“Heuk…!”
I flinched, losing my grip on the hem of the dress. Clyde quickly kissed my shoulders and back as he lowered my underwear.
“Clyde…”
“I said I’d wash you up. Stay still.”
“How can I stay still when you’re… Ah!”
As Clyde gently caressed my shoulder blades and kissed my waist and prominent pelvic bones, I realized that even such sensitive sensations could be felt in those areas.
“What, what is that supposed to wash…?”
“Until now, I was just taking off your clothes. Now, I’m going to wash you.”
“Then why did you put your mouth here and there?”
“Just because they’re pretty.”
“Ugh…”
I blushed and shut my mouth. Clyde smiled languidly and ran his hand over the carvings on the tub. Soon the tub began to fill with water. It was definitely enchanted, but I couldn’t tell what kind of magic it was.
As I scrutinized the bathtub’s markings, Clyde chuckled lightly.
“You really like magic, don’t you?”
“Of course. I’m a mage.”
“Not anymore, though.”
“…….”
I felt a strange chill run down my spine, even though he was clearly smiling. I absentmindedly played with the choker around my neck and cautiously spoke.
“Hey, Clyde. This necklace…”
“No. You can’t take it off.”
“Even if I take it off, I can’t use any magic here in the Demon Realm. Unlike the human realm, there’s no mana in this environment…”
“Then taking it off or leaving it on, it’s the same, right?”
“It’s frustrating.”
“No.”
“Clyde.”
“Rather than regretting being fooled by you again, it’s better not to listen to you in the first place.”
“…….”
I was speechless, and Clyde suddenly hugged me tightly.
“Eek!”
Startled, I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. Clyde placed me in the bathtub.
The water temperature was slightly warm but pleasantly soothing. I could feel my body getting drowsy as I soaked.
Clyde wet my hair, lathered it with soap, and began to wash it.
“Where did you get the soap?”
“It’s used in the Demon Realm. Did you think demons don’t wash themselves?”
“Not really, but…”
Clyde’s hands as he washed my hair felt incredibly soothing. I’d been so embarrassed when he first undressed me, and now I wish he would always do my hair like this.
“Why are you so good at this? Did maids teach you something?”
A look of disbelief flashed across Clyde’s upturned face.
“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way that happened.”
“Then why are you so good at it?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“It’s fascinating. Every touch of your hand feels this good…”
Clyde’s hand suddenly stopped when I murmured with my eyes closed.
“…Are you doing this on purpose?”
“What?”
“Are you deliberately provoking me like this?”
“Provoking? What…?”
Clyde kissed me. It was a kiss where our faces were turned in opposite directions, just like in an old hero movie. Clyde’s hand gently held my cheek as he deepened the kiss, finding the perfect angle to slide his tongue in. My neck bent backward involuntarily, and my back arched.
“Mmm, huh… Ah…!”
I grabbed Clyde’s neck with one hand and clung to him. Maybe it was because of the completely different angle of the kiss compared to usual, or maybe it was because I was naked in the bathtub, but it felt much more stimulating than before.
Clyde, persistently exploring my lips, finally released me. I lay in the bathtub, breathing heavily.
“W-what are you doing while washing my hair…”
“You’re the one who provoked me.”
“I didn’t provoke you….”
Clyde chuckled softly and began rinsing my hair.
“I should wash you up quickly.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I don’t think I can take it anymore.”
“…….”
I couldn’t understand his words. After Clyde rinsed away all the foam from my hair, he lifted me up and began soaping my body.
“Ahhh…!”
With each delicate touch and glide of Clyde’s hands over my sensitive spots, I unintentionally made sounds.
“There you go again.”
“Oh, no, I’m not…! This is your fault!”
“Because my touch feels so good?”
“Ugh, seriously…”
A mischievous smile played on Clyde’s lips. He gently cupped my breasts from behind, rubbing the nubs that had become apparent.
“Ugh… Clyde, what are you doing…!”
“What am I doing? I’m washing you.”
“This is… ugh…”
I turned my head and protested, but Clyde sealed my lips with his. As he tantalizingly explored the inside of my reluctantly opened mouth with his tongue, he persistently caressed both of my breasts. Perhaps due to the slippery foam, I felt more sensitive and electrified than ever before.
“Ugh, stop it now…”
My legs were trembling uncontrollably, and it felt like I might collapse at any moment. However, Clyde showed no intention of stopping.
“Why.”
“Why? What do you mean you… don’t know… Uh…”
“I don’t know.”
“Clyde…!”
“Tell me, why do you want me to stop?”
Clyde whispered into my ear, his lips pressing firmly against it.
I felt a tingling and overwhelming sensation as he continued to stroke my breasts. I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
“Ah…!”
My waist arched like a bowstring, and I clung to Clyde as if hanging on for dear life.
“Please, stop now… I don’t want this here…”
With tear-filled eyes, I looked up and pleaded. Clyde’s pupils were clouded with desire.
“As you wish.”
Clyde quickly rinsed away the foam from my body, then lifted me and carried me to the bedroom.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Clyde held me multiple times, yet he didn’t seem satisfied. He only got off of me when I was completely exhausted and sagging.
“…Clyde.”
“Yes?”
“You said earlier that I’m going to be your partner. That… did you mean it?”
“…….”
Clyde’s body, holding me, tensed slightly.
“I only said that to make it easier for those bastards to understand.”
“You mean you didn’t mean it?”
“As long as you’re by my side, that’s enough for me. I don’t want anything more.”
“You don’t want to marry me?”
Clyde pulled away from me slightly and looked into my eyes.
“…What did you just say?”
“You said that being together is enough, and you don’t desire more.”
“Then do….you want to marry me?”
“After all the things we’ve done, isn’t it weird not to get married?”
I said playfully, trying to sound sarcastic. Clyde was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke again.
“Of course I want you to be my wife; you don’t have to ask; it’s what I’ve always wanted for the past nine years.”
A tingling sensation spread through my chest at his vulnerable confession.
“But you… are you really okay with it?”
“Okay with what?”
“…Are you okay with marrying a man you don’t even love?”
“…….”
I knew that Clyde thought I didn’t love him. But hearing it explicitly hurt more than I expected, making my eyes well up with tears.
We may not have been together for a long time compared to our time apart, but we have been sharing our love every night since then. Did Clyde really think I could do that with a man I didn’t love?
I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I would burst into tears, so I turned over and lay on my back, my lips tightly sealed.
“Ruby.”
“…….”
“Ruby….”
“…….”
Clyde hugged me from behind.
“I’m sorry. From your perspective, what I’m saying must sound absurd. I’ve kept you by my side against your will, and even after indulging in your body, I’m now asking about your feelings.”
“…….”
I had clearly said I didn’t mind. I was not doing this against my will. I want to… Just today, I told him that his touch felt good. He could see that I was not opposed to it, so why…
Why did Clyde doubt my feelings for him like this? Why couldn’t he trust my words?
‘…No…. I know why.’
It was because I had deceived and lied to him over and over again. Tears began to trickle down. I carefully wiped them away so Clyde wouldn’t notice.
It was all my fault, so I had to make amends. From now on, I will take my time to earn his trust and make him believe.
That I love him. That there was no one else for me but him…
I turned back toward Clyde and buried my face in his chest.
“Clyde.”
“…Yes, Ruby.”
“I want you to propose to me properly later. I don’t want to get married without a proper proposal…”
“…….”
Clyde hesitated for a moment before gently pulling me into a hug. His embrace, slightly stronger than usual, was likely his answer.
