NOVEL WEB Chapter 194: Two Souls Entwined
The nature of their bond only heightened the thrill, Diana's body singing with the forbidden ecstasy of being wanted so fiercely.
Yet, even as her heart fluttered under Cassius's touch, a stubborn thread of shame tethered her to reality.
She couldn't fully embrace the reckless pleasure of their closeness, not with Vivi mere steps away, her daughter's presence a silent reminder of her duty.
Her gaze lifted to Cassius, her eyes shimmering with a pleading pout, an expression so unguarded it softened her usual elegance into something disarmingly youthful.
The look, adorable and vulnerable, made her beauty glow with a delicate charm, her plump lips pursed in a way that caught the lamplight, her cheeks flushed with a warmth that betrayed her inner turmoil.
Her voice, soft and hesitant, broke the charged silence. "Cassius, your words...they ease my guilt, truly." She said, her tone earnest but quivering with embarrassment. "I don't feel as ashamed as I did, knowing it's part of our deal, that I'm doing this for Vivi."
"But still, I can't help it, I'm mortified, standing here like this, letting you touch me when she's so close."
"No matter the reason, it's...it's shameful to be caught up in this, to want it."
She bit her lip, her gaze dropping, then flicked back to him, her eyes wide and imploring, like a girl begging for mercy.
"So, please, Cassius, can you hold off? For my sake, just this once, can we wait?...I'm begging you."
The sight of Diana—usually so poised, so regal, reduced to this coy, almost childish plea caught Cassius off guard, his eyes widening for a fleeting moment.
Then a warm chuckle rumbled from his chest, his hand rising to caress her cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of her flushed skin with a tenderness that made her breath hitch.
"Diana..." He murmured, his voice rich with amusement and affection. "When you ask me like that, with that adorable little face you show only to me, how can I possibly say no?"
"...That pout, those eyes you could ask for my life, and I'd be helpless to refuse you."
Her brow furrowed, suspicion flaring as she narrowed her eyes, her voice taking on a playful edge.
"You're exaggerating." She said, swatting his chest lightly, though her fingers lingered on the firm planes of his shirt. "Don't say such things, as I know you wouldn't really do that. You're just teasing me, aren't you?"
Her tone was accusatory, but her lips twitched, betraying her delight at his flattery.
Cassius's smile deepened, his fingers brushing her lips, grazing their softness with a tenderness that sent a shiver through her.
"Not at all." He said, his voice low and sincere, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that stole her breath. "Your face, Diana, it's too potent, your beauty too mesmerizing."
"...You could order me to my death, and I'd go willingly, just to see you smile like this."
His gaze was unwavering, his words carrying a weight that made her heart stutter, her cheeks burning as she realized he meant it.
A man who'd given her knowledge worth half a continent, who'd sacrificed treasures for her alone, might indeed be capable of such devotion, and the thought left her feeling both cherished and exposed, her body tingling under the weight of his adoration.
But before she could respond, his expression shifted, a smirk curling his lips, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"But...." He added, his voice dropping to a teasing purr. "...as much as I want to stop for your sake, I haven't had nearly enough of you. It's been too long since I last saw you, Diana, and I'm starving to give you all the love I've been holding back."
"...Kissing you, touching you—it's like breathing, and I'm struggling to hold myself in check."
His words sent a flush creeping up her neck, her gaze darting away as embarrassment warred with a secret thrill. His lustful nature, so blatant in his desire, should have shamed her, but instead, it warmed her, the knowledge that he craved her so fiercely sparking a quiet joy in her chest.
He then leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. "I'll tell you what..." He murmured, his voice a seductive challenge. "...Give me one kiss, just one, on the lips, and I'll be satisfied. That'll be enough to tame me, for now. But if you don't..." His tone turned playful, but his eyes darkened with promise. "...I might not be able to hold back, Diana. I might just kiss you right here, when we're with Vivi, and damn the consequences."
Hearing this threat, panic flared, her eyes widening as she shook her head frantically.
"No, no, absolutely not!" She gasped, her voice a flustered whisper. "You can't! We can't let her see!"
"...I'll...I'll do it, I'll kiss you, just...don't do that."
Her heart raced, her cheeks blazing as she realized she'd agreed, the thought of taking the lead making her stomach flutter with nervous anticipation. She didn't want to seem eager, to act as if she craved his lips, but the alternative of him kissing her in plain view was unthinkable.
Steeling herself, she met his gaze, her eyes flustered but determined, and rose onto her tiptoes, as she often did when they kissed. Her lips puckered, soft and inviting, as she closed her eyes and leaned toward him, expecting the familiar dip of his head to meet her.
But seconds passed, and her lips met only air.
Confused, she opened her eyes, blinking up at him, and found him smirking down at her, his tall frame unyielding.
"Cassius..." She said, her voice a blend of exasperation and fluster. "Why aren't you bending down? You know I can't reach you like this!"
"...If you want me to kiss you, you have to help me by bending down."
Her pout deepened, her hands fidgeting with her skirt, her embarrassment flaring at the absurdity of her predicament and in response, he tilted his head, his smirk widening, his voice dripping with teasing mischief.
"Usually, I'm the one bending down, Diana, but tonight, I want to see you work for it."
"So, come on, jump a little, reach for me...Show me how much you want this kiss."
His eyes sparkled with challenge, daring her to meet him on his terms and her cheeks burned, indignation flaring as she protested.
"Jump?! That's ridiculous! It'll look like I'm some...some desperate puppy begging for your attention, like I'm the one who can't wait to kiss you!" Her voice rose, but her heart betrayed her, pounding with a secret thrill at his game.
She wanted to deny it, to insist she was coerced, but the words caught in her throat. Deep down, she knew the truth—she did want to kiss him, and the lie felt too heavy to voice.
Cassius, who had noticed this, raised an eyebrow, his tone playful but sharp.
"Is that not the case, then? If you really don't want to kiss me, just say so, and I'll stop." His gaze held hers, daring her to deny it, knowing she couldn't.
She stammered, her eyes darting away, her voice unconvincing.
"Y-Yes, of course, I...I'm only doing this b-because you asked and not because I want to kiss you or anything."
She mumbled, but the waver in her tone betrayed her, her blush deepening as she realized how transparent she was.
Her flustered attempt to hide her desire only made her more endearing, her vulnerability laid bare before him.
Cassius's chuckle was low, rich with delight, his eyes softening as he took in her adorable struggle.
"God, Diana...." He said, his voice thick with affection. "You're too cute for me to handle like this...I can't take it anymore."
Before she could react, his hands slid beneath her plump ass, his fingers gripping her curves with a possessive ease and in one swift motion, he lifted her, hoisting her against him, her voluptuous chest pressing into his hard torso.
Startled, she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, her thighs clinging to his hips, her body caught in an intimate embrace that sent her heart into a wild gallop. Her skirt also bunched around her hips, her curves molded to him, and the sudden closeness, the raw physicality, made her breath catch, her skin tingling with a forbidden heat.
She opened her mouth to protest, but his eyes locked onto hers, their intensity freezing her words.
"There..." He murmured, his voice a low, romantic hum. "Now we're the same height....You can kiss me all you want, Diana, no excuses."
His gaze was a flame, burning with desire and adoration, and the position—her body cradled in his arms, her legs wrapped around him felt like a scene from a lover's tale, not the affair she'd resigned herself to.
And going through all these emotions, her resolve crumbled, her heart racing with a fervor that drowned out her shame.
So, without hesitation, she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close, and pressed her lips to his in a firm kiss.
"Kiss!♡~"
She'd meant it to be quick, a peck to satisfy his demand, but the heat of his mouth, the strength of his hold, the way he cradled her like a cherished treasure, unraveled her intentions.
Her eyes fluttered shut, her body melting into his, and she kissed him with a passion she hadn't planned, her lips moving against his with a hungry edge.
"Peck!♡~ Peck!♡~ Mmm!♡~ Peck!♡~ Lick!♡~"
Her tongue darted out, twirling with his, a bold, assertive dance that matched his fervor, her hands tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer, kissing him like he was her lover, her equal, her everything.
"Pucker!♡~ Pucker!♡~ Smooch!♡~ Pucker!♡~ Suck!♡~"
The kiss deepened, a sloppy, sensual exchange that left her breathless, her body arching into his, her thighs tightening around his waist. His hands roamed, one supporting her ass, the other stroking her back, each touch igniting sparks across her skin.
"Mmm!♡~ Mmm!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Mmm!♡~ Slurp!♡~"
She moaned softly into his mouth, the sound swallowed by their kiss, her heart soaring with a reckless joy she couldn't deny.
In that moment, they weren't a noblewoman and her secret lover—they were two souls entwined, their desire a flame that burned away the world's judgment.
"Kiss!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Mwah!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Nibble!♡~"
Her lips clung to his, her kisses growing more fervent, as if she could pour all her unspoken longing into this one, stolen moment, her body and soul surrender to the man who'd claimed her heart...