The girl's body was submerged in the water. The medicinal solution seeped into her wounds, bringing a needle-like sting of pain. Mu Lin cried out and thrashed, but she was held firmly down. The intense agony made her tense every muscle, pained whimpers escaping her throat.
Only when the medicine began to take effect—after the stinging faded into a tingling warmth that spread through her limbs—did she gradually calm.
Noyes sat in the bath with the utterly drained Mu Lin cradled in his arms, gently massaging the bruises across her body to disperse the stagnant blood. Her head rested on his shoulder; half-conscious, she let out faint hums.
The injuries covered her from head to toe—some from daytime classes, others from his own training. The worst were the whip marks, now deep purple, crusted with scabs and crossing her body in frightening lines.
The bathwater had been mixed with holy water and healing herbs, excellent for recovery. Mu Lin's mind cleared somewhat. She didn't remember when she had passed out—only that her body felt warm and heavy, unwilling to move from Noyes's embrace.
Both were naked, skin against skin. His firm chest brushed her breasts; the heat of his body against hers made Mu Lin flush. She pushed away slightly and sat up.
"Feeling better?" Noyes reached out, tucking the damp, tangled strands of hair behind her ear.
Blushing, Mu Lin nodded. The pain had dulled, though exhaustion weighed her down. This refined high priest could be impeccably courteous—yet merciless in training. She felt as though her bones had been taken apart and reassembled.
Noyes turned her to sit with her back to him. He scooped water and poured it over her hair. The chestnut strands, soaked with sweat, clung in knotted clumps. With careful fingers he untangled them, then worked scented oil into her scalp in slow circles.
He rarely smiled and trained with ruthless severity—yet he was astonishingly gentle in caring for a girl. Mu Lin hugged her knees, lost in thought. From what she had learned these past days, it wasn't hard to guess whose company had shaped these tender habits.
Before she could dwell further, Noyes tilted her head to rinse away the oil with clear water.
Feeling refreshed all over, she was suddenly lifted. Noyes settled her astride his lap, legs spread. One arm encircled her waist to knead her soft breasts; the other hand slipped between her thighs.
Mu Lin tensed instantly, clamping her legs together. "Do we have to… today?" She was truly exhausted.
"The curse seal suppresses demonic energy but also assaults the witch's body—it's extremely painful for her. I don't like that," he said, ignoring her resistance and forcing his hand between her thighs. Fingers parted her folds to tease the sensitive pearl. "So daily purification is mandatory."
Already drained, Mu Lin quickly surrendered under his skilled touch. Her body melted into helpless liquid, leaning against him as she panted with need.
As always, she was exquisitely sensitive—nearly climaxing before penetration. But Noyes denied her release, pausing just at the edge and turning her to face him on his lap.
The aching suspension of desire made Mu Lin squirm. Seeing his erection before her, her empty passage fluttered involuntarily.
"Get it ready yourself," Noyes guided her hands to his shaft.
The scorching heat made her shiver. Beneath the thin, soft skin pulsed unmistakable masculine hardness; her cheeks burned. She stroked him cautiously—and soon stared in alarm as the already impressive length swelled further in her palms. It grew thicker, veins standing out in fierce relief, throbbing like a heartbeat.
Last time, consciousness hazy, details had blurred. Now, confronted with the daunting size, Mu Lin could scarcely believe her body had once taken this monstrous thing unharmed.
Noyes lifted her hips; the burning tip pressed against her entrance.
"No…" Though she no longer minded intimacy with him, watching the menacing organ about to enter her still sparked fear. She pushed at his shoulders, struggling.
He wrapped his arms tightly around the restless little body, mouth capturing a swaying nipple. Tongue swirling and sucking, he distracted her—then yanked her downward in one fierce motion.
"Ah—!" The sudden stretch tore a scream from her. Every fold inside was forced open; her soft passage expanded to its limit, on the verge of tearing.
Lips white, Mu Lin felt pain mingled with the strange, full satisfaction of being completely filled. Her cries took on an oddly sweet note.
Only half-buried, the massive shaft already pressed the end of her channel—yet it advanced further. Noyes released her hips, letting gravity impale her slowly. Organs shifted under the pressure; screaming in agony, she took the punishing length to the root.
Freshly washed hair was sweat-soaked again. Merely accepting him seemed to drain all her strength. Noyes cupped the back of her neck and kissed her trembling lips in reward.
Mu Lin parted her mouth to taste him. Then she felt herself lifted gradually, the veined shaft dragging along stretched, sensitive walls. Tingling pleasure prickled like countless tiny claws; gooseflesh rose over her skin.
Noyes trailed kisses down to her sweat-beaded breasts. He twisted her arms behind her back to still her flailing, paused—then slammed into her again amid her scream.
Hands bound, Mu Lin could only submit as he moved within her. He pulled her down repeatedly; the scorching thickness drove relentlessly, burying to the hilt.
"No… stop…" It felt as though her insides would be pierced. The rigid length ground her deepest spot with electric jolts; pain and ecstasy intertwined until she hovered between life and death.
Head thrown back, sweat-drenched body arched taut, she cried out as climax claimed her.
Uncontrollable shudders wracked her; spent, she collapsed against him like a rag doll. Her passage still pulsed, milking the hardness inside.
Still pinned by his shaft, she could not move. Noyes turned her—still joined—until her upper body lay face-down over the bath's edge.
The shift dragged along her walls, drawing trembling moans. Post-climax, she was fever-hot and hypersensitive; soft breasts pressed against cool stone. Sobbing for mercy—she felt she would die—Noyes showed none. Gripping her pale hips, he thrust rapidly.
Lewd slaps echoed through the water. Each withdrawal sucked greedily at him; walls and shaft clung as if to pull him inside out. Each plunge drove water deep, flooding her depths like a tidal wave, then forcing it out around the stretched seal to scour her sensitive flesh.
Mu Lin could no longer even cry. Her body rocked with his assault; breasts scraped and deformed against stone; mindless, wanton cries spilled from her throat.
Noyes targeted her most vulnerable point, slamming home again and again. Feeling her writhe and scream beneath him, she finally broke—convulsing wildly, passage spasming in tight waves, warm fluid gushing over the shaft buried within.
Satisfied, his length pulsed and released thick, white essence into her clenching depths.
In Mu Lin's bedroom, Noyes gently laid the unconscious girl on the bed and tucked the quilt around her.
Eyes closed in deep sleep, her body limp as a dehydrated jellyfish, she did not stir while he cleaned her thoroughly and changed her into fresh nightclothes.
Bruises remained, making her face appear even paler.
By moonlight, Noyes gazed at the small, wan face. From their first meeting he had sensed her faint magic—yet her stubbornness surprised him. She would have suited an ordinary priest, a safe and easy life. Instead, fate bound her to him.
He had failed to protect even Deliya, powerful as she was. How could he keep this fragile girl safe?
The silver-haired priest lowered his gaze; silver irises caught faint moonlight. He smoothed the stray hairs from her sleeping face and softly kissed her forehead.
The road ahead would be hard—for both of them. He only hoped this delicate witch could endure it.