A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: If It’s You

Emeline’s outstretched hand gently held onto the hem of Zenon’s clothes.

She knew she shouldn’t, but Emeline didn’t want to let Zenon go. If he left now, she feared she would be left again in turmoil and anxiety.

Her blue eyes, meeting Zenon’s gaze, were clouded with tears. If she went along with her circumstances, she might have to part with him forever.

She had always followed her father without question, but this time, it seemed she could not. Emeline sobbed, unable to pull herself together.

“Zenon…”

Could I imagine a life without you?

If you, who see me as Emeline, not just the daughter of Delzeier, disappeared, could my life even go on properly?

Emeline could find no positive answer to this conundrum.

With a trembling voice, she finally spoke, “My marriage partner has been decided…”

Zenon’s expression hardened as if he immediately realized that he wasn’t the chosen one.

Despite the close relationship between the two families, their views of each other had not changed. The Duke of Delzeier still despised the Marquis of Trancium, and the sentiment was likely mutual.

Only Emeline and Zenon held genuine feelings for each other.

Their harmony was merely the shell of a business arrangement, with each side seeking their own interests.

Zenon, who had been silently watching her, stood up. Emeline hurriedly spoke, fearing that he might turn and leave.

“Zenon, I…”

But Zenon approached her instead. He sat on the bed and began gently caressing her cheek.

“Don’t cry, Emeline.”

“……”

“I know it wasn’t your choice. Besides, you and I promised to marry first. I know Emeline Delzeier always keeps her promises,” Zenon spoke playfully, smiling at her.

For some reason, Emeline couldn’t say anything as she looked at his smiling face, her emotions swirling inside her.

Zenon lifted his hand and gently rubbed her reddened eyes.

The dim lantern light softly illuminated their faces. Emeline wrapped her hand around Zenon’s comforting hand.

“Do you want to lie next to me?”

Zenon’s hand hesitated. He gazed silently into her eyes before pressing firmly on her cheek.

“I don’t know what I might do to you.”

There was a hint of hesitation in his playful voice.

But Emeline replied calmly, “It’s okay if it’s you.

If it’s Zenon, anything is fine.

She wasn’t sure when, but at some point, Zenon had become the driving force in her life after her father. He had become her compass, aligning her life to him.

So if it was Zenon, if it was him, who had become such an important part of her life…

Emeline pulled Zenon’s hand.

Looking troubled, Zenon sighed before finally moving.

He obediently climbed onto the bed, naturally moving above her. Emeline had pulled him closer, so it was inevitable.

They looked at each other, leaving just the space of one arm’s length between them. They knew that if they closed that gap, the last barrier they had been maintaining would be crossed.

Emeline wanted Zenon to stay beside her.

Only when Zenon was with her did her mind feel clear. So she wanted him to come even deeper inside her.

Emeline slowly reached out and touched Zenon’s cheek. Her hand, brushing against him and leaving warmth behind, soon encircled his neck.

Zenon’s Adam’s apple moved slowly. Finally, he spoke in a low voice, “…I don’t want to hurt you.”

Though his tone was hesitant, his eyes were fixed deeply on Emeline. It was a warning, not a refusal.

Emeline let out a small laugh. “You can’t hurt me.”

The only times Emeline felt real pain were when she disobeyed her father and was punished.

Zenon’s eyes narrowed at her words.

“…Punished?”

“Whenever I go against my father’s standards and make a mistake, I’m locked up alone in a room where no one ever comes.”

Sometimes for a week. Sometimes for over a month. There was no set time frame—it lasted until she repented and admitted her wrongdoing in front of her father.

Zenon’s expression hardened.

Seeing his dark reaction, Emeline spoke matter-of-factly, “It’s okay. You wouldn’t do that to me, and I want you…”

Suddenly, her softly speaking lips were stopped by warmth. She froze in surprise but soon melted into the heat he provided, her tense body relaxing.

Zenon’s fingers tangled in her hair. His lips moved slowly, licking hers, and a breathy sigh escaped Emeline.

“Emeline.”

After breaking the kiss, he left a kiss on her chin. Emeline looked at him, her eyes hazy. At some point, Zenon had grabbed her wrists and pressed them firmly down on the bed.

“…Emeline.”

He slowly moved down, kissing her neck.

He called her name again, as if urging her to respond.

Though he was above her, Emeline felt as though she was looking down at him.

“Yes.”

“If I hurt you, feel free to pull my hair and stop me,” Zenon said seriously. Then he moved her hands to his head. His green eyes, filled with a hint of tension, looked at her earnestly.

Emeline let out a laugh. Feeling that he was adorably endearing, she stroked his blonde hair and replied, “Alright.”

Zenon sighed, his ears turning red. His breath brushed her collarbone, sending a chill through her.

Then he dove down to kiss her lips.

He seemed to be trying not to push her too hard, but the kiss was far from gentle.

The deep kiss soon parted her lips, drawing out her breath entirely.

She kept recalling their time together in the field, when they had rolled around and kissed messily.

Emeline wrapped her arms tightly around Zenon’s shoulders.

All of the meaningful firsts in her life had been shared with Zenon.

“Haa…”

As her breath grew ragged, Zenon broke the kiss into small, soft ones. His hand pushed the strap of her thin nightgown off her shoulder and continued downward.

She flinched instinctively, letting out soft, whimpering sounds in her daze.

By the time Zenon lifted his upper body and broke their kiss, Emeline’s nightgown had already slipped down to her waist.

Their gazes met in the dim lantern light.

Though she could feel Zenon’s intense eyes slowly traveling over her body, Emeline didn’t stop him. Despite her trembling hands, she held her breath and stayed still.

Zenon’s hand moved down her curved shape, caressing her waist. A faint smile appeared on his face, which had previously looked impatient.

“There’s not a single part of you that’s not beautiful.”

“…Take yours off too. Don’t just look at me.”

Hearing Zenon’s muttered words, Emeline reached out to undo the buttons of his shirt. Zenon let her do as she pleased, chuckling softly.

“Seriously, why are you so bold? Just from your energy alone, it feels like you should be the one on top. Just like when we had our first kiss…”

“Maybe you’re just timid.”

“Really?”

Zenon threw off his shirt as if it were a nuisance. He moved closer to her again.

Emeline swallowed at the sight of him.

“But I can’t help it; you’re my first too.”

His voice was low as his hand moved lower. Lifting the hem of her dress, he began stroking her soft inner thighs.

When his hand finally reached the damp fabric, he paused.

His eyes moved from below to meet hers.

Finally, Zenon’s hand slipped under the wet fabric, and Emeline’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

Zenon, now serious, observed her reaction carefully as he moved. But he couldn’t help losing control—his slow movements soon gained speed.

It was awkward, heated, and humid. Her moans mixed with the obscene sound of wetness.

“Ah, mm…”

“Haa… Emeline.”

Her lips were swallowed by his once more. Before she realized it, the undergarment barely clinging to her ankle slipped to the floor.

As their breaths mingled, now more rapid than before, Zenon’s hand withdrew from between her legs.

The sound of clothes being undone filled the air.

With one hand, he took off his pants, then brushed his hand over the wetness between her thighs.

Soon, the sound of him touching himself reached her ears, raw and unmistakable. As his lips parted from hers, a low groan escaped him.

Emeline fixed her gaze on his face, flushed with passion and excitement. Her heart pounded relentlessly, leaving her dizzy.

Breathing heavily, Zenon straightened his upper body and looked at her cautiously.

“…Are you okay with this?”

Emeline’s gaze, which had been locked on his face, slowly drifted downward.