The sky was already dark by the time Luke reached home. The streetlights cast long shadows along the quiet sidewalks of Brisden. His steps were quick, but his mind was still trailing behind—stuck somewhere between Miss Ross's soft breath and the heat of her almost-kiss.
His heart hadn't fully calmed down since that strange gaming session. He felt as if he'd just narrowly escaped something dangerous… or thrilling. Maybe both.
As he quietly unlocked the front door and slipped inside the house, he noticed the lights in the living room were still on. The entire house was silent—everyone seemed to be asleep.
Everyone… except one.
Sarah stood by the kitchen entrance, wearing her usual home robe, her blonde hair slightly messy from lounging, not sleep. She smiled softly when she saw him.
"Welcome home, Luke," she said, her tone so gentle it felt like a warm hug. There was a hint of something else in her voice too—something playful. "You're late. I was starting to think you ran away."
Luke blinked, surprised. "You're still awake? It's late…"
"I was waiting for you," she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You've been out for a while."
He laughed awkwardly, trying to play it cool. "Thanks for worrying. I'm home safe now."
Sarah tilted her head slightly, watching his expression with careful eyes. "So… what were you and Miss Ross doing all evening, hmm?"
"Nothing weird," Luke replied a little too fast. "Just video games. It's been a week since we last played together, so we were catching up. That's all."
But as he said it, his face flushed again. The images flashed through his mind: her thigh brushing his, her robe slipping, their faces nearly touching. Her breath on his lips. It was hard to erase.
Sarah noticed the red creeping up his cheeks.
"Oh? Just video games made you blush like that?" she teased with a soft laugh, arms folding under her chest. "Now I really want to know what kind of games you two were playing."
"It's nothing! I swear!" Luke quickly said, flustered.
Sarah leaned a little on the counter, pouting just enough to be cute. "I'm jealous now. I want to play games with you too, you know…"
Luke sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, alright. I'll play with you sometime. Just don't pout like that."
Satisfied, Sarah smiled warmly. "Deal. Now go to bed, silly. You've got school tomorrow."
Luke nodded, walking toward the stairs. But he froze halfway up.
He thought, face turning red all over again. What if she sees the manga I left behind at Miss Ross's place?
He groaned quietly and shook his head, continuing to his room.
Upstairs, the hallway was dark. As Luke reached the second floor, he paused—eyes catching movement at the end of the hall. For a split second, he thought someone was there.
But there was nothing.
Must've been my nerves, he thought, rubbing his face.
He went into his room and shut the door. After turning off the light, he tossed his school bag onto the chair and dropped onto his bed. The mattress creaked under his weight.
Lying in the dark, the thoughts returned.
Miss Ross… her lips… that soft perfume…
He pulled the blanket over his face and groaned into it.
I really hope she doesn't open that book…
The Next Morning…
Sunlight stretched lazily across the rooftops of Brisden. Birds fluttered between trees, chirping a soft melody to welcome the new day.
In a quiet home not far away, Miss Ross woke up slowly. Her limbs ached a little, her mouth dry. The soft hum of morning filled the air. She rubbed her temple and sat up in bed, eyes adjusting to the soft light coming in through the curtains.
As her senses returned, flashes of last night came back.
Luke.
The game.
Almost kissing him.
And then—
"Oh no…"
She quickly looked at the bedside table, spotting two glasses—one empty, one barely touched.
"I… I drank the wrong one," she muttered, frustrated. "I was supposed to give him the sleepy drink, not drink it myself."
She fell back against the pillow with a sigh. "You idiot, Ross… you missed your golden chance."
Groaning, she dragged herself out of bed and shuffled toward the bathroom. But just as she stepped forward—
Her foot hit something.
She looked down. A manga volume lay sprawled open on the floor. She crouched and picked it up.
Her eyes scanned the cover.
Harem Under One Roof: The Forbidden Love Story.
There was a long pause.
Then she smirked.
"Well, well…" she murmured, flipping through the first few pages. "Luke, I thought you were such a sweet, innocent boy. But you've been hiding this little side of yourself, huh?"
She closed the book slowly and held it to her chest.
"If I can't seduce you the normal way…" she said with a glint in her eye, "…maybe I'll use this."
She laughed softly, eyes sparkling like a succubus waking from a hundred-year sleep. "You're mine, Luke. One way or another."
Back at Luke's House…
Luke was still fast asleep, limbs tangled in his blanket, his mouth slightly open.
That's when the door creaked.
"Luke? Breakfast is ready—"
Lily stood at the doorway, peeking inside. The tray in her hand almost slipped when she saw what was under the blanket.
"Ah—AHH! You perv! You're seriously doing that this early in the morning?!"
Luke shot up in bed, groggy. "Huh—?! Wha—?! What happened?!"
Lily, red-faced, turned away, covering her eyes. "Don't show me that thing! Geez, you're the worst!"
She grabbed a random book from his shelf and threw it at his head.
"Ow! What the hell, Lily?! It's just morning wood! I wasn't doing anything!"
Lily stormed off, slamming the door shut behind her, her face still beet-red.
Luke groaned, rubbing his temple. "What the hell, man…"
He looked at the clock.
7:45 a.m.
He had to hurry for school. He jumped out of bed, throwing on his uniform.
Please, Miss Ross, don't read that manga, he thought desperately. Please don't…
But he had no idea.
She already had.
And she wasn't planning to return it.
She had plans.
---
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