Why was it that whenever Lucian tried to get back at Celine, he would end up in a worse state? He would try to make her feel miserable, but in the end, it would be his soul that would feel dirtier.
"Who is a brat throwing a tantrum?" Celine patted his head, not really fazed by her new hickey, "Is it you?"
"..." Lucian was about to retort, then thought better of it. He was not in a state to provoke this bamboo Celine into a cactus Celine (he was starting to see the pattern in her changes, and could recognize when she was present). "...yes," he mumbled, "It's not easy to be a hero...I wish to be a brat instead...would you still like me?"
"If you'll be fine with being treated as one…" she said, her fingers stroking the back of his neck. Bamboo Celine was hard but flexible enough to bend. "My favorite form of discipline is dungeon time. You'll have to spend time there, alone, to reflect on what you've done wrong."
"..."
"..."
"What about a good boy?" he asked. Now he only needed to figure out how to get out his strawberry Celine, the softest and sweetest one of all, "What do good boys get?"
"Locked up in a tower, away from the bad people. They get to be pampered and spoiled, all day and night."
"..." Lucian could choose what to become, but he couldn't choose the way he was treated, which made him a slave to other people's opinions, a slave to his image. He bit her again on the same spot, the mark getting darker and redder, "Why are you not afraid when you should be? Cry."
"Oh," Celine quickly wiped her grin off her face, and then proceeded to pretend to sob and cry, "Ow, that hurt! You're such a brute! Be gentler with a lady! Rough handling is only allowed in bed!"
Lucian's eyes bulged, and he coughed, his throat making a wheezing sound, "Not that type of crying, but a scared cry."
"Ooh, I got it," she wiped the fake tears, and then let out a shrill shriek that made Lucian jump on his spot. He covered her mouth with his hand, and she licked the palm of his hand.
'This woman!'
"Is everything okay in there?" the driver shouted, "Are you alright?"
"...yes, we're fine!" Lucian said, "A bug got inside and scared the lady, she's fine now!"
"Understood sir! We'll be at the estate in a moment!"
The carriage continued moving, and Lucian pumped his forehead against hers. She was chuckling at his distress, making him wonder what was the point of revenge if she was enjoying herself, anyway?! It was like kicking a puppy, and the puppy was looking up at him with those cute eyes, happy to receive any form of attention from him!
Look at her! The cute little thing, wiggling her butt on top of him, trying to find the best spot to sit. How was he going to get even with this?
"..." Lucian sighed, "I'm not going to give you any more kisses today. You're on punishment. Go sit down on your side."
"...pfft...You are really bad at this, aren't you?" She climbed off of him and got down on her knees instead, placing her head on his lap, "Order me to do something more humiliating or you will never find peace with yourself and the world. You will die a sad, bitter, old man."
"..." Lucian stared at the compromising position she was putting herself in, speechless, "..."
"I have a bad knee," she muttered, not forgetting the words he had told her before, "But I'll still do it, for you. You don't even have to order me to."
'No wonder the Baron had a heart attack after meeting her,' Lucian thought, 'I'm having one right now.'
She had tried to appease him a few times through long distance, and it was easier to resist her and not give in when he was not with her. 'Don't get seduced,' he warned himself. 'Don't get tempted. Resist. Resist the temptation.'
It's good that he came twice today. If he had been pent-up, he would have been a goner. "Did you forget about my rejection already?" he asked.
"Cheered myself up along the way, so I'm back to full health," Celine said smugly, mentioning the new dress he got her, how she was saved from her kidnappers, and then the slaps, "If I don't become a good example for you, you will never learn how to forget and forgive. Now, let's try this again. Order me to do something demeaning or you will regret it."
She was feeding his inner voice, making it unusually quiet. It was like the voice of reason was on her side, and not his. And his reason for denying her was getting smaller by the second.
"..." Lucian looked at the carriage window. 'What a beautiful day,' he thought, occupying himself with other things, 'The sky is clear, and the sun is shining. Look at the birds flying in the sky, free and happy. I wish to have such a simple life as well.'
He was forcing himself into mundanity, but his body just decided to betray his mind. His right hand found its way to the back of her head, and he gently stroked her hair. "Not today," he told her, "Not in the carriage."
"..." Celine sighed, "Fine."
"Fine," he repeated. He didn't want to get ambushed in the middle of the act and have to fight in the nude or something. She was probably of the same mind because she would have pressed him for it if she wanted to do it right now.
"At home?" she asked.
"At home," Lucian confirmed, and she smiled.
"What are you going to make me do?" she asked, "Something fun? Something exciting? Something...taboo?"
"..."
Just because they couldn't do it didn't mean they couldn't talk about it.
"Would you like to know?" he asked.
"Of course, I do. I'm curious. I have ideas, too. You want to hear them?"
"..." Lucian was silent, thinking about it, a helpless smile appearing on his lips, "...Alright, tell me."
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
No carriage smut, unfortunately. 😆
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