The closeness between them hummed with tension; neither dared to speak aloud.
When she finished, she lowered the towel and held it out to him, but he didn't take it.
"Wash it and return it tomorrow," he told her, reaching for another towel behind her.
"That will become one of your duties from now on."
Emilia nodded dumbly, gripping the towel so tightly that it crumpled in her hand, clenched like a fist.
Her heart was pounding loudly.
Lucas walked past her and began drying his hair, then dressed up, his movements slow and unhurried. His robe shifted slightly with each motion, revealing more of his lean torso.
"You will need more than a towel to knock me out, Emilia," he said without turning, catching the stiffness in her posture.
Emilia turned slowly to look at him again, breath caught in her throat.
She stared at him, stunned at first, but then, a look of concern slowly etched on her face.
Her eyes fixed on the fading blood stain near his collar.
Lucas noticed her intense stare and cocked his head. She wouldn't look at him a few seconds ago but can't take her eyes off him now.
"What?" he queried.
"Your injury…" Emilia mumbled faintly and Lucas raised a brow, puzzled.
"Huh?"
Without answering him, Emilia moved quickly and turned to the container of ointment she had used for him in the morning, resting on the drawer beside his bed and took it, then returned to his side.
"Sit," she ordered softly.
Surprised by the assertiveness of her tone, Lucas obeyed, lowering himself onto the chair.
Without warning, Emilia kneed beside him and pushed aside the inner layer of his robe to view his wound clearly.
"Is that what you were staring at?" Lucas mumbled, flustered, but her finger brushed his chest instead and Lucas flinched, startled by the brazenness of her touch.
Only moments ago, she was red-faced over his bare skin, yet now she pulled his robe without hesitation, exposing him completely.
Her touch is gentle, clinical, but the closeness stirred something wild in him and he exhaled.
A few droplets from his hair landed on her chest, soaking the fabric slightly, but Emilia paid it no attention. Her full concentration was on his wound.
She dabbed the ointment with soft, steady hands, her fingers gliding over his skin.
From time to time, she looked up, searching his face to check if it was painful, but Lucas's eyes remained averted, his jaw tight, as if trying to wash away the sensations.
Then…
A voice echoed from the other side of the door.
"Why are you here?"
They both heard Robert question and Emilia halt with the bandage in her hand.
"Your Majesty?" Robert called in another second.
"Consort Eleanor is outside. She demands to speak with you."
Lucas frowned, annoyed.
The sound of heels approaching the door and the figure of Eleanor standing by it reflected through the lights.
Emilia let go of the bandage, nodding slightly, but Lucas grabbed her by the waist before she could retract and pulled her into him, crushing her body against his chest.
One hand slips to the back of her neck, and the other around her waist. Before she can utter a word, his lips descend onto hers.
Emilia's eyes widened in shock.
The first touch of his mouth on hers sends a ripple through her chest, slow and warm and terrifyingly right.
Her lips tremble beneath his, frozen in surprise, her body tense. She's never kissed anyone before. She doesn't even know how to move.
Eleanor stomps her feet anxiously outside the door, riled to hear movement but without a response from Lucas to let her in.
Desperate, she called out again, her voice louder.
"Your Majesty, I need to report something important to you"
Lucas paused at her words, hesitating.
Emilia's ears also straightened at her words and her mind reeled to the letter June snatched back.
Even if the evidence is gone from Eleanor, if Lucas knows it, it would make him suspicious of her.
She pulled Lucas close with his robe, yanking him down to her mouth and she forced her lips on him.
Her lips press awkwardly against his, unsure of the rhythm. Her nose bumps his. Her breath is shaky, and her lips tremble.
But she moved them against Lucas's, hoping it's enough to make it convincing to Eleanor and send her away.
Lucas's body went still, stunned and felt a faint pain from her forceful attempt.
He groans lowly, his hand guards her back down onto the floor, and he presses his body against hers.
His hands grip her wrists and pin them above her head as he deepens the kiss, his mouth parting hers open.
His tongue claimed her in ways she never knew possible. It's overwhelming.
Emilia gasped softly beneath him, breathless and dazed. Her fingers twitch in his grasp. Her body trembled from both fear and a strange, new sensation twisting low in her belly.
His kiss is fierce and possessive, stealing her thoughts and breath.
Outside, Eleanor sees the shadows of their entangled bodies beneath the candlelight filtering through the screen.
She stomped her foot, furious, then called out one last time, but her voice trembled now, laced with pain and jealousy.
Unable to bear the scene playing behind the door, she turned and stormed off.
It took a few seconds after she left before Lucas pulled away, releasing Emilia's arms.
His breathing heavy, and his chest rising and falling above hers. He studied her face, which stared back at him, flushed.
"Return to your chamber," Lucas murmured, his voice hoarse.
Emilia also found her voice slowly and nodded with a quiet mumbling.
"We will continue… tomorrow." He whispered, his words sounding ambiguous.
Emilia's eyes widen at the implication.
Lucas gets up, adjusts his robe, and tries to appear as calm as ever, then sits on the bed.
Emilia scrambles to her feet, her heart racing. Her lips feel swollen, her body hot, and trembling.
She clutched the towel still in her hand like a lifeline and hurried out of the room, escaping into the side chamber.
Alone in the dim light, Emilia leaned against the door, breath heaving, her heart pounding violently in her chest.
Her first kiss… stolen.