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Oh, if only her years of training had prepared her for these intimacies, too!

The marquis drew back. “Open your mouth.”

Ah.

As the sensual command made her breasts swell against the neckline of her dress, she couldn’t stop herself from doing what the marquis asked, body trembling hard as her lips parted—-

His tongue entered her mouth, and Soleil froze.

This kiss felt so different from the way Ilie had made her come with his mouth and fingers. It had its own beauty, its own way to seduce her senses, its own way to coax a response.

Ilie’s body hardened as he felt Soleil slowly respond to the gentle overtures of his tongue. At first, the strokes of her tongue against his were timid, and her fingers were just as hesitant as they moved up to settle on his shoulders. He gave her as much time as he could, doing his best to control his instincts, and soon his patience was rewarded. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders, her body moving towards him, molding against his chest as her tongue danced against his.

A shudder struck his body, and Ilie’s control broke. His hands moved away from her face, one cupping her nape while another dug through the silky tresses of her hair. Pins scattered to the floor, but neither of them noticed nor cared. Digging deeper into her hair, he slanted her head so he could take more of her mouth.

Soleil whimpered as she felt the kiss change, Ilie’s lips pressing more insistently against her and his tongue becoming bolder in the way it explored her mouth. It had her heart galloping as fast as the horses drawing his carriage, and while her brain warned her to slow down, both her heart and body paid it no heed.

She wanted more.

Abandoning herself to his kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and it was as if it was the signal he was waiting for, Ilie dragging her to his lap without breaking their kiss.

Her world started to dance.

Their kiss was magical and torrid, forbidden and heavenly. She couldn’t get enough of him, and he seemed to feel the same, and it left her panting while his breathing became ragged. The sounds she was making were embarrassing to her ears, but even so she couldn’t stop herself.

She was slowly going out of her mind.

When the marquis finally lifted his head, she wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. The way she had panted!

Oh, but the way the kiss made her feel!

The marquis tipped her chin up, and her cheeks flamed as soon as their gazes met. She tried to look away, but he didn’t let her. “I can stare at you all day long, milady.”

“L-liar.”

His lips twitched. “You know I’m telling the truth.” He lowered his head and kissed her again. “I can do this all day, too.”

So could I,she thought uneasily.

I’m glad to hear that,the marquis replied in her mind.

Oh!She had forgotten about his ability to hear her thoughts. Again!

“You cur!” She pulled away with a gasp, but he laughingly dragged her back for another kiss. “Stay,” he murmured after. “I still need to fix your hair.”

“My h-hair?”

He smiled down at her. “You probably hadn’t noticed, but the carriage has long stopped, milady. We’ve arrived, and so has your student.”

“What?” She thought of asking him how could he have known that but decided not to bother in the end. He was the Marquis of Lunare. It would be easy for him to sense things like that. Her fingers flew to her hair, and she let out a cry of dismay when she realized that it had become completely undone. She looked down at her dress, and another cry escaped her. Everything was so dreadfully crumpled.

“Relax, milady. You look beautiful—-”

“I do not, and you know it. Instead, I look like a h-hussy—-”

“Well, that, too, but just for me.”

“Oh, shut up, you—-” She broke off when the door suddenly opened and the marquis’ coachman bowed to them in greeting.