“It’s nice that they had a good relationship… but isn’t it a bit embarrassing? Actually, it’s very embarrassing…”
“Hey, don’t move. It tickles.”
When Diana squirmed uncomfortably in his arms, Kayden tightened his grip around her waist. As a result, Diana’s nose ended up buried in Kayden’s chest. A small thud was heard.
“Ouch…” Diana grimaced in pain and clutched her nose with both hands.
“Are you okay? Let me see.”
“It hurts a bit, but I’m fine.”
“You’re tearing up.” Kayden forcibly removed Diana’s hands and held her face close, speaking with concern. “It’s definitely red. No bleeding, though.”
“Whose fault do you think this is…”
“Yes, it’s my fault. It’s because I’m in such good shape. I was trying to match my wife’s preferences and didn’t think about your safety.”
“Don’t say things like that. It’s easy to misunderstand.”
Even though they were the only two in the ballroom practicing their dance, Diana habitually looked around before slapping Kayden’s chest. But, as expected, only her hand hurt. Despite just having her nose and shedding tears, Diana had already forgotten.
Kayden protested with an aggrieved tone. “Misunderstanding? You indeed like my body.”
“I never said that.”
“You admitted it last time, but now you’re denying it again.”
“When did I admit it? I don’t remember…” Diana fanned herself, pretending ignorance.
Kayden, feeling challenged, pulled her closer. Their bodies pressed tightly together, just like when they danced earlier. With his head tilted, he asked in a whisper that seemed on the verge of a kiss. “Really?”
“…”
“Is my body really not to your taste?”
His low voice tingled her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
Diana swallowed dryly. His face shining right in front of her, so unrealistically handsome, his rock-solid chest and his feverish lower body were all maddeningly stimulating.
The glittering, unrealistically beautiful face before her, the rock-solid torso, and the burning heat from his body were all overwhelmingly stimulating.
Silence fell as black and blue-violet eyes scrutinized each other. Their mingling breaths grew hotter. Unable to resist the temptation, Diana slightly lifted her heels. The movement was followed by their lips meeting.
“Mmm…”
When Diana’s lips touched his, Kayden immediately cupped her nape with one hand, delving deeper. As their lips locked, Diana felt short of breath, letting out a soft moan. Her mind was in chaos. Her hand trembled on Kayden’s chest.
Engulfed in a rush of sensations, when she came to her senses, Diana found herself lying on the ballroom floor with Kayden breathing heavily over her. She could feel his bare skin, indicating his shirt’s buttons had come undone at some point. Her own clothes hung precariously below her collarbone.
Kayden lifted his lips and whispered in a husky voice. “Open your eyes. I want to see you.”
Diana opened her eyes at his words, immediately swallowing her breath. Kayden’s disheveled face was excessively seductive.
“Kay…”
Diana, feeling the danger, tried to speak to stop him, but as soon as she parted her lips, Kayden filled the gap again. A soft mass roamed inside her mouth, then moved past her face to her ear.
“Gasp…”
A sticky sound loudly reached her ear, making Diana cry out in embarrassment and ticklishness.
While nibbling her earlobe, Kayden started planting small kisses down her neck. Diana felt his hot breath on her collarbone and quickly regained her senses.
“Kayden, wait, hnn. Hold on.”
With those words, Kayden summoned all his self-control to stop. Raising his gaze, he saw Diana’s reddened eyes as she spoke tearfully.
“I think that’s enough…”
Ah, damn it. The combination of her expression and voice was truly torturous. Kayden silently cursed as he bowed his head. He focused on taking deep breaths to cool down.
The kiss, being their first since the wedding, had heated him beyond control. And Diana felt the same, so they lay on the ballroom floor for a while to cool off.
Eventually, Kayden reluctantly pulled himself up, holding out his hand to Diana. “Take it.”
“…Okay.”
Avoiding his gaze awkwardly, Diana took his hand and stood up. As she adjusted her clothes, Kayden’s coat draped over her shoulders.
“It, uh, looks a bit crumpled… It’s better to keep it on until we get back to the room.”
“Ah, yes…”
Was I out of my mind for a moment? Kayden’s words, followed by a clearing throat, made Diana’s cheeks flush again. Diana tried to hide her face up to her eyes with his coat, struggling to manage her embarrassment.
But, that was… unfair. Diana glanced at Kayden with a resentful look. How could someone with such a face and body ask such a question in that voice?
If I had answered that it wasn’t to my preferences, I would have been struck by lightning…
Half worried that her true feelings might be revealed and half feeling like she might die from the awkwardness, Diana coughed unnecessarily and opened her mouth.
“Ahem. Was that enough of an answer to your question earlier?”
“…Ah.”
Kayden looked momentarily dazed at her words. But since it wasn’t a question expecting an answer, she quickly changed the subject before he could respond.
“Come to think of it, it’s already the founding festival. It’s been almost half a year since we signed the marriage contract.”
“That’s… right.”
Diana’s attempt to break the awkwardness succeeded in a different sense.
Kayden felt as if all the blood in his body had suddenly cooled. It felt like he had been yanked from a dream back into reality. So it was just a momentary impulse after all…
Kayden inwardly smiled bitterly. Originally, he had planned to back off quietly after getting an answer about her preferences, but when Diana initiated the kiss, he had momentarily lost his reason. It would be a lie to say he hadn’t hoped for more when she responded so eagerly to the kiss. But seeing Diana now, casually talking about the end, made him feel a sudden pang of sorrow.
Is it still awkward…? Meanwhile, Diana continued, sensing his lack of response. “Viscount Sudsfield might soon bring up the topic of children but don’t worry. I’ll stick to our original contract and divorce you without any hard feelings.”
Kayden was overwhelmed with emotion at her words. “You…” With face contorting, he grabbed her hand. “Does it not bother you to divorce me?”
Seeing his sorrowful face, her heart sank. Diana forced an awkward smile to hide her unease. “That was our agreement from the start.”
“…”
“Kayden?” Diana called him with slight unease.
Kayden stared blankly at her, feeling breathless, then released her hand hesitantly after a deep breath. He tried to smile despite his tumultuous feelings. “Yes, it was. I forgot.”
He almost confessed he didn’t want a divorce. But he couldn’t admit it in such a moment of impulse. He couldn’t hold onto Diana that way.
Kayden swallowed his words and instead said something else. “Diana.”
“Yes?”
“On the day of the Founding Ball, let’s sneak out together. Just the two of us.”
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Nice work, Kayden. Too bad she’s got a thick skull. 🤦🏻♀️ Thanks for the TL! ✨