(Riven POV – Church Basement Room)
Soft sniffling breaks the silence of the basement.
I lie on my side, head propped on my hand, watching my Goddess curl up at the other edge of the bed. Hestia faces away from me, her knees tucked to her chest and shoulders trembling in sync with her sniffles.
"Meanie…" She mumbles while sulking.
I can't help but smile. 'Did I tease her too much?'
I probably did.
Not that I regret it. She let me touch her everywhere, but I held back from anything too sexual. It was more than enough to leave her a blushing mess. It also helps that she's incredibly blessed, so I enjoyed myself the whole time.
She didn't stop me, so I had to restrain myself before I went any further.
"Are you mad I didn't do more?" I ask casually.
She whips around immediately, grabbing her pillow and swinging it like a weapon. "Of course not, dummy!"
The pillow flies toward me, enlarging in my vision.
'It's so slow…' I think, right before it smacks me in the face as I choose not to dodge.
"AH!" I yell dramatically, rolling over like it carries actual force. "What was that for?"
She freezes mid-motion, staring at me like a startled deer. Her eyes widen, lips parted, as she appears more confused by her own action than I am.
'What's she thinking so hard about?' I tilt my head and wait for her to gather herself.
After a few seconds, her fists tighten. Her brows draw together. She stares at the blanket with an expression caught somewhere between frustration and fear.
Then, barely audible—
"Wh-why did you stop…?" Her voice is a cracked whisper. "D-did you not want to… with me?"
Her face flushes bright red, and unshed tears glimmer in her lashes.
'That… is not what I expected.'
I blink, realisation finally dawning.
'Oh. She misunderstood me. Did she think I wasn't attracted to her? Is she crazy?'
I sit up, scooting closer. Gently, I push her bangs up and place my hand on her forehead.
"Are you sick, Hestia?" I ask seriously.
"Huh?!" She sputters. "Wh—Of course I'm not sick!"
"That's a relief." I sigh dramatically. "I was worried something was wrong with your brain if you're thinking that kind of nonsense."
I flick her forehead lightly and flop back down.
She holds her forehead in wounded shock, completely blindsided.
"That's your punishment." I add, giving her a playful glare. "For daring to think my Goddess isn't beautiful, or that I don't want her."
Her blush deepens, eyes darting away, voice small. "B-but I'm your Goddess…"
"Exactly. But there are no exceptions." I scold gently, then sigh. "Listen, Hestia. I didn't stop because I didn't want to continue."
Her gaze drills into me.
"Then why?" She asks, crawling onto the bed, sitting near my legs with a seriousness rarely seen from her.
"I didn't want to rush you." I say simply. "Not until you're ready to take that step."
A moment passes in silence, then—
"Who says I'm not ready?!" She demands angrily, puffing up her cheeks in a burst of flustered pride.
I stare at her like she's an idiot.
"You've been single for how many millions of years? You're just too innocent to dive into the deep end."
Her eye twitches, while her body trembles with restraint. She looks like she's one moment away from attacking me.
Then slowly… her expression shifts as she inexplicably calms down.
Her blush deepens, and a smug, shy little smile creeps onto her lips.
"You don't know anything." She mutters, fingers tapping nervously together. "I haven't been single. I've dated before."
I raise a brow, instantly alert. "Oh? Who?"
She fails completely to meet my eyes.
"…You." She whispers.
"Me?" I blink.
'I thought that was too obvious to be counted?' I think, before realising something. 'We never did make it official did we?'
During our date, after I confessed to her, she passed out before giving me a response.
"Since when?" I ask in amusement.
"Huh?! You—You confessed to me!" She shouts, panicked and almost manic. "That means we—That I—We're—"
"But you never gave me a response." I point out, smiling faintly.
Her face drains of color in realisation.
Then even more red in embarrassment.
And finally, drains again as her worldview collapses.
"Th-then… then that means… then…" She stammers like a broken toy, tears welling again.
But, I can't let her actually get sad.
I shift closer, lowering my voice.
"Hestia…" I murmur gently. "Do you have something you want to tell me?"
"M-me?" she squeaks, pointing at herself.
"I won't pass out no matter what you say." I reassure her softly, my meaning clear.
She covers her face with both hands, shaking in embarrassment.
'Though…' I think with frightening clarity. 'If she ever confessed love for someone else, I can't guarantee my actions would remainlogical…'
But right now, every bit of my attention is on her.
She fidgets the moment I focus on her, making small, nervous movements. Her fingers twist the hem of her dress like she's trying to stop her own emotions from leaking out.
"Uh… R–Riven… I…" She swallows once, gathers herself, then looks straight at me with trembling determination. "I really like you!"
Her voice echoes slightly in the quiet room. She looks like she might burst from nervousness, shame, or maybe embarrassment, as she struggles to contain her emotions.
I hold her gaze, letting a warm smile tug at my lips. "Are you sure?" I ask softly. "Only like? Not the other 'L' word?"
Her entire face goes scarlet. She looks like I just asked her to jump off Babel Tower. All that courage she built up wavers, her lower lip starting to tremble.
I know she loves me. She knows she loves me. She's just too shy and inexperienced to say it first.
And I could tease her about it. It would be easy and fun…
But now isn't the time to play around…
"I love you too, Hestia." I confess gently.
She freezes… then breaks.
Her whole body jolts, like the words punched the air out of her chest. "G–Give me—give me time to prepare my heart!" She squeaks, stumbling backward in full panic, slipping right off the mattress.
"Ah—!"
She tips.
I grab her instantly, my hand sliding under her back as I support her weight and lift her effortlessly. Her body ends up suspended, parallel to the ground, cradled in my arms as her hair spills down. Her eyes are wide and shimmering, breath caught halfway between terror and nervous excitement.
For a moment, we just stare at each other.
I grin softly. "That's a much better answer than last time." I whisper. "Is your heart prepared now?"
I can feel it against my hand. The chaotic, frantic rhythm thundering in her chest.
"Mhm…" She nods, tiny and meek.
"Do you love me too?" I ask quietly.
"Mhm." A small whimper of agreement, shy but certain.
I pull her upright, settling her onto my lap. Her legs fold awkwardly over mine before she melts against me, clinging instinctively. Her body heat kisses my skin and breath tickles my throat. My arms wrap around her, holding her gently but securely.
"That means we're officially dating now, right?" I tease softly, my thumb tracing slow circles over her hip.
She shivers from the sensation, but nods again, her face burning red.
My gaze drifts to her lips, and she notices immediately.
Her eyes flutter shut. She puckers her lips in the most earnest, adorable attempt at a kiss.
I can't help the quiet laugh in my chest.
'Cute.'
I lean in, and our lips meet.
Warm. Soft. Hesitant at first… then hungry. Her breath mingles with mine, shaky and sweet. My heartbeat slams in my ears as my hand slides up her back on instinct, pulling her closer until there's no space left to steal between us. She fists my shirt, holding on like she's terrified I'll vanish.
The world seems to soften and blur, until only she remains.
Her warmth.
Her lips.
Her trembling devotion and innocence.
Desire blooms hot in my chest, pulling me deeper, drowning out everything but her.
And for the first time in a long time, I don't care if I lose control.
I just hold her tighter and kiss her like she's the only thing that matters.
(Hestia POV – Church Basement Room)
My breath escapes me in soft, desperate hums.
"Mmmhm… m–mhaw… mm—"
Our lips move together, and I try… try, to breathe through my nose, but every inhale leaves me desperate for breath. My eyes squeeze shut, not from fear, but from the overwhelming rush of everything I'm feeling.
Euphoria. Panic. Joy. Heat.
All of it hits me at once, flooding my body until I feel like I'm drifting weightlessly inside myself.
"Hmm—?!" A startled hum forces its way out of me as his tongue brushes against mine, gentle but claiming, pushing into my mouth. I jerk instinctively, my fingers curling in his shirt. My tongue meets his in clumsy surprise, and suddenly I'm melting, shaking, losing sense of anything around me.
Stars spark behind my eyelids. My toes curl.
It's too much.
It's not enough.
Conflicting desires leave me debilitated.
His hand glides across my back, then higher, pulling me closer, and the sensation sends another dizzy wave through me. His warmth presses into my skin, his scent clouding my thoughts, his heartbeat hammering wildly in my ears.
Everything about him fills me until there's no space left in my mind for anything else.
And just when I'm sure I'm going to pass out—
He breaks the kiss.
A quiet gasp slips from my lips as fresh air rushes in. My eyes flutter open, my vision hazy and unfocused when I see him.
He's breathing hard, his lips moist, and eyes glinting with a sharp, hungry focus. When he drags his tongue slowly across his lower lip, a shiver bolts through me so fast it almost hurts.
My heart skips numerous beats.
'Is… is there going to be more?'
The thought alone generated a dangerous warmth within my stomach. Ninety parts excitement. Ten parts fear. All of it mixing together.
"I–If it's you…" I whisper, my voice trembling but honest. "I'm fine with anything…"
He pauses, just for a moment, then his arms tighten around me, holding me firmly in place. It's possessive, but not forceful. It's almost like he's warning me.
"You can't say things like that…" He murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. "And think you can take them back after."
I shake my head quickly. "I wouldn't take it—ah!"
My words cut off in a startled yelp as my world suddenly tilts and the room spins.
In one fluid motion, he flips me back onto the bed.
I land on the sheets with a soft bounce, my hair splaying wildly around me. The disheveled blanket bunches beneath my hips. I blink rapidly, trying to catch up and understand how I went from sitting in his lap to lying breathless on my back.
"W–What… what happened…?"
My voice comes out airy and breathless.
Then he leans over me.
His hair falls forward in soft strands, framing his sky-blue eyes in a halo of shadow and moonlit brightness. He's so close his breath brushes my cheek, warm and steady compared to my frantic gasps.
My legs part slightly as his knee slips between them, firm but careful, guiding them open. I feel pinned without being trapped, surrounded without being smothered.
And when his hand slides from my stomach to my ribs, gliding ever upwards slowly and purposefully…
My breath stops.
He reaches my chest, fingers brushing the curve of my breast before gently cupping it. His hand is warm, steady, and confident. The soft squeeze sends a sharp, liquid pulse through my whole body.
"H–hng… Riven…"
My voice breaks on his name.
********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, this wasn't quite what I expected, but it is what it is. How do I put it? In my opinion, as fun (I wouldn't know), smut scenes are, I overall think they're quite boring when they drag on too long. A smut scene here would've been quite long, and I frankly, didn't think would contribute to the plot. And would actually take away from the sense of connection and emotional progress Riven and Hestia just made. So I decided to end it here (and even then, all that'd be happening is touching. No actual sex, which will be explained next chap).
Hopefully this wasn't disappointing to anyone, but yeah. I think most stuff will be summarised like this, with the only smut being the first time intercourse with the girls, just the once (maybe, If I can successfully write smut).
On to the actual plot itself, this took too long compared to my original plans. I plan to deal with some lending issues with other characters (Hephy, Naaza, Lili), Lefiya, etc., before he heads into the dungeon. Also, I plan to have his update his Falna before heading into the dungeon. That'd probably be in 2 or 3 chapters.
Let me know if the NSFW (if it could be called that), was good, or if I should omitt it entirely in future.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But, that's all from me. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day/night 🌃