“I’ve brought the tea.”
Charlotte spoke after knocking, but no answer came. Taking a deep breath, she reached out with a trembling hand to knock again when the door suddenly swung open, hitting her with a blast of steamy air.
“I didn’t realize we had a lazy maid in this house.”
The man in front of her, freshly bathed and wrapped in a bathrobe, had a face as flawlessly handsome as ever, but his expression was cold as frost on a winter night.
He tilted his head slightly, twisting his lips.
“Is your mouth just for show?”
Standing before him felt like facing a hissing snake baring its fangs. Reflexively, Charlotte looked down.
This man had never treated her like a maid before. Fear, more than annoyance, prevailed. For Richard Kensington, respect was something he granted only when he deemed someone worthy of it. And Charlotte had been avoiding him like a scared, sensitive mouse for the past three days, clearly not someone he saw deserving of his leniency.
“I couldn’t find the tea leaves…”
Her gaze wandered aimlessly over his face, his deep-set collarbones, and the glimpse of a firm chest beneath. As she was about to bow her head again, a large hand grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his chilling gaze.
“I couldn’t find them.”
Her lips curled inward at his piercing sarcasm. She wanted to say more but feared provoking him further, though how he took her hesitation, his eyes narrowed. The next moment, Charlotte was pulled into the room by her wrist.
“Ah…!”
A scream coincided with the door slamming behind her. She stumbled, crashing against the back of a couch, and as she tried to steady herself, the master of the house stepped closer. The following words made her pale and she collapsed onto the couch.
“Are you sick of me now?”
“…”
“After getting to know me, do I disappoint you? Have you set your sights on someone else?”
“What are you talking about…”
She had never expected things to escalate like this.
“You can be honest.”
Charlotte blinked rapidly, her face pale as Richard knelt down, cupping her face in his hands, feeling his pulse through the tips of his fingers, along with the smell of fresh blood.
“I won’t get angry.”
Of course, that was a lie. The moment he received affirmation, he contemplated strangling her or perhaps biting into her nape. It wouldn’t be a bad way to end things, or even to ruin them.
She was infuriatingly endearing. As innocent as she seemed, her slyness knew no bounds, constantly pushing him to his limits. Her trembling face could be absurd and amusing, driving him into a frenzy no different from a wild beast.
Just as the impulse was about to turn into reality, Charlotte spoke up.
“This is my first time at a resort.”
“…”
“So I got a bit excited… I wanted to try lots of things, like peacefully watching the sea…”
It took a few seconds for him to understand. As Richard’s eyebrows shot up, Charlotte stuttered under his quiet interrogation but eventually nodded.
“The truth is… you’ve been, well, quite suffocating lately…”
Summoning her courage, Charlotte muttered something she soon wished she hadn’t. With a short chuckle, Richard’s hands fell from her cheeks to her shoulders and then firmly lifted her up, tilting her world.
“Let me go, Richard!”
“Don’t struggle. You’re heavy.”
It was a strangely familiar exchange, though whether he was slinging her over his shoulder or cradling her like a princess made little difference. This time, it was the latter.
“Please, let me go!”
“Is that all you can say? I knew you were foolish.”
As she tried to lift her head in a surge of defiance, a strong hand at the back of her neck pressed her face into his firm chest. His cool scent enveloped her, reminiscent of the eerie and sensually charged mist before a storm at sea. It was the kind of scent that might silently creep up and engulf a sailor whole.
“Then tell me.”
Thud.
Her bottom hit the soft cushion. Richard had set her down on a broad couch and climbed on top to prevent her escape. He wedged a knee between her legs and leaned in close, leaving her no room to resist.
“What exactly do you find ‘suffocating’?”
“What…?”
Her voice cracked in panic. As Charlotte regained her senses and pushed against his chest, he continued.
“I’m not used to such words, so I struggle to moderate.”
His tone was that of a student asking a teacher, yet despite the polite content, his touch was rough and unrestrained.
His long fingers stroked her thigh, just as they had once played with her palm under a table. The memory brought heat to her face. As her cheeks turned red, Richard smirked and whispered in her ear.
“So tell me what you want, Miss Hegel. Do you desire to be treated like a lady? Shall I play the gentleman’s role?”
It was an offer to comply if she wished. Charlotte thought of how he treated high-society women—with impeccable manners, indifference, and a dry smile. Richard was sometimes brutally cold to them, especially when they harbored any hope.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll gladly do so. But I always collect a fee.”
Charlotte didn’t want to know what that ‘fee’ entailed. It seemed better not to know. Desperately, she shook her head.
“I like things as they are.”
“You’re playing with me.”
Richard’s jaw tensed at her quick denial.
‘Don’t make him angrier.’ Instinctively, Charlotte reached out and embraced his neck. His body stiffened, caught off guard.
“…What is it?”
“I like you.”
Her voice softened as she spoke, eyes tightly shut, as if she was committing a grave act.
“Very much. Terrifyingly so…”
Her sudden embrace and impulsive confession seemed to shift the atmosphere that had been tight with tension. With the mood slightly relaxed, Charlotte added in a small voice, her newfound courage bubbling again.
“But it seems you don’t feel the same, and that’s made me a bit spiteful.”
It was half truth, half lie. After all, a lie mixed with a bit of truth was always more convincing than a perfect falsehood.
Richard removed her hands and stood up. As she sat up to follow his motion, they finally came face to face. He casually pushed back his disheveled black hair behind his ear and responded curtly.
“Why?”
His voice was softer than before. Charlotte felt debased for feeling relieved by his gentle tone, her heart fluttering with a vulgar sense of satisfaction. She pouted her lips petulantly as she closed her eyes to his gentle touch.
“You’ve never said that you liked me.”
“…”
“Every time I ask, you leave me speechless and then—”
Suddenly, his lips crashed into hers, cutting her off. His tongue, seeking permission, gently licked her upper lip before entangling with hers, sweeping across her palate and gums until she was breathless from the persistent torment.
Unable to bear it any longer, she pushed against his chest. In response, he bit her lower lip.
“Ow!”
Charlotte covered her mouth with her hands and glared up at him, the sharp pain making her eyes water.
“That hurts!”
She sharply reproached him, but he seemed indifferent, as usual. He had always been sensitive about his own feelings while being oblivious to others. Anticipating another unexpected move, Charlotte quickly turned her head away and stood up.
“I should go now. I’ve been here too long.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Eek!”
She thought she had moved swiftly, but it was futile. Richard swiftly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and sat her down on his lap. Charlotte had learned the hard way that struggling would only make him hold on tighter. She sighed and relaxed her body, the faint scent of fresh grass emanating from his neck as he buried his nose in it and issued a warning.
“If you turn your back on me again, expect consequences.”
“Ah…!”
A short moan escaped her lips as he bit her neck and then soothingly ran his tongue over the spot. The sensation of skin, muscle, and veins all tingling was overwhelming. After letting her tremble for a moment, he stood up and walked towards the door.
“From tomorrow, come early in the morning.”
“But without Madam Janice’s orders, I can’t—”
“That’s not for you to worry about. Is it?”
His statement wasn’t directed at her. Charlotte turned towards the door, freezing in place. There stood Janice, watching them with icy eyes.
“Yes, young master.”
Janice bowed her head in response.
“As you command, I’ll entrust Charlotte with the service.”
“One more thing.”
Richard nodded satisfactorily.
“Starting tonight, Miss Hegel will use the room next to mine.”
Janice bit her lower lip in the silence that felt like a demand for any objections.
“I’ll prepare it immediately.”
🍉🍉🍉
