NOVEL NEXT Chapter 102: Afterglow
Ethan lifted Lirael's warm, pliant body into his arms, her breathing deep and even against his chest. Her skin was still flushed, carrying the lingering heat of their shared passion. He carried her into the washroom, the faint steam of warm water filling the air.
Gently, he set her down on a small bench. She didn't stir, lost in the exhaustion of sleep, lips parted ever so slightly. Ethan dipped a cloth into the basin and began wiping her clean, moving slowly, carefully, as if polishing porcelain. His fingers traced along the curves of her collarbone, down the length of her arms, then across her legs. Each stroke was deliberate, reverent, almost worshipful.
He caught himself pausing now and then, his hand lingering at her hip, his gaze drinking in the rise and fall of her chest. A wry smile touched his lips. "You really have me working like your maid, while you sleep like an angel," he muttered softly, his voice carrying a teasing warmth.
Once finished, he dried her with a fresh towel, the soft fabric gliding over her skin. He washed himself quickly, then returned to the bedchamber. Lirael's form rested peacefully in the chair where he'd set her down while he replaced the soiled sheets. Her hair spilled like silken strands over her bare shoulders, her innocence making his chest tighten with something deeper than desire.
Not trusting himself to linger, Ethan gently gathered her up once more and laid her on the fresh sheets. He drew the blanket over her, tucking it close around her slender frame. For a moment, he leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead. His whisper was softer than the night air.
"You're such a good girl…"
She stirred faintly, mumbling something incoherent before falling still again, her breathing even.
Ethan climbed into bed beside her, sliding an arm beneath her head, letting it rest on his shoulder. She instinctively curled into him, her hand slipping around his neck. His other arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her closer until their bare bodies pressed together in quiet warmth.
Her presence soothed him. The storm inside him eased. Closing his eyes, Ethan let out a long breath, content. Sleep stole over him, not with loneliness or hunger, but with satisfaction—her heartbeat echoing softly against his own.
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The first rays of dawn slipped through the curtains, casting a pale golden glow across the chamber.
Lirael stirred awake, her cheek pressed against warmth, her body snugly cocooned in a familiar embrace. She blinked sleepily, finding herself pressed against Ethan's chest, his arm heavy around her waist, his steady breathing brushing the top of her head.
She was used to waking up like this by now… but something felt different. Softer.
Her gaze drifted downward. Beneath the blanket, smooth skin touched smooth skin—no fabric separating them. Her breath hitched.
Her eyes widened in horror. Memories of the previous night flashed in her mind—her voice crying out, her body trembling under his, the desperate way she clung to him. Her face went scarlet in an instant.
"W-waaahh!" she squeaked, shooting upright, clutching the blanket desperately against her chest.
"W-what did we… d-do yesterday?!" Her words stumbled and broke, spilling out in a trembling rush.
Her mind ran wild. We did it… we really did it! I—I confessed too! And what kind of expressions was I even making?! O-oh no… my voice… the sounds I… She buried her face in her hands, groaning.
Then another horrifying thought struck her. "W-wait! What if someone outside… h-heard us?! No, no, no, I need to leave this kingdom—no, this entire continent!" She was practically fuming, pulling at her hair as if she could erase the memory by force.
Amid her flustered storm, Ethan stirred awake, stretching slightly, watching her with half-lidded eyes and an amused grin.
"Lirael."
His sudden voice cut through the silence like a spark.
She nearly leapt off the bed. "Kyaaah! D-don't scare me like that!"
She turned on him, pointing a trembling finger, eyes blazing. "I-it's all because of you! You—you made the situation turn out this way!"
Ethan propped himself up on an elbow, his grin widening. "And if I did?"
"Y-you!" Her finger wavered, then dropped helplessly as her face burned even hotter. She yanked the blanket higher over herself. "Ugh… How am I supposed to even s-show my face outside now…" she muttered, burying half her face.
Ethan chuckled, the sound deep and easy. "What are you even worried about? Do you really think a man and a woman book a double bed room just to sleep separately?" He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "If anyone did hear, they'd probably just envy me for having my hands on such a beauty."
Her mouth snapped shut. The compliment hit her like an arrow. She turned her face away, her ears glowing red. "S-shut it, you idiot!"
But when she dared glance back, she caught his gaze openly admiring her.
Her breath hitched again. "A-and don't l-look at me like that!" she squealed, hugging the blanket tighter, her voice a mix of outrage and… something softer beneath.
Ethan only laughed, stretching lazily, utterly at ease—while Lirael's heart pounded like a drum, caught between embarrassment, indignation, and something far more dangerous.
Lirael, still flushed to her ears, scrambled off the bed, clutching the blanket around her. Her plan was clear—retreat to the washroom and hide until her heart stopped racing.
But the moment her bare feet touched the floor and she tried to move, a sharp ache rippled through her body. Her steps faltered. She winced, her hand instinctively lowering to her stomach. The soreness in her thighs and lower belly made her knees tremble.
"A-ah…" she gasped, collapsing back onto the bed with a muffled groan.
"I… I'm done for…" she whimpered, curling up, her voice almost sobbing.
Ethan sat up, watching her with an expression halfway between sympathy and unrestrained amusement. His lips twitched.
"What's wrong?" he asked, feigning ignorance. "Feeling sore all over, especially ben—"
"Shut up!!" Lirael snapped, her entire face crimson.
He raised both hands in surrender, chuckling. "Alright, alright. Don't come and eat me alive now."
Reaching into his storage ring, Ethan retrieved a small vial. He held it out, shaking it slightly so the liquid inside caught the light.
"Here. A low-tier healing potion. Drink it—you can't be limping around when we go for our promotion tests."
She sat up with effort, glaring daggers at him. If looks could kill, Ethan would have been ash on the spot. But with a dramatic huff, she snatched the vial and downed it in one go.
Warmth spread through her body almost immediately, easing the aches, dulling the soreness. Her eyes widened just a little—then narrowed again as she shot him another glare.
"Better?" Ethan asked innocently, a grin tugging at his lips.
Lirael didn't answer. Instead, she bolted upright the instant the potion's magic finished working, clutched the blanket around her like armor, and dashed into the washroom—her footsteps fast and uneven, as though she were fleeing from a demon.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Ethan leaned back against the pillows, letting out a soft laugh. "So much fire in such a small body…" he murmured to himself, eyes glinting with amusement.