Page 15 of Sugar & Dragon Act I: Temptation

He moved his hand up to her breasts. He hadn’t considered what Galenos might look like in a blast of passion other than an angry outburst—until he’d heard a suggestion to marry. Now that he had the opportunity to see it with his own eyes, he felt a curiosity so intense that considering their history of rivalry and bickering, it seemed almost perverse.

Almost.

Though he couldn’t see her face clearly, he could feel her chest rising and falling. Her breath was measured. Either his touch didn’t have any impression on her, or it impressed her so much that she used breathing as an anchor for her self-control.

Time to check.

When he covered her right breast with his hand, she stiffened, but this time he didn’t wait for her permission. He started with a gentle massage, which gradually turned into a more possessive caress. Good that the woman was practical and, like most magi going on a short journey in their daimonic form, didn’t consider undergarments to be essential luggage…

Just as he suspected, he sorely liked the shape and weight of his discovery. If he only could see it…

He squeezed her breast harder. Not hard enough to cause her pain, but enough to make it feel more invasive than anything he’d done before. He wanted to seeanyreaction. He had to know…

A sigh escaped her lips. She must have been more surprised than outraged, however, because she didn’t try to break free. Instead, she leaned harder against the table as if she needed support.

Dago swallowed. He was satisfied with her reaction, but there was a serious risk that if the woman continued acting with such acceptance, he wouldn’t be able to apply the brakes…

He started playing with her nipple as if there wasn’t any danger. The thought that he wasliterallyplaying with fire amused him.

He squeezed harder.

The woman leaned forward. From afar, her silhouette could be considered straight, but it was clear to him that she’d just transferred part of the responsibility for keeping this pose to the table.

He slid his left hand to her stomach and moved so close to her that there was nothing separating them apart from the fabric of her dress. Just as he expected, she stiffened, apparently surprised by him moving so boldly. He stiffened too. Contrary to his expectations, the proximity of her body and the flowery smell of her hair worked on himhard.

Well. Taking into account that they were in the middle of talks about marriage, it was a good sign. Now he needed only to know her opinion…

“Now you know that I want you,” he said, gently but suggestively pushing against her with his hips. “But I still don’t know whatyouwant.”

She looked straight ahead, but he knew that she wouldn’t notice if the shelves in front of them suddenly disappeared. They had no meaning for her at the moment.Hedid.

She licked her lips but didn’t answer, hesitating.

He moved his hand to her other breast. “There is nothing I haven’t seen or heard. You can say or do whatever you want. You don’t need to be afraid that you’ll offend me or that I’ll tell someone. Everything that happens in this castle stays within its walls.”

He squeezed. “Will you tell me what you want?” He stroked her hard nipple with his thumb. “Or should I look further?”

She swallowed, but when she spoke, her voice sounded hoarse anyway.

“Look.”

He grinned. Hearing a challenge from Hera Galenos’s lips? Shocking, indeed.

“As you wish,” he murmured, sliding his left hand lower.

But when his fingers reached the hollow between her legs, she did something he didn’t expect…

“Not through the fabric,” she said softly, almost in a whisper.

…so fast.

Not trying to hide his satisfaction, he repeated, “As you wish.”

An amused smile played at her lips, but as his fingers worked to gather the folds of her dress, it gradually faded away, absorbed by the anticipation of his next move. When he touched her skin, she flinched, but even though her body was stiff with tension, she parted her legs to make access easier for him.

Carefully, he began to trace his fingers over the most intimate part of her body, triggering small movements that the woman was unable to control. Her face flushed, her breathing growing uneven. When he found a particularly sensitive spot and began massaging it, a soft moan escaped her throat, causing the pink on her cheeks to darken even more. She didn’t want to lose control…

…but he was going to take it anyway.

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