Evelyn's eyes darkened with pure need.
She didn't wait for him to decide.
He opened his mouth to give a reply, but no words came out.
For the second time, he didn't have a perfectly crafted lie to tell her.
How could he explain that he actually wanted her… that he wanted to press his hands against her so badly he was almost losing control?
Suddenly… shockingly… in one smooth, bold motion, she pushed herself up, grabbed Logan's wrist with surprising strength, and pulled his hand firmly back to her bare breast.
She pressed his palm hard against the soft, heavy warmth, forcing his fingers to spread wide over her skin.
"Touch me," she whispered, voice low and trembling with desperation. "Stop pretending."
Evelyn didn't know what came over her. Perhaps it was his earlier hesitation, almost as though he was holding himself back, that pushed her forward.
Confident now, she guided his other hand to her right breast as well, holding both wrists in place so he couldn't pull away.
Her body arched into his touch, offering herself completely.
Her hardened nipples brushed against his palms as she leaned closer, her weight filling his hands.
Logan's breath caught sharply in his throat.
His professionalism shattered in that instant.
His fingers tightened greedily around her, squeezing with barely controlled hunger. A low, rough groan escaped his lips before he could stop it.
"Fuck… Evelyn," he rasped, voice cracking with raw desire. "You're… so soft… I've been trying not to lose control, but I can't keep pretending."
His thumbs brushed over her stiff nipples, rolling them slowly between his fingers as his grip grew tighter, more possessive.
His breathing turned ragged, chest rising and falling heavily. The bulge in his trousers pressed obviously against the fabric now, twitching with every movement of his hands.
Evelyn's heart pounded wildly at his admission. She could feel how badly he was losing the fight, how close he was to snapping.
She pulled him even closer, her chest pressed firmly into his hands, her lips hovering just inches from his.
The thought that this mysterious youth, who always seemed composed and calm, was finally breaking because of her brought a quiet sense of satisfaction to her chest.
"Then don't stop," she breathed, her voice softer now, but heavier. "Tell me what you want."
Logan's eyes darkened. His hands kneaded her harder, fingers sinking deeper as he fought one last second of restraint.
"I want to bury my face against you," he admitted, voice low and strained. "I want to hear you… lose control… I want to—"
Before Logan could say anything more, Evelyn pushed him firmly against her chest.
Logan's eyes widened. He could hear her beating heart… feel the tension in her body, the conflict she wasn't saying out loud. Her husband had died just days ago…
That thought flickered through him.
But the forbidden weight of it only made something inside him snap harder.
All the composure and restraint he had built up until this point shattered completely.
He finally gave in under the constant pressure this woman brought out of him.
Logan's mouth found her, his other hand gripping and kneading as he lost himself in the sensation.
Evelyn closed her eyes, a soft sound escaping her lips, her body already reacting faster than her thoughts could keep up.
She pushed Logan's head deeper against her as she felt his weight settle over her.
Logan's hips pressed down on her, and she could finally feel the full length of him straining against his trousers.
Her eyes widened slightly in understanding.
Realizing that he had been holding himself back this entire time only made her chest tighten.
Her hand moved gently into his hair, fingers threading through it as she held him there.
At this point, Logan was barely thinking. He continued, lost in her, until her body responded more fully beneath him.
After that, he suddenly pulled back, gasping for breath.
The air left his lungs in rough bursts as he tried to steady himself, trying to regain even a fraction of control.
"I… need to finish… rubbing the potion," Logan said, his voice strained, as if forcing himself to say it.
Evelyn bit her lower lip unconsciously and nodded, her hand moving to cover part of her face.
Her thoughts finally began to move again.
And her eyes widened at the realization of what she had just done.
She had to put an end to this… now.
She couldn't betray her husband.
Even though she didn't love him. Even though the marriage had been nothing more than a political arrangement between their families… she still had to hold onto something.
She had to prove, at the very least, that she still had a shred of dignity left.
Her thoughts raced, wild and uncertain, when suddenly Logan's hands instinctively reached her thighs.
She hadn't even noticed when he moved.
She had been too caught up in her own mind.
Thoughts of dignity… of restraint… of stopping…
But now…
She bit her lip again, staring at the young man in front of her.
'Shouldn't I… just this once…' she thought, her resolve weakening.
Logan's hands kneaded her thighs slowly, spreading the potion with steady, controlled movements.
It was almost jarring.
The difference.
Moments ago, he had completely lost control… and now he was composed again, focused, precise.
That contrast… it pulled at her.
It always did.
And perhaps that was exactly what drew her closer to him.
"Logan…" her voice came out softer than she expected. "Can you…?"
The words stalled for a second.
Her eyes widened slightly as she realized what she was about to say.
But the heat building inside her didn't stop.
"…can you touch me… lower?" she finished, her voice barely above a whisper.
Silence followed for half a heartbeat.
She realized what she had just said.
What she had just asked for.
Before, while trying to maintain her composure and dignity, doing everything her family expected of her… she had overheard whispers.
From maids.
Soft conversations about pleasure.
About being touched… about being tasted.
She had never experienced it.
No one had ever gone that far with her.
She didn't even fully understand what it would feel like.
But she wanted to.
More than she expected.
More than she should.
Logan froze.
His bloodshot eyes lifted slowly to meet hers.
If her earlier actions had shaken him, this…
This broke whatever was left.
Her legs parted slightly, almost unconsciously, shifting just enough as if inviting him closer.
The air between them grew heavier.
Charged.
Logan's gaze dropped, then lifted again, his control hanging by a thread.
He swallowed, his voice low, rough, and far more dangerous now.
"Evelyn…" he murmured quietly. "Stay like that."