CHAPTER 44: HER BODY SAID PLEASE, HIS SYSTEM SAID WAIT

Nash and Zayela walked side by side down the streets of the underground, heading back to the hotel.

Once inside the luxury room, Zayela changed. Not her clothes, her mood.

She started sticking close. Very close.

She clung to Nash’s arm while he took off his hoodie. Her bare shoulder brushed his. She leaned against him on the couch, their thighs pressing together.

When he stood up, she followed. When he moved across the room, she trailed behind like a shadow.

"So..." Nash finally said, raising an eyebrow, "do I owe you money or something?"

She blinked and looked up, faking confusion.

"Huh? I just feel good today. Is that a crime?"

She wasn’t fooling anyone.

Nash understood her. After all, she’d been through hell. It made sense she was craving warmth, presence, contact, anything to ground her now that the weight was off her shoulders.

But her actions were starting to tickle his newly boosted arousal too much, and the day was almost over and he still hadn’t done his dailies.

He needed to start thinking practically, maybe there was a bonus for cumulating the days.

Then there was another problem that only surfaced now that he had passed the 24 hottest hours of his life.

He had spent over 10,000 credits in a single day.

Most of his entire savings freshly gained blown in twenty-four hours.

"I should head to the court soon," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Maybe play a few betting matches. I need to stack some credits before I start losing sleep."

But Zayela grabbed his wrist.

"You’re going to disappear again until tomorrow? Stay. Just for tonight. Please?"

Her voice was soft. Her grip even softer. Nash turned his head slowly. What was happening to her?

She was standing close, too close. Her loose tank clung loosely to her damp skin, the hem grazing just above her navel, revealing the slight curve of her lower belly.

The black thong hugged her hips high, the elastic biting softly into her waist. Every subtle movement made the fabric shift, teasing more than it covered.

And her scent, lavender, fresh and warm, drifted into his nose and made his stomach tighten.

Her chest pressed lightly against his bicep, soft and warm, the shape easy to describe. Her face looked innocent, but also teasing, as if she knew what she was doing and wanted him to do the first move.

Nash blinked, throat tightening. The image in front of him crossed the line. She was his cousin, yet this looked like a setup.

Was he imagining it? Was the arousal in the air his projection... or her intention?

He hesitated.

Something wasn’t adding up. She was usually bold, yes. But this? This was calculated. She clearly showed that she wanted it, right?

He was afraid of doing the wrong move now, Zayela wasn’t Lina of Amara. It was his freaking Zayela.

But just then, he remembered that he didn’t really need to guess. He already had the perfect weapon to read through her.

Her system.

His eyes narrowed.

Zayela Lewis

Affection: 93%

Lust: 78%

Trust: 90%

→ In-Scene Trigger Events:

• Gently wrap an arm around her → Lust +12%

• Assure her you’ll stay by her side no matter what → Affection +15%

• Comfort her following the threatening event → Affection +20%, Lust +10%

• Invite her to a shared intimate bath → Lust +20%

• Caress her cheek or lays her down softly, maintaining eye contact → Trust +13%, Lust +5%

• Leave her side abruptly → Affection -6%

• Mention cash or business right now → Lust -9%

→ Risk Factor:

• Zayela reacts poorly to emotional coldness. If you seem detached or transactional, her Lust and Trust both decline rapidly.

Everything clicked.

The way she leaned into him. The way she wore less than usual. The scent, the hair, the eyes, longing and playful all at once.

Her thighs brushed his, she gently laid her head against his chest. Her fingers pressed lightly against his stomach, tracing lazy circles across his abs.

"Stay," she whispered. "Just tonight."

Everything, the pose, the scent, the heat between them, was a silent invitation.

And Nash, frozen there, understood. If he made one move... if he gave in now...

This wouldn’t be like anything before.

Here it was, at last. The third day of his sexual trilogy.

This was the day.

The day of taboo.

Nash grinned.

He didn’t know why Zayela was this horny, what she was really thinking under that half-teasing, half-vulnerable look, but with her stats so high, the confidence settled in like his second skin.

His arm slowly wrapped around her waist.

Just to test.

Just to play along. See where it went.

Zayela blinked, surprised by the touch. Her body tensed for half a second, then relaxed. She shyly averted her gaze, lips curving into a soft smile.

That smile said everything.

Nash swallowed. His brain was screaming with every conflicting emotion. He was really going to do it. He was really about to fuck Zayela. His cousin.

He proceeded to suppress this wall of family to just see her as a woman.

It was bad, but she wanted it. Right? Everything showed she was ready for it. Her Lust at 90%, the reaction to his touch, the system’s confirmation, this wasn’t a mistake.

His heart pounded.

Then the message popped up.

URGENT SYSTEM QUEST

Category: Priority

Objective: Play a breakball match at the street court within 3 hours Bonus

Reward: +30 PP / +15 BP / Unique Passive Skill / +5,000 Credits

Penalty: All Special Quests will be disabled for 3 days if failed

Nash stood there, frozen.

His entire body pulsed with blood and hunger and tension... and now this.

His face slowly dropped into a blank stare.

No.

Not now.

Not that again.

Not again with her.

Not after everything he did.

The system was cockblocking him.

Again.

He clenched his jaw, eyes flicking to Zayela who leaned deeper into his side, her fingers curling around his wrist, soft breath against his collarbone.

This couldn’t be real.

He was really about to touch heaven, he was really considering giving up on his grind just today... and the damn system decided he still had a job to do.

He didn’t move, he couldn’t show this to Zayela. But inside, he was crashing hard. Like emotionally face-planting into a brick wall.

What the hell was this timing?

Nash gulped.

Zayela was already too close. Her scent sharp enough to override even his tension sweat. But she didn’t pull away. In fact, she leaned in more.

"You smell good," she murmured.

Nash blinked at her. Judging by the soft way she nestled into it, her system stats were dead-on: she was burning.

He glanced at her Lust again: 91%.

That wasn’t confusion or teasing. That was ready.

His pulse increased. Maybe he could still make this work. What if he was quick? Less than an hour? He had three.

But then he remembered.

Last night. Lina and Sarra. He thought it would be a few hours max, maybe a quick power session.

It turned into a war till mental blackouts.

With the stamina and libido buffs? One hour was a fake promise.

His body wasn’t joking about time dilation.

He couldn’t risk it.

He looked at Zayela, her leg now softly brushing his. If he backed off now, she might shut down. Her triggers were dangerously clear: she wanted physical closeness, emotional affirmation, and consistency.

If he didn’t handle this with care, her Affection and crush could crash. Maybe there wouldn’t be another chance.

He had to pivot.

"Zay," he said, gently shifting so he faced her fully. His voice dropped just enough to create intimacy. "I know you’re feeling tired right now. So am I. And I want to be here tonight. Believe me. But I need to ask something first."

She blinked at him, eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Would you come with me?" he said.

"What?" she whispered.

He touched her cheek with the back of his fingers, one of her registered triggers: gentle, focused contact.

"I need to head to the court. Something urgent is happening today. But I don’t want to leave you behind. I want you to be with me through everything, not just when it feels good."

She blinked at him, lips parting in a small gasp, surprise first, then a rush of embarrassment.

Her arms instinctively tightened around his waist. Nash caught it immediately.

"You don’t have to do anything," he added quickly. "Just being there... that keeps me grounded. You calm me down, Zay. You’re like... the thread holding my head together."

Zayela’s expression shifted, uncertainty melting into something closer to awe.

Her eyes dropped, searching his chest like it held the answer.

He pressed his forehead lightly to hers. Soft pressure. Another trigger.

"Let me play one game," he whispered. "Then we go wherever you want. I’ll give you everything I have. Just stay close."

She let out a shaky breath.

"You’re not just saying that?"

He smiled softly, his voice low and honest.

"I’m not leaving your side. Not tonight. Not ever, if I can help it. You’re not just someone I care about, you’re someone I need. The way you stand by me, the way you look at me like I matter? That’s rare. That’s real."

Zayela’s breath hitched. Her eyes flicked away, and blood rushed to her head almost instantly.

"N-Nash, we’re cousins... you can’t say stuff like that."

He chuckled quietly and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, sad, huh? But hey, who cares? If being around you feels this right, I’m not gonna act like it doesn’t."

She stared at him, stunned and completely flustered, then glanced down with a soft smile.

"You... jerk."

"That a yes?"

She nodded, still hiding her face.

"I’ll come."

Nash exhaled slowly and stood up, offering her his hand. Her stats were shifting again, Lust dropping slightly, but Affection and Trust climbing fast.

He’d rizzed his way out of hell.

Time to see what the hell the system made for him.