Chapitre 22: DON'T PROVOKE MEN

"So, you think I'm pretty." Veronica peeked at his expression and asked, "Does this mean you like me?"

She was wearing a deep blue dress, her boots and an olive green cape. The cape belonged to Arthur. As for her dress, he found it in a servant's room who was long gone. Since Veronica wasn't picky about wearing second-hand goods, he didn't buy new clothes for her.

Arthur was wearing a brown shirt and black pants. His black hair was slicked to one side. He paused upon hearing her question and turned to face her. His golden orbs were sharply staring at her, trying to find out her intention. When he couldn't, he asked her back, "Where are you trying to go with this conversation?"

Veronica shrugged and went along with his question, "Should this conversation need any destination?"

Arthur muttered, "Even a road has its ending." Observing her confused gaze, he sighed and stated, "Princess, you shouldn't provoke a man."

Veronica tilted her head. "When did I provoke you?" She was confused. She just asked if he liked her not. 'Can't a human like others? How is it provoking to just ask?' she wondered.

Arthur mentioned, "Just now you did."

Veronica resigned to his complaint, "All right, I did. So what?"

Arthur fully turned toward her. "Do you want to know what happens if you provoke a man?"

Noticing that he abruptly became serious, she became slightly nervous. "…I'm not sure about that."

"This kind of thing…" saying that he slowly approached her.

She stepped backward. She became tense. "Y-you… you are scaring me."

"Am I?" Arthur asked as he raised an eyebrow. He slowly walked closer, one step at a time. It seems his aura completely changed.

Veronica stepped backward until her back touched a cold wall. She was startled. Only then she realized that they were in an alley where no one was around them.

The surrounding air felt completely different. She was so nervous that she stopped breathing.

Within a few seconds, he came closer and placed his left hand beside the right side of her head. Then, he pressed his right knee in between her legs.

Veronica jumped when she sensed something touching around her private area. She tried to move but her legs were jammed because of his knee.

Arthur left no chance for her to escape. He leaned his head. His hair tickled her face. She flinched.

His right hand softly touched her cheek and ran his thumb over her soft skin. His warmth traveled all over her body. Her body heated up in the process. Her heart was thumping aloud.

A sweet perfume entered her nostrils as his face inched closer. Together with the perfume, a soft feeling touched her precious lips. It was a light peck but Veronica trembled as an electrifying sensation ran through her.

Arthur attentively held her face and let go of her lips before giving her a deep kiss. He could sense her breaths quivering against his cheek.

Because she was being bold with a man she barely knew, he intended to incite a little bit of wariness from her. It wasn't that he was as worried that other men would take advantage of her. He wanted to teach her some lessons. If she was so eager to roam around the world, she needed to learn what kind of place this world was.

Veronica squeezed her eyes shut. Her heartbeat escalated. She couldn't have assumed that her savior would be the predator.

Arthur took out his tongue and licked her lips. He heard her gasp in surprise. It was her first time experiencing this, in a sane condition of mind.

He took advantage of her open mouth and inserted his tongue in her mouth. Her hot breaths tickled his face. He pulled her closer, leaving no gap between them.

Veronica shuddered when his tongue explored her mouth. She tried to move her face to the other side but he held her face firmly. She pushed his chest but he didn't budge.

This foreign object invaded her territory without her permission. His wet, warm soft tongue roamed around without hesitation. She found the sensation very weird. Her face heated up. Her body was growing hot.

Veronica moved her tongue away, not letting him touch her possession but he persistently found her and wrapped his tongue around her. Her fingers subconsciously clutched his shirt and let out a low moan in his persistent stimulation, "Ung…"

The corner of his lips lifted. He sucked her tongue and then lovingly teased her. He sensed her hands losing strength.

Veronica lost her balance. Her legs gave out and she collapsed. Her head was buzzing and her heart was thumping. She felt like she went on a long journey. She gasped for air.

Arthur caught her when she slumped forward. His long fingers brushed over her cheek and tugged a few strands of her hair behind. He embraced her until she could stand on her own feet.

Veronica panted softly and looked at him with tearful eyes. Her emerald eyes were blaming him for being mean to her. "Why did you do it?"

Arthur's gaze deepened as he asked, "Are you upset?"

"Upset?!" she exclaimed.

He just kissed her without her permission and he asked her if she was upset or not.

"Did you know how I felt since I saw Sister Ruth's dead body? And, now you do this to me? Who do you think I am?" She sobbed and vented out everything that she locked up in her chest.

She wasn't sad. She didn't feel pitiful. She was mad at herself because she made a huge mistake. She was angry at Sister Ruth for taking her own life. She wished to find out why Sister Ruth killed herself. She wanted to do something so that she could make up for her mistake.

However, this guy took advantage of her when she believed in him and made fun of her. It was humiliating.

Arthur put his finger under her chin and raised her face. "Who are you blaming? You are the one who provoked me. And now you are blaming me?"