Luke sat stiffly on the edge of Miss Ross's soft, plush bed, gripping the game controller like it was a lifeline in a stormy sea. His shoulders were tense, his legs slightly apart but glued to the mattress, as if shifting even an inch might trigger something explosive.
Next to him, lounging far too comfortably, was Miss Ross—wrapped in a silky wine-colored robe that shimmered with each tiny movement. One of her bare legs was draped lazily over the other, toes playfully swaying in the air. Her hair was slightly tousled, falling in relaxed waves past her shoulders, and her lips curved into a lazy smile that was just... too much.
On the flat screen ahead of them, the opening title of Dating Life DXD faded into the first animated scene. The game's cutesy visuals filled the room with cheerful music and overly bright school backgrounds. Anime-styled characters with exaggerated expressions flitted across the screen, chatting about homeroom and clubs and other harmless slice-of-life stuff. It all seemed innocent enough at first.
Luke felt himself beginning to relax. His grip on the controller eased a little.
"See? Not so bad," Miss Ross said with a teasing lilt, her voice light and musical. She leaned in a bit closer, holding a tall glass of something pink and fizzy in one hand. "You were acting like we were booting up a porno or something."
Luke let out a weak laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Y-Yeah. Guess I overreacted. Just didn't expect it to look so... normal."
But then… it started.
The game shifted gears. A new transfer student entered the scene—a girl with massive, physics-defying proportions and a uniform that looked several sizes too small. Within moments, she tripped and landed squarely on the male protagonist. There was a loud, exaggerated moan through the speakers.
The camera angle zoomed. And zoomed. And kept zooming.
Dialogue boxes popped up—pink. Sound effects grew more... slippery.
Luke's thumbs hovered over the controller, unmoving.
Miss Ross let out a soft laugh, surprised but amused. "Well... that escalated quickly."
Luke swallowed. "I-I think I remember this game now," he said, voice cracking slightly. His face was heating up rapidly. "It was really popular on that weird site Maddie mentioned once."
Miss Ross quirked an eyebrow. "Maddie? Who's that—an ex-girlfriend?"
"What? No! Just someone from school," Luke stammered, looking anywhere but at her. "She brought it up in a meme group. I didn't know it was this kind of game!"
Miss Ross grinned, clearly enjoying his fluster. "Uh-huh. Sure."
Then the scene changed again—now the characters were in a hot spring. The male lead was surrounded by girls in towels, steam carefully positioned to obscure just enough skin to keep it technically legal. The girls giggled and teased, their voices soft and breathy. Towel slips. Bare shoulders. Splashing.
Luke's brain short-circuited.
He dared a sideways glance. Miss Ross's expression had changed. Her smile remained, but her eyes had darkened slightly. There was color in her cheeks now, though it wasn't from embarrassment. Her robe had slipped off one shoulder, revealing a smooth line of collarbone and the gentle rise of her chest.
She wasn't watching the screen anymore.
She was watching him.
The room felt thick with something he couldn't name. Heat? Tension? Desire? All of the above?
His throat tightened.
"So…" she said softly, voice dropping into something slower, silkier, playful with a hint of heat. "Is this your first time playing a game like this... with a woman?"
Luke opened his mouth to respond, but no sound came out.
Their faces were close. Too close. He could smell her—warm vanilla and something deeper, almost intoxicating. Her lips curved into a knowing smirk.
"You're blushing again," she whispered, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead. "That's your tell, sweetheart. You always go red when you're thinking naughty things."
"I-I'm not—!" he began, but even he didn't believe it.
Her hand lingered, fingers feather-light against his skin. Their eyes met and held. He didn't know who leaned in first—maybe both of them. Time slowed. He could feel her breath, sweet and warm, just a whisper away from his lips.
Their mouths hovered an inch apart.
Half an inch.
Then—
"Mmm…" Miss Ross let out a low, almost dreamy murmur. Her eyes fluttered shut.
For a second, Luke thought this was it. This was the kiss. This was the moment.
Then her body sagged sideways, and her head gently landed on his shoulder.
A tiny snore followed.
Luke blinked.
"...Miss Ross?"
No response.
She had fallen asleep.
Dead asleep.
In the middle of the most awkward, heated, confusing almost-kiss of his entire life.
He sat there, frozen, while her gentle breathing tickled his collarbone. After a long pause, he carefully shifted and lowered her onto the bed. She stirred only slightly, mumbling something unintelligible in her sleep before curling into a pillow like a cat.
He stood up slowly, his heart still pounding like he'd just run a mile.
Had that really just happened?
Was she actually going to kiss him?
Or had he just imagined the whole thing in a moment of heated confusion?
Luke stared at her one last time—her peaceful, soft expression, the subtle rise and fall of her chest under the thin robe, the curve of her lips that had been so close.
God.
He almost got seduced by his older neighbor.
Or… maybe worse—he almost seduced her?
He quickly gathered his things, trying not to think about anything. Especially not the heat still lingering in his chest or the flush still burning on his face.
As he stepped outside, the cool night air hit him like a splash of cold water. The breeze carried the distant scent of grass and city smoke. The sky had darkened into deep blue, stars beginning to flicker faintly overhead.
Luke walked fast, eyes down, clutching the strap of his bag like it was his only anchor to reality.
His brain replayed everything—her voice, her touch, that almost-kiss, the soft weight of her against him.
By the time he reached the corner of the block, he had almost calmed down.
Almost.
Then he stopped dead in his tracks.
"…Oh no."
He tore open his bag, flipping through the manga volumes inside.
Only one.
One was missing.
And he remembered exactly which one.
Harem Under One Roof: The Forbidden Love Story.
A hentai manga. With stepmom And their daughters. And a lot of bathing scenes.
His stomach dropped.
His hands clenched the bag, eyes wide in horror.
"She's totally going to read it…"
His voice came out in a whisper, then a groan.
"I'm so dead…"
Luke resumed walking, dragging his feet this time, the heat rushing back into his face for an entirely new reason.
This night wasn't going to be forgotten anytime soon.
Not by him.
And definitely not by Miss Ross.
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