Odalisque - Chapter 244

“Actually, I didn’t even think I’d be coming back to the capital.”

“Why?”

“Because I left with the intention of never coming back.”

Perhaps because it was the city of her childhood, the memories of the past stirred in her heart everywhere she went.

But Liv, being the one who was responsible for Coryda, couldn’t help but be wary. Not only would she not be able to make a living caring for her sick sister if she were weak, but getting lost in her memories would only make her resent her current situation.

Her hesitant fingers lightly touched the signature at the bottom of the water bottle. The signature of her parents, the one she’d seen so many times in the past.

Looking at it again after all these years, it looked so elegant and cool. She was also amazed to know that her parents’ signature had come to be valued enough to decorate a luxury hotel room like this.

Just as she was about to drown in her emotions, Demus turned Liv around and locked eyes with her.

“Is that a confession?”

“Sorry?”

“The fact that you came here, even though you left with the intention of never coming back, must mean you missed me so much, right?”

Well…

Liv looked up at Demus with an ambiguous expression. Seeing that reaction, Demus asked her again, as if pressing her for an answer.

“You are still greedy for me, aren’t you?”

There was a hint of resolution to hear her answer in his blue eyes. It made Liv wonder what made him want to hear it so badly. It wasn’t even an earnest declaration of love.

“Do you really have to hear that?”

“Mhm.”

His tone was so stubborn, like a child, that Liv inadvertently thought Demus was cute. At the same time, she felt that she was really hopeless.

While he had felt so distant in front of the court earlier, now that they were alone, Demus didn’t feel like the same “great marquis” he used to be.

If before he had seemed like something expensive that one should never touch, now he seemed like something she could easily reach out and touch. It didn’t feel as burdensome, as if it was a grave sin, to want him as it had before.

She felt strangely lighthearted. Mulling over her feelings, Liv suddenly realized.

That she had a choice.

That coming to the capital to chase Demus was also a choice she had made.

She could stay if she wanted him, and she could leave if she didn’t. Regardless of Demus’ wishes, Liv was now confident she could make that choice for herself, using only her own heart as a guide.

“I feel greedy, but I don’t know if it’s a pure emotion.”

“A pure emotion?”

“I don’t think it’s a romantic, beautiful chaste love…”

Demus snorted lowly at Liv’s muttering to herself.

“I’m sorry, but if you’re talking about pure, innocent love, I can’t fulfill that fantasy.”

He retorted sarcastically, then grabbed Liv’s chin and lifted it slightly. Making eye contact with Liv, who had been looking down at an angle, Demus spoke in a more subdued voice.

“So your feelings don’t have to be like that either.”

Demus’ voice, muttering that he didn’t need that kind of romantic love, the kind where you look at one person only and overcome all hardships and adversity, reached Liv’s ear. There was a sultry undertone to his voice, a lust he’d suppressed but couldn’t quite hide.

“Be greedy for everything, never settle for less. That’s all you need.”

Liv couldn’t answer. The invading tongue, lapping impatiently across her lips, stole her breath.

…

It was cloudy outside the window, but it wasn’t quite nightfall yet.

Before Liv knew it, the kiss that had begun in front of the ornaments had turned into one in a bedroom, and the next thing she knew, her clothes were strewn at her feet.

Demus, whose undressing skills had gotten much refined during his stay at the Adelinde mansion, had developed a knack for making Liv naked quickly in any position. As a result, within a few steps, Liv was stark naked on the bed.

Liv, feeling embarrassed by the bright interior due to the lack of curtains, fumbled for a blanket, but Demus had tossed it under the bed as if it were a hassle. Her naked body felt a little chilly.

Demus laid Liv down and after positioning himself on top of her, he kissed her deeply again. Sucking eagerly, he explored every inch of Liv’s mouth. The way he licked every drop of saliva without wasting any resembled an animal that had been starved for months.

It wasn’t that long since they had entwined their bodies. Counting the days, it was only a few days at most between when Demus had first left Adelinde and their reunion in the capital.

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