Eloise was squeezed into softness, one hand pressed against his chest, desperately holding her body from sliding down. "Don't misunderstand," she pleaded, "I only wanted to draw you closer." Isidore spat in anger, "You got what you wanted. What do you wish to do now?"
Eloise, panic-stricken, exclaimed, "Someone is trying to kill you!" Isidore's eyes darkened and flickered. "Who told you that?" She replied, "Lysander." At the sound of the name, Isidore sneered coldly. "You believe what he says?"
"He knows many influential people, both from high society and the underworld, and he's well-informed. He wouldn't speak nonsense!" Eloise said loudly.
Isidore's expression turned icy. "Do you also believe what he says about me?" Eloise was taken aback. "What about me... what things?" He released her, stepping back a pace, his thin lips pressed together in silence.
Eloise inexplicably felt that he was retreating, even too afraid to probe. Yet, on the outside, he remained as dominant and cold as ever. She shook her head, telling herself she must have been mistaken. She lifted her head and reiterated, "You have to believe me!"
Isidore picked up the sweatshirt that had fallen to the ground and threw it over her head. "Put on your clothes!" Seeing him about to leave, Eloise, not bothering to dress, hurried after him. "Where are you going? You don't actually plan to seek death, do you?"
Isidore was so irritated it gave him a headache. This person knew when to be reckless and when to be careless, never cautious when needed. If he hadn't had someone guard the passageway, who knew how many people would have seen this scene. With a swift motion, he scooped her up in his arms and casually pushed open the door to a nearby room.
Inside was a standard meeting room, with a long table surrounded by chairs. Isidore placed Eloise on the table and cast a heavy gaze upon her. "Stay here and behave." Eloise disobediently jumped off the table and ran up to grab his hand. "Hey, don't go!"
Like a nimble roe deer, she blocked him several times in front of him. Isidore found it difficult to push her away, so he could only grab her arm and press her into the office chair, his palm firmly pressing down on her smooth, bare shoulder.
"I can't cancel my planned schedule just because of an unverified rumor. Do you understand?"
"Why?" Eloise retorted. "No matter if the news is reliable or not, at least it's a matter of life and death. You should send someone to verify it, and only proceed with the original schedule once the danger is completely ruled out. What's the rush? Is anything more urgent than life and death?"
Isidore remained silent, his gaze lingering on her with a depth that spoke of things he could not explain. "Wait for me here." With those words, he turned to leave once again. Eloise refused to believe it. She wasn't going to let him leave today!
She pushed against the swivel wheels of the chair, sliding forward nimbly. Isidore heard the sound and turned, only to be abruptly knocked into her arms. "What exactly do you..." His words were cut off as his eyes widened in stunned disbelief. For the first time, the cold, handsome face lost its usual composure, stunned by surprise.
Eloise's head did not pull away from his body; instead, she clung to him tightly.
Isidore was completely stunned, his eyes wide as he watched Eloise's alluring form press tightly against him, the air around them thick with an ambiguous tension.
Isidore shoved her away, growling, "Have you lost your mind?" The hard chairback pressed painfully against Eloise's soft back, and she winced, about to get angry, when she was surprised to see a faint blush spread across Isidore's face.
Could someone so thick-skinned ever blush? Her heart raced, thumping loudly. "You've teased me so many times, what's wrong with being the one to take the initiative?"
She acted on a whim, summoning the courage to move forward again. Isidore, indeed, was slightly disoriented by her earlier actions. Despite his swift and agile movements, they couldn't be put to use against her—an awkward, clumsy young girl.
Eloise stood up, cupping Isidore's face in her hands. She gazed at him intently for a moment, then, with a decisive heart, leaned in and kissed him.
Who would have thought that Isidore would seize the initiative, prying open her teeth and pushing his tongue into her mouth. He pressed a few times, and the sensation that reached Isidore's mind must have been overwhelming. Just as his long fingers, gripping her arm, were about to apply force, they loosened with a muffled groan.
Eloise thought to herself, keeping him occupied this way wasn't such a bad idea. As their tongues intertwined, Eloise's eyes gradually became misty, the shimmering light in them dotted with affection. Isidore watched her, and waves of emotion stirred in his heart.
A faint, metallic taste spread through the mouth. She didn't dislike the taste; in fact, she found it somewhat intoxicating.
She forcefully opened the space at the back of her mouth, for the first time in her life allowing a man's tongue to enter this part of her. Her only focus now was to prevent Isidore from moving, leaving her no energy to think further. If she were to realize what she was doing, she would likely be so ashamed she'd want to hide under a blanket.
Due to her inexperience, as soon as his tongue entered, the back of her throat instinctively contracted, trying to expel the foreign object. It made her feel a bit nauseous, and she struggled to catch her breath, her throat tightening. Isidore gritted his teeth, enduring the sensation that crawled up his spine, a feeling of helplessness he had never experienced before. For the first time, he understood what it meant to be completely at a loss.
Eloise awkwardly moved her head back and forth, sensing that Isidore was holding his breath, likely preparing to push her away in one swift motion. She threatened by biting down on his tongue, her mouth parting to reveal her sharp white teeth, her voice muffled yet fierce as she said, "If you dare move, I'll bite it off."
She swallowed, her tongue pressing against his, moving with a slight, deliberate motion.
Isidore could only see her round, innocent face and her puffed cheeks, an expression both pure and filled with a captivating, lingering affection. "Mm." Beneath the unparalleled thrill, his gaze grew languid. Their entwined tongues wound deeper still. She coughed, her eyes reddened, their depths veiled in mist. Isidore's eyes, bloodshot, lingered on her—though it was trouble of her own making, she seemed so helpless, so fragile, as if wronged. His chest rose and fell in violent rhythm, unable to resist the pull of temptation.
Every corner was thoroughly explored by his tongue. Eloise felt her head spinning from the kiss, barely registering his low, muffled voice asking, "Why must you go to such lengths?"
A defiant glint flickered in Eloise's eyes. She couldn't find the words to explain, only that the wound on his chest lingered in her mind, haunting her. And so, one thought consumed her—she couldn't let him die!
