NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1910: Scent and Touch
Villain Ch 1910. Scent and Touch
Alice whispered something low and wicked in his ear. He didn't catch every word, but he caught the tone—playful, promising. Her breath brushed the edge of his jaw like a spark that didn't know whether to burn or tease.
Jane reached over and brushed a napkin against his lip like it mattered. "Messy," she said, even though there was nothing there. Her fingers lingered a little too long before pulling away.
Larissa was behind him now, rubbing his shoulders with the kind of pressure that made it impossible to think. Slow circles. Lazy hums. Her perfume was dark and floral, like rain on velvet. "You're tense," she murmured. "We should fix that."
"Pretty sure you're the reason I'm tense," Allen muttered, voice rougher than he meant it to be.
"Then I'm being effective," she said with a small laugh.
The air in the dining room had shifted. It wasn't lunch anymore. It was heat, heartbeat, and too many eyes. The faint hum of the air conditioning couldn't touch it. Even the sunlight felt thicker as it streamed through the windows and painted soft gold on skin, on hair, on half-empty glasses and plates that no one was touching anymore.
Bella was the first to break the quiet.
"So," she said, tilting her head, "how about a game?"
Allen glanced up, one eyebrow raised. "Already?"
"It's either that," Bella said, "or we keep pretending this is still about food."
Shea's smile was slow. "Depends on what kind of game you mean."
Jane crossed one leg over the other, eyes gleaming. "I have one."
Of course she did.
Allen gave her a look. "Do I want to know?"
"Probably not." Jane leaned forward, chin resting on her palm. "It's called the Scent and Touch Game."
"Sounds harmless," Zoe said suspiciously.
Jane's grin widened. "He's blindfolded. We take turns. One of us walks up, gives him a little touch—like a hand on the shoulder, a whisper, a kiss if we're generous—and he has to guess who it is."
Azura blinked. "That's it?"
"If he guesses wrong," Jane said, "the girl gets to choose where she wants to be kissed next."
The silence that followed was a mix of amusement, interest, and pure trouble.
Shea laughed under her breath. "Oh, that's evil."
Bella grinned. "It's perfect."
Allen leaned back in his chair, arms folding slowly. "You do realize I'm not the one who usually loses these kinds of games, right?"
"That's what makes it fun," Vivian said, eyes glinting. "We like a challenge."
Azura hesitated, glancing at him. "You don't have to—"
"I'm in," Allen said before she could finish. His voice was low, even. "But if I win, I pick the next game."
Zoe clapped once. "Deal."
Jane slid her chair back, smirking. "Then let's get creative."
Vivian grabbed a dark silk napkin from the table, looping it between her fingers before stepping behind Allen. "Hold still," she murmured. Her tone was teasing, but her hands were careful as she tied it over his eyes. The world went dark, and instantly his other senses sharpened—the sound of a spoon clinking glass, the scent of vanilla lotion, the faint brush of fabric against tile as someone moved.
"Can you see anything?" Jane asked.
"No," Allen said. "But I can hear you smiling."
That earned a few laughs. Then quiet.
He waited.
The air shifted again.
He heard the soft click of heels. The sound came closer—slow, deliberate. Then something soft brushed his cheek. The faintest scent of coconut oil. Warm fingertips grazed his jaw, then retreated before he could react.
"Guess," Zoe whispered from somewhere near his left.
Allen tilted his head, thinking. "Shea."
A low chuckle. "Lucky guess," Shea said, but the warmth in her voice gave her away.
He smirked. "Not luck. You smell like sunshine and bad decisions."
"Rude," she said, "and correct."
The next step was quieter. Barefoot. He caught a new scent—something sharper. Sweet spice. Someone's fingers traced along the back of his neck, up into his hair. His pulse jumped, betraying him. Then came a breath against his ear.
"Miss me already?" a voice purred.
Allen smiled faintly. "Vivian."
Her laugh was low and smooth. "Tch. Can't trick you yet."
He heard another shift—chairs scraping, someone stifling a giggle. Then silence again. A slower step this time, cautious. A faint scent of jasmine and tea. Fingertips brushed his sleeve—light, trembling.
He felt her before she spoke.
"Um…" Azura's voice was quiet, right by his shoulder. "Like this?"
Allen's lips curved. "Azura."
She froze. "How?"
He turned his head slightly, close enough that their hair brushed. "You still breathe like you're trying not to."
She made a small sound that might've been a laugh or a groan, then stepped back fast, face on fire. The others laughed softly.
"She's adorable," Shea murmured.
"Adorable and predictable," Zoe teased.
"Hey!" Azura protested, still flustered.
Then Larissa pointed to herself as if she said, "My turn."
Her hands came from behind—one on his shoulder, the other tracing down his chest. Her perfume was dark wine and smoke, the kind that lingered. She leaned in close enough for her breath to ghost over his neck.
He exhaled, his throat tight. "Larissa."
"Predictable?" she asked.
"Unforgettable," he corrected.
She kissed his cheek and walked away.
Allen barely had a moment to recover before another touch—cool fingers on his jaw, light as rain. Then a soft brush of lips at the corner of his mouth. Quick. Gone too soon.
He drew in a slow breath. The faint scent of mint and something sweet—lavender?
"Jane," he said.
Jane huffed. "Unfair."
"Not really," Allen murmured. "You smell like logic and temptation."
That made them laugh again. The air wasn't heavy anymore—it was light, dizzy, like champagne bubbles rising fast.
Vivian untied the blindfold just enough to look at his face. His eyes were sharp again, but his expression had softened—content, maybe even a little dazed. The kind of look you'd have after getting drunk on affection.
"That's unfair!" Shea protested.