CH 213

‘I feel like he came up to a place like this on purpose.’ Deliberately hugging him even tighter, Cecile felt his sturdy body through the thin fabric of her dress. It was warm, soft, yet firm. Pleased by the sensation, she pressed herself even closer and felt him twitch and stiffen. Cecile thought of how recently they’d spent their nights sleeping innocently while holding hands.

Initially, it had made her anxious, since Estian had embraced her every night since their wedding, except on the days that required him to be absent. Not being touched by him and laying idly each night had sent Cecile’s imagination into overdrive. ‘What if Estian has changed the way he sees me?’ After all, how many things were eternal in the world? Since Estian was human, he couldn’t be expected to always remain unchanged. Who could say whether the devoted gaze he lavished on her might one day turn cold or change, as if he was gazing upon a complete and utter stranger? What should she do then?

Estian stared at his pensive wife, tightened the arms encircling her, and said, “I’m curious as to what you’re thinking of to be making a face like that.”

He knew that Cecile had been purposefully clinging to him for a while now, and was desperately holding onto his composure, although Cecile was blissfully unaware. Nonetheless, she would soon find out that his endurance was running thin. What his wife didn’t know was that Estian was relearning what the limits of his patience meant each night.

Since arriving in Aluna, Cecile had spent every day in high spirits as she explored the city. The sight of her sleeping peacefully in their spacious bed at night would ignite a burning desire within him that he’d thought he managed to control well during the day.

On the day they returned from baking apple pies, Cecile immediately retired to bed since it was late. A deliciously sweet scent emanated from her body. It was a mix of her own intoxicating scent mixed with the smell of sweet apples, and it truly distressed Estian. The apple pies had been delicious enough to make him devour it senselessly, but it was incomparable in being able to shake his mind in the way Cecile could.

When he saw her moist tongue peeking through his wife’s slightly parted lips, he instantly moved to her side without realization. The heady scent grew even stronger when straddled her, and he imagined how great it would be to take her right then. Lost in those thoughts, he unknowingly lowered himself towards her. At that moment, Cecile’s eyes suddenly opened, as if sensing his movement. It surely must’ve been surprising to wake up and find someone on top of you, and yet…

“Estian?” Cecile called out his name—something she still did infrequently—in a heavily drowsy tone. There was no surprise in her voice; only tender intimacy towards someone precious.

While Estian hesitated and contemplated on what to do, Cecile raised a hand and gently stroked his cheek. Like a puppy waiting to be praised, he quietly remained still. The desire that had been boiling within him seconds ago, the urge to make her writhe and moan beneath him, the longing to make her beg and cry out his name senselessly—it all cooled in an instant. Not long after, the hand that was stroking his chin fell back onto the bed. Cecile had fallen asleep before he knew it. Estian gently climbed off his wife and tenderly held the hand that had been stroking him moments before, remaining like that until the sun rose.

Awakening from the memory, Estian thought, ‘And that’s how I felt. It’s troubling if you continue to provoke me like this.’ Though he was content with the way things were, he could tell that Cecile desired him.