Page 36

Loot

I wasn’t sure how long Sky and I had been walking.

It was easy to lose track of time as we trudged through the darkness, nothing but our footsteps and the clang of my staff striking the stone with each step.

Despite our circumstances, I found myself mostly lost in thought as we wandered on, searching for the exit to the dungeon.

First and foremost on my mind was Sky. In any other situation I might’ve been freaking out about my newfound powers or the fact that I was now a champion of the Twilight god.

And yet, there I was, my heart still racing because a cute boy let me cuddle him while we both took a short rest. I tried to tell myself it was just for warmth or safety.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tamp down the feelings growing in the pit of my belly.

I knew I liked Sky. I’d known that for weeks now.

Ever since we’d been chased down and nearly killed by that earth elemental, I knew.

At first, I thought it might’ve been due to the trauma of the experience and tried to write it off.

But each night I found him visiting my dreams, sometimes in varying states of undress, and we’d dance the night away in one way or another.

Those moments were some of the few times I felt normal in Cindersea.

It made me yearn for more, to make it real instead of saving it only for my dreams.

Recalling the world I’d come from was impossible, but now and then feelings popped up that I couldn’t explain.

First was that I was too young and inexperienced to be fighting for my life on a daily basis.

And the other, once Sky showed up, was the inclination to pursue him romantically.

It felt like something I was supposed to be doing.

But when survival was on the line, everything that wasn’t absolutely necessary got shoved to the back of the line and that included my feelings.

But now, here in this dungeon, I couldn’t shake them.

I knew we were still in danger, and I knew I should be worried about other things.

But when Sky told me he liked me too, everything else left my mind.

All I could think about were those strong arms wrapped around my waist, the heat of his body close to mine, and that tingle I got at the base of my spine when he took his shirt off.

Suddenly I was all too aware how lonely and unfulfilled I’d been since arriving in Cindersea.

And how much I’d been neglecting my… personal… needs.

Kuro would’ve just come out and said it.

I was aching for some physical interaction.

However, I was far too shy to ask for such a thing bluntly.

And no matter how much I’d wanted to lean in and kiss Sky while we sat together in the cavern, I couldn’t force myself to do it.

So now I was walking behind him trying my best not to stare at his butt as we made our way through the dungeon.

God… I was such a shy, horny, confused mess. And that, honestly, was kinda new for me. Cindersea made it hard to think about myself or my wants when everything seemed so dire. But now that I was… well, I didn’t know if I could stop. I wanted more. I was desperate for more. And I wanted it from Sky.

“Hey,” Sky’s gruff voice cut through my reverie. “You’re falling behind. Keep up.”

I blinked, realizing I had indeed slowed my pace while lost in thought. Quickening my steps, I closed the gap between us, my face flushing as I drew near.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, averting my eyes from his piercing gaze.

Sky grunted in response, his wolf ears twitching as he scanned our surroundings. The silence stretched between us, making my skin crawl. I could feel Sky’s eyes on me, searching, questioning. My heart hammered in my chest as I struggled to find something to say, anything to break the tension.

“I...” I started, then faltered. Sky’s ears perked up, his attention fully on me now. I swallowed hard. “I was just thinking about... us.”

Sky’s eyebrows shot up, his usual stoic expression cracking slightly. “Us?” he echoed, his voice low and rough.

I nodded, suddenly finding the courage to meet his gaze. Those blue eyes bore into me, making my knees weak. “Yeah, I mean... what you said back there. About liking me.”

A faint blush colored Sky’s cheeks, barely visible in the dim light of the dungeon. He cleared his throat, looking away. “Oh. That.”

“I… well… I’ve known I liked you for a while now but… life here is?—”

“Hard,” he said, finishing my sentence. “Believe me. I know. You don’t have to explain.”

“I haven’t thought much about relationship stuff,” I added, stepping up next to him as we continued through the tunnel. “Do you think about it?”

Sky shrugged. “Not really. When I need to blow off some steam, I got to one of the brothels if I have the extra coin. But it’s pretty expensive.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “They have those here? I thought Kuro was just making things up!”

“Of course,” he chuckled. “How do you think the newcomers who fail at becoming scouts make money?”

“I… I hadn’t really thought about that.” I felt a pang of jealousy in my gut as I glanced up at him. “Do you like going there?”

His ears folded back against his head, catching my meaning. “It’s fun enough,” he replied honestly. “But it’s meaningless. Sometimes a guy just needs to relax, you know? It’s nothing more than that.” He looked me up and down. “Haven’t you ever…?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I can’t remember my previous life, but I haven’t done anything here in Cindersea. Honestly… I haven’t felt like I had time or energy to waste on that sort of thing.”

Sky’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and something else flickering across his face. “Really? Not even once?”

I shook my head again, feeling my cheeks burn. “I mean, I’ve thought about it. But I guess I’ve been too focused on survival to really do anything. And living so close to everyone… it doesn’t leave a lot of room for personal time.”

Sky was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead as we continued walking. Then, he spoke softly, “It’s not a waste, you know. Taking care of yourself... it can help clear your head. Make you sharper.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words. Was he suggesting...? No, surely not. I tried to keep my voice steady as I replied, “I... I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

Sky’s ears twitched, and he glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “It’s not that complicated. Just... do what feels good.”

The air between us seemed to thicken, charged with tension and unspoken desire. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry .

“What if...” I started, my voice barely above a whisper, “What if I’m not sure what feels good?”

Sky stopped walking abruptly, turning to face me. His blue eyes seemed to glow in the dim light of the dungeon, intense and searching. I felt pinned in place by his gaze, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

“You’ve never explored at all?” he asked, his voice low and dark.

I shook my head, unable to form words. Sky took a step closer, closing the distance between us. I could feel the heat radiating from his body and smell the earthy scent of his skin. My breath caught in my throat as he reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek.

“We shouldn’t,” he murmured, his voice a growl. “Not here. Not now.”

But even as he said it, Sky’s hand lingered on my cheek, his thumb gently caressing my skin. I leaned into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed. A bolt of electricity flowed through me, awakening parts of my body I’d long been neglecting.

“I know,” I whispered back, but made no move to pull away. “It’s dangerous. We should keep moving.”

Sky’s other hand came to rest on my hip, pulling me slightly closer. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. My heart raced, torn between desire and the rational part of my brain screaming about the peril we were in.

“We could die at any moment,” Sky said softly, his forehead now resting against mine. “That’s the reality of Cindersea. Of this dungeon.”

I nodded, my eyes still closed, savoring the closeness. “I know. But... I don’t want to die without knowing what it’s like. To be touched. To be wanted.”

Sky’s grip on my hip tightened slightly. I could feel the tension in his body, the restraint he was fighting to maintain. “You are wanted,” he growled softly. “More than you know.”

My eyes fluttered open, meeting his intense gaze. The air between us crackled with electricity. Slowly, hesitantly, I raised my hand to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palm.

“Show me,” I whispered, surprising myself with my boldness.

For a moment, Sky remained perfectly still, his eyes searching mine. Then, with a low growl, he closed the remaining distance between us, capturing my lips with his own.

The kiss was everything I had imagined and more. Sky’s lips were surprisingly soft against mine, contrasting with the rough stubble on his chin. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against his body as he deepened the kiss. A small moan escaped me, and I felt Sky smile against my lips.

Suddenly, he broke away, his ears twitching as he scanned the darkness around us. “We can’t do this here,” he said, his voice husky. “It’s not safe.”

I nodded, trying to catch my breath. My whole body felt like it was on fire, every nerve ending tingling. “You’re right,” I agreed reluctantly, repeating my previous sentiment. “We should keep moving.”

Sky took my hand, intertwining our fingers. “When we get out of here,” he promised, his blue eyes intense, “we’ll finish what we started.”

Those words alone made my entire body shiver.

With a nod, I reluctantly stepped back from Sky, already missing the warmth of his body against mine. We resumed our trek through the dungeon, but now there was a palpable tension in the air between us. Every brush of our hands, every shared glance, sent sparks through my body.