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Diluc’s relief was short lived upon the destruction of the strange anomaly he and Lumine had slain when the bulb of it had burst, staining an unsuspecting Lumine’s skin. He had tried to shield her, but unlike his outfit that covered all of his skin, Lumine’s signature white dress left many open spaces for the ominous nectar to reach. The traveller clutched at her upper thigh, wincing as the nectar singed her skin. Diluc rushed over to her, a deep concern gripping his thumping heart, his hands ripping off his jacket and placing it protectively over her shoulders. She thanked him meekly as he helped her walk away from the site of their battle, out of the dark cavern that bore life to it and into the fresh air of Teyvat.
Setting her down on a tree stump, Diluc knelt down to examine the affected area. In the place where the nectar had hit her was an ominously glowing purple mark in the shape of a heart. He tried to gently wipe it away, asking her if it hurt as his fingers rubbed her skin.
Lumine shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Diluc’s eyes remained fixed on the mark that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard he tried. In his mind he was beginning to worry, although his cold exterior didn’t reflect that. He was good at keeping his emotions in check. And for Lumine’s sake, this was for the best. Diluc didn’t want to cause her to panic. Nevertheless, the ominous mark didn’t sit well with him.
“We should go speak to that dubious scholar about this.” He was angry, his brows laced together as he offered Lumine a hand. “Can you walk?”
The traveller nodded, slipping off the tree stump, sheepishly tugging his jacket off her shoulders and handing it back to him. “Thanks again.”
Diluc took the clothing item from her awkwardly, pulling it on as they both headed down the uneven dirt path towards the scholar.
After a five minute trek, they met the man in question who waited for them under a large birch tree, surrounded by books up to his waist and papers scattered messily at his feet.
“Ah, you’ve returned!” His face lit up before he saw the displeasure in Diluc’s expression.
“We took care of that flower, like you asked.” Diluc announced coldly before pointing at Lumine, who stood shyly next to him. “But it left a mark on her when it burst.”
The scholar’s eye brows rose in surprise, his fingers fumbling to wipe his glasses before he knelt down to look at Lumine’s thigh, which was still glowing brightly. Diluc glowered at the man, uncomfortable with how close he leaned in towards the hem of Lumine’s dress. The traveller stood frozen, her hands fidgeting awkwardly with her hair as the scholar inspected her wound.
Diluc was about to drag the scholar back to his eye level by the collar of his shirt when the man suddenly shot back up, turning his attention to one of the stacks of books behind him. He flipped through various pages before throwing the book aside, repeating the loop as he worked through the tower of books bit by bit. After a few moments of frantic searching, the scholar let out a sound of delight.
“I’ve read about this mark before,” he began, his finger trailing down the page he'd been searching for. “The good news is that this mark is only temporary. It should fade within a day or two.”
Diluc stared at the man impatiently. “I sense there’s some kind of caveat to this.”
The man nodded sheepishly, anxiously snapping the book shut between his fingers. “Well, yes. Unfortunately if the mark isn’t dealt with, it can cause severe pain and potential death.”
Lumine gulped, panic sweeping over her. Diluc also felt a sense of dread, his body tensing up significantly.
“Don’t waste our time. Tell me if you know how to fix it.” Diluc had all but shouted at the man now, his patience wearing thin.
The scholar shrunk back at the intimidating redhead, scratching the back of his neck timidly. “I do! Only..it is quite the unorthodox kind of healing.”
Diluc stepped forward, his hand shooting out as he gripped the scholar by the collar, his knuckles going white around the taut fabric. “I told you, don’t waste my time. What do we need to do?”
“You need to–” The man began to sweat, fear ripe in his eyes as he struggled to find the right words. “To put it plainly, she needs to mate.”
A silence fell over the three of them, Lumine’s face flushing a deep hue of red as she turned away from the men, her frame trembling from the revelation. Diluc let go of the man, who scrambled away from the winery owner, back to the safety of his books.
“Mate?” Diluc repeated in disbelief, the full weight of the implication barely sinking into his mind. “Are you joking with us?”
The man shook his head vehemently. “Not at all. The flower you killed has a strong aphrodisiac nectar. If it marks a human, they can only be cured if they copulate with another person.”
Lumine let out a breath of embarrassment, her gloved hands covering her face as she knelt down to the ground, secretly wishing the dirt path would swallow her whole.
Diluc wasn’t finished being angry with the scholar. “And you didn’t think to warn us?”
The scholar held a shaky hand up. “I didn’t know if that part of the archives was true! Only once I saw the mark on the young lady was I sure it must be as I’d read.”
The hulking redhead huffed angrily. “How irresponsible of you. Sending adventurers into the unknown without telling them about the full extent of the danger they could be facing. This won’t be the last you’ll hear from me.”
And with that promise, Diluc stepped away from the man and approached the cowering Lumine.
“Traveller, let’s get cleaned up back at the winery. I’ll have the maids wash and dry your clothes for you.” His voice was softer, though still laced with agitation as he spoke to her.
Lumine slowly stood up, walking beside the tall redhead as they headed towards Dawn Winery. The walk was short and uncomfortable, neither of them breaking the silence between them.
A few of the maids greeted the two warmly as they entered the winery, Diluc immediately instructing them to take care of Lumine before himself. The traveller was set up in a private room where she undressed before a maid popped her head in, much to Lumine’s shock, and provided her with a change of clothes and some towels. Making sure to lock the en suite bathroom to her room behind her, Lumine sank into the warm water of a welcoming bathtub. As she bathed, Lumine kept staring at the mark on her thigh. If what the scholar said was true, then she would have to sleep with someone soon. Apart from the embarrassment that came with her peculiar predicament, Lumine also felt anxious about the prospect of it all. She didn’t have a partner she could turn to, and asking a friend was too uncomfortable. How would she find someone to help her on such short notice? Lumine imagined herself walking through Teyvat, offering her body to any takers to save herself from the flower’s curse. The thought caused a pit in her stomach that grew with every passing second.
After her bath, Lumine dried herself off and got dressed in the flowy, plain cotton dress the maids had provided her with before she exited her room.
From the stairwell she could see Diluc sitting at his desk below, his body hunched over a variety of documents in front of him. Lumine took a deep breath before she descended the stairs to meet him.
Diluc noticed her shortly before she reached his desk. Raising his crimson eyes from his paperwork, he watched as Lumine fidgeted on her heels.
“I wanted to thank you for all your help today and for standing up for me in front of that scholar.” She thanked him warmly. Her next words came out with a lot more hesitation, her fingers nervously tugging a few loose strands of her hair out of her face. “I’ll be going now. I’ll return tonight for my clothes.”
Diluc stood up from his chair abruptly at her announcement. “What do you mean?”
Lumine couldn’t look him in the eyes. “According to that scholar, I need to find someone to..help me. So I’m going to go out and find that person.”
The image of Lumine sleeping with a random person out in the open popped into Diluc’s head, much to his chagrin. Standing up straight, the redhead cleared his throat as he walked around his desk, stopping right before her.
“That won’t be necessary,” his voice was uncharacteristically apprehensive. “If you’d..accept my help.”
Lumine’s mouth fell open, but no words came out as she stared at him. Diluc leaned onto his desk, crossing his arms over his chest, a strum of nervous energy flowing through his veins.
“I’m not trying to take advantage of you or anything,” he continued, hesitantly. “I’m just here to help you as a friend.”
It would be convenient to accept Diluc’s help since he was already here and knew of her situation. Lumine accepted awkwardly, mumbling her response to the tense redhead. Adjusting his tie, he gestured towards the staircase, following after the shy blonde. Once they reached the top of the stairs, Lumine paused in her step.
“Your room or mine?” She asked with a slight chuckle, her cheeks flushing at the implication.
Diluc shrugged, looking between the two doors. “Whatever is more comfortable for you, Lumine.”
Lumine looked at his door, a thought crossing her mind. “I’ve never seen your room.”
The tall redhead walked past her, opening his door for her. It was rare for him to share his personal space, so Lumine made sure to be respectful as she padded carefully into his room. Once inside, Diluc closed the door and watched as Lumine looked around with peaked interest.
Diluc was the wealthiest man in all of Mondstadt, yet he liked to keep things simple and stuck to mostly only decorating his room with necessities. The only real hint of the expanse of his mora could be found in the large bed in the centre of the room which was fitted with the most luxurious sheets that money could buy.
“Make yourself at home,” Diluc spoke from behind her, keeping a safe distance between the two.
Lumine paced the room a little more, noting the lack of pictures or sentimental items. His room felt both inviting and lonely all at once, mirroring how she often thought of the owner himself.
Hesitating for a moment, Lumine sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand over the soft sheets. “I’m sorry you’re dragged into this with me.”
Her voice was heavy and apologetic, her golden orbs staring at her feet which hung off the side of the bed.
Diluc frowned, unsure of what to say. It was an unusual situation, but Diluc was glad that no one else would be helping her tonight. He’d never admit it outloud, but the thought of another person having their way with her fueled a rage in him that he couldn’t quite shake. Stepping forward, Diluc crossed the room and sat beside Lumine on the bed, making sure not to sit too closely.
“It’s not your fault. That damn scholar shouldn’t have kept information like this to himself.”
They sat in silence for a moment, Lumine peering over at the man beside her. She had always found him to be quite handsome. His long, fiery red hair that was tied low at the nape of his neck spilled out over his muscular back, which was hunched forward as he rested his elbows on his knees. His tall frame was still dressed in his usual attire, his long, black coat puffing out around him as he sat.
Lumine’s hand balled into a fist, bunching the cotton dress at her knees. “I’ll make it up to you sometime.”
She let out an empty, humourless chuckle that caused Diluc to feel a slight tug of guilt. He had never truly imagined to be in this situation with her, but whenever his mind had intrusively presented him the idea, he had pictured the circumstances much differently. In truth, he didn’t even know if he was someone she wanted to do this with, but he didn’t have time to doubt their decision. Her life was in danger and he would do anything to protect her from harm.
He looked at her, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before she looked away again, her cheeks prickling bashfully. Diluc knew he had to start, even though he was unsure of how to. His inexperience had never bothered him until he sat beside the beautiful traveller, alone in his bedroom, about to skip several steps between being friends and becoming lovers, even if only for one night.
He placed a hand over hers, startling her slightly. “I think we should start.”
Lumine nodded, biting her bottom lip. Diluc moved closer to her, his chest beginning to pound as the distance between them shrunk. She wouldn’t look at him, adding to the guilty, heavy pang in his heart. He stopped moving closer, watching her shaking form beside him.
“Am I scaring you?” He asked, afraid of what she could reply. “Would someone else..be better?”
The traveller’s eyes grew wide, her head snapping to look in his direction. “N-no. I’d feel better if it was you.” She looked down again, her eyes fixing onto his warm hand atop of her own. “I’m just nervous.”
His heart felt lighter with her reassurance, a small bud of confidence growing in his chest. He reached out a careful hand under her chin, turning her face to him.
“We can go as slow as you need to.” He said to her, her heart pounding at his gentle touch.
Closing his eyes, he once again leaned in closer, their lips brushing against one another. She didn’t move away from him, giving him the last, encouraging push to kiss her. When their lips met, a mutual rush of sensations hit the pair. Like a secret longing they had both denied to themselves and others, feeling a mutual sense of surprise as they noticed the other’s eagerness. Diluc kept the kiss simple, not rushing into anything more passionate before their lips parted, leaving Lumine quietly wanting more. The mark on her thigh started glowing stronger as the hints of arousal began to tickle at her lower body. Diluc was about to lean in for another kiss when a knock at the door interrupted them.
“Master Diluc?” A voice asked from the other side.
Diluc rose to his feet, heading toward the door in a quick stride, opening it just enough to poke his head out. “What is it?”
“I have the documents you asked for.” The maid in front of him held a small stack of papers in an outstretched hand.
“Excellent.” He responded a little curtly. “Please leave them on my desk. I will go over them later tonight.”
The maid was about to leave when he spoke up once more. “Oh, and I don’t want any disturbances for the rest of the evening.”
He closed the door and locked it, turning his attention back to the traveller.. She still sat on the bed where he'd left her, her pouty lips calling to him. His heartbeat picked up again, their objective for the night his sole mission.
“I’m sorry about that.” Diluc said as he approached the bed again. “Shall we continue?”
Lumine nodded, her own heart picking up the pace again as she watched him pull off his coat and hang it on the wooden coat rack by his door. Pulling off his gloves, he sunk back into the plush sheets. This time he pulled her in for another kiss more decisively, already missing her sweet taste and the soft feeling of her lips against his own. Lumine leaned into him, a soft, muffled moan escaping her. The sound of her voice surprised him. He had never heard her make such a sound before. He felt his member begin to awaken as he desperately wished to hear her make that kind of sound again. Their kisses shifted from clumsy uncertainty to passionate hunger as they fell back onto the bed, Diluc rolling on top of her out of instinct. He could feel his dick pressing needily against his pants now, eager to escape the fabric confines and plunge into her sweet spot.
Breaking from their kiss, they both gasped for a moment, staring at each other with matching red faces.
“Lumine, I..” Diluc began, looking into her deep, golden eyes. He didn’t want to ruin the moment. Would telling her now about his feelings make things awkward? After all, the only reason they were even in bed together was to free her from the flower’s curse.
Lumine stared up at him, her chest rising and falling with her quick breaths. Almost as if she could sense his insecurity, she spoke up. “I’m fine. I..want this.”
Diluc didn’t bother to find the right words before he returned back to the sanctity of her pouty lips, their hands running up and down each other with fervent exploration. When he bit her neck, she let out another moan, which rang in his ears like an audible cheer of encouragement. She could feel his pulsating dick through his pants, rubbing against her lower stomach with every movement. The heat between her legs started to coil, making her squirm as every touch just made her hungry for more. Diluc sat up after covering her neck in kisses and leaving her lips swollen from their making out. He began to unbutton his shirt and vest, dropping them to the floor beside him. Lumine stared up at his broad chest in awe, having never seen much skin from the winery owner before. She bit her lip as his hand rested on the button of his pants, stopping right before she'd get a glimpse of his dick.
“Should I continue?” He asked, his eyes piercing her with a desire she had never seen in his expression before.
She swallowed, nodding coyly as she watched him remove his pants. As the clothing item fell to the ground, Diluc hovered over her, his hair spilling out over his shoulders and tickling her. A small laugh escaped her before he kissed the space between her breasts carefully. His kisses had gone softer again, as if he was honouring her body with every touch, careful not to accelerate too quickly to the next step. The warmth of her breasts enveloped his senses as he traced his lips right over the heart-shaped neck of her dress. His hands slowly rode up her sides, inadvertently bunching the fabric upwards. Lumine arched her back as his kisses got dangerously close to her nipples, the little bit of fabric covering the erect, fleshy buds beneath.
“Don’t stop,” She whispered to him.
He obliged, moving the fabric aside as he lightly pressed his lips to her exposed nipple. She gasped out as he licked her before he closed his lips around the darkened bud. She began digging her fingers into his hair, keeping his head from moving as he sucked on her. Diluc began to get impatient in spite of himself as he pulled away momentarily to pull her dress off her delicate frame. He stared down at her, her beautiful, naked body entirely exposed to him, his crimson eyes taking in every detail and committing it to memory.
“You’re breathtaking.” He spoke, mesmerised by every inch of her skin.
She squirmed under him, a little shy at how thoroughly he observed her. “No fair, Diluc.”
Lumine pointed at his boxers, the last remaining clothing item between the two. A smile of realisation spread on his lips as he pulled off the fabric in question. After the final clothing item was discarded to the floor, Diluc lowered himself on top of her again, making out with her while squeezing one of her breasts in his large palm. Lumine wrapped her legs around his waist, his erect member pulsing on her pubic mound excitedly as their bodies grinded against each other. He could feel her wetness coating his dick as he rubbed her nipple between two fingers.
Shit. Diluc started to struggle to fight the urge to enter her. He didn’t want to reach that step too quickly or too eagerly, instead waiting for her to let him know she was ready. He ignored the devil on his shoulder as he continued prepping her hot body for him. It didn’t take long, however, before her sweet voice called out to his own longing.
“Diluc, please,” she whimpered, her voice almost unrecognisable with lust. “Do it.”
He didn’t need convincing as he pulled away from her, steadying himself right over her slick folds. Keeping an eye on her face that tensed up as he slowly began to push into her, he was met a little resistance along the way. She was tight. Maybe even a little too tight for him to enter her fully.
He leaned down again, letting just the tip of his penis gently rub in and out of her as her body relaxed bit by bit. “Tell me if it hurts too much.”
Lumine nodded wordlessly, feeling the large member poke at her between her legs. She wanted him, but her body was adjusting a little slower than her mind. Diluc didn’t mind, instead enjoying the feeling of his twitching dick against her pussy, patiently waiting for her to relax enough for him to feel her fully. It took a little bit of extra time in which he continued kissing her and feeling her before he slowly began to feel himself slide into her with his steady thrusts. Once he fully bottomed out inside her, he felt dangerously close to losing control.
Slow down, he reprimanded himself, biting his lower lip.
He started pumping in and out of her slowly, her pained moans turning into pleasured ones gradually. He could feel her hips rock in tandem with him, her pussy sucking him in much easier now. He started picking up the pace, the slapping sounds of their bodies entangled bouncing off the walls of his bedroom. They both were panting breathlessly, his speed increasing as she tilted her head back, letting go a whole new variety of sounds and lewd curses Diluc had never heard from her before. He could feel her pussy tighten around his cock when he hit the spot just right, her nails digging into the sheets. It was then that Diluc also started making sounds that were unfamiliar to her. His breaths were quick, his eyes shut tightly as she pulled him in for an embrace, pressing her tender breasts against his bare chest. How good she felt. It was intoxicating being like this with her. With their bodies melted together, Diluc slowed down again a beat so he could focus his attention on kissing her. Slipping and tying their tongues together, he pushed into her slowly, that delicious coil beginning to slowly uncurl in her body.
“Diluc,” she whispered his name in his ear, holding onto him as the heat rose faster. Diluc picked up the pace again, his own hands digging into the sheets as he rode her into orgasm, her body twitching happily under him as she let out a loud, long cry of ecstasy.
Feeling her cum made his own orgasm build up much quicker, no longer holding back as he pounded into her sensitive pussy, grunting breathlessly as he reached completion himself, his dick spilling his hot seed into her in relentless pumps. They both stared at each other in awe, Diluc pulling out of her and letting himself fall into the plush sheets beside her.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Diluc's earlier thoughts came flooding back to his consciousness. “Maybe I should thank that scholar instead.”
Lumine giggled, her legs sore and useless from their little healing session.
“No, really. Lumine, I–” Diluc turned his face toward her, looking into her eyes with sincerity. “I know this might come a little late, but I really like you.”
The traveller smiled at him as she moved closer to him, laying her head on his chest. “Then maybe we really should thank that scholar for making this happen.”
Diluc wrapped an arm around her, the two lying together post-sex for a bit before a realisation hit the winery tycoon. He sat up quickly, moving to check her thigh. The sinister purple heart was gone from her leg.
He sighed in relief. “It really is gone.”
“Thank goodness.” Lumine replied, mirroring his relief before gently poking him. “Does this mean you’ll never help me again, though?”
Diluc's face softened, a smile spreading over his lips as he cupped her face. “I’m afraid I’ll have to help you out loads from now on.”
A yelp of surprise escaped Lumine's lips as he pulled her back into the bed, sheets fluttering around them as the winery owner and the traveller nestled into a new life together.