The next morning, Violetta emerged from her bedchamber, the scent of lavender and rosewater clinging to her skin, a testament to her recent bathing ritual. She had donned an exquisite gown of deep emerald green, the fabric shimmering with an iridescent sheen as she moved. The bodice was fitted, encasing her ample bosom and cinching at her narrow waist before flaring out into a skirt that swept the floor behind her. The sleeves were long and flowing, the lace at the cuffs fluttering softly with each step. Around her neck, Violetta wore a delicate gold chain, a single ruby pendant nestled between the valley of her breasts. Her silver-blonde hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, a few loose curls framing her face and drawing attention to her striking features.
As Violetta made her way through the castle, her heels clicking against the marble, she couldn't shake the memory of her encounter with Lucien from her mind. The way his hands had explored her body, the feel of his lips against her skin, the raw, masculine scent of him... it all lingered like a phantom touch, igniting a constant spark of desire within her.
Upon reaching the castle entrance, Violetta spotted her carriage waiting for her, the black lacquer polished to a high shine. As she approached, she noticed a tall, broad-shouldered figure leaning against the carriage door, his back to her. Lucien straightened up as he sensed her presence, turning to face her with a slow, sensual smile.
He was dressed impeccably in a black tailcoat, the fit of which showcased his muscular physique, the broad expanse of his shoulders, and the lean lines of his waist. Beneath the tailcoat, Lucien wore a crisp white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his tanned, sinewy forearms. A silver waistcoat adorned with intricate embroidery hugged his chest, and a black silk cravat was tied loosely around his neck. Lucien's trousers were a deep, inky black, the fabric straining against his powerful thighs and calves.
As Violetta approached, Lucien greeted her with a roguish smile, his stormy eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "Good morning, Violetta," he purred, his voice a low, intimate rasp. He extended a large, calloused hand towards her, a silent invitation.
Violetta placed her slender hand in his, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I do hope I haven't kept you waiting, my lord husband-to-be," she murmured, a note of playful concern in her melodic voice. "I wouldn't want to be the cause of your patience being tested so early in our...arrangement." Violetta's violet eyes sparkled with a touch of wicked amusement, a hint of the challenge that always seemed to lurk beneath the surface.
Lucien's hand closed around Violetta's, his fingers curling around her own as he pulled her closer, the heat of his touch searing her skin even through the fine fabric of her glove. "Not at all, my dear," he assured her, his voice a low, suggestive murmur. "I only just arrived a mere moment ago." As he spoke, Lucien leaned in, his other hand cupping Violetta's jaw as he captured her lips in a passionate, searing kiss.
His lips moved demandingly against her own, his tongue delving deep to claim her mouth, to taste the sweet recesses within. Violetta's eyes fluttered closed, a soft moan escaping her as she melted into Lucien's embrace, her body molding against the hard, muscular length of his own. The scent of him, the feel of him, the raw power that radiated from his very being, it all conspired to set Violetta's nerves alight with a hunger that could never be fully sated.
After a long, heated moment, Lucien pulled back, his lips curving into a smug, satisfied smile. Violetta's eyes opened slowly, a dazed, dreamy look in their violet depths. Lucien's hand slid from her jaw to the small of her back, his fingers splaying across the fabric of her gown as he guided her towards the carriage, his touch a brand even through the layers of her clothing. With a gentlemanly gesture, Lucien opened the carriage door, his other hand squeezed hers to assist Violetta as she stepped inside. "Allow me, my lady," he murmured, his voice a low, intimate rasp.
As Violetta felt her hand squeeze in his, she couldn't help but shiver at the sensation, a thrill running down her spine at the promise of more intimate encounters to come. Lucien's hand lingered on the curve of her waist as he helped her ascend into the carriage, his fingers tracing the delicate line of her spine, a teasing caress that spoke volumes of the passion that smoldered between them.
Violetta settled onto the plush velvet seat, the warmth of Lucien's touch lingering on her skin like a phantom embrace as she gazed up at him, a look of anticipation and a hint of challenge in her eyes. Lucien's lips curved into a devilish grin as he leaned in, his hand braced on the carriage door. "I look forward to a most...enjoyable journey," he purred, his stormy eyes glinting with a dark, sensual promise. With that, he slammed the door shut, the carriage rocking slightly as he circled around to take his own seat beside Violetta, ready to embark.
As the carriage began to move, Violetta leaned into the plush velvet seat, her slender body molding against the firmness of Lucien's muscular frame. She rested her head against his shoulder, her silver-blonde chignon brushing against his jaw as she gazed up at him with a soft, indulgent smile. Lucien's arm wrapped around her waist, his large hand splaying across the delicate curve of her hip, anchoring her against his side.
Violetta's right hand drifted up to rest against Lucien's chest, her fingers splaying across the crisp fabric of his waistcoat. She could feel the steady, strong beat of his heart beneath her palm, a reassuring rhythm that made her own pulse quicken in response. Violetta's lips curved into a playful, almost wicked smile as she gazed up at Lucien, a glimmer of mischief in her violet eyes.
"You know, I must say I'm quite grateful to have a man as considerate as you," Violetta murmured, her voice a low, teasing purr. Her fingers toyed with the embroidered silk of Lucien's waistcoat, a idle, almost absent-minded gesture that belied the intent behind her words. "Most men would have simply dragged the woman into the carriage and had their way with her, propriety be damned." Violetta's voice was a low rasp as she remembered how her previous husband treated her.
Lucien's hand tightened on Violetta's hip, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her curves as he gazed down at her with a look of smug pride. "Is that what you expected of me, Violetta?" he asked, his voice a low, amused rumble. A slow, devilish grin spread across his face, his teeth flashing white against the rugged line of his jaw. "I may be many things, but I am not a brute. I prefer to...take my time with the pleasures of the flesh." Lucien's voice was a low, suggestive murmur, a sound that sent a bolt of heat straight to Violetta's core.
Violetta's slender fingers slid up to cup Lucien's chiseled jaw, her thumb brushing against the rugged line of his chin as she tilted his face down to meet her gaze.A mischievous smile danced on her kiss-swollen lips as she peered up at him through long, sooty lashes. "Aww, are you offended, my dear?" Violetta cooed, her voice a low, taunting lilt. "I do so hope I haven't wounded your delicate sensibilities." Her violet eyes sparkled with mirth and a hint of challenge, a look that dared Lucien to rise to her provocative bait.
Violetta leaned in closer, her breath mingling with Lucien's as she spoke. "Here, allow me to make it up to you," she purred, her voice a low, seductive murmur. Before Lucien could respond, Violetta captured his lips in a passionate, searing kiss. Her mouth moved demandingly against his own, her tongue delving deep to claim him, to taste the dark, masculine essence that was uniquely his own. Lucien's hands gripped Violetta's waist, his fingers sinking into the soft, pliant flesh of her hips as he pulled her flush against him, the hard, muscular length of his body molding against the delicate curves of her own.
After a long, heated moment, Violetta pulled back, a look of smug satisfaction in her violet eyes as she gazed up at Lucien. "Now," she murmured, her voice a low, breathless rasp as her hand slid down from Lucien's chin to his chest, her fingers toying with the intricate embroidery of his waistcoat. "Is that better, my lord husband-to-be?"