CHAPTER 83: STEAMING UP A BUNNY

Inside the cozy, leafy sanctuary of the witches’ cottage, the team lounges like happy puddles after a feast. They’re sprawled across mossy couches, curled on flower-shaped beanbags, and melting into soft, vine-woven cushions.

Everyone looks full. Full of food, full of tea... and full of secondhand post-coital radiation.

The eldest witch slinks into the room, graceful despite the exhaustion that trails behind her like faint fog. She carries a tray of fragrant herbal tea and hands out steaming cups with a knowing smile. Her middle sister is still snoring on a couch, mouth open, leaking drool, one leg twitching occasionally like a happily dreaming dog.

Penelo yawns mid-sip. "So... should we go check on Pip and the youngest witch, yet or—?"

Zora stretches, his shirt undone, wine-stained, and dramatically draped over the arm of a lounge chair. "Oh, I’ll volunteer. Purely out of an abundance of caution, of course."

Sera snorts and yanks his collar. "Let the golden boy do his thing. He hasn’t beeped for help, has he?"

Vuvi, curled up in the corner with her ever-present flask, nods sagely. "He’s fiiiiine. Watch this."

She raises her fingers, waits a moment, then snaps.

Right on cue, a squeal of bliss echoes down the hallway. Long, high-pitched, and ending in a delighted gasp.

Everyone freezes.

Then erupts into laughter.

Veena facepalms. "I don’t know whether to be impressed or worried."

"I do," Vuvi says, waving her flask around. "I’m not just Pip’s mechanic anymore. I’m his handler. His manager. His..." she waves vaguely, " ...pleasure logistics coordinator. I know him better than I know the back of my own—"

Another squeal cuts her off. Louder this time. Almost musical.

"I stand corrected," she mutters. "He’s got a few surprises left."

Inside the room, Pip lies flat in a bed of glowing moss and leaves. The youngest witch sits astride him, her tangled hair bouncing as she throws her head back, riding a high that has nothing to do with altitude and everything to do with Pip’s divine pleasure delivery.

The air sparkles with lingering enchantment and the faint smell of wildflowers and scorched hair.

The wet slaps of her sweat drenched body beating against his pelvis echoes across the room as she huffs and groans, eyes fluttering and her chest heaving heavily.

Pip beeps, mildly concerned, as the witch’s body suddenly pulls taught, she flicks back her head, hitches on her breath and then clutches her heart and slumps forward onto his chest, gasping for breath.

"Sorry," she pants, smiling dreamily. "I might’ve gone a tiny bit too hard... but I’ve been waiting my whole life for something like this."

She hugs him. Pip’s eyes aglow with gentle light as he sends her a warm wave of compassion and admiration.

"You’re... really sweet," she whispers.

Then she rolls onto her back, panting. "Now... finish me."

Pip straightens up with a heroic beep and jumps into action.

Outside, Lula jolts awake from the couch. "I-Is Pip still going?"

Penelo flops onto her side, eyes red. "He’s gonna miss his bath time."

The door finally rustles.

Pip steps out, his polished chestplate glinting faintly in the low light. Cradled in his arms is the youngest witch, smiling like she’s just seen the divine. She clings to him, drenched in sweat, her skin glowing faintly.

Lula gasps. "I-Is she... okay?"

Pip beeps innocently.

The witch lifts her head and sighs. "I’m more than ok... I’m in love."

Penelo bolts upright. "Nope!"

She leaps over the back of the couch. "You can’t fall in love with Pip! I saw him first!"

Lula sputters. "That’s not fair! You faint every time he—!"

"Exactly!" Penelo yells. "I’ve earned this suffering!"

The witch only clings tighter to Pip’s neck, planting a long, overly moist kiss on his faceplate.

Lula and Penelo screech in tandem and rip Pip out of her arms.

"You guys hogged him all day!" Penelo cries.

"He’s due for maintenance," Lula adds. "Steam, scrub, oil, everything!"

The eldest witch pokes her head out from the kitchen. "There’s a small waterfall a short walk behind the cottage, if you want something magical. Self-cleaning."

Pip nods approvingly while Penelo and Lula squeal and drag him toward the door.

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Behind the cottage, under moonlight, steam rises from a natural stone basin filled with glowing water that smells of herbs and sunshine. The girls argue at the edge of the pool, Pip politely waiting with a towel over his shoulder.

"I do the hips!" Lula demands.

"I do the hips. You did it last time," Penelo snaps back.

Suddenly, Lula’s tone softens. She steps up to Pip with wide eyes and a pout that could melt diamonds. "Pip..."

Penelo squints suspiciously.

"Oh no you don’t!"

Lula clasps her hands and falls to her knees. "I need a taste! It’s been days. I’m going to combust! You want another uncontrolled transformation? You want me roasting the bathroom again?!"

Pip emits a thoughtful beep. A wave of concern.

"She’s manipulating you," Penelo hisses.

Lula looks away guiltily.

Pip shrugs.

Penelo throws her hands in the air. "Fine! Ten minutes."

She stomps off and plops onto a mossy trunk, sulking.

Pip helps Lula out of her dress. Reverently. Carefully. As if unveiling sacred treasure. Penelo watches through her fingers, blush growing by the second. "Oh gods... he cares so much..."

Moments later, the water steams with soft moans and faint splashes. Lula braces against the stone wall, letting out the occasional squeak as Pip diligently and rhythmically drives her from behind. One metal hand on her small of her back, the other bracing her hips.

Penelo fidgets, blushing deeper.

Ka’Lula moans.

Then she whimpers.

Squeaks.

And finally lets out a deep, long, thoroughly satisfied groan.

"I... I can’t take this anymore!"

Penelo hops up and turns to the pair with a pout.

Lula is slumped against the rockwall, smiling like someone who just won three raffles and a cake. Pip leans beside her, brushing wet strands of hair from her face with a gentle hand.

"That’s it!" Penelo says, stomping forward. "You had your turn! Now I-I deserve—!"

Lula smiles. "Five minutes with Pip is like a full-body resurrection."

Penelo groans. "I wish I could handle it! But every time I see the... the... divine hardware, I pass out!"

Lula’s eyes sparkle. "Wait. I have an idea..."

Five minutes later, Penelo finds herself bent over a tree stump, gripping Lula’s hands for moral support.

"This is so smart!" Penelo squeals. "Why didn’t I think of blindfolding myself sooner?!"

"You’re not blindfolded," Lula says gently. "You’re just facing the other way."

"Oh. Right. That too!"

Pip beeps behind them, all systems calibrated.

"Just... focus on my eyes," Lula says softly. "Let the rest... happen."

Penelo nods, trembling. "Okay. Okay. I can do this. I’m ready. Go for it, my Prince."

Pip steps forward.

His pelvic port pops into position.

The forest glows with divine light.

Then he moves.

Slowly, precisely and as tenderly as he can manage.

Flesh meets divine metal.

A moment passes.

And then...

"OOOOHHHHHHhhhhhhhh—!"

Penelo goes rigid like a statue, eyes rolling back, mouth curling into a bliss-filled grin. Then she slumps sideways into the grass with a dumb, dreamy smile.

Lula gasps. "P-Penelo?!"

The bunny-kin murmurs something about stars and sugar cookies before fading off into unconsciousness.

Pip shrugs.

Lula scoops her up and cradles her like a damsel in distress. "You sweet, furry fool..."

From a nearby bush, two pairs of wide eyes blink in unison.

Raenly’s jaw hangs open. Mysa fans herself rapidly.

"You sure about this?" Raenly whispers.

Mysa is already unbuckling her belt.

"I’ve waited long enough," she growls. "Tonight, I’m getting mine."