Chapter 12– the Enigmatic Duke

Seraphina gasped as her back met the cool silk of the chaise lounge, her body already feeling feverish beneath Lucien's touch. Her breath came in short, unsteady waves, her chest rising and falling as if she were drowning in the very air between them.

How did it come to this?

She had come here with a purpose—a reason, a strategy. But the moment she had stepped foot into Lucien Duskbane's sunlit villa, everything had unraveled.

It had been a calculated visit. A meeting under pretext.

She had needed to get close to him, to understand him beyond the character profile she had written in the game. He was supposed to be a man of few words, an enigmatic duke with no interest in political games. Someone unaffected, distant.

And yet, from the moment his piercing blue eyes had met hers, she had felt something shift.

Lucien had been amused by her presence, intrigued, even playful in his aloof way. A few teasing remarks, a glass of wine shared under the afternoon sun, and somehow, the lines had blurred. She had expected distance, but instead, she found herself drawn to the warmth in his voice, the unspoken promises in his fleeting glances.

She had told herself she was in control. That she would set the pace.

But Lucien had shattered that illusion the moment he had pulled her into his arms.

Now, here she was, her body trembling beneath his slow, methodical hands, as he unraveled her inch by inch.

Her thoughts fragmented as he brushed his knuckles along her jaw, tilting her chin so he could study her with quiet fascination.

"You're thinking too much," he murmured, lips curving in that infuriatingly knowing smirk.

Seraphina barely had time to respond before he leaned in, capturing her mouth in a kiss that stole the breath from her lungs.

It wasn't hurried. No, it was slow—agonizingly slow. A kiss that left her aching, desperate, as his tongue teased the seam of her lips before deepening, claiming her in a way that sent fire curling through her veins.

A whimper slipped past her lips as he pulled away, his hands sliding down her arms, his touch featherlight but utterly possessive.

[System Window Update]

[Lucien Duskbane – Affection: 52 → 63]

[Lucien Duskbane – Desire: 47 → 71]

[Lucien Duskbane – ???: ??? → ???]

Seraphina's fingers hovered over the flickering system window, her brows knitting together as she studied the numbers. The changes were clear—Lucien's stats increased drastically whenever she acted soft and hesitant.

It made sense. He was a man who thrived on control. He found pleasure in coaxing reactions from others, watching them unravel under his influence.

A slow smirk played on her lips. If he wanted a demure, helpless woman, she would give him one.

---------

"You're trembling," he observed, voice a low rumble against her ear.

Seraphina shivered as his fingers grazed the exposed skin of her collarbone, then lower, tracing the swell of her breasts beneath the delicate fabric of her dress.

The sensation sent a pulse of heat straight to her core. She wanted to protest, to hold on to reason, but her body betrayed her, arching subtly into his touch.

Lucien chuckled, a deep, velvety sound that made her thighs press together involuntarily.

"So sensitive," he mused, his fingers finally slipping beneath the fabric, brushing over her already hardened peaks.

A broken moan escaped her lips as he rolled one between his fingers, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her.

The dress slipped lower, baring her completely to him. Lucien inhaled sharply, his gaze darkening as he took her in—her flushed skin, the way her chest rose and fell with each shuddering breath.

"Beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with something she couldn't name.

Then, before she could form a response, he pulled her onto his lap, guiding her until she was straddling him, her knees bracketing his strong thighs.

His lips claimed hers in a slow, commanding kiss, his tongue sweeping past her parted lips with practiced ease. She whimpered, melting into him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as his hands roamed lower.

Her act was slipping.

Because gods help her, this was intoxicating.

Lucien pulled back slightly, studying her flushed face with darkened eyes. "I had my suspicions," he murmured, his fingers teasing the neckline of her dress, "but you're far prettier when you let yourself go."

Seraphina tried to regain some control, tried to keep up the illusion of innocence, but then his mouth found the column of her throat.

He bit down, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to leave a mark.

A gasp escaped her lips, her nails digging into the fabric of his shirt.

"Mine," he whispered against her skin, as if claiming her.

—System Window Update—

[Lucien Duskbane – Affection: 63 → 85]

[Lucien Duskbane – Desire: 71 → 92]

[Lucien Duskbane – Obsession: ??? → ???]

Seraphina barely registered the numbers flashing in the corner of her vision.

Because when Lucien pressed her back against the couch, his body caging hers beneath him, she realized one thing—

She had played the game well.

But Lucien Duskbane?

He played it better.