Chapter 28
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 28
Her sweat-slicked skin yielded, molding to his grip. The relentless stimulation turned her mind to a blissful haze. Her inner walls clung to him, tightening with an exquisite friction that dragged him deeper. The pleasure was overwhelming. Sparks of sensation bloomed with every passing second, making her vision flicker.
She knew she had to go back. It was already late, and Mary, coming to wake her, might have discovered her empty bed by now. Her mind understood this, yet her body refused to obey. Every time he thrust into her, her thoughts shattered and scattered into nothing.
Adjusting his hold on her trembling body, he buried himself inside her, pushing to the very limit. The moment his warmth surged deep within her, spilling over, she reached a silent, breathless climax.
* * *
“…Nessa. Wake up.”
Someone was calling her name. Forcing her heavy eyelids open, she saw River Ross. Seeing she was awake, he cupped her cheek with his large hand, gently turning her face toward him.
“Don’t fall back asleep. Breathe slowly.”
His hand felt wonderfully cool against her flushed skin.
“…What happened…?”
“You passed out. Wait here, I’ll get you something to drink. You’ll collapse from exhaustion if you stay like that.”
Satisfied that she was conscious, he let her go and stood. Annoyingly, his face was as calm and composed as ever. He wasn’t even out of breath, looking as though he hadn’t expended a single drop of energy.
Vanessa watched his back with a dumbfounded expression as he gathered his clothes and began to dress. She didn’t have the strength to lift a finger, let alone glare at him.
“……”
At first, she watched him out of sheer spite. It wounded her pride that she was the only one left utterly spent. But as she lay propped up, clutching the sheet to her chest, her resentment gradually gave way to quiet admiration.
The man’s body, moving in the morning sunlight, was beautiful. As he stretched and bent to reach for his things, the dense muscles of his back rippled like waves. Unlike her own slender frame, his body overflowed with a raw vitality. He possessed the solid, powerful build of a wild beast, yet he moved with an effortless grace.
Her eyes lingered on the chaotic scratch marks she had left on his lower back before drifting downward. His waist tapered sharply from his broad shoulders, and below that…
“……”
As if sensing her gaze, he turned. Their eyes locked, and a faint smirk played on River Ross’s lips.
When Vanessa instinctively pulled the sheet higher, his eyes narrowed. His gaze grew deep and intense, as if to say he could easily picture what lay beneath, no matter how much she tried to hide it. He was returning her scrutiny with interest.
“You’re beautiful.”
Speechless for a moment, Vanessa let out a dry laugh.
“Earlier, you called that crazy talk.”
“Then take it as a compliment. I’m only repeating your own words back to you.”
Slipping his arms into his shirt, he stepped behind the partition and returned a moment later holding a glass of water and a small bowl. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he tilted the glass to her lips.
“Here.”
He was treating her like an invalid. Vanessa quietly accepted, tilting her head to drink. The moment she finished, before she could slump back down, River propped her up with pillows. Then, he placed a bowl piled high with summer strawberries on her lap.
“Strawberries? Where did you get these?”
“Mr. Ross.”
Instead of lighting a cigarette, River rubbed the unlit tip against his lower lip, his voice slightly muffled. It was a habit of his when suppressing the urge to smoke—a subtle gesture he probably wasn’t even aware of, but one she had come to recognize.
“He brought over a whole basket.”
“Ah, I see.”
Come to think of it, freshly picked summer strawberries had appeared on her dining table a few days ago. She had assumed they were from the market, never imagining he had grown and harvested them himself.
The sight of the glossy red fruit made her mouth water, and a sudden wave of hunger hit her. Only then did she realize she hadn’t eaten a thing since the previous evening. She quickly bit into one, and sweet, tangy juice burst across her tongue.
“…They’re delicious.”
“I’m glad.”
Vanessa eagerly ate several more. The crisp burst of the fruit between her teeth was incredibly refreshing. A thin trickle of juice escaped her lips, dripping down her chin.
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she reached for another. She bit, chewed, and swallowed. The simple act of feeding her starved, exhausted body brought immense satisfaction. Only after her stomach was somewhat full did her scattered senses finally begin to return.
Feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment, Vanessa lowered the last strawberry she had been about to pop into her mouth.
“…What about you? Have you eaten?”
“Me?” he let out a soft chuckle, looking amused—as if a cat were suddenly showing concern for a mouse.
When she hesitated, feeling self-conscious, he leaned forward, bracing his left hand on the mattress. He dipped his head and took a bite of the strawberry still hovering in her hand.
His warm breath and smooth lips brushed against her skin before pulling away. His teeth grazed her fingertips, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake. Did he do that on purpose? Vanessa, who had instinctively held her breath, curled her burning fingers into a fist and looked away.
“…If you wanted one, you could have just asked.”
“I wasn’t planning on it.” He wiped a drop of juice from his lip with his thumb and grinned. “But you made them look so good.”
It was a teasing excuse, but she could hardly complain over a single strawberry. “Sour,” he muttered, wrinkling his nose as he took the empty bowl from her. She found herself mesmerized by his chest, still exposed through his unbuttoned shirt.
Dong.
The first bell of dawn chimed, shattering the spell. The distant crowing of a rooster grew clearer. Only then did Vanessa snap back to reality, realizing where she was and what she had done.
“My God.”
The flush drained from her cheeks, leaving her deathly pale. Vanessa scrambled out of bed in a panic. She frantically shoved her limbs into her crumpled clothes, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps as she strapped her watch to her wrist.
“Tomorrow… I’ll come back tomorrow night.”
“Ah, not tomorrow. I’ll be away for a few days.”
“A few days? For how long?”
“About four. I have some business in Bath.”
Tucking a messy strand of her hair behind her ear, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, almost as if by habit.
“Be a good girl and wait for me. I’ll bring you back a present.”
He turned away with a smile, leaving her unsure whether he was joking or serious. Vanessa stood frozen, her hand touching the spot where his lips had lingered. Ridiculously, a warmth began to spread from that very spot.
It was the kind of promise one made to a child. Or perhaps to a lover.
Vanessa clenched her hands. Her stomach began to churn. How foolish of me, she thought, forgetting my place.
* * *
“You seem to have grown a bit taller. Or perhaps your posture has simply improved… We’ll need to fold the cuffs back once more, and swap this ribbon for a smaller one… Yes, that’s it.”
“……”
“We should also adjust the hem of the skirt to show your ankles. Now, please raise your arms.”
“……”
“My Lady?”
The tailor’s prompting voice finally snapped Vanessa out of her daze. Her unfocused gaze drifted from the maids surrounding her to the man himself. Despite his client's obvious distraction, the tailor skillfully draped the measuring tape over her, noting down the measurements.
“Perhaps it’s your diet, but your waist has certainly slimmed down. Your bust, however, is slightly fuller than last time. We’ll need to alter your existing wardrobe. The most urgent piece is the hunting suit you’ll be wearing in two days…”
“My Lady!”
The sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the hallway came to an abrupt halt as the door burst open. Mary squeezed past the huddle of maids and urgently grabbed Vanessa by the wrist.
“You must come with me, right away.”