Chapter 96: Dangerous Bath [Part 1]

Chapter 96. Dangerous Bath [Part 1]

I was about to tell her that I wasn’t a child and could bathe myself.

Yet five minutes later, here I was.

Sitting naked in a large tub filled with warm water.

Apparently my dignity had drowned somewhere between the study and the bathroom.

At least there were no flower petals this time.

Seris sat beside the tub with her sleeves rolled above her elbows, carefully washing away the sweat that had dried against my skin. Her hands moved over my shoulders and arms, occasionally stopping whenever she noticed the faintest discoloration beneath my skin.

She wasn’t merely bathing me.

She was checking me.

Every place where the black veins had appeared earlier received extra attention, her fingertips pressing gently against my skin as if expecting the curse to suddenly jump out and introduce itself.

’How the hell did I agree to this?’

I asked my researcher brain.

No response.

Apparently Researcher Evan had taken an emergency vacation.

Fine.

Husband instinct?

I glanced sideways.

Seris’s crimson hair fell over one shoulder while she concentrated on wiping my chest, her expression serious enough that anyone walking inside might assume she was performing a medical examination rather than personally bathing her husband.

Husband instinct approved.

Strongly.

Possibly too strongly.

"Seris."

"Hmm?"

"You realize this might not end as just a simple bath, right?"

Her hand stopped.

She looked at me.

Then her eyes slowly traveled over my exhausted body before returning to my face.

"In your condition?" A tiny smile appeared. "I doubt that. You had trouble getting here without falling over."

That was confidence.

A dangerous amount of confidence.

Especially after she’d already confirmed the curse veins were gone.

I narrowed my eyes. "Too bold. I wouldn’t say that if I were you."

That was all I gave her.

Because there was an important difference between being weakened by an active curse flare and being permanently helpless.

I’d been exhausted because I’d spent two hours repeatedly dragging my body through magical hell.

Now?

The pain was gone.

My breathing was normal.

My mana pathways still ached, certainly, but the curse itself had settled after Conversion.

Unfortunately, Seris interpreted my warning as a bluff.

Her smile widened. "Oh?"

She leaned closer.

The movement brought her face near mine, close enough that several damp strands of crimson hair brushed my shoulder.

"Was that supposed to scare me?"

"Warning you."

"While sitting obediently in a bath I’m giving you?"

Her hand slid deliberately across my shoulder, maddeningly slow now that she knew I was watching.

I stared at her.

She was enjoying this.

This woman had discovered weakness and immediately decided to poke it with a stick.

"You were barely walking five minutes ago," she continued sweetly. "Should I be frightened?"

"You should develop survival instincts."

She laughed softly.

Then, with absolutely criminal confidence, she tapped my nose.

My eye twitched.

"There." Seris smiled. "Scary Royal Magus defeated."

I stared at her.

Something inside my villainous soul quietly opened a notebook.

’She has chosen violence.’

I leaned back against the tub and smiled. "If you keep doing that, I won’t be responsible for what I’m going to do."

Seris’s eyes gleamed. "That doesn’t scare me."

A smirk bloomed across my lips.

"Really?"

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. A startled breath slipped from her lips as her face came within inches of mine.

Then I closed the distance.

I kissed her properly, deep, passionate, and deliberate, pouring my answer into the kiss until that smug confidence of hers finally cracked. My tongue caressed her lower lip and she moaned softly. Her lips were warm and soft against mine, yielding without hesitation.

My free hand moved around her waist and pressed her closer.

Seris broke away with a gasp, her eyes wide, lips slightly parted, clearly shocked.

She didn’t move away though. She was still too close for me to miss the flush on her cheeks and the warmth of her breath against my lips. She looked slightly dazed.

Perfect.

My fingers slowly circled around her waist.

She didn’t protest.

My fingertips trailed downwards.

I hesitated for only a moment before sliding my hands beneath her dress.

A small gasp left her throat. She twitched slightly and leaned closer, pressing her chest against mine. Her face was flushed and she looked at me through half-lidded eyes.

"Join me, Seris," I whispered.

My hands began to move.

Seris shivered and closed her eyes.

She didn’t move away.

My fingers stroked her bare skin, caressing her back, pulling the hem of her dress higher. My fingers found the edge of her panties.

Her underwear came off.

She didn’t make a sound.

But her body was practically vibrating with anticipation.

I kissed her neck and she moaned softly. Her hands slid around my neck and into my hair, pulling me closer.

"Come to me," I whispered once again. "You can clean me up. Or..." I leaned closer. "I can clean you up."

I snapped my fingers and used my Voidwind Manipulation to take her body into the tub.

Seris gasped in shock as she was pulled into the warm water, falling into my lap with a splash.

Her eyes went wide.

Her expression was absolutely priceless.

She was still in her dress, but no underwear.

I kissed her lips and her eyes fluttered closed.

"Rey... you should be resting."

"I have enough of that." My hands slid down her body, gliding over the curve of her hips, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her rear.

Her breath came in short bursts.

I kissed her neck, my tongue leaving a trail of heat down her skin.

Seris moaned softly, her eyes closing.

I wanted to hear her moaning my name.

She could have resisted, but she didn’t.

She didn’t try.

The only sign that she wanted to stop was a faint sigh that escaped her throat.

But it was a sigh that held no resistance. It held nothing but desire.

I traced her collarbone with one finger.

"I know you want me..." I whispered.

My lips moved to her ear, my tongue darting out to taste the delicate shell.

She shuddered.

"You think you can handle me?" I asked.

Seris didn’t answer.

But her body answered for her.

Her hips rolled against mine.