CHAPTER 41: SHE ASKED FOR MORE (AND SHE DIDN’T MEAN THE NOODLES)

His hand continued its journey, sliding up her inner thigh. The muscles there twitched uncontrollably at his touch. She bit down on her lower lip hard enough to taste copper, desperately trying to maintain her composure as his fingers reached the damp lace hem of her panties.

He hooked one finger underneath, stroking the impossibly sensitive skin of her inner thigh where it met the fabric. Her hips jerked involuntarily, a wave of heat and wetness flooding between her legs.

"Ah...!" The sound was sharp, a choked-off cry of pure, unfiltered pleasure that she couldn’t contain.

Finally, he resurfaced, his expression perfectly composed as he placed her lip balm on the table. Only his eyes betrayed him—burning with dark, triumphant fire.

"Dropped this," he said, his voice deceptively casual.

Natalia couldn’t breathe. Her body felt like a live wire, thrumming with an exquisite tension that bordered on pain. She could still feel the ghost of his finger stroking her, the dampness between her legs an undeniable testament to how completely he’d affected her.

The owner appeared with their food, setting down two steaming bowls of ramen. The rich aroma of pork broth filled the air, but it seemed to come from another dimension. Satori broke his chopsticks apart and began eating as if nothing had happened, but he kept his knee firmly pressed against hers, a constant reminder of what had just transpired.

Natalia’s hands trembled as she picked up her chopsticks. Every time Satori glanced at her, a fresh wave of heat washed over her skin. She managed a few bites, the flavor exploding on her tongue—salty, rich, complex—but she could barely focus on the food.

"You’re not eating," Satori observed, his voice low. "Not hungry anymore?"

"I’m hungry," she replied, the words coming out huskier than she intended. "Just... distracted."

His lips curved into that infuriating smirk. "By what?"

She glared at him, but there was no real heat in it. "You know exactly what you did."

"I picked up your lip balm."

"That’s not all you did."

"No?" He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Tell me what else I did, Natalia."

The way he said her name sent shivers down her spine. She swallowed hard, unable to form words.

"You touched me," she finally whispered, her cheeks burning.

"Did you like it?"

In her eighteen years, no one had ever been so direct with her, so unapologetically forward. Most boys were intimidated by her, by her father’s reputation, by her own cold exterior. None had dared to touch her the way Satori had.

"Answer me, Natalia." His voice had taken on that commanding edge that made her insides liquify.

"Yes," she admitted. "I liked it."

Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. He returned to his ramen, leaving her trembling beside him.

The sake arrived, warm and fragrant. Satori poured her a small cup, then one for himself.

"To new experiences," he said, raising his cup.

Natalia managed a small smile despite her still-racing heart. "To new experiences," she echoed, touching her cup to his.

The sake burned pleasantly down her throat, warming her from the inside. She took another sip, then another, grateful for the liquid courage. By the time she’d finished her small cup, a pleasant haziness had settled over her, dulling the sharp edges of her embarrassment.

She became aware of Satori watching her, his gaze trailing over her face, lingering on her lips.

"What?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious.

"You have a bit of broth," he said, gesturing to the corner of her mouth.

Before she could reach for a napkin, his thumb was there, gently wiping away the droplet. Then, with deliberate slowness, he brought his thumb to his own mouth and licked it clean.

Her eyes widened, fixated on his mouth.

"That’s..." she struggled to find words. "That’s unsanitary."

Satori laughed, a genuine sound that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Of all the things I’ve done this week, that’s what you find objectionable?"

The tension broke, and Natalia found herself laughing too, the sound bubbling up unexpectedly. It felt good to laugh with him, to share this small, private moment in their secluded booth.

They finished their meal, talking in low voices about nothing important—the upcoming Gala, their new outfits, Satori’s ridiculous immortal snail. With each passing minute, Natalia felt herself relaxing further, the initial shock of his bold touch under the table mellowing into a pleasant, simmering awareness.

Satori finished his bowl and set down his chopsticks. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a low, husky whisper meant only for her.

"Was the ramen good, Natalia?"

She looked up, meeting his predatory gaze. Her own eyes were dark, hazy with sake and desire. She couldn’t form a coherent sentence. All she could manage was a shaky, breathless whisper, the words a raw and honest plea.

"...More."

Satori’s eyes darkened further, his pupils dilating until only a thin ring of amber remained.

"More ramen?" he asked, though they both knew that wasn’t what she meant.

Natalia shook her head slowly, gathering her courage. "More... you."

Satori stood, dropping money on the table—far more than their meal cost. He held out his hand to her, an invitation and a promise all at once.

"Let’s go home," he said simply.

Natalia placed her hand in his, feeling as though she was stepping off a cliff. The fall should have terrified her, but instead, she felt nothing but exhilaration as she followed him out into the night.

The cool evening air hit her flushed face as they emerged from the steamy restaurant. Satori pulled her close, his arm wrapping possessively around her waist. The press of his body against hers felt different now—charged with explicit intent.

"What happens when we get home?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the distant city sounds.

Satori looked down at her, his expression serious despite the heat in his eyes. "Whatever you want, Natalia. We go as far as you want to go, and not an inch further."

The consideration in his words, the respect for her boundaries even after what had happened under the table, made something twist in her chest. This wasn’t just lust; this was something deeper, more dangerous.

"And if I want everything?" she whispered, hardly believing her own boldness.

His smile was slow and devastating. "Then I’ll give you everything. And more."