Qin Ke knew that for his wife to say such words was already her limit. He was more than satisfied.
In fact, he no longer had any spare thoughts at all—his eyes and mind were filled only with her beautiful, full lips. His knee slid forward on the floor until his chest pressed against her body. He lifted his face and kissed her lips.
Lu Youqing's thoughts trembled. The hands that had been cupping his cheeks lost their strength and instead clenched his collar. Qin Ke gently licked at her lips, lingering until she could no longer bear it and parted them, at which point he hurriedly pressed in.
"Did you drink?" Lu Youqing finally managed to pull away from his insistent kisses long enough to catch her breath.
She smelled the faint scent of wine on him and tasted it on his lips.
Qin Ke, however, was reluctant to let her go. He pressed close to her skin again and murmured indistinctly, "Just one cup—to give myself courage."
He kissed her like that, tilting his head up, little by little pressing her backward until her soft waist rested against the back of the chair. Qin Ke slowly rose with her, leaning over her, but worried that the redwood chair back might be too hard, he reached out and placed his palm against her lower back.
Throughout the entire process, he stayed tightly pressed against her, never once leaving her cool, soft lips—like entwined twin trees, winding ever closer, ever tighter.
Lu Youqing felt the hand at her back growing restless. The kneading sent a shiver through her, and she struggled to suppress the low sound rising in her throat. All she could do was clutch his collar tighter and tighter, until Qin Ke finally shifted his attention, burying his head in the curve of her slender neck. Only then did she find room to breathe, murmuring in a slightly disordered voice, "To the bed…"
Qin Ke knew this posture was uncomfortable and the location insufficiently proper. For someone as restrained and reserved as his wife, this was already too far.
What was more… this was their first time. It deserved a more solemn place.
He reached out with both arms and gathered her into his embrace. Lu Youqing had already been kneaded by him until she was nearly melting, and the hand that had been gripping his collar naturally slid up to hook around his neck as she nestled against him. He strode quickly toward the bed with her in his arms.
Thanks to Qin Ke's dexterous hands—hands that could forge ingenious tools and also undress his wife with speed and precision—her garments were undone swiftly and without hesitation.
Lu Youqing's black hair spilled across the bed like flowing water. Qin Ke could not resist reaching into it, threading his fingers through her crow-feather strands, gently tangling and stroking them. He cupped her head, pressed it back slightly, and bent down to kiss her again.
Forced to tilt her head back, Lu Youqing braced her hands against the carved redwood bed. Qin Ke kissed her until she went soft and weak, leaving her no choice but to hook her arms around his neck for support.
He traced the shape of her lovely lips with care, occasionally lowering his mouth to lick or gently nibble at her enticing collarbone, leaving marks that unmistakably claimed her.
This person was his—and soon, she would belong to him completely.
Burning desire swept over his reason. Fortunately, a trace of rationality remained, enough for him to remember to take out the item he had exchanged from the system shop earlier.
"This is…" Lu Youqing's eyes were already tinged red, the once-still depths now filled with rippling water.
"Contraception," Qin Ke said, unwilling to waste time explaining. He discarded the packaging, tossed aside the loosely draped sleep robe, and pressed himself against her again—her skin as fine as pearls and jade. He took her hand and pinned it above her head, their fingers interlacing.
Candlelight shimmered throughout the room, flames dancing ceaselessly, while the charcoal in the brazier crackled—mingled with sounds of soft and joyful moans.
Outside lay a world buried in ice and snow, the wind biting, the night deep and desolate; inside, it was warm as spring. The red plum blossom he had picked to please his beloved stood quietly on the gilt-inlaid table.
…
Qin Ke took his time with foreplay. Though inexperienced, he knew the basics. He was growing accustomed to his new body while exploring the mysteries of hers, watching her expression closely the entire time, afraid she might feel even the slightest discomfort.
Fortunately, she only frowned faintly at the beginning, then slowly relaxed.
When it was over, Qin Ke wrapped himself loosely in an outer robe and stepped down from the bed, bringing back a cup of tea to feed her. Lu Youqing's lashes fluttered, a faint flush on her face as she parted her lips slightly. Qin Ke supported her back with one hand and held the cup with the other, carefully offering her a sip.
"Are you alright? Does anything feel uncomfortable?"
He climbed back onto the bed, gently and securely pulling her into his arms. He buried his face against her neck again, breathing in her scent, his cool nose brushing her skin as he asked softly.
"No," Lu Youqing replied, lowering her gaze and refusing to look at him, her voice carrying a trace of subtle shyness.
"Then… did it feel good?" Qin Ke refused to let her off so easily. His lips brushed her ear before moving forward again, as though he wanted to kiss her.
Answering the previous question had already been her limit. This time, she would not indulge him at all. She even shot him a shy, reproachful glance—her eyes shimmering as if filled with water, the faint redness at their corners like an alluring spring scene.
Very well. Qin Ke did not truly need her answer.
After skin had touched skin, their former closeness was no longer enough for him. His desire only grew stronger, wishing he could cling to her at every moment without ever parting.
Seeing her slender, pale fingers, he felt an itch at his teeth. He took her hand, playing with her fingers, and finally could not resist giving a gentle bite.
His bite was light—not painful, only a little ticklish—leaving shallow teeth marks on her knuckles. Seeing the lingering moisture there, Lu Youqing merely pinched his cheek, signaling him not to misbehave.
Somehow, Qin Ke felt cherished. In so many moments, she indulged him and pampered him. Even when he acted mischievously, she only ever responded like this—pinching his cheek.
For a time, everything grew quiet, the air suffused with a faint, intimate warmth.
Qin Ke glanced up and noticed her gaze lingering on the disposable item he had tossed on the floor earlier. He explained, "It's not that I don't want children with you. I just feel that the timing isn't right yet."
"I understand," Lu Youqing replied, turning back to him with a small smile.
She was not the kind of woman who indulged only in petty romance. She loved the man before her, but she also understood the state of the world.
She did not ask where the item had come from. Ever since Qin Ke had been honest with her in the past, she had chosen to turn a blind eye to such things.
Seeing that she was not displeased, Qin Ke tightened his arms around her once more.
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