NOVEL NEXT Chapter 84: A Pillow Upgrade
Ethan could feel her shifting nervously in his lap, the fabric of her maid dress brushing against him like a dangerous temptation. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath shallow, her eyes flicking anywhere but at him.
Tch… if this keeps up, I might just lose myself, he thought, suppressing a groan.
With a quick adjustment, he leaned back against the bed and lay down across the pillow, pulling her with him. Lirael landed atop his chest awkwardly, still clinging to him out of instinct. Her soft, silky dress pressed warmly against his skin, the faint scent of lavender rising from her hair.
He tugged the blanket over them, his arms tightening around her slim waist. Then, without warning, he spoke.
"You know… the reward session isn't over yet."
Lirael froze. Her mind immediately began racing, panic flashing across her eyes.
"W-What are you—"
"I mean," Ethan interrupted with a mischievous glint in his eye, "I need an upgrade… in my pillow."
"Huh?" She blinked, completely thrown off.
Before she could react, he shifted her higher up the bed sideways, guiding her until his head rested directly against her breast. Then, without hesitation, he buried his face between the soft curves, inhaling deeply as if he had just discovered heaven itself. His arms wrapped firmly around her back and hips, locking her in place as he pressed her against him.
Above, Lirael's entire body stiffened, her face glowing scarlet.
"W-W-What are you doing, you complete i-idiot!!"
"Mmm…" Ethan's muffled voice came from her chest, low and satisfied. "You know… I'm already holding myself back from tearing this damn fabric between us. So don't push me too far." His head tilted slightly, his lips curving into a sly grin even as they brushed against her through the thin fabric.
Lirael's retort died in her throat. She could only glare down at him with wide, trembling eyes, her breath caught in her chest.
Then Ethan deliberately rubbed his cheek against her, side to side like a spoiled cat, sighing contently.
"Ahhh… this… this is the best…"
Steam might as well have been rising from Lirael's head. Her hands flailed helplessly in the air before finally dropping to her sides in defeat.
"Y-You're impossible… utterly impossible…" she whispered, voice cracking with embarrassment.
He chuckled against her chest. "Oi, don't just sit there. You want me to bite you? Come on—hold my head already."
"You're a… a complete jerk…"
Even as she muttered it, her hands slowly moved, cradling his head against her chest. She lowered herself into the pillow, her crimson eyes fluttering shut in surrender.
Ethan smirked in satisfaction, feeling her finally give in to his embrace. His hold tightened around her waist, steady and protective, as the heat of her body lulled him.
Her heart pounded rapidly against his ear, the rhythm wild but steady, until slowly—both of them relaxed into the warmth of each other.
"…Idiot," Lirael murmured one last time, her voice barely audible.
Ethan grinned, eyes drifting closed. "Best pillow ever."
And with that, the two finally surrendered to sleep.
---
They spent the night cradled tightly against each other.
At first, Lirael had squirmed and muttered weak protests, her face buried in the pillow, but once sleep claimed her, her body betrayed her. Instinctively, her arms tightened around Ethan's head, pressing him deeper into the soft warmth of her chest. In return, his hold around her waist and hips grew firmer, protective.
Her breathing steadied, her lips parting softly in sleep, and a faint smile curved across her face—a relaxed, content smile as if every worry in the world had vanished. She leaned in just slightly for her face to touch Ethan hairs
Ethan, half-asleep, caught a glimpse of it before drifting off, and for the first time in a long while, he, too, felt completely at ease.
---
The faint glow of dawn filtered through the window, painting the room in pale gold. Ethan stirred first, blinking lazily against the light. Lirael was still curled around him, her arms stubbornly clinging to his head as though afraid he'd vanish if she let go.
He smirked.
"Even when you act like you don't like it… your body tells me otherwise," he murmured under his breath.
Carefully, he shifted, sliding down until her head rested against his chest instead. With surprising tenderness, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. His eyes slipped shut again, content to doze for a little longer.
What he didn't know was that Lirael's eyes had cracked open at his first words. She lay there silently, her heart drumming in her chest.
This complete idiot… always making me do his bidding.
And yet, when she felt his lips on her forehead, her arms reflexively tightened around his torso. Why… does it feel so nice…
---
When they finally woke properly, Ethan shifted and immediately leaned in, catching her lips with his in a soft but deliberate kiss.
"Mm—! E-Ethan!?" Lirael's eyes shot open, sleep vanishing in an instant. She pushed lightly at his chest, her crimson face flustered. "W-What do you think you're doing the very first thing in the morning!?"
Ethan leaned back just far enough to grin at her reaction. His voice was annoyingly casual.
"Don't act so surprised. From now on, this is going to be an everyday thing. Better get used to it."
"H-Hah!? E-Everyday!?"
"Exactly. Adapt or suffer," he said with mock seriousness, tapping her nose with his finger. "That's survival of the fittest—even in another world."
Her mouth opened and closed like she wanted to argue, but the words refused to come out. She buried her face in the pillow instead, muffling her groan.
"…You're unbearable…"
Ethan chuckled, pulling her back against him.
"And yet… you're still here."
Her answer came not in words, but in the way her hands curled tightly into his shirt.
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Author's Note:
I know some of you might be thinking this chapter felt a little slow, maybe even dragging things out. But hear me out—sometimes it's better to take things step by step, especially with moments like these. Building it up slowly makes the eventual payoff that much more satisfying. And when it comes to these kinds of physical, emotional contacts, I really believe that's the case.
So thanks for bearing with the pace—I promise, you won't be waiting long for the real fireworks. 😉