wildflower chapter 16

“Anything?” Lilian was quite cunning. Truthfully, she hadn’t been offended at all. What do you expect, you… you… impotent fool! Lilian’s usual words were far more barbed. Her performance had a single purpose. I’ll do anything. Cairn always gave her whatever she wanted when she sulked. What had he done that time she cried after he’d poked her in the side with a wooden sword during a play fight? 

I’m curious what a t*tmouse egg looks like. It should be in a hole in the tallest tree in the Baltan Palace gardens. Cairn, like a monkey, had climbed the tree and carefully presented her with the egg. I’ve seen it, so put it back! He’d dutifully obeyed her command to return it to the nest, lest the mother bird be distressed. So, he’d give her anything this time too.

“Yes. Anything.” He fell for her tricks every time.

“Really?”

“Yes. What do you want? Should I bring you a bear?”

“No! Don’t kill any animals.”

“Alright. Then what? Hmm?” He’d taken both her hands in his.

“Then…” Lilian wiggled her captured hands. “Then let’s kiss with tongues.”

The world seemed to freeze. The breeze stilled, leaving only their soft breaths to fill the empty space. Cairn stiffly released her hands, and she immediately grabbed them back.

“You said you’d do anything.”

She stepped closer to the motionless Cairn and tugged at the high collar of his dark blue silk shirt. The rough silver embroidery frayed beneath her thumb.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a question struck her. The young lady with Lord Headington seems so free. She plays mischievous pranks and reveals her most honest self. Before Cairn arrived, she’d been unable to hide her discomfort around Victor, but his mere presence had eased her mind. Now, she was so comfortable she was shamelessly revealing her desires to Cairn. Why?

Just as she began to ponder, Cairn interrupted her thoughts.

“Lilian.”

His low voice drew her startled gaze.

“This is s*xual harassment. If you go any further, it’s s*xual assault. Do you understand?”

His words brought her back to reality. Blinded by her quest for creative inspiration, she hadn’t realized how wrongly she was behaving. She pushed him away forcefully.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I made a mistake.”

He smoothed his wrinkled collar and nodded. “We both made mistakes. Let’s pretend this never happened and go back. Everyone will be waiting.”

“Okay…” He offered a hand in reconciliation, and she gently took it. “…I’ll find another man. I’m sorry again.” Lilian didn’t understand her desperate craving for a kiss, but she knew she couldn’t stop. She had to do something. Writing was Lilian de Vermore’s only outlet, her sole means of communicating with the world.

But could she, shy as she was, really find another man?

“What?”

“Huh?”

“What did you just say?”

“I said I’m sorry…”

“Before that!”

“I said I’d find someone else since kissing seems so important to you… Lord Regid said that a man’s heart and body can act separately…”

Mentioning Victor Regid darkened Cairn’s expression.

“Hmm… Judging by your face, Lord Regid is out of the question… Could you recommend someone else? Preferably someone experienced and promiscuous, someone who kisses everyone.” A man who kissed casually seemed acceptable. Such a man might take away her shame.

“Hey!” His thunderous shout made her flinch.

“Do it with me.”

“Huh? But you said you didn’t want to.”

“Victor Regid is right. Men don’t attach meaning to this kind of thing, so just do it with me.”

“But…”

“Come on.”

The tables had turned. Cairn gently wrapped his arms around her waist. The sudden shift left Lilian reeling.

“You started this, didn’t you?” Cairn’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he sighed. He hesitated for a moment, then abruptly captured her lips in a deep kiss. His heated lips parted her clenched jaw, and his tongue slipped inside, coaxing and exploring.

“Mmm…” A moan escaped her as his thick, long tongue teased her sensitive flesh.

She had been the one to suggest it, but he was the one who initiated.

Cairn is good at everything… Even amidst the dizzying sensation, that much was clear.