The Dragon Duke's Wife - Chapter 5
“Excuse me, Duke… I don’t think this is the proper way to greet someone…”
“A man who’s been eagerly waiting for his fiance would think this position is perfect for a greeting, wouldn’t you agree? Or, are you disappointed?”
“Disappointed?”
“Is it because I’m not an old, monstrous man who’s about to drop dead, or a patient who’ll never leave his bed? Because I’m a young man?”
“That’s not it. It’s just… if you are Duke Velados, I don’t understand why you placed such a marriage ad…”
“What I wanted wasn’t a noble lady, or a stunning beauty, or the daughter of a rich and powerful family.”
As he spoke, he lightly ran his thumb over Ancia’s lower lip. She unconsciously let out a shaky breath. His gaze, intense and burning, made her feel as though her body was on fire. Her cheeks were hot.
“Why didn’t you say anything that day? I must have been rude…”
Ancia realized that her voice was wavering slightly. Her head was a mess, and she wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. Khalid, with his deep gaze, stared into her eyes and answered.
“If I don’t confirm my bride, who will?”
“Did… did you like me?”
“If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.”
His thumb gently pressed against Ancia’s lips again, tracing the inside. Though it wasn’t a deep contact, Ancia felt a mix of embarrassment and shyness, as though her entire body had been exposed.
It might have been an illusion, but Khalid seemed to feel the same. He lowered his gaze to her lips, and with a voice full of desire, he asked,
“Do you not like me?”
“No… no, that’s not it…”
“Even if you don’t like me, it doesn’t matter.”
Khalid’s voice lowered. Ancia couldn’t understand why he was angry, or why he was staring at her so intensely.
He declared arrogantly,
“Now, you’re mine.”
And then his lips captured hers.
As intensely as it started, the first kiss was surprisingly gentle. Khalid’s tongue teased her lips, parted her lower lip, and softly explored inside. Ancia, awkward and breathless, tried to close her mouth, embarrassed.
“Don’t resist. This is your duty, too.”
He said this, gently holding her chin and shifting his angle to push his tongue into her mouth. Then, he lightly teased her tongue, brushing against the roof of her mouth.
“Mm…”
The sound escaping her throat made her feel utterly embarrassed and horrified. Her body was burning with heat.
Ancia grabbed onto his shoulders, a tingling sensation running down her spine. As she flinched in fear, he let out a low chuckle.
Their lips met again. This time, the kiss was wetter and more fervent than before. Khalid guided her, teaching her how to move her tongue and breathe through the kiss. Ancia had never realized that lips could be so soft and sticky, that the surface of the mouth could feel so tender.
As he stole her breath again and again, she clung to him with her entire body.
Their bodies pressed against each other. Ancia hadn’t known a man’s body could feel so firm and warm. The weight of his form that was covering her, was strong and intimidating, like being imprisoned in his embrace. Yet, that very feeling left her more dazed and lightheaded.
She gasped for air, trying not to collapse into him, but her body instinctively leaned into his, as though seeking support. She trembled all over, her body overheating as Khalid’s masculine scent enveloped her.
“Haa…”
He finally let her lips go. A thin thread of saliva lingered between their reddened lips. Khalid touched her lips again with his index finger, brushing over them gently.
“It was your first kiss, wasn’t it?”
Ancia looked up at him wide-eyed and stunned and slowly nodded. Khalid’s face broke into a smile, full of joy and sweetness.
“That makes me happy. To think I’ll be the first to have all of you.”
“Why…?”
Why was he looking at her like that? With a face full of rapture, as if he was gazing at someone he loved?
She didn’t have the chance to voice her thoughts. Khalid kissed her again, and this time, one of his large hands rested lightly on her chest. Startled, Ancia grabbed his wrist, but he only smiled and gently squeezed her b****t.
“Ah!”
Ancia let out a heated moan, her body writhing instinctively. Her knees bent involuntarily, as though she was trying to escape, but Khalid caught her legs.
“Don’t… please…”
Her words trailed off as Khalid sat up and, with careful and deliberate movements, removed her worn shoes. Then, holding her foot in both hands, he pressed a kiss to the top of it over her frayed stockings.
“You’ll need new shoes.”
“…I can’t buy them. I’m poor.”
“Then I’ll wrap this foot in sky-blue silk and place it in shoes as soft as clouds.”
He kissed the top of her foot again, this time even more reverently.
His hand slid beneath her skirt, unfastening the garter belt on her thigh and pulling off her stockings. Then, he scooped her up and laid her gently into the cushions. Between her now-bare feet, Khalid positioned himself. Ancia trembled.
