"Do you like your birthday gift?"
Natasha's voice was slightly hoarse as she tried her best to appear elegant and poised, as if nothing were amiss. But her heartbeat refused to cooperate, thumping faster and faster, as though trying to drag up that trace of hidden nervousness buried deep within her. Would Lucian like it? Would he accept?
Even a queen, even a valiant knight — in moments like these, she could hardly remain composed. She wasn't nearly as bold and commanding as she appeared on the surface.
"Even if he turns me down, I won't give up. One day, I'll conquer him!"
Natasha silently steeled her resolve, rallying her own spirits, telling herself not to judge a hero by a single battle's outcome.
Suddenly, she felt one hand settle on her waist and another on her back. Lucian's slightly husky voice came from close by: "I like it very much, but…"
The hand on her back pressed down with sudden force. Caught off guard and lost in thought, Natasha's body tilted forward and she leaned into Lucian, looking into his eyes — those once deep and fathomless eyes that now seemed to have a raging storm churning within them.
"…But it's not enough."
Huh? Before Natasha could even process what he meant, her mouth was sealed by Lucian's, and she felt the scorching heat of his breath wash across her face.
His lips — neither thin nor thick — parted after a firm, lingering kiss, and his tongue boldly invaded the sweetness within, searching for that bold and passionate partner it had danced with moments before.
Hmm? Natasha seemed to understand something. Her eyes slowly closed, and a look of elation and excitement spread across her face. Though her world had gone dark, it felt as though she had been utterly flooded with light.
Lucian poured out feelings he had suppressed for far too long, kissing with extraordinary abandon. Yet unease still lingered in his heart — had Natasha truly meant it as just a birthday gift? Was there no deeper meaning? Had he read the situation wrong?
Apprehension, anticipation, unease, nervousness — all of it was thrown into the same pot and simmered into a broth of indescribable emotion. Lucian slowed down, waiting for Natasha to give him her answer.
Then suddenly, he felt that slender, silken tongue entwine with his own. It was so forceful, so sweet, it even tried to push back into his mouth. At the same time, two hands cradled his head.
It was as if fireworks exploded before Lucian's eyes — dazzling, brilliant, beyond compare. Natasha's answer had been expressed without the slightest reservation.
Their hearts connected, the deep kiss grew more and more passionate. After an unknowable stretch of time, they finally pulled apart, breathless, a gossamer thread of silver still bridging the space between their lips.
Lucian was just about to speak when Natasha — her cheeks flushed rosy, her eyes brimming with springtime warmth — beamed with joy and lightly licked her lips with her pink tongue: "Lucian, you taste even better than I imagined."
Lucian was instantly mortified. That was so like Natasha — and yet, she was exactly the one he loved.
Natasha's breathing was slightly ragged: "Once I overcame my inner resistance, I realized I'd fallen for you long ago. No — Lucian, I want to tell you this properly…"
Her beautiful silver-purple eyes were earnest and grave: "I love you. I hope we can try being together. I want to share the rest of my life with you, unchanged even until death."
As a woman who had experienced matters of the heart, Natasha knew full well that confessions had to come when both parties already had a solid foundation and their relationship was practically settled. Otherwise, a stranger — someone you could barely even call an acquaintance — declaring their feelings would only frighten the other person off, and anyone willing to accept such a thing was either after your money or your looks.
Lucian suddenly felt that the date plan he had painstakingly crafted was rather pathetic — it had been tossed into the wastebasket before it ever got a chance to prove its worth. Even the confession itself had been beaten to the punch by Natasha.
But now was not the time to dwell on such matters. Lucian gazed softly into Natasha's eyes, fighting to keep his voice from trembling with joy: "Natasha, I love you too. I don't know exactly when it started, but I came to love being with you. When I truly knew my own heart was on that trip back to Altor. For these past years I've been trying to get closer to you, to court you. I also want to share my future with you, and I hope you'll become my wife."
Mindful of the saying "any romance that isn't aiming for marriage is just playing games," Lucian expressed his sincerity with full seriousness.
Natasha's smile bloomed — radiant, magnificent. The feeling of loving someone and discovering he loved you in return was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
By now, bending forward was starting to tire her a little, so she spread her feet apart, gripped Lucian's shoulders, and slid down until she was sitting squarely on his lap. Then she wore a look of faint bewilderment and amusement. Lucian, flustered, explained awkwardly: "Th-this is a normal reaction."
Damn it. The mood he'd been building had been just a little ruined.
Natasha suddenly caught on. She shifted her hips deliberately, and sure enough watched Lucian's expression turn peculiar. Then she leaned forward, her breath sweet as orchids, and whispered in a low, beguiling murmur by his ear: "Lucian's big
"Mm." Lucian's face burned red, and he had no idea how to respond.
Natasha opened her mouth and drew his earlobe in, sending a wave of tingling pleasure through his entire body. Then she released it and chuckled softly: "I love this kind of reaction from you. Don't be shy."
Lucian, half-embarrassed and half-indignant, turned his head and captured her own fair, delicate earlobe between his lips, sucking gently. He watched her body tremble slightly as a flush of crimson climbed from her neck to her cheeks.
Was this a sensitive spot for her?
"I love it when you do this to me, too," Natasha said directly, her eyes hazy and languid, without a trace of embarrassment. Then she asked with curiosity and delight: "You said you fell for me years ago and have been pursuing me — how come I never noticed?"
"Because I was worried you only liked women, so I took things slowly, trying to build our bond and change your mind," Lucian answered honestly.
Natasha smiled, seemingly touched: "Lucian, I still like women. But in this entire world, there's only one you. It has nothing to do with gender. Being close to you doesn't make me the least bit uncomfortable. Before, I never liked it when men kissed my hand, but when you do it, I don't feel any resistance at all."