In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 42

“Would you ease my feelings if I told you I was upset?”

“There’s no reason for you to feel upset, so there’s no need for me to ease your feelings either.”

Caelus frowned at her wordplay. “Speak clearly.”

Bellona, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly stepped closer to him. Her once calm expression tightened, and then, without warning, her red lips touched his.

Caelus’s pupils widened in shock.

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped. The small, unnoticed noises around them seemed to vanish in an instant.

In that strange silence, the only thing he could focus on was her green eyes, locking onto his trembling golden ones. He couldn’t believe how every time, he froze like this. After all, it was just a kiss—what was the big deal?

And yet, his heart beat faster, pumping blood through his veins until his head swam.

As Bellona pulled back slowly, the sounds of nature returned, filling his ears once more.

Before he could even reflect on the fleeting softness of her lips, his gaze was drawn to the subtle curve of her mouth as she smiled.

Just as he was about to be lost in thought again, Bellona shattered the calm with her words, gripping his heart once more.

“I’ve missed you. You’ve been on my mind constantly. I didn’t come out here tonight specifically to wait for you, but if you hadn’t shown up, I probably would’ve wondered where you were. That’s why you don’t need to feel upset.”

“…Ha!”

He let out a hollow laugh, covering his face with one hand to hide the trembling within. Her blunt confession had once again thrown his heart into disarray, making it feel like it was malfunctioning.

Caelus realized something at that moment: whenever she acted this way, he was powerless.

And that thought infuriated him. The only thing that escaped his lips was a petty threat.

“I’ve warned you before. Don’t provoke me.”

Or perhaps, deep down, this was just an excuse to let out the pent-up desire he had been holding back.

As he slowly lowered his hand, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes filled with an entirely different intensity.

“I told you earlier—I’m not in the right state of mind right now.”

“In that case, why don’t we head inside—”

Without warning, Caelus grabbed her slender wrist and strode toward the back of the inn.

He moved quickly through the woods behind the inn until they reached a large tree, where he pressed her against the trunk. His golden eyes gleamed with desire in the darkness as he pressed his body against hers, his hand stroking her cheek with a possessive touch.

“You’ve turned me into a madman.”

“……”

“And you enjoy it. Am I wrong?”

Bellona clenched her fists tightly at the sight of the man once again revealing his obsession and possessiveness.

It wasn’t out of fear or disgust. Rather, it was the electrifying thrill of the atmosphere he created, the way his golden eyes, filled with lust, couldn’t restrain themselves around her—a man of noble blood—that stirred her deeply. It made her want to use her body to push him even further into madness.

She wanted him. She wanted to drive him even more insane.

And so, she provoked him, stoking the primal instincts he was barely holding in check.

“Are you just going to stand there watching?”

“Of course not.”

Like a wild animal driven by desire, he devoured her red lips in an instant. His tongue, filled with suppressed lust, explored every corner of her mouth with intense need.

Unable to resist the heat of his kiss, Bellona clung to his neck.

Caelus tilted his head, pressing his wet tongue deep into her throat, as though he wanted to devour her entirely.

Her mind swirled as his kiss left her dizzy. Bellona closed her eyes tightly, focusing solely on the pleasure he was giving her.

The kiss, abandoning all reason and restraint, seemed desperate, as if they were both eager to devour each other. It was as though they had been yearning for this very moment, their lips meeting in a fervent clash.

Each time their tongues urgently brushed and intertwined, the hard presence below made itself known, intensifying the heat between them.

A thin trail of saliva slowly leaked from their tightly sealed lips, yet even that seemed too precious to waste as Caelus consumed and savored every part of her.

As the wet sounds melted their senses and her body began to grow weak, he finally, slowly, pulled away from her lips.

Gasping for breath, Bellona barely managed to catch her breath when he suddenly rested his forehead against her shoulder and let out a long sigh.

“Ha… I really am turning into a beast.”

Caelus lifted his head, his face twisted in frustration as he looked at her. His eyes were still filled with lingering desire, mixed with an odd sense of self-loathing.

Barely managing to suppress his overwhelming lust, he finally spoke, revealing his innermost thoughts—completely, and without shame.

“I want you. I want to hold you. I want to feel all of you tonight.”

“……”

“Will I have to command you to comply?”

His words, though commanding, were filled with desperation, as if he were begging for her permission.

Bellona, who had remained silent, finally opened her mouth. “If you wish to command me, then just take me. If it’s my lord’s order, I must obey, no matter what it is.”

Caelus’s face twisted in anger.

The heated atmosphere between them cooled in an instant.

Her cold response angered him far more than his own crude words had.

“Even sleeping with me is just another duty to you?”

“Didn’t you say that becoming the Grand Duchess was also part of my duty?”

“That’s… Ha…”

It felt as though he had fallen into his own trap. This cunning woman was playing with his heart once again, her expression as indifferent as ever.

The woman who had been clinging to him just moments ago, kissing him passionately, was now completely gone.

His pride burned even hotter than his desire.

He wanted to shatter the cold mask she always wore and forcibly expose the vulnerable face hidden beneath it.

He wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw her writhing in pleasure in his arms once more.

Grabbing her wrist again, he stormed back into the inn. Bellona followed him silently.

Without hesitation, Caelus led her to the room at the very end of the corridor on the third floor, throwing the door open as if it had already been prepared in advance.

As Bellona looked around the large, clean room, Caelus quickly discarded his crimson cloak and armor, approaching her with clear intent as he reached for her chest.

“As you can see, I’m not in my right mind. And, of course, it’s your fault that I’m like this.”

“……”

“You said you’d follow any order, no matter what it was, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Good. Take your clothes off.”

His hand, which had been about to strip her, withdrew. His anger had twisted his thoughts, leading him to choose a more malicious approach.

For a brief moment, Bellona’s green eyes wavered. Caelus, noticing the change, pressed her even further.

“If I touch your clothes, they won’t remain intact.”

His voice was smooth, but his threat was clear—he would rip them apart if necessary.

And with that, Caelus began unbuttoning his own shirt. The clothes beneath his armor were damp with sweat from the long journey.

He had wanted to take her the moment they entered the room, but in this state, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Bellona hesitated, but after a moment, she made up her mind and began to untie the strings of her shirt.

Caelus watched her intently, his gaze never leaving her as each layer of clothing fell away.

The man’s well-formed body now had only a single piece of underwear left.

Perhaps it was because she knew what was about to happen, but as she looked at his imposing figure, Bellona’s hands began to tremble.

What should have been an intimidating sight instead felt strangely sensual to her. She found his well-defined, muscular body oddly captivating.

The thought of soon being held in his arms filled her with a strange mix of excitement and fear.

When Bellona finally removed her last piece of outer clothing, Caelus swiftly grabbed her and pulled her into the bathroom.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, water rained down from above.

Their two bodies, drenched in an instant, pressed together under the falling water. The moment their bare skin touched, Bellona felt her entire body tingle.

As his arm wrapped around her slender waist, her body shuddered. Her face flushed red, and she couldn’t even meet his gaze.

Seeing her like this, all the self-loathing that had clung to him vanished. In its place was a more insidious, primal desire.

“This is where the orders end. From now on, I’m doing what I want. So do as you please—bite me, curse me, it doesn’t matter. I won’t stop. I’ve already made up my mind.”

He leaned in, parting the water between them as his lips approached hers.

Just before their lips met, he whispered softly, “If you can’t do it, then take me, Bellona.”