The Duke's Passion

Chapter 698  Services

Meanwhile…

Lilou pursed her lips and lowered her gaze at the hand that was holding the reins. Around her hands were Samael's, holding her securely, but not tight enough to hurt her.

'I appreciate he asked me to come with him even if it's dangerous,' she thought and snuck a glance at him discreetly. 'But honestly, he was the most dangerous of all.' She only planned to take a peek at him, but now that she was looking at him up close, she couldn't help but notice how pleasant he was in the eye. Defined and sharp jaw, pointy nose, thin lips, long curled eyelashes, and fleek brows. His pair of crimson eyes gave off a dangerous yet alluring gaze.

He looked phenomenal, and she couldn't help but stare longer than she should have. Ever since they met, Lilou would usually look away, or their surrounding was dark and she couldn't see him properly. But now, with the light scattered in the world, under the blazing sun, she could see him better.

Did she really marry such a dangerous beauty? But what did this man see in her to like her? Surely, she believed there were more beautiful ladies out there and she just looked average. She had seen nobles in the past and she could tell they all had their allure and often stood out.

So, what was so special in her that this man see?

After minutes of staring, Lilou noticed him raise his brows and gaze down at her. She held her breath the second their eyes met; his eyes just seemed to see through her soul as if no matter how she hide, he would find her.

"I want to pretend I didn't know you were staring, but you were staring for too long. It baffles me what is inside your head," he explained with a weak chuckle and then gazed ahead. "I have my means to know, but you'd find it offensive if I intrude in your head, will you not?"

"Huh?" she snapped her eyes and shook her head mildly. "What do you mean by that, my lord?"

"Literally."

Lilou frowned as she had to exercise her brain for a moment. When she pondered about his sentiments, her eyes dilated, and looked up at him in horror.

"You… you can read minds?!" she gasped while he laughed.

"It's not what you think it is. I can read your mind if you allow me to drink a portion of your blood. We can even talk in your head." He shrugged indifferently.

"I didn't know about that…"

"Now you know and that's what matters, don't you think?" Samael glanced at her and smirked, winking at her before setting his focus back on the road ahead. "So, would you mind sharing your thoughts after examining my face? I might not be your type, but I'm confident with my looks. Still, I wonder if I… passed?"

Lilou coughed, as she didn't expect the horror of her claims last night would haunt her this soon.

"No — not bad." She looked away, biting her tongue.

"Haha!" Unlike what she expected, Samael simply laughed heartily. "Not bad? Well, I can take that."

Lilou looked at him once again. "You're not angry?"

"Why would I?" he returned, lowering his head slightly. "I am trying to impress the most beautiful woman I laid my eyes on. The greater the ambition, the greater the difficulty, and I'm up for the challenge."

"Most — most beautiful woman?"

"Mhm."

Lilou pressed her lips into a thin line as her face flushed in red, looking away to hide her face even when he wasn't looking. Little did she know, he glanced at her and smirked proudly. Knowing Lilou — this younger and silly version of herself — she had low self-esteem and doesn't see her own beauty.

If only she knew… he thought. If only Lilou could see herself in his eyes, she would know how magical she was.

"Do you — do you think flattery is enough to charm me?" she cleared her throat, convinced he was simply saying such things to get her trust.

"I can offer my services."

"What?"

Samael just shrugged as a smug smile dominated his face, casting her a knowing look. "Don't think too much about it. Your head will go into overdrive."

"Did you just… insult me?" she gasped with a natural blush from anger and flattery on her cheeks. "Did you just say I'm stupid?"

"I just said something perverted," he corrected and chuckled. "It's fine if you missed it the first time, but it will be in my conscience if you can't focus because of it. I realized late that I shouldn't throw things like that easily."

Lilou bit her lower lip as she reviewed their conversation just now. Did he say something perverted? But she didn't know what perverted…

'Services.' Her eyes went round and Samael caught how her face stiffened.

"I told you." He clicked his tongue and lowered his head, bumping his chin against the top of her head mildly. "My bad. But my offer is always valid."

Lilou frowned, and before she knew it, she slapped his chest lightly. "Are you trying to console me or tease me?"

"Haha. Come on… I'm being honest here." He laughed while she fumed. "If my looks are average in your eyes, then I have another card, and that is my performance in the bed. If that isn't still enough, I'm confident with my size."

"…"

"My body is also trained so I can —"

"Please stop." Samael bit his tongue as he glanced at her, only to see the horror on her face. "No more. Thank you, please."

He shrugged and chuckled mischievously. He didn't mean to scare her, but it was only a matter of time before she would realize she married a lustful man. Pretending he wasn't would only bring trouble, since just looking at her was enough to make him bite a finger while thinking of having her all to himself.

Samael bit his lower lip and swallowed the tension in his throat. He gazed down at her and she seemed she had calmed down from her shock.

His eyes squinted while the corner of his lips curled up. "Hold properly, Lilove. We'll need to pick up our pace since I believe I should blow off some steam as soon as possible."

"What —"

Before she could even register his words, Lilou held onto him as if her life depended on it as they galloped away.