Chapter 85: Putting A Mark In Selina~
The garden of the academy was quiet that night, the soft trickle of water spilling from the marble fountain filling the silence.
Selina stood beside it, and the glow of the moonlight painted her figure like a goddess born of water and fire.
She wore a crimson-black dress that clung to her body in all the right ways, hugging the curve of her full chest and tapering into the slim grace of her waist.
The silk fabric shimmered faintly with each movement as if it were alive.
Around her neck lay a delicate chain of silver with a ruby pendant, matching the pair of small earrings that glinted when she tilted her head.
Two rings, one gold, one sapphire, rested on her slender fingers.
Her long, dark hair, always bound tightly in a ponytail during classes, now cascaded freely down her shoulders and back, catching the light like threads of midnight.
Her emerald eyes gleamed as beautifully as ever.
Clack, clack...
She let out a small huff, tapping her heel against the stone tiles.
"Tch... It’s been over ten minutes..." she muttered under her breath. "That idiot didn’t even bother to show up? Hmph. How dare he..."
But her irritation was tinged with something else, embarrassment, after all, this was the first time she had accepted a boy’s proposal to have dinner.
She pulled at the hem of her dress, glancing toward the garden path.
Until...
Step, step...
She heard footsteps.
Selina’s heart skipped once, her cheeks blooming faintly pink. A soft smile curved her lips as she turned, already preparing to greet him.
"Heeey, you’re finally he..."
Her words trailed off as she almost froze.
It wasn’t the handsome boy she had been waiting for.
It was Gray.
"Yo."
He lifted his hand in a casual wave, his hypnotic eyes glinting faintly in the moonlight.
Then, without shame, his gaze swept her from head to toe, before he clicked his tongue with a smile.
Selina’s cheeks burned hot, and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, shifting uncomfortably.
"P-pervert!" she snapped, glaring daggers at him.
Gray only shrugged as if she had complimented him, before sauntering over to the fountain.
He sat down on the bench with one leg crossed lazily over the other, glancing her way with an almost bored look.
"So... who’re you waiting for?"
"That’s none of your business," Selina shot back, puffing her cheeks.
Gray scoffed faintly, leaning back.
"And here I thought we had something special," he shook his head with a mock ’wounded’ expression.
Selina’s lips trembled, her face reddening more.
"Y-you... shut it!" She huffed and turned away, arms still folded tightly as if he could see through her dress.
But then, movement caught Gray’s eye.
A tall figure was slowly striding toward the fountain... handsome, broad-shouldered, dressed in a tailored dark suit that practically screamed noble upbringing.
His expression was easy and confident, but he didn’t seem to notice either of them.
Gray tilted his head toward him.
"Oh? That guy... is he the one you’re waiting for?"
Selina’s eyes widened.
She spun around, quickly adjusting her dress and smoothing out her hair.
In a flurry, she pulled a tiny mirror from her pouch, checking her reflection as her chest rose and fell with nervous breaths.
"Huff... just relax..." she whispered to herself, exhaling once before snapping the mirror shut.
Then she turned, scowling at Gray.
"And you... get out of here! I don’t want him to misunderstand!" She jabbed a finger at him accusingly.
Gray raised an eyebrow, then grinned with wicked amusement.
"Thinking back... don’t I still have two kisses left?" His voice was low, teasing, dripping with mischief.
Selina froze. Her face went pale for an instant before flushing scarlet to the tips of her ears. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Before she could recover, Gray pushed himself off the bench and started walking towards her.
"Y-you... s-stay away from me!" she stammered, backing up.
He smirked at her trembling voice. Then, in one swift movement, he grabbed her wrist.
"W-wait—!"
He tugged her away from the fountain, pulling her down a shadowed garden path. Selina’s heels clicked frantically against the stone as she struggled.
"H-hey, let go! Where are you taking me?! I—I have a date!" She pulled against his grip, but it was useless.
Gray was much stronger than her.
He ignored her and only led her deeper into the garden until they stood beneath a towering peach blossom tree, its branches spread wide, pale petals drifting gently in the night air.
"Stop! Gray—!"
He turned sharply, yanking her closer before pressing her back against the rough bark of the trunk.
"Hagh!"
The impact made her gasp, a soft groan slipping past her lips.
Selina’s emerald eyes widened, caught between outrage, panic, and something else she couldn’t name.
"W-what are you...?" Her breath caught, her chest rising and falling quickly as she stammered.
"Stick out your tongue."
Her eyes widened as she instantly turned her face away, cheeks burning.
"N-not today!" she snapped, trying to sound firm.
That refusal made his gaze harden.
"Is a date more precious than your life?" He whispered coldly into her ear, "Or do you actually want me to make you crawl, desperate for my help again?"
Selina flinched.
Her emerald eyes darted back to his black ones, fierce but trembling.
"Y-you... you wouldn’t dare!"
Gray chuckled.
Fwip!
A knife sank into the tree, its blade vibrating as it buried just beside her head. A lock of her hair quivered from the passing edge.
Selina’s entire body froze, and her heart hammered against her ribs.
"Stick out your tongue," Gray repeated, his voice sharp as steel.
"I won’t repeat."
"Y-you... damn villain...," she bit her lower lip so hard it almost bled.
Her eyes squeezed shut, lashes trembling, before she finally let her small pink tongue slip, shaking with her own fear.
Gray’s smile widened in satisfaction. He looked towards the water fountain before leaning in close enough that his breath brushed against her lips.
"Your date," he whispered, almost mockingly sweet, "just arrived at the fountain~."
"H-huh?!" Selina’s eyes shot open, panic flooding them.
She started to turn her head toward the fountain, but in that very moment, Gray lowered himself, pressing his lips hard against hers.
"Mmhh! N-no...!"
Selina’s muffled voice broke into the night.
"Chuup...♡ smack... slurp..."
Her fists hit weakly against his chest.
"S-stop...! Hahh—!"
But her voice only melted into another stolen kiss.
"Pwa~"
Gray pulled back with a wet pop, a strand of saliva connecting their mouths, both of their tongues sticking out.
His smirk was cruel as always.
"Tsk... you’re trembling so much. What if your little date sees you like this? Red cheeks, swollen lips... so cute."
Selina’s emerald eyes widened, and she twisted her face away.
"Shut up! Y-you—!"
He pressed closer, his breath hot on her ear. "Scream, then. Call him over. I’ll kiss you right in front of him."
Her whole body shivered.
"Y-you...!"
Gray didn’t wait for a response and immediately kissed her again, this time much harder and lustfully. His tongue forced past her lips.
"Slrp... chu♡~... chuup!!"
"Mnnhh! Hhhhnn—!" Selina whimpered, her legs weak as his body trapped her against the tree.
His hand slid down, gripping her side before moving to her chest. The silk of her dress rustled as his fingers pressed and squeezed.
"Ahh—! N-no!" Her voice cracked, but her arms had no strength.
The fabric slipped slightly, the cool night air brushing against her bare skin. Gray’s lips left her mouth, trailing down, kissing along her neck, biting lightly.
"Chuu... nibble... kiss..."
"D-don’t...!" she gasped, clutching at his arm, but her fingers only trembled.
...Chomp!
"Ahhhnn!!" Selina cried out when his teeth sank just above her breast. A sharp sting, followed by heat, spread across her skin.
Her nails dug into him, but Gray only chuckled against her chest. Slowly, he pulled back, licking his lips.
A deep red mark glowed on her pale skin.
"...Perfect," he muttered in a satisfied tone.
"Now you’ll remember who touched you first tonight."
Selina’s entire face burned.
"Hhh... y-you... bastard!" She shoved him with all her strength.
Gray let her go easily, watching as she stumbled back, clutching her dress and hurriedly pulling it up to cover herself.
Her chest heaved as she bit down on her lower lip, emerald eyes dark with anger... and something else she couldn’t name.
"Hhh... damn it..." she whispered, adjusting her clothes with shaky hands.
Her heels clicked fast against the stone as she stormed back toward the fountain while Gray leaned lazily against the tree, his arms crossed, his grin wide as his eyes followed her.
"...One kiss left," he said, almost laughing.
[You really are a villain...]
"Huh?" Gray tilted his head.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
[...You just put a mark on a girl before her date...]
Jasmine muttered, speechless at Gray’s innocent expression.
"So? She owes me, and I was simply getting my money back."
[...Bastard.]
Jasmine scolded him before laughing out loud.