Anne bit her lip as she forcibly stopped herself from craving his affection like a needy child. It must have come from the lack of affection that had dominated her life since she was a child.
Anne pulled the shawl that was up over her shivering shoulders. She did not want to allow even the slightest bit of feelings to a man who treated her so harshly.
As time goes by, a child will come. Then she had to leave this place, but something was holding her back. There was only one emotion to define, but Anne told herself it was nonsense and forced her teeth to crumple it. She was terrified just thinking about it.
Yes. Maybe itâs better to stay away for a while.
She didnât know why her rational self felt this way toward someone who she had no expectations of, but she was determined to do so. If she didnât see the Grand Dukeâs face, she would be able to go back to the beginning with a heart as solid as stone.
No, she absolutely had to.
* * *
The Grand Duke returned. This time, unlike the previous visits, all the knights who had gone out returned safely.
Anne, watching the warhorses pass through the front door, went out to meet them dressed formally.
She didnât know exactly how to subdue monsters, but she was told they would have a pretty difficult time. Maybe thatâs why she saw some injured knights wearing bandages.
The Grand Dukeâs eyes, who rode in with a huge black horse, searched for Anne. As he got off his horse, he looked closely at her lowered head with sharp eyes. Her pale complexion he saw before he left seemed much better.
âYou finally look like a human. Is it enough to walk around?â
He pierced her ear with an extremely cold voice. She didnât say much about the deliberately thrown scolding. It didnât feel bad as she just stood there without refuting.
The Grand Duke, who was about to rush inside, grabbed Anneâs arm. As she looked up at the sudden yank, he spat out words with a hard face.
âGo to your room.â
It was a simple and clear sentence, but Anne lowered her head as she could understand what it meant.
He threw off his armor and clothes in the room upon her arrival, beckoning the maid to leave. Far from being surprised by his hurriedness than usual, she stood still. Her heart was relieved when she saw the visibly depressed face.
In one breath, the Grand Duke pushed her against the wall and twisted his mouth.
âYou look pretty disappointed, seeing your husbandâs face after a week.â
âAck!â
âI told you to stay quiet like a dead rat . . . Yet you hung out with Luciel.â
He could see Anneâs complexion turning pale as he questioned her, perhaps recalling what had happened on the balcony.
âAre you going to do this . . . every time I talk to Luciel?â
âNo. No matter who it is, I will do this.â
The Grand Duke mercilessly grabbed Anneâs skirt and yanked it up. His member was thrust in between her bare legs.
âHu-uh.â
Anne grabbed the Grand Dukeâs disheveled shirt and narrowed her eyes. He grabbed her hand and forced her to cling to his neck.
In a close knit position, he thrusted his hips. Anneâs skinny body fluttered every time he lifted her, wanting to shove everything into her narrow hole. The torn fabric fluttered, and Anneâs immaculate breasts were fondled violently in the Grand Dukeâs hands. He pressed his lips against the round flesh like an apple.
âHuuuh.â
Anne groaned at the sensation of him twirling the tips between his fingers. After drawing over the round areola with his tongue and soaking it up, then pinching her nipples, Anne, who was trembling, pressed her forehead against his shoulder.
âHuuh, hah-ugh.â
A warm breath relentlessly wrapped around her chest, and a hard lump of flesh stirred the inside of her walls. While clutching her chest painfully, the Grand Duke drove his teeth into Anneâs nape. He bit hard enough to leave marks and was intent on poking at her narrow hole.
âHa-ahh! Stop . . . hu-uh.â
Every time he slammed into her, the sticky liquid splattered in all directions. A squelching, obscene sound erupted from between the clinging bodies.
Even the sleeves hanging from Anneâs shoulders were ripped off by the Grand Dukeâs hand. He sucked her neck, then swallowed her hardened nipples. As soon as the intensely hot breath brushed her skin, the Grand Duke drove inside. He squeezed her chest, which he gripped as if he was going to tear it apart, and squeezed him into her cramped path.
âI was thinking about this hole for a week.â
He whispered, smearing his saliva in her ear. When he teasingly added that he was full of sexual desire, Anne bit her lips, suppressing the feeling of her body growing hotter.
âItâs still bright . . . ha-uhh.â
As Anne was about to speak more, her lean body swung to the side.