Chapter 419: Art of seduction

Luke had never been much of a cook, but he knew his way around a few simple dishes, drawing on the experience he had gained in his previous life and whatever he had picked up from watching Ginna and Monica in the kitchen.

He might not have possessed the skill to prepare an elaborate feast, but he could at least put together a decent meal with the most basic ingredients.

Today, he settled on something simple: tender mutton simmered in a rich broth, accompanied by soft, fluffy bread.

The bread, however, proved to be the more troublesome part. Preparing the dough was an unfamiliar task, and he quickly realized that knowing what went into bread was quite different from knowing how to make it.

Thankfully, Nadia was there to help. Without her assistance, he would have abandoned the idea altogether and settled for cooking the meat with some rice instead.

While Nadia worked the dough on the counter beside him, Luke turned his attention to the mutton.

He coated the meat in a mixture of herbs and spices, adjusting the quantities by instinct rather than following any particular recipe.

Every so often, he glanced toward the hearth to make sure the fire was burning at the right intensity, careful not to let the broth boil too fiercely once the pot was placed over it.

"You seem to know quite a bit about what goes into the food," Nadia remarked, watching him work with a hint of admiration.

Considering that he had not once asked her how much of each spice to use or which herbs would complement the meat, she found his confidence rather impressive.

More surprising still, everything he had selected seemed to go together perfectly.

"I observe and learn," Luke replied casually. "Besides, everyone should know enough to survive on their own, regardless of the circumstances."

It was a simple principle, but one he had always considered worth following.

The system could provide him with food whenever he needed it, and there was no shortage of convenient options among its shop items.

However, after living with a loving family and a mate who made certain he ate three proper meals every day, his taste buds had grown accustomed to something better than the bland convenience of snack bars.

He could hardly expect himself to remain satisfied with those forever.

And since there was no guarantee that he would always have someone around to prepare his meals, he had therefore made an effort to learn a thing or two in the kitchen, if only to ensure that he could look after himself when necessary.

Although, calling it a possibility was somewhat misleading.

He would be traveling alone soon enough.

"By the way, did you meet that girl before she left?" Nadia asked, casting him a sidelong glance as she continued kneading the dough.

Luke looked at her. "You know her name, so why are you referring to her as that girl?"

Nadia’s hands paused for the briefest moment.

"I-I genuinely forgot her name," she stammered, quickly returning her attention to the dough. "I didn’t stay at your place for very long yesterday, you see."

Luke shook his head, mildly amused by her sudden fluster. "Yeah, I woke up early to see her off."

"Oh."

Nadia worked the dough in silence for a moment before speaking again.

"She’s really pretty."

Luke let out a quiet snicker. "What is this? Are you jealous?"

Rather than immediately denying it, Nadia regarded him with a thoughtful expression.

"You already have so many partners. Are you sure you want to lead her down that path as well?"

Luke finished washing his hands and slowly straightened, wiping the remaining moisture from his fingers before turning to face her properly.

"Aren’t you prying a little too much?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why don’t you save that jealousy for the women who have been eyeing Dart lately? He’s been getting quite a lot of attention, hasn’t he?"

Nadia turned toward him, her expression settling into one of quiet certainty.

"I know he wouldn’t pay any special attention to them. He loves me enough that he would never stray."

"And yet, here you are, openly showing affection for another man." Luke lifted his eyebrows, giving her a pointed look. "Doesn’t that strike you as a little unfair to him?"

Nadia did not look away. If anything, her expression grew more resolute, as though she had already considered the question and had no intention of pretending otherwise.

"I would admit it to him as well," she said without hesitation. "My feelings for Dart have never wavered, but what I feel for you is more fierce and vivid."

Luke narrowed his eyes at her. "What exactly do you want from me, Nadia?"

The violet-haired woman held his gaze for a moment before lowering her eyes and murmuring, "You won’t give me what I desire, but for now, can you at least hug me?"

Luke crossed his arms, studying her with a guarded expression. "And what exactly would that accomplish?"

"Help me remain myself for a few more days, at least." Nadia’s voice softened as she searched for the right words. "I’ve come to realize that despite having everything I could ask for, food, shelter, a comfortable bed, and a mate who cares about me, there’s still something missing. Something I can’t seem to find anywhere else."

"So I’ve become a necessity to you, have I?" Luke narrowed his eyes, as though trying to determine whether she genuinely understood what she was asking of him.

Nadia lowered her head and stepped closer, leaving barely any space between them. She reached for the front of his vest and gave it a gentle tug, her fingers curling into the fabric as she looked up at him.

"Just a small hug, please? I won’t ask for anything more."

Luke exhaled slowly, fighting the urge to rub his temples. Seriously, this woman...

Yet, despite his misgivings, he uncrossed his arms and spread them apart, silently granting her request. Nadia wasted no time slipping into the embrace, and he drew her against his chest, his arms settling around her.

"Haa..." A sigh of pure contentment escaped her lips. Her entire expression softened, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile as she nestled against him and wrapped her own arms around his waist. Whatever tension she had been carrying seemed to ease the moment she felt his warmth, as though the simple act of holding him had given her something she had been desperately missing.

There was no denying the intimacy of their embrace. Anyone who saw them in that moment would have struggled to mistake it for an ordinary hug between two people who merely happened to be close.

Nadia nestled her face into the crook of his neck, drawing in his scent with a quiet, almost unconscious desperation, as though it were a lifeline keeping her anchored to herself.

She remained there, breathing him in, seemingly reluctant to let even the smallest distance form between them.

Luke, meanwhile, was acutely aware of how closely she pressed against him. The softness of her breasts against his chest made it impossible to remain entirely indifferent to her proximity, and he found himself all too conscious of the woman in his arms.

Then there was the warmth of her breath brushing against his skin and the faint sounds she made whenever he shifted, even slightly.

Each little movement seemed to draw a response from her, whether it was a soft murmur of contentment or the way her arms tightened around him for a brief moment.

Luke couldn’t quite put his finger on why such seemingly insignificant things affected him, but their impact was undeniable.

She then suddenly took his hand and brought it down her waist.

"That was not what we discussed." He breathed, surprised just how low he spoke that. And another surprise that he didn’t instantly take his hand off her perfectly shaped waist.

"Isn’t it fine...not like you haven’t touched me before." She muttered huskily, rubbing herself against him in a way that surely got a reaction.

He suddenly pinched her waist just enough to make her wince before he muttered. "I have done a lot of things more with you-"

"And we both know how much we enjoyed each other." She looked up at him with misty gaze.

She took his other hand and brought it up, deliberately pressing it against her bust and then slid it against her neck to bring it close to her lips.

Luke watched her with a heated gaze as she sucked on his finger, deliberately bobbing her head back and forth.

He wouldn’t deny that he was turned on. Well, rightfully so.

The moral compass was trembling under her relentless assault.

His hand instinctively slid under her butt, cupping the massive bun and feeling it spilling from between his fingers.

Nadia slowly released his finger before muttering. "One last time...for the sake of what we once shared."