Chapter 117: Stripped by Swordplay
The air between them burned, not just from the clash of their elements, but from something unspoken simmering underneath, he could feel it in the air, the fire of tension left unsatisfied, of truths unspoken, of lust coiled like a serpent beneath every swing. Sylvaris's breath came slow, steady, his golden eyes narrowed as they traced her form, the flicker of flame trailing behind her movements making her body glow like a vision painted by sin itself.
Her wings flared behind her, and she rushed him again, but this time, he didn't simply block, he pivoted, blade twisting in his hand, not to cut, but to catch the clasp of her cloak as she turned. The edge of his sword sliced cleanly through the fabric, and the hood fell first, revealing the full crown of her red-streaked brown hair, sweat-slick and wild, sticking to her cheeks as her breathing deepened.
"Playing dirty now?" she hissed between breaths, and her smirk was pure challenge.
"I'm only just getting started," he growled back, stepping in close again, their blades locking with a shriek of friction, faces inches apart, heat between their mouths so thick it was unbearable.
Their dance resumed, but it had changed, he moved with intention now, watching not just her sword, but the way her outfit shifted with every dodge, every spin, every slash. A high strike from her made her torso twist, and he dipped low, swinging upward not at her flesh, but at the strap across her side.
Steel sang.
Leather gave way.
Aureve gasped, not in pain, but in surprise, as her top loosened just slightly, one strap cut, the other hanging barely by a thread, exposing a teasing glimpse of pale, perfect skin glistening with sweat.
Sylvaris didn't speak, he didn't need to, the smirk on his lips said everything.
She lunged at him harder after that, furious and flustered, her fire wilder than before, but it only made the dance more beautiful. Each step they took created sparks, light streaking in arcs around them, flame and white steel clashing with such grace that even the shadows watched in silence. And all the while, with every step, more of her was revealed.
Their blades clashed again, sparks flying between them, and Sylvaris pushed in just close enough to let his voice drip against her ear, a low growl curling from his throat as his smirk deepened.
"As beautiful as ever, my lovely wife," he teased, his blade sliding dangerously along the edge of hers, not quite striking, just pressing, reminding her who stood in front of her.
"Shut your mouth!" she barked, lunging back with a furious strike, flames erupting from her palm, but something passed through her eyes in that moment, something fleeting and fragile, a softness that didn't belong to the fire or the fight. Her expression wavered, barely, but enough for him to see it, a flicker of something human, something aching, like a part of her was cracking beneath the weight of memory, and for just a breath, her rage didn't feel like fury.
It felt like regret.
The second strap went during a roll, her movement too sharp, and her top, burnt and torn by stray heat, began to fall, slow, tantalizing, the fabric slipping down as if even her clothes had given up resisting him. Her breasts, full and tight, E-cups that defied the weight of the battle, came into view like divine gifts, the firelight painting soft shadows over her curves. They bounced with each motion, sweat catching on the swell of her chest, glistening like the promise of heaven wrapped in chaos.
Sylvaris's jaw clenched, not from restraint, but from hunger. Damn… it's one thing to see those perfect tits while fucking her in bed, but seeing those giants bounce like that in the middle of a fight? A low growl slipped through his teeth. Yeah… very, very distracting.
His sword hand shook slightly as he re-centered himself, his control pushed to the brink not from fatigue, but from the primal need clawing its way up through him. Fire wasn't the only thing burning anymore.
And still, they fought.
The duel became a blur of heat and breath, steel and skin. With each exchanged blow, her clothing unraveled further, not torn in violence, but undone by precision, by a blade guided as much by lust as by skill. Her pants split next, not all at once, but through small, deliberate cuts, seams giving way just enough to tease, to expose flashes of smooth thigh and firm hips that moved like rhythm incarnate. Every twist of her body was a seduction, every dodge a dance, her half-naked form glowing in the firelight as if the battle itself wanted to see more of her.
Sylvaris fought on, half-driven by instinct, half by need. He slashed, narrowly missing her ribs, only to have her lean in with a counter that brought their faces close again, so close their noses nearly brushed, breath mingling, eyes locked, mouths barely apart. But she didn't kiss him.
She smirked, and vanished into flame.
"Teasing bitch…" he whispered under his breath, voice hoarse, eyes burning not with anger, but with raw, aching hunger. He spun, sword tracing a wide arc, catching the last piece of her outer layer and shredding it completely.
Now she stood there, wearing only what little remained, barely-there black undergarments scorched at the edges, barely hiding the heat of her curves, her skin marked by flame but unburned, glistening with sweat and power. Her breasts heaved with breath, rising and falling with the rhythm of combat and arousal, nipples hard and peeking through the thin veil of lace like a final line daring him to cross it.
And he would. But not yet.
Their blades met again, and this time the rhythm changed, slower, heavier, more deliberate. It wasn't just battle now. It was courtship. Each strike was a proposition, every parry a denial. Sparks flew, but so did glances, touches, near-kisses that lingered just a second too long before heat pulled them back into motion. She traced her blade along his jaw once, not cutting him, but caressing him with the flat edge. He responded by grabbing her wrist, pulling her close, only to release her again at the last moment.
Her leg came up, hooking behind his thigh, trying to bring him down, but he turned with it, spinning her, slamming her back against the wall of the chamber as his blade pressed to her side. She gasped, and for a moment their lips were a breath apart.
He leaned in.
She tilted her head, tongue slipping out just barely to wet her bottom lip.
But then she kneed him in the gut and escaped again, laughing breathlessly as she twirled away.
"Fucking tease…" he growled, chasing her now, body low, eyes locked on her exposed chest as it bounced with every dodge, every leap—the image burned into his memory forever.
And finally, after another exchange, her blade meeting his, the heat rising to a crescendo, he disarmed her with a brutal flick of the wrist, her sword flying across the chamber. She tried to blast him with flame, but he was faster, already inside her guard, slamming her back, spinning her down into the water with a splash.
His body landed above hers.
Her wrists pinned.
His breath hot on her cheek.
And her body, half-naked, glistening, trembling beneath him, fit perfectly into the space he carved for her in the world.
She was no longer just the woman who betrayed him.
She was the one he wanted to break… and keep.
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