The bathroom was small, barely eight square meters, tucked between the kitchen and Edric’s bedroom. Despite that, it was surprisingly well-maintained by post-Eclipse standards. A deep enameled iron bathtub sat against one wall beneath a wood-fired copper boiler high along the wall beside the tub, connected to the house’s old pipe system, making hot baths possible—though expensive enough in firewood that the family treated them as a small luxury.
Beside it stood a ceramic sink with a hand-pump faucet, a slightly green-tinted mirror above it, and a narrow shelf holding soap, tooth powder, a comb, and a small bottle of Seren’s lavender oil.
The room also had an indoor flushing privy connected to one of the Merchant Quarter’s old sewage lines, something uncommon enough to quietly reflect the family’s status. The plastered white walls had yellowed slightly from years of steam, and a small frosted-glass window near the ceiling let in faint light without exposing the room to the outside.
Seren began by filling the bathtub with plain, cold water. She didn't bother with any of the usual floral oils or herbs, wanting the experience to be simple and pure. Once the tub was full, she slipped into the cool liquid with a soft sigh, allowing it to wash away the lingering heat and exertion from their earlier activities.
She turned to Lucien, patting the space in front of her invitingly. "Come on," she said softly.
Lucien accepted her invitation without ceremony. He stepped into the bathtub, gasping as the cold water immediately enveloped his calves and sent a jolt through his system. It was a stark contrast to the sultry heat of their coupling, and it served to clear the lingering haze of lust from his mind.
After a momentary adjustment, Lucien settled himself properly in the tub, his back pressed against the cool iron. Seren immediately leaned back, fitting herself into the curve of his torso like a puzzle piece finding its home. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body, slowly chasing away the chill of the water.
Her hand reached for his and pulled it closer, encouraging him to embrace her. Understanding her silent request, Lucien obliged. His right hand slid down between her thighs, two fingers immediately penetrating her slick entrance while his left hand came up to cup her right breast.
“Mmm…” Seren released a small whimper of pleasure.
The dual sensations—fingers moving expertly within her cunt while his palm kneaded her sensitive breast—had her melting further into his chest. Her hands came up, each one wrapping around one of his wrists, anchoring his touch to her body as if afraid he might withdraw.
Lucien knew that some women became particularly obsessed with physical contact, and Seren was clearly one of them. The way her body responded to his touch spoke volumes.
“Turn your head to me,” he commanded softly.
Obediently, Seren tilted her head back until their lips met. Lucien claimed her mouth possessively, his tongue forcing its way past her teeth to explore the warm, wet cavern beyond. Seren attempted to reciprocate, though her technique was clumsier than his experienced approach. Occasionally, Lucien would bite down gently on her lower lip, pulling it between his teeth before releasing it, or he’d grasp her tongue between his own and tease it playfully.
As they kissed deeply, Seren could feel Lucien’s cock hardening against her lower back. Responsive to the sensation, she deliberately arched her spine, pressing her ass more firmly against him.
Lucien tightened his grip unconsciously, his fingers picking up their pace inside her while his other hand grew bolder, roughly squeezing and molding her breast. The increased friction and stimulation sent waves of heat spreading through Seren’s body. After mere minutes, she felt the familiar tightening in her belly.
“Mnh~!” A muffled cry escaped her throat even as she remained locked in the kiss, her eyes glazing over with approaching climax. Her body tensed, ready to surge upward, but Lucien held her firmly in place, preventing the release from escaping.
Lucien finally broke the kiss, pulling back slowly. A thin, glistening string of saliva connected their lips for a heartbeat before snapping, leaving them both breathless. He withdrew his fingers from her depths, the wet slap of the water echoing in the small tub.
Seren remained still for a few moments, her chest heaving as she tried to regain her composure, her eyes still hazy with the remnants of her climax. Then, she shifted, turning her body to face him.
“Let me take over,” she whispered, her voice slightly raspy.
A faint, knowing smile played on Lucien’s lips. He leaned back against the iron rim of the tub, giving her his full attention.
Seren straddled him, positioning her soaking wet cunt directly over the crown of his hardening cock. With a shaky breath, she began to lower herself. The sheer girth of him made the entry difficult; she paused, her muscles tensing as she struggled to take him in. Sensing her struggle, Lucien reached out, his large hands gripping her waist firmly. He guided her down, pulling her hips toward him in a slow, steady motion.
“Ngh... ahh...” Seren let out a series of staggered moans, her head lolling back as she felt herself being stretched to her limit.
Despite her claim that she was taking the lead, she remained silent and compliant as Lucien took control of the rhythm, guiding her hips in a gentle, undulating motion. Even though they had done this several times, the size of his cock remained a daunting challenge for her. Her facial expression was a vivid map of conflict—caught in the agonizing tension between sharp pain and overwhelming pleasure.
Seeing this, Lucien’s smile widened. He suddenly lifted her hips up, pulling her almost entirely out of his shaft—
“Ah—!”
—and then, with a violent thrust of his own pelvis, he slammed himself back into her with full force. The impact sent a jolt through Seren's entire frame, the sound of their bodies colliding creating a wet, heavy thud beneath the water.
Because Seren had previously expressed that roughness helped mitigate the effects of her corruption, she accepted this brutality as a natural extension of their intimacy.
Lucien found a dark satisfaction in seeing the usually composed Seren lose her grip on her dignity. Unlike before when she maintained restraint, she now abandoned it—though not entirely. There was still a flicker of reservation in those amber eyes, but beneath it lay an unrestrained passion that he found irresistible.
He couldn't deny that he enjoyed playing rough, being free. In truth, Lucien was considered quite gentle compared to most Inferni-blooded individuals. He always considered a woman's condition before deciding how to handle their sexual encounters. Often, they had no issue with him getting rough.
The water sloshed violently around them as Lucien established a brutal rhythm, his hips pistoning up into her with increasing intensity.
Seren’s grip on Lucien’s shoulders tightened, her nails digging crescent-shaped indentations into his skin. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps as she adjusted to the new pace, her body arching back to meet each powerful thrust.
“L-Lucien! Ngh—!” Her words dissolved into incoherent cries as the rhythm intensified, each word punctuated by the slap of flesh against flesh beneath the rippling water.
Lucien’s grip on her hips never faltered, using her weight as leverage to drive himself deeper. Water splashed over the sides of the tub with every movement, the floor growing slick. His breathing grew heavier, his movements becoming less controlled as his own need began to override his gentleness.
“Seren—”
His thumb found her clit, rubbing it in harsh circles that matched the pounding rhythm.
“Ngh~!”
Seren threw her head back, her hair falling like a dark curtain down her spine. The combined stimulation of his cock driving into her and his fingers working her sensitive bundle of nerves pushed her rapidly toward another climax.
“It’s too much—I can’t—ahhh!” Her voice cracked as her body seized, her inner walls clamping down around his length as the second orgasm tore through her. Her legs trembled uncontrollably, unable to support herself, so she collapsed forward against his chest.
Lucien caught her, one arm wrapping around her waist while the other continued its relentless assault on her clit. He felt his own release building, his balls tightening. With three more hard, deep thrusts, he buried himself fully inside her as he came with a guttural groan, painting her inner walls with his seed.
“—!”
Lucien shot several loads into her a few times before finally done. They stayed like that for several long moments, their hearts hammering in sync as they rode out the aftershocks. Eventually, Seren lifted her head from his shoulder, her face flushed and her hair plastered to her skin. She looked thoroughly spent, her usual sharp composure shattered.
Lucien stroked her damp hair back from her face, his expression softening. “You alright?”
“Mmh... just... give me a minute,” she managed, her voice barely a whisper.