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The party atmosphere still enveloped the entire property while Nikolai gazed at Risa, enchanted by the beauty in the dark Kimino and the faint blush from the alcohol on her cheeks.
Her eyes peered at him from below. A soft flicker of her lashes. Then she reached out and touched his cheek with her right hand. "I thought you might be with them all knight."
Nikolai's eyes narrowed.
A pleasant sensation spread from the touch of Risa's smooth fingertips brushing along his skin.
"Do you mean Selene and Nikita?" A soft voice, yet Nikolai put power into his throat, wanting to ensure that his words were clear.
"Yes," she replied in a low whisper as she moved closer.
"Hey... don't try and be so subtle," Nikolai whispered, almost mouthing it before he started leaning towards her.
She seemed uncertain.
"You can kiss me..." His lips lifted, causing Risa's cheeks to redden more. "You don't have to be afraid." Only the pair of them were standing alone in the garden, with the water fountain behind them hissing. It was the perfect setting.
"Why are you so confident?!" Risa closed her eyes, turning to the side. Her teeth sank into her lips, squishing them before sighing. "I... I want to be more than just your lover."
The entire area turned silent as the fountain continued splashing loudly. Risa placed both hands on top of his chest, grasping his waistcoat tightly in her fingers. "Do you understand, even if it's not now, I hope... one day I am even half as important as Nikita or Selene are to you." Risa's face glistened with a glossy glow in the moonlight.
Nikolai stared at Risa in silence; he hadn't expected such an expression from her.
But it stirred something inside him. He couldn't deny the pull toward Risa, his growing desire and affection. "Why do you not ask for it now?"
"I cannot be that selfish. Your relationship with those two is complicated." She looked away for a moment and released a heavy breath. However, a shocked expression covered her face as his hands wrapped around her lower back, lifting her short stature to his height.
"Though we met in such a strange and horrible fashion..." Nikolai licked his lips, inching his nose closer to hers. "I don't have any ill feelings toward you."
"You shouldn't," she gasped before adding, "This is all my fault... for tempting you."
He held her in place, hovering a hair above her lips. He could smell the slight scent of cherry wine on her breath and saw her struggling to hold back from pressing forward. "I'm sorry... for saying you were just a lover that night, instead of telling the truth. That you are no different to them."
Their faces drew together, their noses touching as if drawn by magnets. They tilted sideways before Nikolai brushed her soft lips with his. They were like rose petals.
Nikolai kissed her gently as their warm mouths locked. It was short but different from their past kisses. Risa's chest throbbed, the beating of her heart audible to Nikolai. His chest vibrated from his pounding heart, a sound that made the nekomata overjoyed.
Her charm and words always tickled his consciousness and desire.
Risa wasn't the same as Selene or Nikita, but she didn't need to be.
Each woman was special. One helped him socially, another brought him out of his shell, and the last one taught him how to enjoy his life as a monster.
They pulled apart as someone scuttled nearby, one of the maids carrying the utensils from the dining room.
"Do you mean that?" Expectant eyes. Soft, emerald iris gazed into his face while she rocked from side to side. She shifted on the balls of her feet, a hopeful expression on her face.
"I cannot control myself around you, Risa. You are special," Nikolai admitted, staring at her with warmth in his gaze. "You have already carved yourself into my heart. Don't you dare let it go." His hands slipped along her back. He touched her chin, gently lifting her expectant face.
"Then..." Risa squirmed as the space between their chests became shorter. Nikolai leaned downward, rubbing their cheeks together. Her voice lowered to a seductive whisper: "Is this your way of saying I should stay in your room tonight?"
His fingers slid along her kimono, grabbing both cheeks of her rear before squeezing them. "I won't be able to hold back, you understand right?" He licked the top of her left cat ear before kissing it.
Risa's voice hitched. She moaned. "You better not. It's been so long since I've enjoyed my time with you alone..."
The pair began to rock slowly, the distant sound of the music inside the mansion flowing through the air, allowing them to dance to the beat. Nikolai leaned closer, hugging her small frame against his tall, muscular torso. "Shall we enjoy a dance, since we're here?"
"Mm."
Risa rested her head on his shoulder, humming softly, her soft breathing matching his heartbeat.
They danced under the moon's light, their bodies flowing with the gentle breeze. Nikolai raised Risa's hand above her head. She twirled, her kimono flowing behind her. A slight smile curled her lips as Nikolai dipped her backwards. His large form overshadowed hers in the moonlight.
She closed her eyes, basking in his warmth, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her palms as they continued their slow movements. They drew nearer until his forehead touched hers.
"Niko," she breathed.
Nikolai peered deep into her emerald eyes.
"Although, I never planned to... I've fallen in love with you, haha." Her throat purred as she admitted her feelings, the distant song of insects and the scent of cedarwood and flowers adding to her memories of this moment.
"The wine made you much braver," he said playfully.
"It wasn't the wine... but the sudden talks bout you and that girl, another one... I didn't know I could feel jealous!"
In one quick movement, Nikolai lifted her from the ground and held her close to his chest.
"Nikolai?" she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck, letting her legs dangle. A smile stretched across her face as he gazed at her fondly.
"Don't be jealous, you are important to me too, forgive me for being too stupid to put these feelings into words."
Risa's eyes glowed, shining like the stars overhead. She pressed herself further against him, closing her eyes.
"You really seem different, I cannot stop my chest pounding, yet I worry you might change suddenly."
Nikolai carried Risa deeper into the garden, feeling the wind ruffling their clothing. They continued to sway in a quiet rhythm as Nikolai hummed quietly to the song playing in the background, filling the stillness of the night.
Their minds drifted, their hearts filled with nothing but thoughts and admiration for each other.
As the song faded away into silence, they stood motionless beneath the moon's pale radiance, lost within their world. The distant chatter of maids and staff leaving filtered through the open windows from inside.
Nikolai let out a breath he'd been holding. Her perfume clung to his clothes and hair, a soothing presence in his arms.
He yearned for more moments like this in the future, wanting nothing more than to bring happiness to all of them.
They looked at each other with a playful hunger in their eyes. "Then what shall we do now?" Risa bit her lower lips, exhaling air from her lungs. Her hot breath blew against his neck.
"How about..." Nikolai used his index finger to tilt her head upwards. "I fuck you senseless under the stars." He whispered into her ears as he pressed her body against himself.
A devilish expression grew across her face.
"That sounds wonderful..." She huffed before placing her mouth beside his. She nibbled at his lower lips before sucking on them and dragging them with a wet smack.
"Don't disappoint me now, Nikolai."