(Yuuta's POV)
We were in a separate room—just the two of us—because of the bet we made during the hot spring. I accepted it without hesitation, laughing as if it was nothing more than a playful challenge. What could possibly go wrong?
I couldn't have been more wrong.
When Erza had casually said she was afraid I'd die from exhaustion, I thought she was teasing. After all, she always exaggerated things. Yes, she had a high sexual appetite—everyone knew that—but I was confident. I could handle it. I had to handle it.
The first two hours went smoothly enough. I took the lead, fueled by adrenaline and stubborn pride. I thought I could easily overpower her. But she wouldn't let me. Not once. She slipped through every attempt to assert myself, pushing back with a ferocity that left me stunned.
By the third hour, I was gasping for breath, but she only smiled as if it was a game.
Now, four hours in, I could feel it—the slow unraveling of my body. My muscles burned with every movement. My skin was flushed red and sticky with sweat. My legs felt numb, like they didn't belong to me anymore. Every breath was a shallow gasp, and every heartbeat thundered painfully in my chest.
I barely managed to croak out, "Erza… stop… I admit defeat… please…"
Her eyes lit up like I'd just confessed something scandalous. She tilted her head with an innocent smile.
"What are you saying, my husband?" she purred, her voice sweet as if I was a child making excuses. "You're still rock hard. We can go for more than three hours, right?"
I blinked in disbelief. "No… please… let me take a break… I'll die…" I begged, clutching at her wrist like a drowning man reaching for air.
She laughed softly, not unkindly, but with that dangerous calm she always wore when she wanted something. Her fingers traced the curve of my face.
"There's no need to take a break, my husband," she whispered, brushing her lips against mine. "I've been kissing you the whole time, so you wouldn't die."
I froze. My jaw slackened. My eyes widened.
"You… evil dragon…" I growled, voice hoarse with exhaustion and rage.
Her eyes flashed amusement. "Shut up!" she scolded, but it was playful, like she enjoyed provoking me. "Don't ruin my mood. Let's focus together."
I sagged against the edge of the bed, muscles trembling uncontrollably. I wanted to scream, but the words that escaped were quieter, almost sheepish.
"I'm… I'm sorry…"
"I'm… I'm sorry, Erza…" I whispered, my body barely holding itself up. Every muscle screamed for relief, and my legs felt like they'd been replaced by wet noodles. My whole body was on fire, drained beyond anything I'd ever imagined possible.
She looked at me with that calm, amused expression she always wore when she knew exactly how much trouble she was causing—and enjoyed it.
"I told you," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You can't satisfy me, but you definitely know how to provoke me."
I let out a weak groan, swallowing against the dryness in my throat. "I… I thought you'd at least give me a break…" I coughed out, barely able to sit upright. "But you didn't even let me take one."
Erza's lips curved into a sly smile, like she was indulging me but had no intention of being kind. "Uff…" she sighed dramatically, as if I was such a poor helpless creature that it pained her to watch me struggle. "Don't worry, my husband. You'll adapt. Humans are… adaptive by nature, aren't they? You'll get used to it."
I blinked at her, stunned. "Used to it? What if… what if I die?" I rasped, panic bubbling up in my chest. My fingers twitched helplessly, like I was trying to hold myself together by sheer will.
Her eyes softened, though that glint of amusement didn't fully disappear. She leaned closer, lips hovering near mine as if sharing a secret that only the two of us knew.
"I've already found a way to keep you alive, Remember.!" she whispered, as though it was the simplest thing in the world.
"What Remember?" I croaked, my curiosity and desperation outweighing my exhaustion.
She grinned like a cat with a mouse trapped between its claws. "Whenever I kiss you, you actually get healed," she said matter-of-factly. "My saliva has healing properties. So… if we kiss like… one hundred and thirty times, you can go through a whole night without dying."
I froze. "No! That's foul play! You evil dragon!" I screamed as she pressed her lips to mine again.
The rest of the night passed like a fever dream.
By the time dawn's first light crept through the window, I was half-dead, legs numb, muscles screaming in pain. But there she lay—curled against me like a child, face soft and radiant, her lips parted in sleep, utterly innocent and ridiculously beautiful.
Here I was—on the edge of the deathbed—while she looked like she'd slept through it all without a care.
And even as my body begged for mercy, even as pain gnawed at every inch of me, I couldn't stop smiling. There she was—wild, relentless, impossible to resist—and terrifyingly devoted.
It wasn't love that scared me.
It was how much I couldn't live without her.
I gently brushed her damp hair away from her face and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Don't worry, Erza…" I whispered, my voice weak but full of sincerity. "I'll always protect you… my wife."
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, as if surfacing from a deep dream. A sleepy smile spread across her lips, and the same glint of mischief lingered in her eyes. Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips.
"Dummy," she murmured against my mouth, her eyes half-lidded with affection. "You're weak… so don't try doing reckless things."
Her cheeks flushed deep rose, and for a brief moment, she looked both fierce and utterly adorable. She cupped my face gently with her hands, her touch warm and steady, as if grounding me.
"I'll protect you," she whispered softly, resting her forehead against mine. "So just stay by my side… don't disappear, okay?"
My heart tightened at her words. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer. "Don't worry, my wife," I whispered, locking my eyes with hers. "I'll never leave you. We're bound together… forever. And ever."
A soft smile curled at the corners of her lips. She returned the embrace tightly, pressing her face against my chest. "I know," she murmured, nuzzling into me. "We're bound… forever. And ever."
I let my hand rest gently on her back. The skin there was soft and warm, almost impossibly smooth beneath my fingertips. I rubbed her back slowly, mesmerized by the sensation. "I'm glad," I said, my voice soft with emotion, "that I fell in love with you, Erza."
She smiled, her eyes sparkling even in that quiet moment. "Me too," she replied softly. "I never thought I'd fall in love with a human… but here we are. My husband."
I grinned mischievously. "Just for fun," I teased, "what if you ever found out I cheated on you? Just curious…"
Her eyes flashed with something dangerously playful. In a blink, she reached out, grabbed my thigh firmly, and squeezed hard enough to make me yelp.
"If you ever use my things on another woman…" she growled with faux menace, her eyes narrowing, "remember—you'll die an honorable death."
The sharp pain shot through me like lightning. "Wait—Erza! Please! You're too strong!" I gasped, clutching my leg in agony.
She paused, her eyes wide in realization, and I took a deep breath, half convinced my life had ended right then and there.
"I understand," I croaked, though barely able to speak.
She tilted her head at me, her expression unreadable for a moment before breaking into a sly smile. " i warn you, If you cheat on me, my husband, I'll give you an honorable death, Understand my Husband."
I blinked, stunned, then groaned, "Wait! That's… that's not what I meant! Besides… you can't even use the main novel's dialogue here—it's illegal!" I tried to lighten the mood, but the pain still throbbed.
Her eyes grew serious, even a little frustrated, like she was afraid of what I might say next. "Illegal or not… you can't cheat on me," she snapped, puffing her cheeks in indignation. "I love you, and it's unbearable to think of you sleeping with someone else—I'll kill you!"
I sighed, pulling her into a tighter embrace. "How can you even think I'd cheat on you?" I murmured, nuzzling her hair. "I love you… and your body… more than any human girl I've ever seen. So don't worry. If I ever cheat on you… well…" I paused for effect, "you can do whatever you want."
Her cheeks flared with a soft blush, and she exhaled in frustration. "Dummy."
But the frustration melted away the next moment. She sighed contentedly and pressed herself into me as if she'd finally found the safest place in the world. Her smile softened, and for the first time that night, the wildness in her eyes faded, replaced by something far gentler—pure trust.
She held me tightly, wrapping her arms around me in a gentle hug. Our bodies fit together naturally, our breaths slowing in sync as if they had always belonged to the same rhythm. The warmth of her skin against mine spread like a soothing wave, and her hand intertwined with mine, fingers locking effortlessly. I gripped her gently, unwilling to let go.
I carefully cupped the back of her head, drawing her closer. She didn't resist. Instead, she leaned into my touch without hesitation, trusting me completely. We melted into one another, curled together in an embrace that spoke of safety and love. Soon, without another word, we drifted into sleep.
The world outside slowly dissolved.
We fell into slumber, bare skin pressed together, our hearts beating in unison as if time itself had slowed to match our closeness. My exhausted muscles finally surrendered, and the pain that had gripped every fiber of my body loosened. Her warmth seeped into me, chasing away the ache and fear. For the first time in days, I didn't fight against exhaustion or discomfort—I simply let myself rest.
Peace wrapped around us like a soft, protective blanket.
That night, nothing else mattered.
To be continue....