But then again, she remembered Leo’s self-restraint in the auction, the aphrodisiac he inhaled back then was also a potent kind of perfume aphrodisiac that was much like incense and such but he still managed to not make a move. But this time, he was clearly struggling too much, so she could only surmise that the potency was ten times the one he experienced before, if he got drugged again in the future, it would affect his health and just thinking about it made Hera’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
The room echoed with three consecutive bangs against the door before falling into silence, its sturdy frame showing no signs of yielding to the assault. Eventually, the attackers relented, conceding to the door’s resilience. However, Hera’s attention quickly shifted as Leo, before her, began to regain his rationality with the effects of the anaphrodisiac. He ceased the intimate contact, yet difort lingered within him, his arousal unyielding.
He sat up, his gaze meeting Hera’s with a self-deprecating smile tinged with a hint of pitifulness as if he felt unjustly treated. Yet what truly astonished Hera was hisck of excuses; instead, he epted responsibility for what had urred and even offered to shoulder the consequences.
Leo locked eyes with Hera, sincerity evident in his gaze, his arms enveloping her waist as she remained atop him. "Hera, I’m truly sorry," he began, his voice carrying a weight of remorse. "I can’t solely attribute what urred to the influence of the drug. As an adult, it was my responsibility to remain vignt and safeguard myself and those around me. I..."
"That was my first kiss and the first time anyone has touched me like that," she blurted out, her words tumbling forth unexpectedly. She couldn’t quite pinpoint the reason for her confession—perhaps it was to avoid being perceived as someone who easily engaged in intimate encounters with any man, or maybe she wanted to ensure Leo didn’t misunderstand her intentions. It could have been her own sense of pride, as a woman not in a rtionship with Leo yet finding herself in such intimate proximity.
Upon hearing her confession, Leo’s face lit up like a child unwrapping a stocking full of candy on Christmas morning. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he spoke, "I understood that I took your first kiss, and aspensation for my mistake, all I can offer is my body and the chance to share other firsts with you..." The pitiful expression melted away, reced by a mischievous and joyous demeanor, as if he had unearthed a treasure he was unwilling to relinquish.
"Other first?" Hera tilted her head, momentarily forgetting their intimate embrace as she gazed at Leo with a puzzled expression. <i>’Surely, he’s not suggesting that it was his first kiss too, and the other things?’</i> she thought, her confusion evident in her furrowed brow.
"That was my first kiss too, and the first time I’ve been intimate with a woman," Leo revealed, almost as if he were responding to Hera’s unspoken thoughts. He offered her a proud smile, seemingly anticipating acknowledgment orpliment for his perceived virtue in maintaining his purity.
But upon hearing Leo’s revtion, instead of offering apliment, Hera’s eyebrows arched with a subtle hint of skepticism. <i>’Surely not his first time,’</i> she mused internally, recalling his skillful kissing technique and the dexterity of his fingers. Sensing her mind wandering into dangerous territory, she quickly pulled herself back from the brink, unwilling to delve further into those thoughts as the heat of the moment rekindled something within her once more.
Seeing Hera’s disbelief, Leo’s expression shifted to one of panic, and he gazed at her with a mix of urgency and frustration as he hurriedly attempted to rify. "It’s true, you can investigate if you’d like. Years ago, I was sent abroad to work for our overseaspany. It was such a hectic time that I was constantly immersed in work, often sleeping in the office. My assistant was male, as were all my secretaries. I practically surrounded myself with men..." Leo’s earnest attempt to exin made him look endearingly vulnerable. "I truly had no prior experience with women. I simply followed my instincts, perhaps influenced by your reactions," he added with a shy smile.