The two moved from the Courtyard to the bedroom, not forgetting the thoroughly muscular Chi Yu along the way.
They settled Kitty in the Courtyard, made sure their pet would not suddenly appear to interrupt them, then embraced again.
Xianyu chuckled and offered no resistance, letting the woman in his arms lean toward his neck.
Warm breath brushed against his skin, followed by a soft touch.
After a long while, Jingliu stopped. When she saw the marks she had left, the faintest smile curved the lips of her usually expressionless face.
As though she still found it insufficient, she raised a hand, caught Xianyu's collar, and moved to pull it open.
Xianyu caught her wrist and met her gaze.
Jingliu froze.
Those clear eyes, as calm as a lake, were right before her.
By the time she came to her senses, he had already taken control of the pace.
Jingliu steadily lost ground until she lay on her back on the bed, closing her eyes as though surrendering to her fate.
The next instant, she heard Xianyu tell her in a tone that brooked no argument:
"Look at me."
The Sword Champion had long been accustomed to following her superiors' orders. At that commanding tone, she instinctively opened her eyes.
Xianyu slowly removed the Ring from his index finger, then his Gloves.
He leaned down slightly and easily untied the Blue Hair Ribbon on Jingliu's head.
With his eyes slightly lowered, Xianyu checked repeatedly that the flower on Jingliu's right arm was a peony before breathing a sigh of relief.
He met Jingliu's gaze and gently touched her flushed cheek with his palm.
Xianyu looked as though he had encountered some puzzling problem, but his tone betrayed what he really thought.
"Your face is so red."
Jingliu could hear him