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"No," she wanted to object, to say that he had always saved her.
But he seemed to be speaking of some moment unknown to her.
Suddenly she remembered his words said once when he was examining the pocket watch: *"They were this way initially."*
Then, as now, she felt a strange alienation from Cesare.
She didn't know what to say to a man who seemed to wander in his own time.
Eileen just lay silently in his arms.
Soon Cesare let her go.
"Sleep now."
Under his eyes, Eileen hastily lay in bed and pulled up the blanket.
Cesare carefully adjusted it, covering her to her very chin.
"Good night, Eileen."
He ran a hand over her forehead and wanted to leave, but Eileen quickly freed a hand from under the blanket and caught his arm.
Cesare looked at the hand that caught him.
Eileen timidly let go, murmuring:
"Good night."
But she couldn't take her eyes off him.
She thought he would leave immediately, but Cesare looked at her calmly.
A smile flickered in his red eyes, and suddenly he threw back the blanket and lay down beside her.
Her heart stopped at the unexpected action.
He leaned on an arm and lay next to Eileen.
So close she could hear the beating of his heart.
*‘What if he actually hears...’* Eileen hesitated, then turned to face him.
Cesare put an arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
The safety enveloping her warmed her heart.
This feeling was sweet, but her reason reproached her for childishness.
Cesare seemed to read her thoughts.
He ran a hand through her tousled hair and whispered quietly:
"I will stay until you fall asleep.
Do not worry."
"A husband must take responsibility," he added with a smile in his voice.
Those words instantly dispelled her guilt for the whim.
Eileen folded her hands together.
*‘Maybe I can act like a child just for today?
For today really was a hard day...’* If Cesare hadn't been there, she would have continued thinking about the bad things.
About the intrusive touches, about the gazes as if she were a piece of meat in a butcher shop.
About the moments when she was preparing for the worst.
Before the terrible memories overwhelmed her, she pressed against Cesare to warm herself.
She wanted to be even closer and fidgeted, hearing his quiet laugh.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"No." Finding the answer insufficient, Eileen corrected herself: "Just as last time, when Your Grace hugs me, I become calmer." She blushed at her own words.
Good thing it was dark in the bedroom.
"Previously you didn't like it."
"That was a kiss..."
She’d even lied that she didn't like it, but here she was immediately caught on it, admitting she hadn't understood her feelings.
"Hugging is good," Eileen timidly countered, tilting her head back slightly to look at Cesare.
He looked at her calmly.
She was already so used to his touch.
Although she was still nervous, it wasn't as awkward or unpleasant to her as it was with those strangers.
The only thing she wanted was more of his warmth.
As soon as she looked at him and parted her lips, Cesare leaned in.
*Peck.*
A quiet sound rang out.
Only a moment later did Eileen realize he had kissed her.
She opened her eyes wide, and he asked calmly:
"Weren't you looking at me as if you wanted a kiss?"
Certainly not.
But maybe because of the relaxed atmosphere in the bedroom, she didn't care.
Eileen said nothing, burying her face in his chest.
When her burning cheeks cooled a bit, she pulled away and murmured:
"I keep thinking about it.
One needs to forget bad memories quickly." She didn't dare look to see what kind of gaze Cesare was watching her with and, staring into his firm chest, continued: "But with Your Grace, I am at peace."
He was a man who would stand in the first ranks of evil, if it could be divided into good and evil.
But from their very first meeting until now, he had seemed an angel to her.
A childish comparison, but to her he was a guardian angel protecting her from all evil.
Eileen raised her eyes slightly.
Peering into his bright red eyes in the darkness, she whispered quietly:
"And now...
I think I like kisses too."
Her words about kisses were barely audible.
But Cesare heard.
As soon as her timid confession escaped her lips, Cesare pressed her tightly to himself.
Their bodies merged, and the second kiss began.
"Mm!.."
Eileen cried out in surprise, but it was too late.
He slightly bit her lower lip.
A slight taste of blood was felt on her already bitten lips.
But the small pain became a pleasant dizziness.
He licked the bitten spot, then entered her mouth with his tongue.
His tongue unceremoniously explored her.
He ran over her sensitive palate, and a sharp wave of pleasure pierced her.
Eileen clenched her toes and groaned.
She’d thought that since they’d already kissed a couple of times, it would become more familiar to her.
But now she clearly realized how much of a delusion that was.
Why did it only become stranger every time?
Today, when they hugged so tightly, everything seemed much more sensual than before.
She didn't know what to do with the surging sensations and fidgeted, making Cesare frown slightly.
Seeing the wrinkles on his forehead, Eileen involuntarily groaned and shook.
Suddenly she felt something strange.
At first she thought he had entered the bedroom with a pistol.
But pistols can't change shape.
Eileen realized it could only be one thing and froze.
The first thought was: *‘Is he really that big?’*
Though through clothes, their nightgowns were thin, so it was impossible to be mistaken.
Then came pure curiosity.
*‘But doesn't such a size make him uncomfortable?’* She’d studied pharmacology and seen anatomical atlases.
She’d read about male genitalia, but Cesare's size differed significantly from the average.
While she remained in bewilderment at the abnormal magnitude, what at first was soft quickly became hard.
Through the thin fabric, she clearly felt how it filled with heat.
"Be careful, Eileen."
The man with the hard member slightly bit her cheek and rebuked: "Don't say such things in bed."
"But... we are married."
Usually she wouldn't be able to say such a thing, but maybe the reason was that they were in the same bed.
A tiny courage appeared in her.
She added uncertainly: "You said I needed to get used to it..."
Then Cesare pressed his excited member against her body.
Showing this without words, he forced her to justify herself: "N-no, not that.
Just the kisses...
I think I'm getting used to them."
"That's good."
But apparently she had said the wrong thing.
Unexpectedly, he flipped her over.
Then he kissed her on the neck.
His lips, slightly squeezing the skin, were slowly descending.
Simultaneously, he squeezed her breast with his hand.
Eileen fearfully tried to catch his hand but remembered it was injured and only groaned.
Unlike the first rough grasp, now he was carefully massaging her soft flesh.
From the way her breast yielded to his fingers, everything went dark before her eyes.
But an even greater surprise awaited her.
"Ah!.."
His lips, sliding along her neck, touched the upper part of her breast.
At the same time, his fingers pinched the nipple.
The unexpected stimulation through the thin fabric made her entire body tense.
He continued to pinch the nipple, sometimes slightly scratching with his nails.
She wanted to ask why he was torturing her there, but the words didn't come.
Only a stifled groan escaped her throat.
"Ah, mm, hm..."
Eileen fidgeted, and Cesare laughed quietly.
He raised his eyes, which had been lowered while he kissed her breast.
Meeting the gaze of the cowering Eileen, he slowly parted his lips.
"A-a-ah!"
And bit down on her nipple.