Chapter 64

‘…No. It couldn’t be.’

The instant Daisy realized what that dampness might be, a chill raced down her spine, but pretending it wasn’t there was useless. The slick sensation trailing down the center of her thighs was far too vivid.

‘Is this what I’ve become? Someone who gets wet while pretending to be asleep and being kissed at the same time…?’

Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.

There was no way Daisy could acknowledge the truth. That while this heinous man had kissed her, she had secretly been aroused.

But denial only went so far. The evidence betrayed her. Her panties were soaked, and the stickiness she felt clinging to her folds was unmistakable.

‘Am I just as much of a pervert as he is…?!’

The more she thought about it, the harder it was to judge Maxim from her high horse.

What made it worse was the fact that this wasn’t the first time she’d reacted like this to him.

Even before Maxim’s return from the war, Daisy had dreams of him that left her flushed and ashamed.

After long days, she’d pray in front of his portrait and wish for his safe passage to heaven. But those dreams often morphed into something else. She would find herself in his arms instead, wrapped in heat and sin, drowning in pleasure far too filthy for heaven.

Back then, she’d chalked it up to pent-up frustration.

But now, seeing how her body responded to Maxim even against her better judgment, she couldn’t lie to herself anymore. He’d been the object of her forbidden desires all along.

Despite her conscious efforts to resist him, she couldn’t deny that she was sexually attracted to this dangerous man.

‘So this is what it means to be blinded by lust. I’ve succumbed to the whispers of the devil.’

She was disgusted with herself for letting him kiss her while she pretended to be asleep, secretly giving into her desire.

Maybe it was because they’d done this before, but a part of her had begun to rationalize that as long as she didn’t cross a particular line, it didn’t really count.

Technically, she was “asleep.” Maxim was the one committing this indecent act, not her. So her hands were clean… or so she told herself.

His kiss really did taste like heaven. The same kind of taste you’d get from sneaking a bite of cake in the middle of the night.

You know that it’s wrong, but the instant it hits your tongue, resistance becomes futile. A guilty pleasure.

There was a good reason she had fought so desperately to avoid their wedding night. While her fear of his physical size played a part, what she truly feared was losing herself in the sweetness of pleasure and forgetting her purpose entirely.

‘It’s disgusting how good he is at kissing.’

She hadn’t realized this during the chaos of their wedding day. Sure, she knew the basics of intimacy, but she never expected a kiss alone could make her body burn like this. Clearly, he was skilled.

And yet, he claimed it was his “first time” and that he “learned it from books.”

Yeah, right. What a load of crap. Remembering his pathetic excuses made her want to roll her eyes into the next century.

The relentless pace of his kiss left her breathless. Even with her eyes shut, it felt like the room was spinning.

When a soft, involuntary whimper escaped her lips, Maxim chose at that exact moment to pull back.

“Was I making it hard for you to breathe? My apologies.”

Still half-propped above her, he gazed down at Daisy, who was clearly disheveled thanks to him. Then, as if noticing something amusing, a small smile played on his lips.

“But tell me. What on earth were you eating… for you to get whipped cream all the way down here?”

Leaning down, he ran his tongue along her collarbone before planting a soft kiss there.

She must’ve spilled some cream on herself earlier when she dove back into bed.

“Oh dear, and there’s more over here.”

Where was he talking about this time?

If only she could open her eyes to check. Her curiosity was almost unbearable, and the frustration was driving her insane.

“Well, with tits as big as yours, of course anything you’ve spilled would land right here.”

“…”

“Right on top of your nipple. How cute.”

For heaven’s sake. Not the titty talk again. Those revolting words were enough to make her skin crawl.

“Shall I lick it off for you?”

Absolutely not! Just as Maxim leaned down toward her chest, Daisy sprang into action with lightning speed.

In a blur of motion, their positions reversed entirely.

It was pure instinct.

Straddling him as if mounting a horse, Daisy pinned him down in one swift move. At the same time, she pulled the revolver hidden under her pillow and pressed the cold barrel against his forehead.

“…What do you think you’re doing to a person who’s supposed to be asleep?”

“Ah, so you’re finally awake.”

Meeting her gaze, Maxim greeted her with a smile, not even looking slightly surprised.

He really was out of his mind.

“Why are you so fast?”

“Excuse me?”

“To subdue me in a single move, and with a woman’s strength no less. That’s not something just anyone could pull off….”

Maxim’s wandering gaze sharpened suddenly, his eyes now cold and calculating.

“Tell me, have you had some form of professional training in combat?”