Chapter 17: Tension

    Third-person Pov

    Seraphina felt something strange stir inside her, a feeling she couldn''t quite place as Electra hovered so close. Her body betrayed her—her heart racing, her palms damp, and a flush creeping up her neck.

    She had never been this nervous before, and certainly never around another girl, but Electra''s proximity was overwhelming, and her face being mere inches from Seraphina''s wasn''t helping her in the slightest.

    Every attempt she made to look away was thwarted by the magnetic pull of Electra''s beautiful blue eyes, and she found herself staring and wondering what to do next.

    Electra, on the other hand, noticed all of it, from the way Seraphina swallowed hard to how she shifted uncomfortably but never quite moved away, and a slow, satisfied smile curled up her lips.

    She enjoyed the effect she had on Seraphina and was feeding off the nervous energy radiating from her. She backed away slightly, just enough to ease the tension but still close enough to keep Seraphina on edge.

    "I was just about to get into the bath," she said, her tone casual, almost teasing. "Would you like to join me?"

    Seraphina''s eyes widened in shock, her mind stuttering at the unexpected suggestion. She blurted out, without thinking, "Why would you want me to join you in the bath?"@@@@

    The words came out before she could stop them, her voice full of panic and confusion. She wasn''t used to situations like this, and the thought of bathing with anyone at all was something she had never even imagined.

    She wondered why Electra would even go as far as asking her such a thing in the first place.

    BElectra let out a soft laugh, clearly amused by how flustered Seraphina was. "Oh, come on. It''s no big deal," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "Friends take baths together all the time."

    Seraphina blinked, the word "friends" repeating in her mind like a foreign concept. Friends? Since when did she and Electra become friends?

    She had barely spoken to the girl outside of their previous tense encounters, and here Electra was, casually suggesting they were now friends and should share a bath.

    Seraphina''s confusion deepened, and without realizing it, she blurted out, "Friends?"

    Electra seemed completely at ease, as if this entire scenario was just a natural progression of events.

    She chuckled softly, her amusement clear as she leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course," she said, her smile still playing on her lips. "Or would you prefer we''re enemies, Seraphina?"

    Seraphina quickly shook her head, fumbling over her words as she responded, "I didn''t mean to imply that we''re enemies. I''m just... surprised, I guess. I didn''t expect you to call me your friend."

    Electra shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "What, you don''t like the idea?" she asked.

    Seraphina swallowed hard, trying to gather her thoughts. Why would Electra want to be friends with her? Of all people, why her?

    She didn''t think she was particularly special or interesting, and she certainly hadn''t expected someone like Electra to take an interest in her, let alone suddenly call her a friend. It was too strange.

    Seraphina felt her mouth go dry as she tried to look away, but her gaze was helplessly drawn back.

    She quickly turned around, forcing herself to stare at the marble floor, her cheeks burning. Besides what she had seen earlier with Liana and her friend, she had never been this close to someone naked, and the intimacy of the moment was overwhelming her.

    Electra chuckled, clearly amused by Seraphina''s reaction. "You can turn around now," she said, slipping into the tub. The water immediately hid most of her body, the surface covered with bubbles and steam. "Unless you''d rather keep staring at the wall."

    Slowly Seraphina turned back, feeling even more flustered than before. Electra''s face was partially hidden by the steam, but her gaze was as intense as ever.

    "Why are you so nervous?" Electra asked, leaning back against the edge of the tub, her arms resting on either side as she watched Seraphina with an almost lazy interest. "It''s just a bath, or have you never seen someone naked before?"

    Seraphina''s cheeks burned even hotter. She wasn''t sure how to answer without sounding foolish. "I... I just wasn''t expecting this," she replied.

    Electra smiled, a sly, almost predatory look crossing her face. "You didn''t answer my question," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Have you?"

    Seraphina swallowed. "N-no, not exactly," she admitted, barely able to meet Electra''s eyes.

    "Hmm," Electra murmured, seeming pleased by her answer. She sank a little deeper into the water, the bubbles rising around her. "Well, it''s a good thing I''m your first."

    Seraphina''s brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of Electra''s words. "Why is it a good thing that you''re my... first?" she asked, the confusion clear in her voice.

    She wasn''t sure if she was misinterpreting Electra''s meaning or if there was something she wasn''t yet understanding.

    Electra didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she shifted her body in the water, rising just enough for the top of her chest to be exposed, and Seraphina''s cheeks flushed at the sight.

    She made a subtle gesture with her hand, signaling for Seraphina to come closer, and unable to resist, Seraphina leaned in, her heart racing.

    In one swift motion, Electra reached out, placing a damp hand on Seraphina''s cheek, and although the touch was gentle, Seraphina felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her at the sudden contact.

    Electra''s fingers began to trace a slow path from her cheek down to her neck, the water droplets clinging to her skin and leaving a wet trail.

    The feeling was unfamiliar, almost hypnotic, and Seraphina shivered involuntarily, the touch awakening something in her that she didn''t quite recognize.

    A sound escaped her—a soft, breathy moan she hadn''t meant to make. The noise startled her, and she immediately pressed her lips together, embarrassed, but Electra seemed pleased.

    Her lips curled into a knowing smile as she continued her exploration, her fingers gliding along Seraphina''s neck with a slow rhythm that was both foreign and thrilling.

    Seraphina''s mind was spinning. Everything about Electra''s touch felt overwhelming, and she couldn''t understand why her body was responding this way.

    Electra leaned in closer, her breath warm against Seraphina''s ear. "The reason it''s good that I''m your first," she murmured, her voice low, "is because I intend to be your first in many other things, Sera. You and I are going to have so much fun together."