Chapter 80 - After All, You Need Three Trees (木) To Make A Wood (森) (2/2)
Obviously the event she was talking about was that strange encounter with the Young Master not long ago.
Mary seemed simply incapable of getting the memory of the Young Master's kiss out of her mind. It haunted her with increasing frequency as time went on and she could swear she was still able to feel his lips on hers. They were rough and demanding, full of a scalding passion as if they'd wanted to sear an imprint on every inch of her flesh.
How his tongue intruded upon her so forcefully and tried to lay claim to her mouth was equally unforgettable. Even now his taste lingered, making her head go dizzy, causing her body to grow hot and moist. As shameful as it was, she sometimes couldn't resist the urge to touch herself at night either.
It was a purely s.e.x.u.a.l reaction. A response to someone who's very core was designed for pleasure. She understood this point, logically. The Young Master was someone who by his very nature drove women to sin. It was in his blood, after all. Not to mention that his abundant vitality was by itself alone already fatally attractive to her kind.
Yet even more than her physical yearning what left her more devastated was how much emotion that kiss was packed with.
Mary had loved Elias for years now. He was the only one in her life, man or woman, who had been truly good to her without any expectation from her end. Even so, he'd never kissed her.
And the other people she'd kissed over her long life? They couldn't come close to as passionate and soul-stirring as the Young Master's.
She'd just never quite...experienced something like that before. Genuine affection like that, she'd thought that would never come her way.
It was strange. And confusing. She still loved Elias, but the difference was clear: Elias would never reciprocate her feelings, much less kiss her with such fervor.
Even if he did care for her the same way back in those days, which she doubted he did, he at the very least had never shown it. He was young then, so maybe he just didn't dare. Mary knew how unapproachable she was. But if nothing else, the Young Master didn't mind her unwelcoming face and obviously had no trouble being clear about what he wanted.
Well. Again, it was odd. Why had he done that? Kiss her. Did he...like her? But that was ridiculous. She'd been with him since he was a baby. If anything he should think of her as a second mother figure, nothing more.
But then why had he kissed her? It didn't make sense.
Mary felt the whole situation was entirely unfair. Who just walks up and kisses someone like that? No, wait...his words from that time…
Maybe he mistook her for someone else? It seemed like he thought she was supposed to be somewhere else when he ran into her. Perhaps she had a lookalike he was in some sort of relationship with? Or was he and some woman playing around with illusion magic?
But no one else she knew looked anything like her and the Young Master would see through illusions. Now, Vera undoubtedly would look like Mary when she grew older, but--
”Vee!” Damien's keen eyes found a wandering Mary even through the crowded and bustling city streets. And he immediately thought to have a bit of mischief. ”There you are. I thought I lost you for a second.” He then slipped an arm around her waist as if it were the natural thing to do. ”There. Now you can't get away from me.”
Mary felt herself being pulled closer and found she fit perfectly by his side like she'd been made for him.
The thought had popped into her mind insidiously and was deeply concerning. She shook her head and violently tossed it out.
More importantly, he had clearly called her ”Vee” just then. So, this confirmed it. Something happened. And their relationship was surely anything but normal. Had they….? No, she shouldn't jump to conclusions.
Mary couldn't be certain they'd already taken such a large step. She needed more information.
She nodded to herself. Very well. She'll play along for now until she learned exactly what was going on between them.
This decision was, of course, not at all influenced by a small, nagging desire to for once experience the feeling of actually being loved and wanted. Even if the feelings weren't meant for her.
”You changed your clothes.” He stated, looking down at her. ”I like it.” Mary wore a cream-colored dress that clung deliciously to her fine, curvaceous figure. The thin cloth was soft and smooth to the touch, transmitting a pleasant warmth to his hand. He wondered how long it'd be before she told him she wasn't Vera.
Actually, it was curious. Why wasn't she speaking up? He didn't expect this silent, willing behavior. Last time they met she was probably too stunned to react, but now was different. She had to know he had ”mistaken” her for Vera and yet she didn't seem too eager to fix the misunderstanding.
Did she want this?
Or...another possibility took root in his mind. It couldn't be she didn't know about him and Vera, could it? Damien chewed on the thought and chuckled to himself. If so, that explained it.
But how? Everything Mother knew she should know as well. Unless Mother herself didn't know….
Thinking about it now, Mother can't have been watching him 24/7. Did she miss out on Vera coming to his room that night? The more he thought about it the more likely it seemed. And if she did, she'd have been pretty surprised if she later saw him and Vera locking lips.
Which would mean, given Mother's lack of attention to detail, she would think Vera was Mary. Oh, if that really is what was going on, it was too rich. It made so much sense. He could just picture his mother taking whatever means she'd used to spy on him and breaking it up in a rage at the thought of her long-time friend supposedly getting into a relationship with her son.
She warned heavily against him being with Vera because of how ”dangerous” it was, now suddenly Mary was herself doing what she feared Vera would try to do.
At least that's how she'd think of it. The woman must be fuming! If his guesses were right, which he felt more sure they were with each passing second, he almost couldn't stop the laugh he felt coming on.
Mother's coldness back at the Christmas party hadn't been for Vera, it must've been for Mary! And Mary has to be confused as hell herself. He bet Mother's been not speaking to Mary for some time, even. And if so then it's no surprise Mary hadn't attended the party, allowing the whole misunderstanding to continue. Though its unlikely, its not impossible for something like this to have kept on this long. Its just that a lot of things had to happen, and not happen, for it to have persisted up to this point.
He glanced at Mary's beautiful, undisturbed face. She must've figured out a little bit too. At least she must've realized that for some reason Damien was confusing her for Vera, though she wouldn't know why that was. She has to be staying quiet because she's trying to figure out the full extent of what was happening with him and Vera.
Of course, the possibility that she really did just want him to spoil her a little also existed, but he doubted it.
Heh….hehehehe…..Oh. Oh, yeah, he's totally going to have fun with this.
Was this in poor taste? Was it maybe a bit of a betrayal towards his little tree, playing with her mother like this? Certainly. But f.u.c.k it, this kind of opportunity was just begging to be taken!
And that dang Vee was busy trying to sign him up for a mistress he didn't even agree to take on. He wouldn't be surprised if they were discussing benefits right about now!
So yeah
He felt no guilt whatsoever.
And just like that, with a clear conscience, he bowed his head and planted a kiss on Mary's earlobe, which he knew to be a popular erogenous zone, before lightly continuing down her neck. Vera's weak spots were her ears and belly. He's sure Mary's couldn't be much different.
”You little…” Mary's breath hitched. She felt her skin grow taut.
Though she was loathe to admit it, her n.i.p.p.l.es became painfully erect almost instantly. This was it. It was exactly these despicable lips that now made her knees go weak at night.
This is simply intolerable, she thought. He's clearly trying to mark her! What an arrogant, hateful, no-good….Her mood turned dark as her body responded to his touch. She resisted the urge to pull away in fear, not wanting to lose herself in the sensation. She couldn't help feeling shameless and guilty.
Damien noticed everything. She really is very much similar to Vera, he thought. So dishonest. Like mother like daughter, indeed.
He knew she was feeling good and just didn't want to admit it. That pounding heart was unmistakable.
Unlike Vera, however, was her even shyer reactions. His eyes captured every detail. He caught all her tiny trembles, saw how she closed her eyes as if to deny what was happening.
She looked so distraught, so innocent and attractive, that he nearly couldn't stop himself. He wrenched himself away only after a great struggle.
This woman is dangerous.
”Come on,” He started walking.
Let's see how far she was willing to go, shall we?
Hell, as much as he's against real-life harems, he had to admit: With Baz being a girl himself now maybe he really should be looking to acquire the whole damn set.