What Remains in the Damaged Place - Side Story 1 (6)

Valderion withdrew his fingers, now slick with the evidence of her desire. He tugged her chemise up and around her hips, pulling her close until their lower bodies pressed tightly together. As her eyes clouded with a mixture of anticipation and pleasure, he thrust into her all at once.

“Mm… ngh,” she gasped, her breath hitching as the feeling overwhelmed her.

“Too much…”

“Too much?” he asked, his voice teasing.

“Y-Yeah… too deep…”

“How deep?”

With a soft, taunting tone, Valderion lifted his hips, driving deeper each time. The pressure inside her built with every thrust, and though she squirmed, her body instinctively responded to his movements. Her silver hair swayed with each of her small, involuntary jerks.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been on top, hasn’t it?” he mused, watching her with darkened eyes.

Lirette, her mind clouded with pleasure, glanced down at him in confusion, as if unsure what he meant.

Valderion decided to show her. His hands firmly grasped her hips, pulling her into a more intense rhythm. With him moving beneath her, she couldn’t help but respond, her own hips rocking as she unconsciously began to ride him.

It was undeniable now. Her actions gave new meaning to the phrase “being on top.”

“You don’t like being on top, do you?” he asked with a smirk.

“Ugh…”

“I love it. I get to see everything up close,” he added.

To prove his point, he tugged down her chemise, revealing her breasts. Despite the flush of desire already heating her skin, her chest still swelled at his touch, the motion of their bodies leaving her breathless.

Valderion lowered his head, nuzzling into her chest. Though she wasn’t particularly full-chested, he often lingered there, as if it was his favorite place. Lirette, her fingers threading through his hair, could only sigh as he continued his slow, teasing movements.

But suddenly, he stopped.

“Now you move on your own, Lirette.”

Lirette couldn’t help but feel that Valderion’s request for her to move on her own was a kind of mischief. But at this point, she had no patience left for such games. Ever since he had pushed deep inside her, filling her and teasing her most sensitive places, her nerves had been alight with burning desire.

Valderion had learned, with perfect precision, exactly how to stir her without even needing to touch certain places.

If she had been sober, maybe she would have hesitated. But the alcohol had wiped away all sense of self-restraint. Someone once said that when drunk, all that remains is raw instinct, like an animal. And right now, that felt true as she groaned with frustration.

Lirette lifted her hips, trying to coax some movement from him. Just that small effort sent an intense shiver through her, making her gasp with pleasure.

Valderion didn’t miss a beat, brushing his lips against hers as if even the breath escaping her mouth was too precious to waste. He captured her sigh, pressing his lips to hers before pulling away.

Slowly, she began to move her hips.

But it wasn’t easy. Why? She frowned in confusion. When Valderion moved above her, he seemed to do it effortlessly. He would kiss her, run his fingers through her hair, and caress her face—all while moving so powerfully. Why was it so difficult for her?

“Because you’re on the receiving end,” he said.

“…”

“It’s naturally harder to take than to give.”

Lirette blinked, realizing that what she thought she’d kept to herself had actually slipped out of her mouth. The alcohol had loosened her tongue, and it felt like a screw in her brain had come loose, too, letting her thoughts spill freely.

That made sense. She nodded weakly, arching her back as another wave of tingling pleasure crept up from her core.

When she finally lifted her head, she noticed Valderion was smiling.

It wasn’t his usual faint smile, either. It was a deep, genuine smile, almost like he found her adorable. His golden eyes were fixed solely on her, and that warmth filled her, making her ears burn with embarrassment.

“My back hurts,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and lightly brushing her lips against his before pulling away.

Valderion was briefly reminded of a rumor that had spread throughout the capital, calling her an enchantress who had captivated him with nothing but her beauty. It wasn’t entirely wrong, but the truth was, it was moments like these—her words, her gestures—that had truly bewitched him.

“Always with the complaints,” he muttered, though his hands were gentle as he lowered her back onto the bed. He slipped a soft pillow beneath her head, and she snuggled into it, enjoying its comforting support.

Just as she relaxed, she felt his hands firmly grip her thighs.

“Ah…!”

A sharp moan escaped her as he thrust deep inside her again, her cry quickly muffled as she clung to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and as she glanced toward the window, she saw only darkness outside. The night, it seemed, had only just begun.

***

“Ugh, my head…”

The pounding in her skull hit the moment she opened her eyes. It was a brutal hangover.

As she groaned, Valderion gently brushed her hair back, supporting her neck and back as he helped her sit up. He brought a glass of water to her lips, clearly prepared for this after last night’s indulgence.

The last thing she remembered from their lovemaking was a blur. She must have passed out from exhaustion, unable to keep up. Even when she had woken briefly during the night, her body had still been rocking in his arms, and though the pace had been steady, Valderion had shown no signs of weariness. In fact, he seemed as refreshed as if he had drained her energy completely.

Lirette leaned back after taking a few sips of water, letting out a long sigh.

“I can’t do anything today. I need to rest… I can’t move,” she muttered.

“I thought as much.”

She rolled her eyes playfully.

There were gaps in her memory, pieces of the previous night missing. She couldn’t quite recall what they had talked about, and it left her feeling a bit uncertain.

“What did I say last night?” she asked cautiously, sneaking a glance at him.

Valderion took her hand, raising it to his lips as he softly kissed her fingertips.

“You should avoid drinking,” he said with a slight smirk.

“…”

Had she made a fool of herself? That thought sent a wave of anxiety through her, but before it could fully settle, Valderion’s mouth curled into a broader smile.

“Unless you’re drinking with me.”

His smile was so warm, so full of satisfaction, that Lirette could only stare at him, unsure of what to make of it. After a moment, though, she found herself smiling along with him.

She didn’t know why, but it didn’t seem to matter.

Perhaps it was just the brightness of the morning sunlight that made everything feel lighter.