If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 32

“W-what promise did I make?”

Georgiana pretended not to remember and tried to escape, but suddenly, her head spun. Losing her balance, she almost bumped into a servant who was clearing the table, but before that could happen, Lockwood pulled her by the waist.

“See? I told you, you’d get drunk.”

His casual tone, now dropping into informal speech, sounded oddly intimate. Was she really drunk, just as he said?

When she glanced up at Lockwood’s face, he looked more attractive than ever.

“Are you eating properly?”

What kind of sudden question was that? She wondered, confused. He sighed as he held her waist a bit tighter.

“You’ve barely eaten anything.”

“I’m not that thin.”

“If you’re not thin, then everyone else must be overweight.”

She had never eaten as much as she did now. Her cheeks and belly had grown noticeably rounder, so what on earth was he talking about?

She was about to tell him to stop saying such nonsense, but when he gently placed his hand on her belly, she was so startled that she jolted up like a fish leaping out of the water.

“Where exactly is all this extra weight you’re talking about?”

“I just didn’t eat much today because I was preparing for the ball. Normally, I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.”

“It’s my body, I know it best.”

“Tonight, it’s mine.”

“What?”

“I told you before—I’ll take what I’m owed.”

Lockwood tugged her toward the door, glancing briefly at Anthony and Sarah, who were still dancing. Sarah noticed them leaving and gave Georgiana a questioning look. Georgiana could only shrug, signaling she had no idea what was happening either.

“W-where are we going?”

“Someplace where we can be alone.”

“The payment doesn’t have to be that, does it?”

“I never said what it would be. Did you assume it was something like that?”

“N-no!”

Flustered, Georgiana denied it, realizing she had jumped to conclusions.

“By denying it so much, you’re making me think you actually expected it,” he teased.

“That’s not true!”

Lockwood chuckled as he quickened his pace, practically dragging her along. By the time they stopped, both of them were out of breath, having arrived at a secluded spot on the deck, somewhere near the sails.

Lockwood nimbly leaped onto a balcony-like space that jutted out beneath the sails, then bent down and offered his hand to help her up.

“Take my hand.”

“I won’t fall, will I?”

“Not with your weight.”

She trusted him, knowing he wouldn’t put her in harm’s way. Georgiana took a step forward and grasped his hand tightly.

“Ah!”

In an instant, Lockwood lifted her as if she were as light as a pulley being drawn up.

Sitting in the spot Lockwood had shown her, Georgiana’s eyes widened.

From this high point on the deck, she had a perfect view of the sea below. The lights from the ballroom spilled onto the dark ocean, painting the waves in brilliant hues. The sky above was filled with stars, so bright it felt as if they might fall down at any moment.

“Where are we?”

“It’s a place I often come to. I’ve never shown it to anyone else, so keep it a secret.”

He pressed his index finger to his lips in a playful gesture, as if sharing a private joke.

The coolness of his finger against his lips sent a thrill through her chest. Being entrusted with such a secret made her feel special.

“Does Henry know about this place?”

“Of course not. If I had to rank the people I’d never bring here, Henry would be at the top. He talks too much.”

“Pfft. Is he really that bad?”

“Worse than you can imagine.”

His exaggerated disgust made her laugh again.

But how had he discovered such a hidden spot, invisible to most people?

“When did you find this place?”

“My hobby is exploring. I’ve been all over this ship, even to places others haven’t been.”

Lockwood, who rarely talked about himself, suddenly seemed more open, and Georgiana listened intently.

“I never imagined you’d be the adventurous type. You always seem like someone who sticks to the rules.”

“Most of the time, that’s true, but there are exceptions.”

“Is this place one of those exceptions? It’s really wonderful. Thank you for showing it to me, Locke.”

“You’ll be even more grateful soon. Look over there.”

He pointed toward the front of the deck, where the sailors were preparing for the fireworks.

Before long, the guests from the ballroom began to make their way onto the deck, including two familiar figures—Anthony and Sarah, their cat masks still in place. The sight of how close they’d grown brought a smile to Georgiana’s face.

I’ll have to ask Sarah about it tomorrow.

Once everyone was settled, a sailor in a crisp white uniform lit the fireworks. Moments later, a dazzling display lit up the sky.

It was as if a wizard had painted the heavens with his brush, the colorful explosions transforming the night sky into a breathtaking canvas.

Georgiana watched in awe, her mouth slightly open.

It was her first time seeing fireworks up close like this. Though the palace held fireworks every New Year, the high walls of her home had always blocked her view. She could only catch faint glimpses, and sometimes the smell of gunpowder would drift over the walls. It was difficult to even leave her home because of the unruly crowds outside.

But now, thanks to Lockwood, she was experiencing fireworks from a perfect, secluded vantage point, away from the noise and chaos of the crowd.

She turned to look at Lockwood, who was gazing ahead. The colorful fireworks reflected on his masked face, enhancing his already striking features. No matter what color the fireworks painted him in, his face remained as captivating as ever.

Though her contract with him was as fleeting as the fireworks, this moment felt like something she would remember forever.

With all her heart, she turned to him and expressed her gratitude.

“Locke, this is truly beautiful. I’ll remember tonight’s fireworks for the rest of my life. Thank you for showing me this place.”

“……”

Lockwood looked down at her with an expression she couldn’t quite read, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

It was a look he sometimes had, one that made her suspect he was hiding a big secret from her. She had a feeling it was related to their contract, but she didn’t have the courage to ask. Perhaps it was because she knew he wouldn’t answer.

She could only hope that whatever he was doing, it would go well for him.

Smiling brightly, she watched as his expression remained conflicted.

Just then, a gust of wind blew her half-pinned hair loose, and it tangled in the buttons of his jacket.

“Ouch!”

As she tried to pull her hair free, a sharp pain shot through her scalp. The wind, mixed with the salty sea air, had caused her hair to tangle tightly.

“Let me help.”

“No, it’s fine. I can do it…”

Their faces were so close now, their breaths mingling, both sweetened by the champagne. Georgiana felt as if time had stopped. She held her breath, locked in his gaze like a captured animal.

At that moment, the biggest firework of the night exploded in the sky.

She wasn’t sure what to do, but she was certain of one thing—if there was ever a perfect moment to close her eyes, it was now.

As her eyelids slowly lowered, shutting out the world like the night itself, her heart pounded in her chest.

Then, like a storm swallowing a ship, Lockwood’s lips crashed into hers.

“Mmph…”

The moment their lips touched, he cupped her chin, tilting her head slightly. His tongue eagerly slipped into her parted lips, exploring every corner of her mouth with expert precision.

Unlike her, who had no idea what to do, Lockwood seemed entirely in control, his tongue skillfully teasing hers. Each time he delved deeper, her closed eyes filled with flashes of light, as if fireworks were exploding inside her head.

Before she could even swallow the saliva building up in her mouth, his tongue lapped it all up. His strong, thick tongue wrapped around hers, not letting her escape.

“Mmph…”

Though the sensation was happening in her mouth, a warmth began to spread low in her belly. Her body grew weak, and she clung to his jacket, fearing she might fall.

As his kisses became more urgent, she felt an odd sense of familiarity. It was as if this wasn’t the first time they had kissed.

Of course, she knew that was impossible. They had never kissed before, not even in his studio that day.

Why did it feel so familiar? She couldn’t ask him, nor would he answer.

Sensing that her thoughts had drifted during the kiss, Lockwood tightened his grip on her waist and kissed her even more fiercely. Their lips and the area around them were now a mess of shared saliva, but even that was something Lockwood took, leaving nothing behind as he placed one last soft kiss on her lips.

Even as the crowd dispersed, Lockwood and Georgiana remained in place, lost in the moment.

The fireworks had ended, but a new kind of fire had ignited in Georgiana’s heart.

The gentle breeze from the sea and the rolling waves cooled her face, but the flame that had sparked inside her was not going to extinguish anytime soon.