Chapter 585: Perversion

The picture was clear. Even if Liam’s words hadn’t been enough to convey it, his tone, expressions, and aura did.

The affection wasn’t in question, and Rachel couldn’t possibly misunderstand its depth. What Liam had wasn’t a mere fling. His bond was the stuff of fairy tales, of fated soulmates having each other’s backs in the face of death itself.

Liam hadn’t even revealed much, especially not in detail, but Rachel saw the shallowness he had mentioned. She had been angry at his disregard for an offer that involved all of herself, only to realize she had completely misunderstood him.

Liam had taken Rachel seriously. Grace had simply given him much, much more. She had died for him, rescued him, and lived for him, all while having nothing but herself to offer.

Rachel might have wealth, manpower, and beauty on her side, but her offer had lacked the complete devotion true love carried, the willingness to throw it all away for her partner, the instinct to jump in front of a blade aiming for his neck.

In a way, Rachel had done the same as all the men she considered small. That wasn’t her intention or her true feelings, but her words had undoubtedly gone there.

Time had deepened all that. Years had piled up to truly unite two lives into one, something that the three months Liam and Rachel had spent together couldn’t hope to match.

Yet, time was also the solution, in more ways than one.

Rachel might be inferior as a partner, but that was mostly a matter of youth and inexperience. She was her own woman, so she would never be like the one Liam had described, but that didn’t mean losing in intensity.

That was Rachel’s first romantic interest, and it had barely just begun. It was deep compared to ordinary standards, but it still had plenty of room to develop and flourish. She just had to live it to get there.

Experiencing more of life outside the sheltered world would also help Rachel mature, strengthening and uncovering more of her character, granting her the emotional depth that could move Liam.

The issue was whether Rachel wanted to pursue that man despite his predicament, but she already had her answer.

"I’ve almost fallen for her, too," Rachel pouted, playing with her braids. "But you made a few mistakes."

Liam snapped out of his intense longing, finding Rachel approaching him again.

"You never rejected me," Rachel explained, grinning playfully. "Your character makes you unable to marry me now, but what about once my feelings deepen? What about once love becomes my only motivation? Would you take responsibility then?"

’Is rejecting women really so hard?’ Liam cursed internally.

"And you didn’t mention my Tribe in your refusal," Rachel added. "You have already gone out of your way to protect it despite still getting nothing in return. You won’t forsake it, and me with it."

That was mostly a guess, but with plenty of proof.

Liam was keeping his identity a secret for the Tribe’s sake. He had fought at its side, given away his rank 3 venom, and even promised to fix Caspar to salvage the political situation.

"You held back with me already in bed," Rachel giggled. "How could I not be happy that the one who conquered me is so upstanding?"

Liam’s declaration of love had told Rachel how serious he was about that feeling, making her want to be its target. It was the best proof of his suitability.

Liam checked all the boxes, being special to the point where his power made no sense, loyal, skilled, and trustworthy. He had clashed with a mid-stage branching expert to protect Rachel after three mere months, so she couldn’t fathom what he would do for her after three years.

Another point also stood out. Amber’s fears were unfounded. Liam wouldn’t run. If Rachel made him stumble even once, he would take responsibility.

"Now that I’m sure you won’t turn your back on the Tribe," Rachel whispered, her hand reaching for Liam’s crossed arms, seemingly captivated by his muscles, "And that you are such a decent man ..."

Liam grabbed Rachel’s wrist before her fingers could touch him, only for her to breathe deeply, pushing her lips inward to keep her emotions in check, but closing her eyes to bathe in them.

"I don’t have to play fair anymore," Rachel panted, reopening her eyes, pointing her lustful gaze at Liam. "I can let my heart beat for you without fear and have it guide my body."

Rachel got closer despite the glare Liam mustered. Even his presence intensified, becoming oppressive, but Rachel just pushed through it, her face heading for his.

Liam put an end to that by grabbing Rachel’s jaw again, only for her to smile. Her lips parted as she took his hand and lifted her chin, making his grip slide down her neck.

"There," Rachel heaved, begging. "Like when you made me submit. Mark me more. Conquer me more."

Liam was genuinely stunned, so much so that he didn’t let go of Rachel’s wrist or throat. She was experiencing pure bliss, even pressing on his fingers so that he would squeeze her neck a bit harder.

It didn’t help that basically everything about Rachel was visible. Liam had long since smelled it, but he could literally see a damp patch expanding on her underwear now.

By then, Liam was hardly a novice at pleasuring Grace, but she liked to be handled with care. He was also big on treasuring.

Instead, Rachel wielded a proper perversion. Liam could have accepted her liking shows of strength or a treatment that didn’t account for her privileged status, but that went far beyond what his brain could process.

Liam instinctively pushed Rachel away, that simple gesture sending her back to the bed, only for the sound that followed to cause a headache.

"Ah!" Rachel moaned loudly, lying on her side, one hand between her squeezed thighs, the other running over her trembling body, her expression dazed in pleasure.

Liam blinked, truly and utterly lost, massaging his temples at the impossible conundrum before him.

’How am I to refuse a woman who enjoys being refused?’ Liam thought. ’Master, not to sound ungrateful, but couldn’t you have mentioned something about this in your inheritance?’