The heavy steam of the bath slowly dissipated as Luki stepped out into the quiet corridor, dressed in a simple, loose-fitting pair of cotton trousers and a comfortable dark sleeping shirt. He carried his folded day clothes over his forearm, his stride quiet against the wooden floorboards.
"Man, what a pain..." Luki muttered, shifting his bundle to twitch his wrists and ankles.
His small wings were slick and flattened, the wet feathers clinging tightly to his skin and joints. He flapped them uncomfortably, trying to dry the plumage without damaging the delicate feathers. It was especially annoying on his head; the wet feathers blocked the ambient sounds, reaching him muffled and distorted as if he were underwater.
Luki let out a wide, heavy yawn, his wings giving a lazy flutter. "Ah, so tired..." As he stretched his arms above his head.
'It's weird feeling actual drowsiness and exhaustion like this,' he thought, letting his arms fall. 'After spending months deep in the Dungeon functioning almost like a biological machine, my body kinda forgot what normal fatigue feels like. I guess that's the only real downside to my Skill... it only activates inside the Dungeon, by definition.'
Luki raised his hands to rub his eyes, navigating around the third eye on his forehead with practiced care.
'But at the same time, this sensation is actually pretty nice, not being at one hundred percent all the time, just wanting to close my eyes and relax. Sleep... it's one of the true pleasures of life.'
Luki finished rubbing his eyes, blinking away the temporary blurriness. But as his vision cleared, his gaze locked onto the door of his room, and he froze at an unexpected sight.
A small, delicate female hand slid through a crack in the doorframe, a single finger curling in a slow, suggestive "come here" gesture.
Luki stared at the tiny hand for a long moment, completely paralyzed and unsure how to react. He glanced down the empty corridor, checked the door number to confirm it was indeed his room, and looked back at the fair skin, recognizing those fingers instantly.
'Hestia... what is she up to?' he wondered, his heart skipping a beat. 'If I didn't know any better, I'd think she's inviting me to... play.'
Walking over, Luki stopped right in front of the door, deliberately choosing not to push it open yet. "Whatever you're planning in there, I'm guessing it's a surprise for me," he called out softly, a playful edge to his voice. "I'm going to open this door in one minute. Get ready."
Inside the room, the hand immediately froze, caught completely off guard. It slowly slithered back into the darkness, and the door clicked shut. Through the wood, Luki's sensitive wings picked up the muffled rustle of frantic movement.
Luki made a conscious, painful effort to suppress his senses, refusing to cheat and look through the walls. His imagination was already racing a mile a minute, bringing up highly improper images.
It had been a while since he and Hestia had shared a private moment like that, and after tasting the forbidden fruit, it was impossible not to crave more.
"Alright, I'm coming in. Excuse me," Luki whispered under his breath, he gripped the metal handle and turned it.
Luki stepped into the room with his head intentionally lowered, fully committing to the suspense of the surprise.
And maybe because his focus was entirely locked on the doorway, he completely missed the small figure standing silently at the very end of the dimly lit hallway.
Lili watched the door close behind his massive frame, her expression melting into a bittersweet, deeply affectionate gaze.
"Hestia-sama... Luki-sama..." Lili murmured softly, her voice carrying a heavy tone of quiet resignation and warmth. "I hope everything turns out well for you two..."
Turning away from her hiding spot, she pulled her small shawl tighter around her shoulders and quietly walked down the corridor toward Hestia's vacant room to spend the night alone.
...
The door clicked shut, sealing him inside the quiet sanctuary of the bedroom.
'Ok... here goes nothing. Please, let it be what I'm thinking.' Luki took a deep breath, dying of anticipation. He turned around slowly, finally lifting his gaze to see what awaited him.
Sitting on the edge of the wooden bed was Hestia, and the sight immediately stole the breath from his lungs.
She looked breathtakingly radiant, her fair skin flushed with a soft, rosy hue from her own recent hot bath. Her signature twin tails were completely gone; instead, her long, raven-black hair fell completely loose, cascading down her back like a smooth, silky river of ink.
She was wearing a delicate, thigh-length baby-pink babydoll nightgown. The garment was made of an incredibly fine, sheer fabric that was practically synonymous with an invitation for intimacy, draping over her curves like a soft mist. However, the bodice over her bust featured a thicker, lined opaque fabric, acting as a built-in bra that tastefully concealed her chest while leaving the rest of her slender waist and thighs tantalizingly visible through the translucent hem.
Hestia looked up, her gaze locking onto Luki. Her large, blue eyes were wide, swirling with a mixture of nervous vulnerability, deep affection, and an undeniable, burning desire.
As they held eye contact, she slowly raised a petite hand, gently sliding a thin pink strap back up her shoulder; which she absolutely didn't drop on purpose just so she could do that, a simple and casual adjustment that felt intensely sensual.
"Hi... darling..." she whispered, her voice laced with warmth.
Luki froze, his modern mind short-circuiting entirely. The sheer contrast between her usual energetic self and this alluring woman before him was overwhelming.
'FUCK YEAH! It's on tonight!' He shouted to himself as he let his clothes drop, his eyes darkening with a sudden, intense wave of desire.
Hestia stood up from the edge of the bed and began walking toward him. Every step she took toward him had a hypnotic, agonizingly slow rhythm. The fine, pink fabric of her gown clung to her hips, swaying from side to side with a natural, heavy roll that drew his gaze downward.
He couldn't look away even if he wanted to. On his forehead, his third eye fluttered beneath his bangs, tracking the heavy, uncontained bounce of her chest that seemed to practically scream for his attention with every stride.
When she finally stopped right in front of him, the sweet, warm scent of her bath washed over his senses. Hestia didn't hesitate. She slid her small arms up his chest, wrapping them tightly around his neck as she pushed herself up on her tiptoes. Luki instinctively leaned down, his massive frame caving to her reach.
The moment their bodies pressed together, a jolt went through him. Even through the thin layers of their clothes, her skin felt incredibly soft and radiating heat. It was a dangerous sensation. His desires flared, a sudden, wild urge screaming at him to just tear his own clothes away and lose control right then and there.
Hestia caught the sudden shift in his breathing. A blush crept up her neck and face as she felt the heavy, rigid press of his desire right against her stomach. Instead of pulling back, she let out a soft breath and leaned into it, grounding herself against him.
Luki's hands moved on instinct, his large palms locking around her slender waist, pulling her so close there wasn't a single inch of air left between them.
"Hi... my love..." he murmured back, his deep voice scraping against her ear.
Hestia tilted her head back, her wet, blue eyes searching his for a split second before she closed the distance.
Their lips finally met, starting as a quiet, tentative brush of skin. There was no rush at first; it was a slow, deliberate movement of their mouths, testing the heat and molding against one another without the rush of their tongues. The sheer friction of it sent a violent shiver straight down Luki's spine, his hands anchoring firmly on her slender waist as the sensation began to build an unbearable pressure in his chest.
Then, the innocent barrier broke.
The kiss turned deep and predatory. Their tongues slid past their teeth, tangling in a slick, heated rhythm that left them both breathless. Wet, muffled sounds of friction and shifting lips echoed softly inside the quiet room, a quiet exchange of saliva that made Luki's head spin. Every tiny tremble of Hestia's body against his only fueled the fire, sending his restraint straight to hell.
His large hands slid down to her bare thighs, feeling her unbelievably soft and warm skin beneath his palms. Giving in to the heat, he moved his hands up under the hem of her nightgown, his fingers tracing the delicate fabric of her underwear.
Every tiny tremble of Hestia's body against his only fueled the fire, sending his restraint straight to hell. But just as he was about to firmly massage her backside, Hestia's hands shot down.
She grabbed his broad forearms, her small fingers tightening with surprisingly firm resistance, physically anchoring his arms to halt the advance.
Luki slowly tore his mouth away, a thin strand of saliva breaking between them in the dim light. He blinked down at her, his breathing heavy and ragged, his dazed mind trying to process the sudden break.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his deep voice thick with friction.
Hestia didn't answer right away. She simply looked up at him, her chest heaving against his shirt as she gave a slow, slightly melancholic shake of her head.
"Not yet..." Hestia whispered softly, her voice barely a breath.
Without letting go of his arm, she gently stepped backward, using her small frame to guide him forward, pulling him along with her toward the wooden bed.
"Please, lay down for me. I need to see your Falna..." Hestia murmured, her voice carrying a fragile, heavy melancholy that seemed to quiet the entire room.
Luki followed her command in complete silence. He pulled his dark shirt over his head and laid face down on the mattress. A second later, the mattress dipped as Hestia quietly climbed on top of him, straddling his waist.
Without a word, she dragged the sharp edge of her thumb's nail across her index finger, drawing a droplet of blood before the minor wound instantly healed itself. She touched his back, and the Falna began to glow faintly, but it didn't open.
Knowing exactly what was required, Hestia leaned over the edge of the bed and pulled out Luki's sword, which she had pre-positioned there for this exact moment. With one more drop of her blood and a drop of his, the intricate, glowing symbols on his back and around the blade tore wide open, illuminating the dark room.
Neither of them spoke. The heavy, suffocating atmosphere hung over them, and Luki simply let her do whatever she wanted, focusing on the weight of her body.
Hestia slowly traced her soft palms across his bare back, mapping out the contours of his muscles, completely ignoring the glowing text of the status. Her expression was one of profound, aching longing, a nostalgic sadness that felt like she was memorizing every single inch of him.
"This will be our last night together..." she whispered, finally forcing her blue eyes back toward the glowing symbols floating in front of her.
Luki closed his eyes against the pillow. "Yeah..."
"I don't want this..." Hestia said, her voice cracking slightly.
"Me neither."
"But it's impossible to stop it..."
"Yeah," Luki replied, his voice dropping into a rough, dark register. "We both made mistakes. I wasn't careful enough, and you were too impatient... Now we're paying the price."
"Don't call it a mistake," Hestia countered gently, her fingers pausing on his skin. "It was just something that happened. There's nothing we can do to change it now."
"But because of that 'happening,' we're being torn apart. I fucking hate it," Luki growled, a sudden, fiercely possessive and savage tone bleeding into his voice. His large fist clenched tightly against the sheets. "You're my woman. You're supposed to stay with me."
Hestia's gaze softened beautifully, not minding his possessive behavior—actually, liking it very much. "Yes, I am your woman, Luki. Yours entirely, and only yours, for all eternity. But... if that event hadn't happened, you wouldn't have met Lili either. Do you still hate it?"
"Let's not talk about Lili right now. It's just you and me here," Luki muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "But yeah, I still hate it. Especially because of Lili... because I can't bring myself to regret what brought us together. Those harsh, unforgettable moments. I guess I'm just frustrated because I don't have a proper target for my anger."
"It's okay. It will pass soon, and you'll get used to it," Hestia whispered, her hands resuming their intricate movements through the glowing air, weaving the divine script. "Lili will stay here for you. You can use her however you want to relieve your frustrations. Just like me, she belongs to you too."
"I said let's not talk about another girl right now," Luki repeated firmly. Then, his voice softened. "But yeah... she definitely wouldn't mind. It's just not safe for now, she's too young for it."
A long, heavy silence stretched between them as Hestia continued manipulating his Falna. Luki stopped talking, focusing entirely on the rhythmic expansion of his lungs and the warm, comforting sensation of her weight pinning him to the bed.
"What are you doing?" he finally asked, his tone curious but deeply relaxed.
"A final gift from me to you," Hestia said, a strange, profound smile blooming on her face as she watched her divine art take shape in the glowing text. "So that you can never, ever forget about me."
"I'm never going to forget you," Luki barked back, his tone turning wild and sharp, as if the mere suggestion was an insult to his loyalty.
"Fufu~ You'll understand when you test it out," Hestia giggled softly, a hint of her usual playfulness returning. "I assure you, we are both going to love it."
With a sudden movement, she raised her arms, pulling the floating, brilliant symbols down, and smoothly pressed them straight back into Luki's spine. With one final swipe of her fingers across both his skin and his weapon, the two Falnas sealed shut, plunging the bedroom back into dim twilight.
"They want to separate us," Hestia whispered, her voice darkening with a dangerous, possessive edge. "They want me to suffer up there, while I watch you suffer, aging all alone down here. But I won't allow it."
Leaning forward, Hestia collapsed entirely onto his back. Luki felt a violent jolt of electricity run down his spine as her heavy, soft breasts flattened and dragged against his skin. She wrapped her small arms tightly around his neck from behind, resting her cheek directly against his, their faces side by side.
"You are the only Child of Hestia. The sole love of the Goddess of Hearth," she purred, almost like a cat, affectionately rubbing her face against his before planting a firm, lingering kiss on his cheek. "With this gift, we will never be apart again. I will always be right by your side, watching over you."
Luki twisted his head slightly, capturing her mouth in a brief, heavy seal of their lips to quiet her. When he pulled back, a wry, amused smirk tugged at his lips.
"What kind of stalker talk is that? You're starting to creep me out, woman."
"You should," Hestia chuckled, her eyes flashing with absolute certainty. "Nobody messes with a Goddess and gets away with it. Soon, they will pay for what they did. You'll make sure of that, won't you, my love?"
"I will..." Luki replied, his modern morals kicking in. "But I'm not going to kill anyone or permanently maim them. I don't want to ruin innocent lives over a personal grudge."
"That's exactly why I love you. You're just so... you, Luki," Hestia whispered, her tone melting back into pure affection. "But enough of this serious talk. It's just you and me now. Let's make this night completely unforgettable. For now..."
Shifting her weight, Hestia pushed herself up slightly. With a smooth, coordinated motion, she grabbed his shoulder and rolled Luki onto his back. In an instant, she straddled his lap, sliding up to rest entirely against his chest. With their faces mere inches apart, she reached out and tenderly cupped his face with both her hands, her warm palms framing his jawline.
"For now... I want my present from you," Hestia whispered, a sultry, incredibly sharp smile spreading across her lips as she leaned closer.
Luki smirked, thoroughly enjoying the dangerous direction this conversation was taking. This time, without a single shred of hesitation, his large palms slid down and locked around her soft backside, squeezing her firmly from bellow the nightgown and pulling her entire weight flush against him.
Far from complaining, Hestia let out a ragged gasp, her hips immediately beginning to grind against him in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The heavy friction made her breath hitch, her slender body radiating a feverish, addictive heat as she felt her panties soaking wet.
"How assertive," Luki teased, his voice dropping into a low, rough growl. "If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't even believe you were a virgin until last week."
Hestia pouted, giving his chest a playful slap. "Luki, stop playing around! Don't ruin the mood. You're supposed to say you don't have a present, and then ask me what I want."
"Alright, my bad, my bad," Luki chuckled, his fingers digging slightly deeper into her skin. "I just love messing with my little Goddess."
He gave a theatrical cough. "I'm deeply sorry, Hestia-sama, but I don't have a single present on me right now."
"Oh, my foolish Luki," Hestia murmured, her eyes dark with a sudden, intense craving. "You have the biggest, greatest present I could ever ask for. Right... here~" As if to prove a point, she ground her hips even harder against his, feeling something grow harder with every rub.
Luki raised an eyebrow, matching her dark, playful energy. "And what exactly does the Goddess Hestia desire this mere mortal to do to her?"
With a smile that was equal parts wicked, playful, and utterly seductive, Hestia leaned all the way forward. She pressed her lips right against the sensitive skin of his ear-wing, her warm breath making his whole body shudder as she whispered her unfiltered, raw desire into his ear.
"I want you to fuck me... I want you to use me—every hole, every inch of me—to satisfy yourself. I want you to fill my little tummy with your hot, creamy load until I look nine months pregnant. Ravage me, wreck me, bend me over, knock me up! Devour me like an animal in heat and make me scream with pleasure all night long..."
She finished by gently biting the base of his ear-wing and giving it a quick little lick.
Luki's eyes snapped wide in utter shock. His brain completely short-circuited; he had never expected Hestia to say something so unforgettably dirty and primal.
Predicting his exact reaction, Hestia pulled back just enough to look at his face, looking deeply satisfied with the chaotic effect of her words, which she absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, hadn't rehearsed beforehand just for this moment; belive it.
Without giving him a single second to recover, she pounced. She sealed their lips together, and a fiercely wild, predatory battle of tongues began, both of them fighting intensely for absolute control over the other.
When they finally tore apart, it was only for a desperate second to catch their breath. Like someone drowning, Hestia eagerly chased his lips again, and Luki met her with the exact same savage hunger every single time.
Taking advantage of her smaller frame, Hestia shifted higher on his body. Her small feet hooked around his trousers, dragging them down without wanting to interrupt the frantic rhythm of their skin against skin.
They didn't need foreplay; he was already hard as a rock, and she was nice and wet. She reached her hand to his member to help guide it in, and with a single downward motion, she impaled herself all the way to the base.
"Ah~!" She screamed loud, unable to withstand the sudden wave of pleasure.
Locked in a vice grip of pure carnal desire, the two of them sank deep into each other's warmth, completely burning away every single problem that awaited them tomorrow.