"It’s getting late, we should go home," Ray said reluctantly, though it was clear he didn’t want to let her go.
Lilith hummed, her lips curling in a soft smile. "Hmm..."
It was late, around 11 PM, by the time they reached her apartment. The air was cool and calm, and the streets were quieter now, with only a few cars passing by. The soft glow of streetlights lit up the empty sidewalks.
As Lilith stepped out of the bike, Ray followed, watching her every move.
"It’s getting late! Why don’t you stay over?" Lilith said casually as they reached the door of her apartment, unlocking it.
Ray’s eyes lit up instantly, like a child being offered his favorite candy.
"Of course! And don’t worry, I already messaged someone to get your bag and phone delivered in the morning," he said, following her inside without hesitation.
But as soon as they entered, Ray made a beeline toward her bedroom.
"Hey, Mister!" Lilith called out, grabbing his collar from behind. "Where do you think you’re going?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ray turned to look at her with his mischievous side-eye. "Of course, your room! I’m sleepy," he said innocently.
Lilith rolled her eyes, trying to stifle a smile. "No! You’re sleeping in the guestroom!" she said, her voice firm, though the pout on his face made her second-guess herself.
"Why not?" he asked, his tone filled with sadness, his eyes widening dramatically.
"No reason!" Lilith responded, crossing her arms.
Ray frowned. "No, I’m sleeping with you," he said stubbornly, shaking his head.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Yes," Lilith finally sighed, defeated. Ray cheered like a child, rushing into her room excitedly. But as soon as he stepped inside, he froze, swallowing hard.
There, sitting casually on the bed, was ’Lilith Buddy’.
Ray’s throat went dry as his eyes locked onto the hollow sockets of the skeleton. "It’s okay, Miss Mystery," he began with forced politeness, taking a step back. "If you don’t want me here, I’ll just sleep in the guestroom. I can’t force anyone, after all," he said, attempting to backtrack.
Lilith raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. Walking toward him, she grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. "It’s okay, baby! We’re sleeping together in my room, alright?" she said, her voice teasing as she tugged him closer to the bed.
Ray gulped as his gaze flicked back to ’Lilith Buddy.’ Though he loved Lilith deeply, her strange hobby of keeping a skeleton companion unnerved him. What kind of devil sleeps with a skeleton? he thought, shaking his head internally.
Unlike Gray and Alexander, who seemed unbothered by ’Lilith Buddy’ Ray couldn’t stop himself from feeling a chill. Of course, those two are devils! But me? I’m the angel of this body! he thought.
Lilith noticed his unease and smirked, leaning closer. "What’s wrong, Ray? Scared of Buddy?" she teased, her piercing blue eyes gleaming mischievously.
Ray puffed out his chest. "Scared? Me? Never!" he said defensively, though his voice trembled slightly.
"Then prove it," Lilith challenged, a playful grin on her face.
With no way out, Ray climbed into bed, making sure to position himself as far from the creepy skeleton as possible.
Lilith chuckled softly as she watched him, shaking her head with amusement. She walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out her nightwear. Taking it to the washroom, she changed into a white silk nightdress that barely reached her thighs, the smooth fabric lightly brushing against her skin. Afterward, she applied her night cream, gently massaging it into her face, and let out a small sigh of contentment as she finished.
When she turned back toward the bed, she noticed him sitting up, rubbing his head. Something about his posture seemed different. Her steps faltered.
"Alexander?" Lilith asked cautiously, tilting her head as she observed him.
Alexander froze the moment he saw her. The dim light streaming in through the large windows painted her in soft hues. Her loose, dark hair cascaded down her back, framing her face perfectly. The white nightwear clung to her in just the right places, and her radiant skin seemed to glow in the soft city light.
His gaze darkened. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. He wasn’t prepared for this–seeing her like this, so breathtaking and so close. He could feel the heat rushing through his veins, his fingers twitching slightly.
Lilith moved toward the bed, turning off the bedside lamp as she did so, leaving the room bathed in the faint glow of the cityscape outside. She climbed onto the bed gracefully, settling down next to him.
Alexander hummed softly, acknowledging her presence, but his eyes betrayed the storm brewing within him. They were dark, intense, and fixed on her as if he was trying to memorize every detail of her.
Lilith turned to face him, her piercing blue eyes meeting his. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Alexander couldn’t respond immediately. His gaze dropped briefly, trailing down the curve of her neck to the delicate way her nightdress rested against her body.
"I..." he started, his voice low and slightly raspy. His words seemed caught in his throat. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, no matter how hard he tried. He felt drawn to her, an unstoppable force pulling him closer.
Lilith smirked slightly, noticing the heat in his gaze. "Human doll, you’re staring," she teased lightly.
Alexander let out a small breathless laugh, but his expression didn’t change. "Can you blame me?" he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky tone. He shifted slightly, closing the gap between them, his fingers brushing against hers lightly.
Her teasing smirk faded, replaced with a soft expression, as if she too could feel the electricity in the air. "Go on," she challenged playfully, though her voice was quieter now.
Alexander leaned in, his hand grazing her waist as he moved closer. The air between them grew heavier, almost suffocating.
"Lili..." he whispered, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine.
She didn’t move away, didn’t flinch, just watched him with those intense, piercing eyes of hers. It was as if they were caught in a moment suspended in time, both waiting for the other to break the silence.