The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 104

Derrick’s gaze was intense as he watched the lewd undulations of Judith’s hips, desperate for pleasure. He matched her rhythm, thrusting deeply inside her, occasionally rubbing her cl!toris through the bush, intensifying the sensation.

What started as a timid movement of her hips gradually turned more lascivious. Each time she lifted herself, the whitened pen!s, covered in frothy juices, appeared and disappeared depending on the angle of her descent.

“Ah, it’s too deep…”

“But you like it, don’t you? Isn’t that right?”

Judith nodded faintly, her eyes half-closed. Her expression, suffused with pleasure, only heightened Derrick’s desire, leaving it unclear whether her response was a yes or no.

Feeling a tightness building below, Derrick pulled her close, laying her on top of him as he began thrusting furiously. The heat that had been simmering in her belly suddenly flared up, making Judith squirm.

“Derrick, ah!”

Finally, Derrick plunged his manhood into the hilt, spreading her cheeks wide as he released his seed deep inside her. The thick, sticky sensation of his cum filling her made Judith shudder.

Derrick held her close, gently caressing her for a while, before carefully laying her down beside him. Their legs remained entangled, with his still connected to hers, in an obscene display.

They locked eyes for a moment, saying nothing, yet fully understanding each other’s thoughts.As Derrick kissed her and spread her legs once more, Judith could only accept him, moving up and down on him again.

Their hearts, pressed together, beat in perfect harmony.

***

The lovemaking continued until Judith nearly passed out from exhaustion. The hesitant approach Derrick had shown earlier, concerned about overtaxing her, was long gone. After countless rounds of intercourse, he ravaged her swollen bre@sts without mercy.

When Derrick finally withdrew from her, the once tightly plugged hole began to ooze with thick, milky fluid. In a perverse act, he shoved it back in, ordering her to swallow it all down. His blatant and raw demeanor only served to remind Judith that he was the devil she knew all too well.

When Judith awoke from a brief nap, the sky outside was beginning to lighten.

She slowly opened her eyes and felt a hand brushing through her hair. Derrick sat beside her against the headboard, smoking a cigar.

“You didn’t sleep?” she asked hoarsely.

Derrick, blowing out a puff of smoke, turned to her in surprise. “You’re awake?”

She nodded, and he gently caressed her cheek. She nuzzled into his hand like a kitten, eliciting a soft chuckle from him.

“I couldn’t sleep. You should rest more.”

As Judith watched him smoke languidly, her sleepiness began to fade. She shifted closer, wrapping her hand around his.

“Can’t you lie down with me?” she asked, her voice tinged with a longing for his embrace. Judith was more surprised by her own candor than anything else. She couldn’t quite understand why she felt so vulnerable and needy in front of Derrick.

“Why not?” he replied, his tone gentle. He snuffed out the half-finished cigar and lay down beside her. As his strong arm encircled her waist, pulling her close, she felt a warmth she rarely experienced elsewhere. Though Judith generally disliked the smell of cigarettes, particularly from Derrick, she didn’t mind it now.

“Derrick.”

He looked at her with an expectant gaze, as if urging her to continue. Judith lifted her hand and gently touched his lips.

“Will you send a marriage proposal to the Marquis of Lipis?”

Finally voicing the thought that had been on her mind throughout their lovemaking, Judith felt a flutter in her chest.

Derrick paused, pressing a tender kiss to her fingertips. Her request was essentially an acceptance of the proposal he had made the day before.

Thinking about accepting something and actually voicing it were two different things. Judith swallowed her embarrassment and gathered the courage to respond to his feelings.

She averted her gaze, suddenly shy, as if she were a young girl in love. Derrick noticed her reaction, and despite himself, a smile curved at the corners of his lips.

“I’ll make arrangements to send it right away.”

Derrick continued to stroke her hair as he held her close. As she lay there, feeling his touch, Judith found herself growing drowsy again. It wasn’t just sleepiness but a profound sense of peace that was settling over her.

[Four days later]

The Lipis Marquisate was unusually bustling from early morning. The reason was the arrival of a marriage proposal from the Duke of Maximilian, delivered at the break of dawn.

The commotion among the maids was so intense that Judith had to drag her tired body out of bed. Despite the four days that had passed since her reunion with Derrick, her limbs still ached. Rubbing her particularly sore arm, Judith made her way to Vincen’s study.

She hesitated at the chill seeping from the room before finally opening the door. Inside, she found her brother seated on the sofa, his head in his hands.

Judith could guess the cause of his dismay and cautiously closed the door behind her.

“Brother.”

At her gentle call, Vincen slowly lifted his head and gestured for her to come closer. She sat beside him, noticing the marriage proposal he held in his hand.

“Today, the Duke of Maximilian sent a marriage proposal for you.”

“Yes.”

“Did you know?”

Vincen’s surprise was evident, his eyes widening at her calm response. Judith fidgeted with her neatly folded hands before nodding.

“…I’ve torn up all the ridiculous proposals that have come your way so far.”

“…”

“But this time, I have a feeling I shouldn’t.”

He spoke quietly, having sensed that his sister, too, desired this marriage. Judith responded with a gentle smile.

“Yes. I want to get married.”

“Judith, I…”

“I understand your concerns, brother. You’re probably wondering why the Duke is proposing suddenly and why I’m accepting it so readily.”

“…”

“But this isn’t a marriage where I’m being pressured by someone else. I made this decision on my own.”

Vincen met her gaze in silence, recognizing that she had accurately understood his worries. Judith held his gaze firmly to convey her sincerity.

At this point, she didn’t want to revisit the past she had buried. Judith simply wanted to express her feelings clearly.

“I really like the Duke.”

A faint sigh escaped Vincen’s lips.

“I hear the Duke of Maximilian is devoted to you.”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright with this man?”

His eyes revealed clear concern.

“Of course. Besides, if it weren’t the Duke, I doubt anyone else would be willing to marry me.”

“That’s nonsense. If you wanted to remarry, I would have been more meticulous than Father in finding you a good husband.”

Judith knew he meant every word and a soft smile spread across her lips.

“Thank you, always, brother.”

“Alright then… We’ll accept the proposal. Before the wedding date is set, make sure to meet the Duke a few more times. If you have a change of heart during that period, come to me. But if everything goes smoothly and the date is set… well, we’ll handle things as they come.”

“Yes. Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

The feeling was starkly different from when her marriage to Derrick Visil was being arranged. Back then, it felt like she was reluctantly ensnared in an inescapable trap. Now, however, the thought of becoming Derrick’s wife filled her with excitement.

Once married, she would be able to stay close to him all the time, just as before.

If she hadn’t known Derrick as she did, she might have been anxious. But now, the idea of not seeing him easily made her heart ache.

As she reached for the doorknob to leave the study, Judith paused, lost in thought. She turned back to look at Vincen.

“Brother.”

Curiosity flickered in Vincen’s eyes as he looked up. Judith hesitated, weighing whether to voice her concern, before finally asking, “If, after I get married, I find myself in need of help… you’ll be there for me, won’t you?”

She recalled the reassurance Vincen had given her on her wedding day to Derrick Visil. At the time, she had thought it was merely a polite sentiment, as she had never heard such comforting words from her parents.

During her previous marriage, which now felt like a distant memory, the late Marquis and Marchioness had simply instructed her not to cause any trouble that might disrupt the wedding, showing little affection. Their indifference had made it clear they saw Judith as nothing more than a pawn. Vincen’s words had been a surprising exception.

It was only recently, seeing his genuine concern, that she realized he had meant every word.

“Of course,” Vincen replied, initially surprised but quickly smiling.

Judith, her heart warmed by his assurance, smiled bashfully and left the study, her steps lighter than before.

***

There was no hesitation in deciding to marry, given their deep understanding of each other and their feelings. The date was quickly set, and now all that remained was preparing for the wedding.

Judith was bewildered by the maids’ flurry of activity as they eagerly woke her early in the morning.

“What’s going on?”

“The Duke of Maximilian has arrived with the tailor!”

Judith immediately understood the cause of their excitement. After freshening up, she headed straight to the parlor.

With the wedding just three weeks away, she expected the tailor to come to finalize her dress, but she hadn’t anticipated Derrick’s presence. What is he doing here?

As she entered the parlor, she saw Derrick’s strong back as he lounged with his legs crossed, a cigar casually held between his fingers.

“Derrick.”

He turned, looking more like a man than ever, and smiled warmly as he caught sight of Judith. The tailor, busy arranging the snow-white dress on one side of the room, bowed deeply.

After acknowledging the tailor with a nod, Judith quickly approached Derrick.

“What brings you here unannounced?”

“I heard you were getting your wedding dress fitted. Have you made a decision?”

“The design is finished, and today I’m choosing the final details…”

Derrick took her hand in his and asked, “Aren’t you going to try it on?”

“…Did you really come here just for that?”

“Why not?”

Judith had asked out of curiosity, but seeing his immediate and serious response, it was clear he was genuine.