C H A P T E R 4

SELENA.

Now that I had experienced what a kiss is and its deep version, I wanted more. I wanted to feel other sensations that called out to my body.

As I sat on top of the drawer, I diverted my attention from the nightgown I was wearing, and my smooth, fair shoulders came into view.

For a moment, he stared here and there, and I noticed that his eyes turned red. I swallowed hard, and a tinge of fear began to creep into my body because I didn't know what else he was capable of doing to me.

But something inside me urged me to surrender my entire body to him, so instead of stopping what we were doing, I let myself fall deeper into him.

I reached for his wet hair and brought his head closer to mine. He willingly moved toward me, seemingly eager to devour me.

"You can taste me as much as you want," I whispered, my voice breathless from the lack of air due to his passionate kisses.

"I will," he whispered back, kissing my neck down to my collarbone, and I felt the warmth of his tongue against my cold skin. I couldn't help but look up in surprise, unaware that I was tightening my grip on his head.

To my surprise, I felt him lowering my clothes even further, revealing one of my breasts before him.

I gasped as I watched him gaze at my rose-like crown. He simply looked at it for a few minutes before he closed his eyes and covered it with his kisses.

I involuntarily moaned at his action, as if he knew exactly what to do and which spots to play with.

I quickly covered my mouth with one hand and wrapped my legs around his waist while he remained bowed, teasing my breasts.

His soft lips spinning on my chest made me feel as if I were going crazy, the way he played with my crown using his tongue.

He was like a hungry child craving his mother's milk, the way he sucked and played with my crown.

"Wait, Damian," I called and tried to hold him back because I could already feel his manhood pressing against my stomach, and I could sense its intimidating size.

Will we really go that far? Will I, a duchess, give my first night to a man I just met?

But how can my mind stop my burning body for him? I still want to taste him, and I want him to possess me.

"Ugh, wait," my voice trembled because, besides his tongue, I could feel his hand playing with my other breast, further heating me up now.

I felt like I was going insane. For the past ten years, I had only been surrounded by women in the dormitory, and I never imagined that this was what I would do as soon as I left.

That I would immediately experience a man's body, but I didn't want to stop. I wanted more.

"Damian, I can't take it anymore," I pleaded with him because I felt like I would go crazy if I didn't feel his manhood inside me.

I instinctively pulled at the string around his waist to reveal his body, and before me stood his chest and manhood.

I stared blankly at it because it was the first time I saw it in front of me. It felt like it was throbbing, wanting me to experience it as well.

I slowly approached him and gently touched that thing. Just the touch of my fingertips made him inhale sharply.

I saw the expression on his face as if it was giving me the strength to continue what I was doing.

I bit my lip and gently stroked his head. It was too big for my hand to grasp fully, so I used my other hand to support it.

As I held it up, I saw him close his eyes and tilt his head back, placing both of his hands on the drawer I was sitting on.

His arms surrounded me while I played with him, and with each touch I made, he couldn't help but take deep breaths. He leaned against my shoulder and turned towards me, completely absorbed in what I was doing.

"Why is it like this? I don't know what I'm feeling," he asked me, and little did he know, I felt the same.

"It's my first time doing this, and I don't know if I'm doing it right," I whispered to him.

"Tell me if you're in pain," I said again, and he simply shook his head while resting it on my shoulder.

I couldn't help but smile slightly when he couldn't respond anymore. I felt as if I was no longer myself because of the persona I was displaying at that moment.

I am shy, unsure of how to be in a relationship or anything like that, but tonight, all I wanted was to touch this man's body. I just wanted to bring him pleasure and be with him.

It's as if I'm not myself, but at the same time, I am.

Perhaps this is really who I am, but I couldn't express it because of the responsibilities entrusted to me. So when I found the opportunity to be with this man tonight, I didn't let it slip away, even though I didn't know what would happen afterward.

"I want to feel you inside me," I whispered to him, and he looked at my face, unsure of what that meant or how to react. I didn't know either, but I knew it would be painful at first.

"This thing, it will enter me," I pointed to him, confusing him, but I took the initiative and slightly shifted the dress I was wearing, exposing my fair legs to him.

I also reached for my undergarments and removed them. He just watched me, observing what I was doing, and although I felt embarrassed by his gaze, I mustered the courage to intertwine my legs around his waist.

We could feel each other, and he stared at me, waiting for my next move because it seemed like he couldn't wait any longer.

So I slowly reached for him and gently guided him inside my white silk nightgown, feeling for the opening and positioning him carefully.

*knock knock*

"Your grace? Are you alright?" We both turned towards the door, and it felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on me when I heard the maid calling from outside my room.

I quickly got up from where I was sitting and adjusted my clothing, putting on my undergarments and looking at him.

"Sshh—don't make any noise, hide here for now, and under no circumstances should you come out," I whispered to him, and he nodded immediately.

I hurriedly left the bathing chamber and went to the front of my room's door. I composed myself and then turned to the doorknob.

"What's the matter?" I asked, pretending that I had just woken up.

"Oh, I heard someone turning on the hot water in your room, thought you might want to take a bath and needed assistance?" she asked, and then I remembered that the water outlets were close to the maids' chambers, so they could hear if someone were using them in any of the rooms within the mansion.

"I'm fine, I just showered earlier, and I'll be going to sleep now. You should go back to your room; it's late," I instructed her, and she nodded in front of me before I closed the door, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

That was close. On my first day as the Duchess of Alpin, I could have been caught engaging in intimacy with a vampire.

What has come over me? Why did I have the audacity to do such a thing?

When I regained my composure, the of everything I had done with Damian earlier came to mind. I didn't know how I managed to hold him so boldly.

What gave me the courage to be so passionate? I was the one teaching him things he didn't know!

"Oh no!" I wiped my face and quickly walked back to the bathing chamber, searching for him.

I found him hiding in a dark corner of the room. I approached him and tapped his shoulder.

"She's gone," I answered, and he immediately hugged me, surprising me. He seemed terrified of seeing or hearing anyone else around him besides me.

I didn't know how to calm him down, so I just hugged him back and gently stroked his now slightly dry hair.

Wow, his wet hair has dried up after playing in this place for so long. I was brought back to reality when I remembered what we had just done and tapped his back.

"Come on, let's go to sleep," I invited him, but he continued to rest on my chest, causing a blush to creep onto my face, especially since my body still felt the warmth of his breath, the way he played with the crown of my chest, and kissed it.

I winced and tried to separate my body from him because I was afraid I might be possessed by something again and continue with that matter.

"Damian, come on, I'll lend you a blanket and a clean place to sleep so you can rest properly in your cell," I explained to him, and he clung even tighter to my waist.

I could feel the fear in his body and how his hands trembled as he held onto my clothes tightly.

"Don't bring me back to that place, don't lock me up," he pleaded, and I immediately shook my head, reaching for his cheeks so he could see my eyes.

"I won't lock you up there again. I just want to hide you for a while so I can arrange your escape or your way out of that place," I said because I still needed to carefully consider every step I would take for him.

I didn't know if my family had anything to do with his confinement in that place or if the people here in the estate knew anything about him.

"I need your help to free you from that place completely. Trust me, I'll visit you every night, or you can come to my room as long as you don't see anyone else with me. Is that okay with you?" I asked him, and he nodded, letting go of my clothes.

Sadness was clear on his face, and I couldn't help but feel sad for him as well.

"Let's do this then. You can sleep on the sofa, but when morning comes, you have to go back to that place before the maids see you," I instructed him, and his face immediately brightened.

I didn't know if I had found a companion or something because he was wagging his tail like a dog in joy because of what I said.

I smiled and tousled his hair, causing him to smile brightly in front of me, which made my heart race.

Who is this guy? He's too dangerous!

"C-come on, let's go to sleep," I ordered him, turning around and clutching my chest, which was pounding rapidly.

I lay on my bed, and he settled on the sofa inside my room. I gave him a pillow and a blanket to make him sleep more comfortably.

I glanced at him before finally lying down, "Goodnight, Damian," I greeted him, and he nodded.

"Thank you, Selena," he replied, and I didn't know if my eyes were playing tricks on me or if I really saw tears escaping from his eyes.

It felt like he was extremely happy because he was lying on a comfortable bed now or finally finding someone he could rely on, no one else but me.

I lay down on the bed and briefly checked the lock on the cell door. I locked it before lying down so that no one could open it tomorrow morning.

No one should see Damian because I knew I would face the wrath of my brother, Rowan.

So much had happened in just one day that it felt like all my energy had been drained, and as I closed my eyes, I immediately fell into a deep slumber.

♛♕♛

I woke up to the sound of birds outside my veranda. The weather was overcast just like every day I witnessed in the Lumire Empire.

I rubbed my eyes and noticed that Damian was no longer in my room. The windows were shut, and it seemed like he had returned to his prison because his displayed painting was slightly protruding from the wall.

It's a relief that he didn't attempt to escape, although I would have allowed him to if he wished.

Aware of the danger he poses and unsure of his capabilities, I still permit him to leave his confinement.

I opened the door immediately, finding my lady-in-waiting waiting outside with a tray of breakfast for me.

I quickly prepared myself and dressed in presentable attire to begin my day as the new Duchess of Alpin Estate.

"Is brother Rowan's carriage ready?" I asked Andrea, and she nodded promptly.

"Yes, my lady and he will be departing for a negotiation this afternoon," she replied, and I nodded in acknowledgment.

Earlier, Brother Rowan bid me farewell, informing me that he would leave Alpin to pursue his endeavors.

I have no idea what he plans to do or where he is heading, but he mentioned that he would return in two or three months' time.

After finishing my meal, I immediately proceeded to my office to attend to the remaining tasks that required my attention.

"Allen, please gather all the information about the Alpin estate for the past thirty years," I instructed him, and he didn't ask any further questions, simply following my orders.

I wanted to see if I could find any information or clues about Damian's origin or the identity of the person who imprisoned him in that cell.

*knock knock.*

I turned my attention to the door and quickly returned to my work. "Selena is starting work early today," Brother Rowan remarked, interrupting my writing.

I stood up and approached him, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Good morning, my lord," I greeted him, and he nodded. "Good morning to you too, your grace," he replied, and we both smiled.

"Is it true that you're leaving today? Can't you postpone it?" I asked while returning to my previous seat.

I saw him watching me intently, shaking his head. "No, Selena, if I want to stay by your side, I must leave immediately," he responded, his gaze fixed on me in a peculiar way.

A look like I hadn't seen in him before, a look with a different meaning.