IONDC 07

Chapter 7

 A Moment’s Desire

Under the moonlight pouring in through the window, the man’s large body was fully revealed.

His sharply defined collarbones, broad and firm chest, a physique so massive it could not be embraced with both arms, and tightly sculpted abs without a single flaw—all of it was unmistakably the body of a grown man.

Blair looked at him as if seeing something unfamiliar.

It was a body she had seen countless times even in her past life, yet why did it feel so different now?

Is it… because of his expression?

Unlike in her previous life, when he had merely acted out love, this time his blue eyes were filled only with desire.

In that moment, Blair understood what it meant to be overwhelmed by someone’s gaze.

Her body tensed. Her heart pounded violently. She was only looking, yet it felt as if she would be devoured alive.

For a moment, she felt afraid of this man who now looked like a stranger. Yet paradoxically, a strange heat began to rise from deep within her abdomen.

Even though she had returned to a body that no longer belonged to him, it still remembered the pleasure he had given her in her previous life.

The fact that even after crossing death and returning to the past, her body still responded to him felt miserable.

Unable to trust her own body, Blair turned her head away instead of looking at him.

Seeing his stubborn wife avert her gaze, Herdin frowned.

She had boldly spoken of “marital duties” earlier, yet now that she was on the bed, she looked as if she might cry.

“If I go along with this, won’t I just look like a bastard who’s assaulting his wife instead of sharing a ‘good relationship’?”

Blair flinched at his words. After a moment, she reluctantly looked back at him. It seemed she had no intention of abandoning the contract she had written.

Herdin, as if waiting for that moment, pressed his lips against hers.

“Mm…”

The kiss deepened, more persistent than before, blocked by the bed behind her. A soft, pained sound escaped between her lips.

Herdin released her mouth only to move down to her pale neck.

Her skin carried a sweet scent—something like flowers, something like fruit.

Intoxicated by it, he followed the curve of her neck and shoulder with his lips, before tearing off her nightdress without hesitation. The fabric, poorly made to begin with, gave easily.

Beneath it was a slender, beautiful body—far more delicate than he had imagined from her silhouette alone.

Startled by the cold air on her bare skin, Blair tried to cover herself in panic, but he easily restrained her.

He savored the woman in his arms. Her skin was soft like cream—yet unlike cream, it did not melt away no matter how much he touched it.

Blair pushed against his unmoving, firm shoulders, her voice trembling.

“I… I don’t like this…”

She knew he was only acting with consideration.

But that kindness overlapped with the man from her past life, and that was what she hated.

Because she was afraid she might mistake that touch—that warmth—for love again.

“Then just… just do it. Please.”

But instead of backing away, Herdin pulled her back by the waist as she tried to retreat.

“Ah!”

He quickly realized she was lying. Her trembling legs betrayed her.

A faint, crooked smile formed on his lips.

“Really? Your body doesn’t seem to agree.”

Ignoring her resistance, he began to familiarize her body with his touch. The tension in her reactions was quite strong.

The growing friction in his lower body became more intense, his desire already stretched to its limit.

Yet he gritted his teeth and restrained himself.

Of course, she would look beautiful even if she cried.

The thought alone might have made him even more excited—but if he lost control now, this fragile woman might break.

He could not lose the only valuable witness to that incident over a moment of desire.

Eventually, deciding she was ready, Herdin positioned himself above her.

Blair, half-dazed, blinked—and froze when she saw the shadow looming over her.

Meeting his heated blue gaze sent a scorching wave of heat through her body.

In her past life, their first night had been sweet—but also painful. It had been her first time, but beyond that, it had simply been overwhelming.

Her body, remembering that pain, stiffened instinctively.

Noticing this, Herdin hooked her legs around his waist and spoke softly.

“Relax. It’s okay.”

The innocent Blair of her past life would have believed him.

But this Blair knew.

It was a lie.

A sweet lie meant to make her lower her guard before devouring her.

And yet, knowing that, she still could not push him away.

When she neither resisted nor relaxed, Herdin kissed her again and pressed closer.

The deliberate movement made her body burn. Sensing it, he slowly but mercilessly merged with her.

A sharp pain made Blair instinctively arch away, but his arm pulled her back toward him.

Closer. Deeper.

Herdin gritted his teeth, his breath rough. Waiting for her to adjust was already pushing his patience to its limit.

Meanwhile, the woman who drove him mad seemed unaware of how much restraint he was using.

He wanted to abandon everything—the so-called “good relationship” he had mocked earlier—and simply release the desire on the verge of explosion.

Eventually, Herdin lost his restraint and began moving with her.

Blair, her vision blurring, bit her lip.

Then, slowly, something changed.

The sensation—strange yet familiar—began to awaken something her body had forgotten, but her subconscious remembered.

She could barely breathe.

Watching her, Herdin frowned.

“Breathe, Blair.”

His rough voice scraped against her ear, but despite his words of concern, his movements only grew more intense.

In her fading awareness, Blair instinctively clung to him.

Even though she knew he was the one tormenting her, she could not let go.

In this moment, there were only the two of them in the world.

At last, as he reached the end, Herdin exhaled heavily, his body slowly cooling as he looked down at her.

The woman in his arms was beautiful.

Objectively, she had always been beautiful—but he had never cared much before.

Yet now, that fact struck him differently.

Her snow-white appearance like moonlight, violet eyes glistening with moisture, lips reddened from biting, even her tearful voice calling his name—all of it felt… beautiful.

…Damn it.

For a moment, he almost forgot she was the daughter of that woman.

That realization filled him with self-loathing.

And yet, his thirst for her was not satisfied.

He could not stop.

This feeling was nothing more than a fleeting desire.

After this night passed, it would disappear like melting snow.

With that thought, he pulled her close again.

“…Herdin?”

Blair, half-conscious, finally realized what was happening and weakly struggled—but it was useless.

Herdin felt a strange sense of satisfaction as she clung to him again.

His strong, massive body became a cage that trapped her, devouring her like a starving beast.

All through the long winter night, without pause.

Sinking into an endless pit of pleasure, Blair repeated only one thought over and over.

Don’t forget, Blair.

He does not love you.

“Mm…”

Feeling sunlight brushing her eyelids, Blair slowly opened her eyes.

As her vision cleared, a familiar yet unfamiliar room came into view.

It was the Duchess of Delmark’s bedroom—the one she had stayed in before returning to the past.

For a moment, she thought she had dreamed everything.

But the absence of the child’s belongings she once kept around the room made her realize the truth.

And the aching soreness throughout her body confirmed that last night—the second first night with him—had not been a dream.

My body has returned to the past, but the memories remain… of course it hurts.

Just like their first night in her previous life, no—worse than that—her body felt heavy and sore.

Even when she had fainted from exhaustion after being overwhelmed by pleasure, Herdin had not let her go.

He had acted as if she belonged to him.

Her last memory, before losing consciousness repeatedly through the night, was of his broad back disappearing into the dim dawn as she lay exhausted.

Only then did she understand.

So this was your true intention.

How desperately he had clung to her in her previous life, staying by her side until morning to extract the truth.

And how naive she had been to believe otherwise.

Only after returning to the past like a miracle had she finally seen his true self—and it was colder than she had imagined.

But strangely… she felt relieved.

At least she would no longer feel guilty for using him.

Composing herself, Blair forced her heavy body upright and pulled the bell cord.