When the distance between our lips vanished, Catherinne's breathing quickened, yet she did not rush. This was not the blind urgency of hunger. It was more like a door that had been locked for years being opened with deliberate care. My hands rested at her waist. They did not go any further. I left that space for her intentionally.
Her fingers traced my chest, as if counting my heartbeats. When she pulled back, her lips were still close enough to brush mine; her breath left a warm imprint on my skin.
"I'm really free…," she said very close to my lips, her voice just above a whisper. "You did this for me."
Her voice trembled, but not from fear this time. It was pure exhilaration. In the watery blue depths of her eyes, a light long suppressed was finally shining.
"Thank you, Aurelius," she said, her voice soft, almost melodic. "How could I ever repay this? You gave me my freedom back."
I smiled, though the familiar calculations had already begun in my mind. This woman, Baroness Catherinne, was not merely a beautiful face. Her blonde hair caught the light as it fell over her shoulders. Her blue eyes drew people in. And her hourglass figure was undeniably striking. But her power was what truly mattered. Her intellect. Her inheritance and title.
Helping her was a sound investment. The foundation of a profitable alliance.Yet her current state, so open and vulnerable yet also so alive, affected me more than I anticipated. After all, since coming to this world, this was the first time I had been this close to a woman, aside from sharing a bed with Luciene.
I lifted my hand to her cheek, stroking it lightly with my thumb. The softness of her skin was an intimacy she had denied others for years. She pressed her hand over mine, not letting go.
"You don't owe me anything," I said calmly. "All I want is… for you to be my woman."
Catherinne's breath caught for a moment at that sentence and her face turned red.
Her eyes widened, not out of shock, but as if she were weighing the gravity of my words. Her lips parted, though she did not answer immediately. She did not remove my hand from her cheek; instead, she took my fingers into her palm. Her thumb brushed the inside of my wrist, as if checking my pulse.
"Your woman…" she whispered, repeating the phrase as though tasting it. Then she smiled faintly. The smile was both innocent and full of desire.
"This is the first time in my life I've kissed a man, or been this close to one," she said. "I don't want to say yes right away… Please don't misunderstand me. I just want time to get used to these new feelings."
Even as she said this, she did not release my hand. On the contrary, her fingers tightened slightly around mine. This was not the reflex of someone pulling away. It was more like someone testing their balance on unfamiliar ground.
I inclined my head slightly. My expression held nothing but understanding.
"I don't misunderstand," I said. My voice was low and steady. "And I have no intention of rushing you."
With that, the last tension in her shoulders eased. She took a deep breath, then let out a short, uncontrolled laugh. Her happiness was evident; it was impossible to conceal it.
"Hearing that is worth more than you think."
She took a step back, but it was not a retreat. She was adjusting the distance. Our hands did not separate, though now she held my fingers instead. Her gaze never left mine.
"For years," she continued, "I've felt as though people looked at me as if I owed them something… or expected something from me."
She shook her head.
"This is the first time someone has told me, 'You have time.'"
Then she paused. Her eyes lit up again, the excitement returning unfiltered and unrestrained.
"And I want you to know this," she said. "I don't plan on repaying what you did today with mere words."
She stepped forward, this time entirely of her own will.
"I'm grateful. Truly. And I will never forget what you've done."
"Thank you, Aurelius," she said again. Then once more, in a lower voice, pressing my hand to her cheek. "Thank you."
Catherinne straightened. The Baroness's posture returned, but it was no longer cold.She had discovered a newfound warmth within herself, the vitality of someone who had just realized that they could be touched.
"I think," she said with a gentle smile, "that I want to remember tonight as it is, and leave it here."
The excitement in her eyes was almost childlike, and that new light still shone in them. Beneath it, however, was the caution born of years past. She did not want to rush. She wanted to absorb these feelings. I rose slowly. Our hands were still touching, but it was time to part. I took a step toward the door, then stopped just before turning away.
I looked back at her. Her blonde hair gleamed like gold in the dim light, her blue eyes still moist and inviting. Even beneath her clothes, it was impossible to ignore her juicy hourglass figure. One of the most pleasant aspects of my investment, I thought with a faint smile.
"Before I go," I said quietly, "I want to kiss you one last time. May I?"
At my words, Catherinne's cheeks flushed instantly. Her pale skin turned pink, her eyes darted downward for a moment.Excitement and shyness mingled, as if someone had been alone for a long time and was unaccustomed to even such a simple request. She bit her lip lightly, then lifted her head. Her smile was small, but warm.
"Yes," she whispered, a trembling happiness in her voice. "You may."
I stepped closer. My hands returned to her waist, gentle. This time, she wrapped her arms around my neck with more confidence. Our lips met in a soft, slow kiss. There was no sense of urgency; it was simply a farewell, a poignant mixture of goodbye and promise. Her breath lingered warmly on my lips; for a brief moment, her body leaned into mine. I felt her curves again, but went no further. That was enough for now. There was no need to rush.
When I pulled back, her eyes were still closed, her cheeks still flushed. Then she opened her eyes and looked at me, gratitude and a new desire mingling in her blue eyes.
"Good night, Catherinne," I said with a smile.
"Good night, Aurelius," she replied, her voice still soft with color. "And… thank you. Again."
When I closed the door behind me, the corridor was silent.
Behind me, I left a Baroness who had just tasted freedom and was sincerely grateful to me.
Ahead of me was a bond that would require patience to cultivate and would be exceedingly profitable.