CHAPTER 32: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MORNING OF MY LIFE

The morning light filtered through the window and stabbed into my eyes, making me groan as consciousness dragged me awake. I felt a sharp pain in my arm immediately—circulation cut off—along with a warm weight pinning it down.

Lira.

She lay with her head tucked close to my shoulder, her breath ghosting across my skin in slow, steady rhythms. Sleep had claimed her completely, and both of us were half-wrapped in rough sheets that had twisted during the night. Part of her bare skin peeked out from under the duvet—the curve of her hip, the smooth line of her thigh catching the pale morning light. The flowery scent of her hair drifted into my nose, something light and clean that reminded me of spring gardens.

’I should probably get up.’

I extracted myself carefully, moving with the kind of deliberate slowness reserved for defusing bombs or escaping sleeping partners. Success. She didn’t even stir.

Her kitchen was a mystery waiting to be solved. I rummaged through cabinets and drawers with the determination of someone who had no idea what they were looking for, opening and closing things that made far too much noise. Eventually, triumph—I found tea leaves tucked behind a collection of mismatched mugs, and managed to locate her kettle.

Languages in this world came with relative ease, at least. After all, as soon as we all awakened, we could understand the written languages of this world—the common ones, anyway. The more complicated scripts, like Aevirian belonging to the elven race, were being taught to us at the academy. Small mercies. But locating the tea was easier thanks to that.

While the water heated, I checked her shelves and found some leftover bread hiding in the back. I picked it up, turned it over in my hands, observing and smelling it with the scrutiny of a suspicious investigator.

’Not moldy. That’s... that’s good enough.’

It was still fine. Probably. Since there was nothing more, this humble offering would have to do—I knew she’d be tired after waking up, and even mediocre tea was better than nothing.

Right?

I carried the tray of tea and bread back to her room and placed it gently on the nightstand beside her. As I set it down, she squeezed her eyes open, stretching without a care in the world. The duvet slipped, revealing her breast and even more thigh.

"You’re awake."

Her morning voice came out deep and hoarse, roughened by sleep.

A delightful blush bloomed across her cheeks as she noticed the tray, her eyes going wide with genuine surprise.

"And you made me tea... awwwh." She looked at me, still smiling, something soft and warm in her expression. "You really didn’t have to do this."

I chuckled lightly, feeling heat creep up my neck. "I couldn’t resist." I straightened, glancing toward where I’d left my things. "I’ve got to get ready for the academy, though. I’m already running late as it is."

Lira sat up, pulling the sheets to cover herself—mostly—though she didn’t seem particularly concerned about her exposed thighs or the generous view of her cleavage. She took a sip of the tea, and her expression shifted into something I couldn’t quite read.

’Oh no.’

"What? Is it that bad?"

She laughed, the sound short and bright. "It’s your first time making tea. I’ll teach you properly when you come back."

I pouted slightly, which only made her grin wider.

"Right." She shifted, that mischievous look settling into something more serious. "I got new clothes for you, by the way. Had an enchanter work on them for durability and defense. The weaving is beyond ordinary quality, so it should serve as a stroke of luck to compensate for your... well, your tendency toward carelessness."

’Was that really necessary?’

...Probably.

As she spoke, she dragged herself out of bed, the duvet spilling across the floor in a cascade of rough fabric. She stretched again—apparently modesty was not a morning priority—then slipped into a pair of skimpy panties and a cropped tank top that did absolutely nothing to hide the shape behind it.

Afterward, she scratched the back of her head, tousling her already messy hair into something even more chaotic. She rummaged through her wardrobe with purpose, finally pulling out a neatly folded set of clothes and turning to me with a smile.

"You should take your bath first and try these on. We can’t have you pulling up to a spirit gate like you just rolled out of someone’s bed."

’Well...’

I did exactly that, though.

She had a point.

"The bathroom’s over there." She gestured toward a door adjacent to her room, her movements lazy and unhurried.

I rushed toward it, already pulling at my trousers as I crossed the threshold. The bath compartment was simple—functional—with an overhead faucet that sputtered to life when I turned the handle. Water cascaded down, cold at first, then gradually warming as I stepped under the stream.

’Just a quick wash and I can—’

I felt a smooth hand touch my back.

Then soft breasts pressed against me from behind as those same hands drifted forward, sliding over my chest, rubbing down my abdomen, tracing lower toward my waist with clear intent.

’Of course.’

We’d done this all night. All. Night. And now she was here again, apparently insatiable. Not that I didn’t want to—far from it—but at this rate, I was genuinely concerned about creating some kind of dependency situation.

’How addicted am I going to get her?’

"Don’t worry," Lira murmured against my shoulder blade, her voice honey-sweet and completely unconvincing. "I just want to wash your back."

I chuckled despite myself, soap foam sliding down my face. "You say that, but you’re currently gripping my dick."

Her hand tightened—just slightly—and I could practically hear the grin in her voice.

"Oh my, did you get hard because of me?" A sly smile curved her lips as she pressed closer, her breath warm against my neck. "I have to take responsibility for that, don’t I? Let’s help you calm this down..."

I sighed.

Long, slow, and deeply resigned.

’I’m going to be so freaking late.’