Chapter 9 Tracing the curve

Liliana's back slammed against the cold wall as soon as she stepped into the room. Her breath hitched, and she struggled to make sense of why they were there. Moments earlier, she had thought they were attending some kind of wedding ball, but Valerian's actions were unpredictable, his intentions unreadable.

"Why are we-" Her question was abruptly cut off as Valerian's lips crashed against hers in a fierce, unrelenting kiss. His body pressed against hers, the heat between them intensifying with each passing second.

She could feel the hard planes of his chest pressing into her, her own curves molding against him as if they were begging to be touched.

Liliana's body stiffened, her mind spinning with confusion. She didn't know what was happening or why, but the haze that enveloped her thoughts grew thicker as Valerian's hand slid down, resting on her thigh through the slit of her dress.

The touch was electric, sending shivers up her spine, stirring the same sensation she had felt earlier that morning-only now, it was more intense, more sensual.

Valerian's lips softened, nibbling tenderly on hers as if seeking permission to deepen the kiss. His teeth grazed her bottom lip, and

Liliana instinctively parted her lips, allowing him entry. The moment his tongue met hers, she felt a rush of warmth, a burning need that she had never known before.

This kind of kiss was something Liliana had only ever read about in stories. The way his tongue teased hers, before entangling in a dance of its own, sent shivers down her spine.

His hand moved higher, brushing against the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, igniting a fire within her. Every touch made her breath hitch and her heart race, spurring Valerian on.

His kiss grew more passionate, more consuming, as if he intended to devour every part of her. His other hand moved slowly up from her waist, tracing the curve of her body even through the fabric of her dress. The sensation was overwhelming, and before she could stop herself, a soft moan escaped her lips.

"Mmm..." Liliana's eyes snapped open, shocked that she had reacted like this. Pulling away from him, she gasped for air, her mask slipping from her face and falling to the floor.

"Valerian, wh-what's the meaning of this?" she stammered, her mind struggling to comprehend why he was making her feel this way.

"I told you to call me master, didn't I?" Valerian growled, his voice laced with dominance. His fingers pinched the soft skin of her inner thigh, causing her to yelp in pain-though it was a pain laced with something she didn't quite understand.

"Ah!" she cried out, the sensation confusing her even more. She bit her bottom lip, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her.

"Gosh! How many times do I have to tell you not to bite your lip like that, Lily?" Valerian's deep voice rumbled in her ear. The way he called her by her nickname sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

But Liliana couldn't stop biting her lip; it was an unconscious reaction to her nerves.

"Fuck!" Valerian hissed as he abruptly pulled his hand away from her thigh, creating a sudden and unsettling emptiness in her body. He stepped back, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"You don't want to get punished," he growled, his voice rough with warning, "then stop doing that."

Liliana quickly nodded, her hands trembling as she bent down to pick up the fallen mask. The absence of his touch left her feeling strangely hollow, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, not entirely sure why she was apologizing, but the words spilled out as she fumbled with the mask, trying to secure it back over her eyes.

Valerian watched as Liliana struggled to fit the mask back on, his expression softening slightly. Without a word, he reached out to help her, his warm fingers brushing against her cold ones as he adjusted the mask with care. His touch lingered, and for a moment, they both seemed to forget the tension that had filled the room just moments ago.

"You have beautiful eyes," Liliana blurted out before she could stop herself. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise at her own words. She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but there it was, hanging between them.

Valerian's heart skipped a beat at her unexpected compliment, a feeling he hadn't anticipated. The last time someone had told him that, it was his sister, long ago. Hearing it again, especially from Liliana, stirred something deep within him-something he thought he had buried.

"Your lipstick is smudged. You should check it in the mirror," Valerian remarked, his tone more neutral as he tried to regain his composure. Taking her hand, he led her to the washroom, guiding her to stand in front of the mirror while he remained behind her.

Liliana curled her fingers around his as she caught sight of her reflection. The earlier intimacy flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but notice how different he was now-gentler, almost considerate, a stark contrast to the harshness she had experienced the night before.

Her eyes fell to her lips, seeing how the lipstick was indeed smudged, a telltale sign of their earlier encounter. It didn't look right, and she couldn't help but feel a little flustered. She wondered what had caused this sudden shift in Valerian, making her feel both vulnerable and curious at the same time.

Valerian stepped back, opening a small compartment on the wall. He retrieved a tissue and returned to Liliana, gently wiping the smudged lipstick from around her mouth. The tenderness in his actions caught her off guard, a softness she hadn't expected from him.

"I'll do it," Liliana offered, feeling uneasy with him being so close.

"Stay quiet," Valerian commanded, his sharp glare silencing any further protest from her. She complied, watching him intently as he continued his task.

"It's done," Valerian finally said, crumpling the tissue in his hand. Just as he was about to dispose of it, Liliana noticed that his lips were also stained. Hesitating for a moment, she reached out, her thumb brushing against his lips to wipe away the residue.

Valerian's breath hitched, the sensation of her touch sending an unexpected jolt through him. "Fuck, Lily!" he cursed, the words slipping out as he instinctively pulled away from her touch.

"What happened?" Liliana asked, startled by his reaction.

"Nothing. I have business to attend to. Let's go," Valerian responded curtly, turning on his heel and walking out of the washroom, leaving Liliana standing there in confusion.

As he strode away, Valerian's thoughts raced. 'I can't let her rule my head. I can't believe I stopped. This isn't me. Whoever I touched would leave my territory only after pleasuring me. Then why did I stop myself in front of her?' He clenched his fists, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar restraint he had just shown. The more he thought about it, the more it left him unsettled.

As Valerian reached the door, he paused, realizing he still needed to wear the mask he had chosen for the event. He quickly put it on, adjusting it just as he heard Liliana's voice behind him. Curious, he turned around to see what she had to say.

Liliana stood before him, her eyes lowering to his tie. Without a word, she reached out, adjusting it with careful precision while feeling the intensity of his dark gaze on her.

The proximity and his unwavering stare made her heart race, but she focused on fixing his tie, determined not to let his presence overwhelm her. Once she was done, Liliana stepped back, her hands retreating to her sides. "Your tie wasn't in place," she murmured softly, offering a faint explanation.

Valerian remained silent, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Without responding, he turned and walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Liliana followed closely, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and unspoken emotions. As they stepped into the hallway, Valerian casually slipped the keycard into his pocket before grabbing Liliana's hand, pulling her close to him in a possessive manner.

The warmth of his hand around hers sent a familiar shiver down her spine, and Liliana couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind.