will peek at the mistress of Biflten.” His voice seemed to be huskier as he whispered again, “Only you and I are here.” His hand now slid between her legs, and a finger was on her entrance but his touch remained gentle as his fingers moved inward. Ilyin let out a low moan as he touched her and the Duke let out a soft laugh, “You can be yourself, no one can hear you.”

His fingers pressed her again, and her hips thrashed this time. Aden breathed in and out slowly as he tried not to rush things. His hand shook as he reined himself in, as he could not use his frail bride to satisfy his desires. His patience boiled his blood.