The shrine was quiet under the moonlight, the faint chirping of night insects the only sound beyond the soft rush of wind through pine. High above, the moon hung pale and unblinking, silvering the tiled roofs and tracing ghostly outlines along the garden stones. Paper lanterns glowed along the veranda, their warm light pooling in gentle circles on the polished wood, casting long shadows of the carved railings across the floor.
Theo was returning from the kitchens after delivering hot water to Lady Yue's chambers, the faint steam from the kettle still clinging to his sleeves. His sandals made the barest creak against the boards as he walked. That was when he saw her.
Seraphine was leaning against one of the veranda pillars, her figure half-bathed in lantern glow. The shrine's modest robe had been replaced by her own black silk garment, the kind that shimmered like still water when the light caught it. The fabric clung to her as though it feared to let go, the sash tied with a careless elegance that drew the eye to the curve of her waist. The parted neckline revealed the smooth swell of her breasts, pale and luminous under the warm lantern light, the shadows between them deep and inviting.
"You're still awake," Theo said.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied with a soft, unhurried yawn.
She stepped away from the pillar, the hem of her robe whispering over the floor with each unhurried movement. The faint scent of her perfume, something floral with a sharper undercurrent drifted to him before she spoke again.
"Will you accompany me?"
"It's my duty to tend to the guests."
"I'm your friend, though. Remember?" She winked, her lips tilting in a way that made the lanternlight catch on their gloss.
"The moon is beautiful today."
"Should we continue from where we left off earlier in the day?"
Before he could respond, she took his arm again, pressing it firmly between her breasts, the warmth and softness sinking into him through the thin fabric.
"You like this, right?"
"It's comfortable."
"Let's continue. I'll teach you how to have fun. You need a breather from work occasionally, no?"
Her teeth grazed his ear. A light bite followed by the faintest pull. He inhaled sharply through his nose, the contact sending a strange, tightening ripple down his spine.
"Does that feel wrong?" she whispered.
"No."
"Good."
She walked him along the veranda, the boards cool beneath their steps, her arm still hooked in his. Now her body leaned more fully into him, her hip brushing his thigh with each step in a slow, deliberate rhythm. When they reached the far side of the shrine, where the lantern light thinned and the wind whispered more strongly through the pines, she pulled him into the deeper shadow of a carved pillar. The air here was cooler, the scent of wood and distant incense stronger.
"It feels a little more private when we're in the shadow."
Her thumb brushed his lower lip, slow enough that he could feel the faint catch of her skin. "You've never kissed a woman, have you?"
"No."
"Then let me show you something."
She leaned in slowly, her breath warm against his mouth but not closing the distance, letting the moment stretch taut between them.
"Should I continue? Do you see me as a woman?"
"I am a man," Theo said.
Her lips curved, pleased. She closed the distance, pressing her mouth to his in a kiss that was both soft and deliberate, a claiming more than a question. Her other hand slid up his chest, feeling the firmness beneath the fabric, then trailed lower with unhesitating intent. Her fingers found the shape of him through the cloth and curled lightly.
"It's hard."
"Of course it would be."
"Can I take it out?"
"Is this part of the fun you mentioned?"
"Yes." Sera leaned her ear against his chest, the side of her face brushing against him as she listened to the thrum of his heartbeat. "Your heart is beating so fast. You're enjoying this."
"I'm trusting my friend with this fun."
"You make me so frustrated. Even now, your eyes are so clear and pure. Feel more lust for me."
Her hands loosened his waistband and tugged his pants down, the night air meeting his bare skin in a brief, cool rush. Then her fingers wrapped around him fully, skin to skin, her touch soft yet snug, the sensation so new it made his knees feel less steady.
"Feels much better, right?" she murmured, her hand working him in smooth, deliberate strokes.
"It does."
"So honest." She smiled against his mouth, sealing his lips in another kiss, this one hungrier, her tongue pressing forward to taste him. Saliva warmed the corners of their mouths, slipping down their chins as her hands continued to coax shivers through him.
She sank to her knees with a slow grace, the lanternlight catching in her silver hair. When she looked up, her eyes were alight with something both playful and possessive.
"I don't do this for just anyone. I just like you that much."
Her mouth opened, the soft, wet heat of it wrapping around him in a way that made his breath catch. The sensation was unlike anything his body had ever known. A tender suction that pulled at him in slow, deliberate rhythm, her lips sealing perfectly around his girth. Her eyes never left his, their pale blue locking him in place, the connection almost as dizzying as the pleasure itself.
Her hands continued to move along his length in steady strokes, the glide of her palms alternating with the caress of her tongue as it swirled and lapped. Each upward pull of her lips was met with a downward slide of her hands, a rhythm that worked him with calculated precision. The quiet night around them seemed to recede, the chirp of the insects and the soft wind through the pines fading beneath the sound of her breathing and the faint, wet sounds of her mouth.
Theo's breath began to grow uneven, each inhale deeper, sharper, as if he couldn't quite pull in enough air. Heat was building low in his belly, a gathering wave that demanded release, his thighs tightening with each pass of her mouth. Her tongue pressed harder now, flicking in quick, teasing strokes against his most sensitive spot before retreating again to draw him deeper.
The tension inside him reached a breaking point. His hands instinctively found her shoulders, gripping them lightly, not to push her away but to steady himself as the wave crested. His back arched slightly, a tremor running through him as the release tore free. His seed spilled into her mouth in hot, pulsing bursts, the pleasure so sharp it left his vision swimming for a heartbeat.
Seraphine didn't flinch. She swallowed each drop with practiced ease, her lips maintaining their seal until the last tremor passed. When she finally pulled back, her lips were glistening with traces of saliva, her tongue darting out to gather what remained before she drew it back into her mouth with a satisfied hum.
"Did you enjoy that? It's fun, right?"
"Shall we enjoy the moon together now?"
"Certainly."