SLAM!
Lola slapped the glass wall of the bathroom, leaving a clear print on the moist surface. Her face was red, breath heavy as she looked back.
"Is this part of your healing?" she complained to Atlas, who was standing behind her under the shower. "I don’t remember this part."
Atlas tilted his head slightly, reached out, and hugged her naked frame. As his body pressed against her bare back, he whispered in her ear.
"I regretted not making love with you," he said, turning her head so she would look at him. "That reminded me..."
The rest of his words rolled in his throat as his lips pressed against hers, his tongue sliding between her lips. Lola whimpered in protest before a sharp, muffled moan escaped her mouth straight into his as he thrust his hips forward, dipping inside her.
Her legs trembled, barely holding her up without his support.
It wasn’t like Lola was the type to complain. A lot of times, she would deliberately seduce him. However, the only reason she was complaining was that... they had been at this all morning!
Her petals might catch fire with so much friction.
*
*
*
"Oh, my god..." Lola jumped onto the bed, still in her robe, her hair damp. "I can’t... anymore..."
Her lips quivered as she stared at the ceiling in exhaustion. Her day had yet to start, but she felt like she had already done a month’s worth of work.
"To those saying... this is not exercise, they’ve probably never done it over and over and over and over," she grumbled.
Bitterness shone on her face, feeling like she had been scammed. He promised just two! Two rounds, and then they would shower! But they did more than that.
"Monster..." she huffed, looking down and catching Atlas leaning on the desk to get something.
A towel was wrapped around his waist, his hair damp, the tips dripping water onto his exposed torso. His back — and the scratches on it — faced her for her to see.
Huffing, Lola turned to the small towel that was supposed to dry her hair. Grabbing it, she balled it up and threw it in his direction.
The towel plopped pathetically against his back, enough to make him pause but not stop. But then, what came flying next was a pillow.
Atlas glanced down at the pillow near his feet. Then, very slowly, he looked back at her. He picked up the pillow and walked toward her.
He chuckled, resting his knee on the bed as he placed his hand on her side.
"Sorry," he said in a low voice. His eyes studied her face, and just looking at her made his blood heat in his groin.
When his gaze fell on her chest, Lola instinctively crossed her arms to cover herself.
"No more," she huffed, puffing her cheeks. "I’ll stand my ground this time. I can’t take it anymore! We already did it five times!"
"That love potion is very potent," he pointed out, making her gasp. He nodded at her. "But you’re right. Later again."
With that, he lowered his head and planted a soft kiss on her lips. It was brief and gentle before he drew back and looked her in the eye.
He knitted his brows and uttered, "One more," then planted another soft kiss on her lips.
"Huhu..." Lola dramatically wept as he grabbed her thigh, spreading it. "I’m going to tell your mom!"
He chuckled, kissing the side of her neck. "Then I’ll take a day off today—before doomsday."
"Wait, wait — baby!" Lola grabbed his shoulder and pushed him away, looking at him in utter panic.
For a second, she blanked as she thought she had already used all her excuses. Using her mother-in-law, Allison, was her ultimate move. Obviously, that move didn’t work on a man in heat.
Her mouth opened and closed before something finally popped into her head.
"Henrik!" she blurted. "That guy is still missing — we have to find him, didn’t we?! He was attacked in the Order’s territory, so we have to find him!"
Atlas blinked, then snorted. "Let him die. He’s not important."
"Wait—" Lola gasped as he continued to lavish her body like it was his.
Well, Lola had sacrificed herself to him; spiritually, her body was his. But she also had her limits!
Today, however, Lola learned two important lessons: her little flower would not catch fire even if they did it seven consecutive times. And that, she would still get wet.
*****
Second and Chacha knelt in the reading nook, their little hands pressed to the window, eyes on the people outside.
"Second, everyone looks so busy," Chacha hummed. "Are those uncles in trouble?"
Second shook his head as he had no idea.
Lately, they had noticed the mood in the Order was different. They knew their parents were working on a case involving Yuri and her disappearance. Atlas told them it was a secret, so they also knew no one else knew about that.
So, they were curious about what this was.
"Hey, kids!"
Suddenly, Hugo’s voice rang behind them as he approached. When he stopped near them, he peered over the window to see what they were looking at.
"Say, Second Uncle, what’s going on?" Second asked, looking up at Hugo. "Is there something wrong?"
Hugo smiled as he reached out, ruffling Second’s hair. But just when others would think he would give them a kid-friendly answer, he said,
"Well, someone was found dead in the territory, so everyone is undergoing an investigation," he declared loudly. "We have to find out who did it — and also, the other victim’s body. It’s missing."
As soon as he said that, Kiara — who was bringing snacks for the children — dropped the tray. The sharp clang made the three flinch. They turned on instinct and saw Kiara standing there with a blank expression.
"Uh oh..." Chacha covered her lips, glancing at Hugo. "Second Uncle, I think this is the time you should run."
"Hugo..." Kiara’s mouth twisted, the air around her seeming to slow as invisible fire engulfed her. "...what did I tell you about keeping your mouth shut?"
"Shit—"
"Hey!" Kiara barked as she saw her husband leap away. "You’re really dead today!"
Keen to teach her husband a lesson, she went after him, followed by Hugo’s pleas to give him another chance to live.
As the couple left, Second and Chacha stared at each other and shrugged. Then they turned back to the window, their curiosity deepening.
"Someone died..." Second whispered.
Chacha added, "I want to see crime scene photos." Then, she turned to him, beaming. "Second, let’s check it out."