Cecilia had never imagined herself embracing and kissing this man.

In her previous life, her third marriage had been just as meaningless as her first two. She couldn’t recall having a single meaningful conversation with her third husband.

Yet here she was, experiencing a scenario completely out of sync with the future she remembered—a scenario that brought with it a strange mix of guilt and exhilaration.

It felt like she was doing something forbidden, as if the gods governing her fate were watching from above, clucking their tongues in disapproval.

‘What is that scent?’

Cecilia was curious about the unfamiliar fragrance.

It was fresh, like the scent of the wind. It wasn’t sweet like flowers but had a comforting, uplifting quality.

When she realized the mysterious smell was his natural scent, her body flushed with heat in an instant.

A tingling sensation stirred in her abdomen, and a tightness gripped her lower body.

At that moment, she was acutely aware of the primal truth.

Beneath their humanity, they were animals.

Her body, a fertile female’s, was responding to a strong, attractive male.

It was a raw, thrilling realization.

Cecilia’s previously passive demeanor shifted subtly.

Her lips parted further. The tension in her body eased, and her hands began to move, tracing the contours of his body.

Russell, who had been wholly immersed in exploring her lips, froze momentarily.

Feeling her acceptance, he struggled to contain the flood of desire threatening to burst forth.

A low growl rumbled from deep within his throat.

He pulled back briefly, adjusting his angle, and kissed her again.

This was no shy or tentative kiss.

He bit, licked, and sucked on her lips with a fervor. His thick tongue pressed into her small mouth, exploring its depths and entwining with hers.

He swallowed her saliva and delivered relentless, intense kisses, leaving no room for hesitation.

Like most people of Lagos, Russell had grown up running through forests and fields, witnessing nature’s rhythms—spring blooms, animals mating, and the creation of new life.

This innate wisdom of nature, though primal, was deeply ingrained in him.

Had Cecilia truly been the twenty-one-year-old noblewoman she appeared to be, she might have been horrified by his aggressive advances.

For young ladies raised in refinement, their first kiss was a scene out of a novel—soft, sweet, and romantic.

But Cecilia found herself exhilarated by his instinct-driven kiss.

The unwavering strength of his arm around her waist, the solid firmness of his body pressed against hers—none of it was traditionally romantic, but it awakened something in her.

Russell kissed her lips and tongue with fervor, but even that didn’t seem to satisfy him.

Occasionally, he pressed his lips to the corners of her mouth and her jawline before returning to her lips.

He pulled her closer, his arm tightening around her as he shifted his body.

The movement caused Cecilia to stumble.

She instinctively stepped back, trying to steady herself, and he followed her movements.

Her leg brushed against the edge of a table.

Feeling the impact, Russell instinctively pulled her closer while turning his body to shield her.

His back collided with the table, causing a loud thud.

A silver pitcher toppled over, clattering to the stone floor with a resounding noise.

Almost simultaneously, there was a knock at the door.

“Miss.”

Startled, Cecilia pushed him away.

She expected resistance but was surprised when he let her go immediately.

“What is it?”

“The Elder Missus has instructed us to assist you with your bedtime preparations.”

“No need. I’ll call if I require anything. Leave.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Outside the reception room, two maids exhaled in relief.

When they had gone to the communal dining hall earlier, they’d been told their Miss had already left with the Lord.

The entire walk back, they had been consumed with anxiety.

‘Thank goodness, right?’

‘Yeah.’

They whispered to each other.

Had the Miss not been in her room, they would surely have faced the Elder Missus’s wrath.

As the maids left the sitting room door, the two figures inside remained where they were, facing each other.

Russell’s hand still rested on Cecilia’s waist, while her hand was planted firmly against his chest, as if to push him away.

The lingering warmth of their shared moment hung in the air between them, unbroken and heavy with tension.