TCCIO 24

Chapter 24. So Naive
Delia glared at Aaron, her body engulfed in a suffocating heat. It didn’t matter what the source of that heat was. She had to retrieve the fruit that had disappeared into his mouth—only then would this blazing sensation calm down. Her eyes, fixed on Aaron’s lips, darkened into a vivid, burning blue.

“I’ll show you.”

Delia, acting on impulse, reached out and pulled Aaron by the chin. The man, usually so powerful, came to her helplessly like a gentle silver-haired lamb. Delia looked down at Aaron, now in her grasp.

“That there’s no way someone like you can ever replace Iorenti.”

She bent down until her long golden hair flowed over his chest. Their noses almost touched. Delia whispered in a low voice.

“That your seduction means nothing to me. I’ll show you myself.”

She lightly tasted Aaron’s lips, still stained from the fruit. Unlike his firm body, his lips were soft and sweet. Delia, unable to resist the searing temptation, thoroughly licked the juice from his lips. She didn’t miss a single trace of the scent mixed with his low moans. The same juice that stained Aaron’s lips now colored Delia’s as well. With a breathy sigh, she slowly pulled back, lips now tinged red with his color. She curled them into a confident smirk.

“Not much, really.”

With a lofty tilt of her chin, Delia slowly stepped back from Aaron. But his eyes, now fixed on her, had deepened even further. Delia smiled coldly.

“You really thought you could seduce me with just that?”

Sweet and tart as it was, warmer and softer than expected… but it wasn’t enough to make her forget Iorenti. How foolish, to think that an enemy like him could tame her. Almost mockingly, she reached out to stroke his shimmering silver hair.

“So naive, our dear Commander.”

In that moment, Aaron’s gaze turned sharply menacing. The docile man who had followed her touch like a lamb suddenly changed. He grabbed the hand above his head with a force that shocked her. The loud clatter of forks and knives echoed through the tent. Bowls toppled, and wild berries rolled across the table. A chill ran through Delia as she tried to pull her hand away—but before she realized what was happening, she was already seated on the table. Frozen in shock, Delia felt like a wild beast was watching her from deep within the fog.

“You thought that was the end? We haven’t even started yet.”

His voice slipped into her ear like a damp mist. The feral beast that had been waiting in silence now revealed itself as its prey stepped into the trap. Instinctively, Delia clutched the edge of the table as shadows loomed over her. Aaron smiled as he looked at her frozen state.

“So naive, my little prisoner.”

There was no time to think. No time to escape. Delia was drawn into Aaron’s heat in an instant. That unknown burning sensation devoured her entirely. Aaron grabbed the nape of her neck, inhaling the breath that escaped her lips. He licked and teased her soft, swollen bottom lip, more tender than when touched by hand. The sensation was so delicate and careful, Delia couldn’t help but let out a kitten-like moan. Aaron took advantage of the moment, slipping inside her mouth. When she tried to flee, he pursued relentlessly, wrapping her up and drawing her in. As if quenching the thirst that had been tormenting him all this time, he inhaled even her faint moans.

So this was it.

The thirst he had felt whenever he looked into her blue eyes. As if his whole body had been parched under a scorching sun, the overwhelming dryness faded because of her. Overcome with joy from this realization, Aaron dove into her as if to devour her entirely. His desire was intense—so intense it frightened Delia to her core. She gripped the edge of the table tightly, trying to hold on to her sanity.

“Prisoner.”

Aaron slowly pulled away, sensing Delia’s stiff body. Her lips were redder and glossier than before, as if carefully bitten. Satisfied, he glanced at her small hands clinging to the table. Still resisting him, still clinging to her pride. He chuckled softly and gently stroked her hand. Despite the earlier intensity, his touch was delicate, and Delia’s rigid fingers began to relax.

“At times like this, you should be holding on to me, not the table.”

He guided her hand to his neck, then brought the other to rest on his silver hair.

“Like this. Hold me.”

Delia instinctively tightened her grip, his silky hair tangled between her fingers. No longer resisting, her body leaned toward Aaron. As if that was the signal, Aaron wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in deep. With their bodies pressed together, it was easier to delve further. Her soft skin melted into his mouth. Her breath, now damp with heat, made every nerve in her body sizzle. She couldn’t hold herself up without clinging to him. That alone erased her fear, like standing on solid ground again. The anxiety he gave her was soothed by the stability he offered. Delia instinctively wrapped her arms tighter around his neck.

Aaron lifted her into his arms and laid her on the cot. Her golden hair splayed across the rough camp bed. As he stroked her hair, he whispered,

“You’ll be as sweet as those raspberries I fed you. As soft as warm soup.”

Everything about Delia melted into his touch and voice. Tears fell from her eyes—blue droplets tinged red as they rolled down her cheeks and soaked into her hair, shimmering gold. Even her tears were beautiful, almost too precious to waste. Aaron licked them gently, as if they were his salvation from a burning thirst. His every movement brimmed with aching desire. The air in the tent grew humid, like a fog created by the heat between them.

Aaron, now looking relaxed, stroked her glowing hair. She must’ve been exhausted—his little prisoner had fallen deeply asleep despite his touch. Though he missed the sight of her blue eyes, he chose to be satisfied with the soft warmth in his arms. She’d suffered—he would let her rest. His eyes glowed with deep contentment as he gazed at her. Light danced around her, as if unwilling to leave her side. How could a filthy wolf dare covet something so beautiful? The thought of her panting beneath that wolf, gasping for air, made Aaron’s chest tighten. Had he been even a little late, she would’ve been dragged away by those sharp fangs. The mere thought made his gaze sharpen.

He stroked her slender neck. Even in her sleep, Delia seemed to sense the shift—her body trembled slightly. Her eyes fluttered open, still hazy from sleep. Then suddenly, she flinched. Aaron, who had been watching warmly, gave a faint chuckle.

“You’re awake?”

Delia’s golden hair was a mess, reflecting her emotional state. Aaron reached out and touched her delicate back. Her trembling skin made him move gently, as if to soothe her. She curled up tightly, trying to protect herself, like a small animal afraid of being attacked. Gone was the proud, unyielding woman from earlier.

“Why so tense, prisoner? That’s not like you.”

“I’m not tense.”

Aaron frowned at her. She clung to the edge of the bed as if she’d fall off.

“Then why are you trying to run?”

Unable to stand it anymore, Aaron pulled her by the waist.

“Eek!”

The more Delia struggled, the more her sweet scent filled his arms. He embraced her, whispering softly,

“Shh. Don’t be scared.”

He gently pushed her hair back from her face. Beneath the golden strands, her cheeks blushed like pink rose petals. Her soft skin melted into his hand. He desired her—but not as something broken or fearful. He wanted her raw, alive.

“If you don’t want it, I won’t force you.”

He held her carefully, brushing warm breath against her neck and stroking her back to ease her tension. He gently rubbed her hand, coaxing her clenched fist to loosen. Still, Delia writhed, trying to escape.

“But you forced me. You locked me up.”

“Prisoner, that was a military operation. Totally different.”

“Well, thank you so much for distinguishing public duty from private feelings.”

“As a soldier of the proud Imperial Army, it’s only right.”

“Oh, look at you. Big, noble Imperial soldier invading Iorenti.”

Delia turned away from him, biting her lower lip. Aaron clucked his tongue and reached for her lip.

“Again? I told you not to do that. You’ll hurt yourself.”

He gently parted her lips and brushed over them.

“Just bite my finger instead.”

Just like earlier. Aaron brought his lips to her ear and whispered low. Remembering her tear-stained expression as she bit his finger, his voice grew hoarse. If he could see that again, he’d offer his finger a thousand times. His grip on her lips tightened.

“That’s not something you should worry about, Commander.”

“How can I not, with what we have between us?”

“There’s nothing between us.”

Aaron frowned.

“You really believe that?”

“Yes. Just once. It wasn’t bad, that’s all.”