The moment this thought entered Elena's mind, she grew restless inside. Her heartbeat quickened, and in her panic, she lowered her gaze.
Just then, the Duke turned a direct, cold stare toward Lucian and said, "I don't need any interference right now. Go outside and don't try to come in until I call for you."
Before leaving, Lucian glanced at Elena one last time. A faint, crooked smile formed on his lips not one of pity, but an acknowledgment of some bitter truth. His eyes clearly conveyed that whatever happened next between Elena and the Duke, he wouldn't intervene. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the room with slow steps.
The Duke stood there for a few moments, then strode straight toward Elena. His face showed no particular expression. He stopped in front of her and stared without speaking. Suddenly, he sat on the bed beside her, so close that Elena could feel the warmth of his breath.
The Duke raised his right hand and began caressing her cheek. His fingers were cool, but there was a gentleness in his touch that made Elena's body shiver. She tried to pull back, but he grabbed her waist and pulled her close again.
Elena's hands instinctively pressed against the Duke's chest. She could clearly feel the firmness of his chest and his steady heartbeat. She was trapped in his grip, and the distance between them had all but vanished.
The Duke's eyes fixed on Elena's lips; his breaths grew hot and rapid. Without wasting a second, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was deep, his lips pressing hard against hers. Elena's eyes widened; she shuddered at first, keeping her lips tightly shut, but the Duke's tongue began gently teasing her lips before forcefully trying to push inside. Elena's body trembled; in resistance, her nails dug into his chest, but the Duke ignored it. Running one hand through her hair, he held her even tighter. The kiss deepened further. His tongue explored her mouth. His teeth tugged and nipped at her lips. He slid his other hand to her back and began stroking it. All the while, his eyes watched her face intently.
Despite her efforts, Elena couldn't push the Duke away. It was inevitable against such a powerful man, but she couldn't surrender completely so quickly. Then an idea struck her pretend to faint! If she faked
unconsciousness, maybe he wouldn't go through with it and would let her go. With that thought, Elena closed her eyes, relaxed her body, removed her hands from his chest, let them fall to her sides, and began acting unconscious.
Seeing Elena unresponsive, the Duke stopped kissing her. He pulled his lips away and shook her face firmly with his strong hand, trying to bring her around, but she kept her eyes shut.
When Elena didn't stir, the Duke laid her straight on the bed. With her eyes closed, she looked free. Her heart was still racing. She tried to steady her breathing to make it seem real. Inside, she stayed alert, sensing every movement and sound. Now all was well no one had touched her further. She was relieved, but her relief didn't last.
The next moment, Elena felt a warm hand on her leg. It was the Duke's, slowly sliding up her thighs. Her legs trembled involuntarily at the touch. Gradually, his hand reached her soft inner thighs. Pausing there, he began circling his fingers lightly first on the outer side, then inching inward. His palm was warm and pressing, sending waves across her skin. A soft whimper escaped Elena's lips.
When Elena's eyes finally opened, she saw the Duke right above her. His face was stern and serious. His eyes were steady. There was no softness or smile on his features. He was watching her every move closely. Terror drained the color from Elena's face; she knew he must be furious now. Still, she didn't lose her courage. She looked straight into his eyes and said, "Stay away. Don't come near me."
As she spoke, Elena's eyes darted around. They landed on the multi-tool on the side table. Spotting it, she grabbed it with trembling hands. It was a small, foldable metal tool kept on the boat for general use. Clutching it tightly, she looked at the Duke and said in a cautious voice, "Don't even think of forcing yourself on us. If you try to come closer, we'll kill you. Stay away from us."
Hearing this, a mocking expression crossed the Duke's face. His lips curved slightly into a sly smile. There was a cold glint in his eyes. His face remained calm, but his smile made it clear he wasn't taking her seriously.
With that sly smile, he said, "If that's your weapon, it's truly pathetic. You're talking about killing me? First, get a hold of yourself. Your voice is shaking, and you still think you can stop me. If you really want to stop me, stop being scared and try it. Otherwise, words mean nothing."
Her face changed at his words. Fear was evident in her eyes. Her eyelids fluttered. Unwittingly, she looked down. Her confidence ebbed. She knew showing weakness now could make her lose control entirely. She forced herself to meet the Duke's gaze squarely, determined not to back down. Her hands still trembled slightly, but she kept the fear off her face.
Elena took a deep breath, gripped the tool tighter while staring into his eyes, and resolved not to retreat. Suddenly, she lunged forward and swung the tool at him, aiming for his throat but the Duke seemed to anticipate it. He swiftly dodged to the left, and her strike sliced through empty air. In an instant, he seized her right wrist with iron strength. Sharp pain shot through her, like burning. With a quick twist, he wrenched the tool from her hand and pinned her wrist firmly.Intense pain surged through Elena's wrist, a stinging burn.
The Duke grabbed her shoulder and shoved her toward the bed. His full weight pressed down on her. Her breath caught; her limbs flailed, but she was completely trapped in his powerful grip and went still, as if her body had given up.
Her fingers clutched the bedsheet desperately. Her throat went dry; she wanted to speak, but the words stuck. She stared at the Duke with terrified eyes wide and filled with raw fear. She couldn't fathom what he'd do next. The dread was so deep she wanted to escape every possibility.
"Please… not now. Give me some time. I'm not ready for this. I beg you, don't go further until I am." Her voice trembled; her lips were parched, words barely forming.
Her breaths came in quick gasps. Then, a clear "gurgle" rumbled from her stomach.
The Duke heard it plainly. His gaze snapped to her. He saw her bowed head and hand on her belly. He understood she was hungry.
"Are you hungry?" he asked in a straightforward tone.