Chapter 282 | Give Me Your Hand…

Chapter 282: 282 | Give Me Your Hand...

More than a minute slipped by as the warmth of their lips entangled each other, before they finally drew apart, both breathing harder than before.

Dexter remained near her for a moment, his forehead almost touching hers as he stared at ger closed eyes.

Lyra’s fingers were still in his hair.

Lyra’s eyes opened slowly and their eyes locked for a few seconds before she shyly looked at his face, then at her hand, and then seemed to realize just how close she had moved. The blush that followed reached all the way to her ears.

Dexter smiled, equally warm-faced. "Was that—"

Lyra stood up so quickly that the mattress bounced beneath him.

’I-I should go sleep.’

He blinked. "You don’t have to—"

’Good night!’

She was at the door before he could finish. Her hand fumbled with the handle once, which only made her cheeks redden further. Dexter wisely swallowed his laugh.

"Good night, Lyra."

She glanced back at him for a brief moment and smiled. Then she slipped out and closed the door.

Dexter sat in silence.

He looked down at the slight crease she had left in the blanket and let out a long breath.

"Cultivation," he told the empty room.

That was what he needed to do to calm his rampaging thoughts.

He crossed his legs and closed his eyes.

The first attempt failed almost immediately. He could still feel Lyra’s fingers in his hair.

Dexter opened one eye, frowned at the door, then started again. Gradually, the familiar pattern of the Limitless Grand Cosmos Scripture steadied his breathing. Mana gathered around him, entering his body in a slow, even stream.

The lingering strain in his shoulder eased as he guided energy through the repaired pathways.

The house settled around him and he heard a ater stopped running in the bathroom. The cupboard closed and then soft footsteps crossed the hallway and faded behind the girls’ bedroom door.

Dexter listened until he was sure everything was well, then let himself sink fully into cultivation.

Almost two hours passed.

[Ding!]

The sound rang clearly through his mind.

[Today’s investments have been evaluated.]

Dexter’s eyes opened.

He had almost forgotten about the system.

Golden text began forming before him.

Then suddenly, the room grew cold as tiny mist seeped in from underneath his door.

A faint chill brushed his arms and slipped beneath the warmth surrounding the bed. Dexter looked toward the door before the handle moved. He already knew that heartbeat.

The door creaked open and Selene entered, silver hair falling loosely over the shoulders of her nightdress.

She didn’t linger at the threshold as she had on the first night. Her bare feet followed the familiar route across the room, avoiding the corner of the table without hesitation.

Dexter quietly dismissed the waiting notification.

And just like that, Selene reached the bed and sat beside him, smoothing the fabric over her knees. She was carrying the small dragon she had won at the festival. After a moment’s consideration, she placed it beside his pillow.

Dexter’s mouth curved, and Selene tilted her face toward him. "I came to cultivate."

He nodded, as he activated his heavenly flame, warmth already spreading from his body toward her. "I know."

Her shoulders eased as the chill around her began to soften.

Selene’s fingers brushed the edge of the duvet.

Dexter glanced at the space beside him before shifting closer to the wall. "Then come here. You’re sitting a bit close to the edge."

Selene moved toward his voice, and their shoulders brushed. Dexter reached behind her and adjusted a pillow against the headboard. "Lean back."

Selene did so slowly. The pillow supported her lower back, and a quiet breath escaped her as the strain in her shoulders eased.

"Better?" he asked.

She nodded.

Dexter settled beside her, their legs folded beneath them and their knees resting lightly against each other.

It was a particularly large bed, and there was only so much space he could give her without pressing himself into the wall.

Not that Selene appeared particularly concerned about the lack of distance. She adjusted the hem of her nightdress over her knees, placed her hands in her lap, and closed her eyes.

Dexter watched her for a moment before doing the same.

The Limitless Grand Cosmos Scripture began circulating. Mana gathered around the bed, drawn toward them by their activated Star Nodes, and Dexter’s breathing gradually slowed as the familiar technique guided the energy through his meridians.

Beside him, Selene’s circulation followed the same rhythm.

The Seventh-Tier technique was remarkably forgiving about posture. Once its circulation had been properly established, they could maintain it while sitting, standing, or lying down.

Even sleep wouldn’t entirely interrupt the steady absorption of mana. Yet both of them still cultivated cross-legged most of the time cause it helped with concentration. It was a habit built all their lives.

Warmth gradually spread from Dexter’s body. He kept his Heavenly Flame carefully restrained, allowing its heat to reach her without filling the room with enough heat to disturb the others or ignite the room.

Selene’s shoulder relaxed against his, and the contact and for a long while, neither spoke.

The house was quiet, and outside, the occasional passing vehicle disturbed the silence before fading into the distance.

Dexter concentrated on Selene’s breathing. It had become steadier, but every few minutes, a faint shiver still passed through her.

The Eternal Ice was extremely stubborn. The warmth surrounding her helped, but some of that heat was lost before it reached the places that needed it most.

Nearly an hour passed before Dexter opened his eyes. Selene was still cultivating beside him, her silver hair slipped forward over one shoulder and her hands folded tightly in her lap.

"Selene."

Her head turned slightly. "Hmm?"

"Give me your hand."

She opened her eyes. Dexter held his palm upward between them. "It’s easier to guide the warmth into your body if we make direct contact. You won’t have to rely only on the heat around us."

"Oh."

There was no hesitation like Dexter had expected, Selene lifted her hand and placed it in his!

[A/N: So for the super gifts I received and didn’t follow through with the appropriate release of Chapters, I will increase the Chapter release rate to at least 5 per day. I will do 10 Chapters at most once a week. Thank you! ??]

[Oh... Gimme Golden tickets! ?? Supergifts too! Only received one last month, it was sad!??]