Her excessive tension irritated me.
Don't get me wrong; I appreciate modesty. A girl's shyness is a hallmark of her beauty.
But this wasn't modesty. It was pure, raw anxiety.
I had been trying to put on my shirt, but I dropped it immediately and walked toward her. My lack of a top—standing there in nothing but my trousers—only seemed to skyrocket her panic.
Finally, I stood directly in front of her.
I scrutinised her with narrow eyes. Suddenly, I reached out, grabbed her waist, and pulled her flush against me.
Immediately, I was met with warmth and softness, accompanied by a scent that could only be described as intoxicating. I could feel a faint tremor running through her body.
Our faces were mere centimetres apart; I could feel the heat of her breath on my skin.
I didn't try to kiss her. Instead, I rested my forehead against hers and asked, "Sera, do you hate me?"
Pressed against her like that, I could feel her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. I didn't let go. I waited.
Finally, in a stuttering whisper, she managed to choke out, "N... No, I don't hate you."
I exhaled a long sigh of relief. This girl was notoriously unpredictable.
"And do you think I hate you?" I asked.
She didn't even try to meet my eyes. She bit her lip, which was trembling intermittently.
"I think you do," she whispered, the words barely audible.
I took her hand and pulled her toward the bed. I felt her arm go limp in my grip. It seemed she had finally surrendered to the reality of the situation.
But that wasn't what I was after.
...
I sat on the edge of the bed and turned to her. Her face was a vibrant, attractive shade of tomato red.
Judging by her strange expression, I knew her mind had wandered to something perverted.
I extended one of my legs, grabbed her by the waist, and sat her down on my thigh.
"Look, Sera," I said. "I really don't hate you. On the contrary, there are traits you possess that I actually admire—traits I wish I had myself."
I didn't try to force her to look at me. It was more important that she understood.
"And Sera... do you really think I would have just accepted this? Do you honestly believe I'd agree just because my father wanted me to marry some random girl?"
A flash of confusion crossed her face. She stayed silent, waiting for the answer.
"The main reason I accepted this marriage at all was that the girl was you," I explained.
"Despite my reservations about some of your behaviours, you are the closest woman to me. I know your temperament. In fact, you're the woman I feel most comfortable with, despite some of your more... loathsome traits."
"But that's your charm, Sera. And that's the charm of humans in general. On one hand, you are beautiful beyond description. On the other hand... if I'm being polite and choosing my words carefully... you're garbage."
Even though I had tried to soften the blow, I felt her muscles tighten instantly.
I continued in a serious tone. "I won't lie to you. I was against the idea of marriage entirely. Not even the pressure of our family's extinction would have moved me, despite my respect for my father."
"But I accepted you. And that means, implicitly, that I agreed of my own free will."
"Besides, if I'm forced into a situation, I might as well enjoy it. I'll make it suit me. I accepted this because I believe affection can grow between us—even without love. Affection is what matters most."
My throat was getting dry from all the talking, but this was too important to stop.
"And don't worry about the shyness. I actually like that side of you. I consider it one of your best features, even though I notice you always try to suppress it and pretend to be tough."
It was true. Since childhood, Sera had always suppressed her feminine side. She never showed it to anyone. The moment she felt shy, she became violent to resist the feeling.
I reached out and touched her hair. It felt like silk, smooth and cool. I brought it to my nose. The scent was captivating, stirring a sudden, sharp desire within me.
But I pushed it back. Now wasn't the time.
...
I placed my other hand on her waist and lifted her with both hands. She was incredibly light.
I sat her in my lap and wrapped my arms around her.
This girl was stubborn. Even all of this wasn't enough to calm her down, so I had to desensitise her to the situation by making it feel "normal."
I rested my head on her shoulder, my cheek pressed directly against hers—skin on skin.
I hugged her tightly, her back resting firmly against my chest.
To be honest, the softness of her body and that scent began to arouse me despite my resistance. I could feel a distinct bulge forming beneath my trousers.
I cursed that part of me. It was going to ruin the work I was putting in.
As expected, I felt her toes curl the moment she noticed it.
But fine. Even if I hadn't wanted the shock to be this intense, maybe it was for the best.
Truth be told, I felt like I was in heaven amidst that scent, that softness, and her vibrant embarrassment. It felt like I owned the world. I wanted to lose myself in kisses, but I held back.
Even though the arousal had reached its peak and was obvious through my trousers, I stayed in that position for nearly fifteen minutes.
Finally, Sera calmed down.
My leg was starting to go numb, even though she was remarkably light for my build. Her racing heart slowed, and she began to adjust to the intimacy.
Finally, I lifted her from my lap and sat her down beside me. I could hardly believe she had actually complied, given her strength.
"Have you calmed down now?" I asked.
She turned to me and gave a small nod.
I leaned in, catching her gaze. She seemed to expect a kiss, as she closed her eyes.
Instead, I took her head in my hands and kissed her squarely in the middle of her forehead.
Then, I walked out of the room.