Chapter 63
Winter night was long and deep.
A faint breeze now and then rattled the window, and pale moonlight slipped through the cracks into the bedroom.
A rustling sound seemed to come from somewhere; when he looked outside, snow was falling in tiny flakes, shining in the moonlight.
It was Quaalid’s quiet first snowfall of the night.
Admiring the dreamlike sight, Tarmin laid Enya down.
One of the slippers she’d been wearing still hung from her foot; who knew where the other had gone.
Looking around for the missing slipper, he called to Enya.
“Enya, open your eyes.”
“…Ah, mm.”
Enya opened her eyes with a dazed expression, then squeezed them shut when she saw Tarmin’s face still just a handspan away.
Then she spoke as if pleading.
“D-don’t. No more kissing.”
Enya’s lips, glistening with saliva as she let out a heated sigh, were still lush and tempting.
Tarmin suppressed the urge to steal another kiss, then grinned and reached for Enya’s head.
He tousled her hair, then got up and stepped away.
“Hey, who’s trying to eat you? It’s snowing for the first time—take a look outside.”
At that, Enya turned her head toward the window without getting up.
Soon, a gasp of admiration escaped her lips too.
Meanwhile, Tarmin brought over the candleholder that had been lighting the table and hung it on the wall.
The light filled the room, revealing Enya, disheveled before him.
Enya had still looked dazed, but as the room brightened, she gradually came to her senses.
In the bedroom stood a large mirror.
As if only just realizing she was lying on a bed, Enya jolted and hurriedly clutched the sheet.
Only now, belatedly, was she squirming and pulling the sheet up to cover herself.
Tarmin cleared his throat briefly, then called to Enya in a low voice.
“Ahem… Enya.”
“…Wh-what?”
Enya had pulled the sheet over her head and was peering at him with only her eyes showing.
It was an adorable yet alluring sight, making him imagine what lay beneath the sheet.
Though he already knew she was wearing a dress.
At the sight of her loveliness, Tarmin’s throat bobbed for a moment before he spoke.
“Enya. Do you know what I—or rather, we—are about to do?”
“…Hie.”
Instead of answering, Enya let out an incomprehensible whimper and disappeared beneath the sheet.
Seeing Enya unusually bashful made Tarmin’s own heart swell a little in response.
“We’re about to, um, do it… Are you okay with that?”
He whispered softly toward the sheet covering Enya.
He was putting it indirectly, but neither he nor Enya was a child, so it should be enough to get the meaning across.
They were about to do something vulgar that lovers might do.
“...”
For a while, not even a breath could be heard from beneath the sheet.
Just as Tarmin, growing a little worried, was considering calling her, Enya’s belated reply came.
“…I-I know, okay? Do you think I’m a kid?”
“You know? You know for sure?”
“Y-yeah.”
Enya’s voice was unmistakably trembling with nerves.
Tarmin looked at the sheet with concern, then said,
“Enya. I know it’s a little late to say this, but I’ll say it anyway. You don’t have to force yourself, okay?”
“Y-yeah. I’m okay.”
“You’re okay? Really? How am I supposed to believe that?”
“I-I said I’m okay… How many times do I have to say it? I mean it…”
Enya was mumbling something quietly beneath the sheet, her legs twisting restlessly.
Apparently without realizing it, her dress skirt had ridden up along with the sheet, exposing her soft-looking thighs.
As Tarmin felt dizzy from the desire surging through him at the sight, Enya spoke.
“If Taal wants to, y-you can.”
“What? What are you saying? Enya, are you asking because you think I might not want to? Of course I—”
Tarmin hurried to declare his willingness, then trailed off as something occurred to him.
He was used to Enya’s habit of adding cute little conditions.
When he narrowed his eyes and stared at her in silence, Enya cautiously peeked out from under the sheet.
Tarmin reached out at that moment.
“Taal? Why did you suddenly stop talking—Aaaah!”
He grabbed Enya by the ankle and pulled her toward him with a sharp tug.
He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed.
Enya’s adorable struggles were no use.
After a brief tussle, Tarmin managed to pin Enya beneath him, her body between his knees.
Bracing both arms on the bed, he looked down at Enya, who was hiding her face behind the sheet between them.
“You’re the one who seduced me first, and now you’re saying that? Want me to teach you a lesson?”
“N-nooo…”
Tarmin playfully rapped Enya on the head with his knuckles.
Enya’s tearful face disappeared beneath the sheet.
At the same time, he saw her earlobes turn red.
Caught between his legs, her face barely hidden—utterly defenseless,
“…Urgh.”
Tarmin shuddered with a sudden surge of pleasure.
He was disconcerted to feel that dark pleasure he’d experienced once before.
The sadistic thrill of dominating Enya by teasing her—the Hero.
Once, he’d wept with guilt simply because he’d felt that way.
He’d thought it was an act of hurting his friend at will.
But things were very different now.
He’d never said it out loud, but even after that incident, they’d shared many kisses and reaffirmed their feelings.
In other words, she’d had any number of chances to reject his touch if she wanted to.
The long, long winter night meant Tarmin had no need to go hunting.
His prey, prepared solely for him, was already right before his eyes.
Tarmin took a deep breath.
“Enya. Tell me if you don’t like it.”
Saying that, he lay over Enya and gently nipped her earlobe.
**
“Eek!”
Enya felt his solid body press against hers and tried to brace herself, holding her breath.
But Tarmin’s damp tongue licked her earlobe without warning, making her jump and let out a shrill scream.
“Eek, huh? Hahahaha.”
Tarmin laughed softly with his face close to her ear.
Tarmin’s hot breath tickled her ear, making her heart pound and her voice tremble involuntarily.
Her body stiffened painfully.
Enya pulled the sheet down and protested angrily.
“T-Taal! Why are you licking there? That’s gross!”
“Gross? Wait, are you the type who doesn’t wash behind your ears? I’m disappointed.”
“N-no! That’s not what I meant, you pervert, ah…!”
Enya flared up to protest, then stopped and let out a heated breath.
Tarmin’s lips had moved past her ear and slipped naturally down below.
Smack, smack—kisses from her earlobe to the side of her jaw, then from her jaw to her neck.
Each time Tarmin’s lips brushed her, Enya flinched and twisted her body.
She was trying to endure the sensual tingling coursing through her whole body.
Unable to bear it, Enya finally let go of the sheet and grabbed Tarmin by the collar.
She called to Tarmin as if pleading.
“Taal, w-wait, wait, just a second.”
Tarmin stopped and lifted his head to look at Enya.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
“I-I don’t dislike it, it’s just, this, this…”
“Then it’s fine, isn’t it?”
How was that fine? Her head was spinning!
Enya tried to glare at him resentfully, but Tarmin brought his lips to the nape of her neck without delay.
“Haa…”
At the sensation of electricity running through her, Enya let out a hot breath and buried her face in the bed.
Tarmin continued his persistent kisses along the exposed side of her neck.
At times, he slipped out his tongue and lightly licked her skin with the tip.
Enya hurriedly clamped her mouth shut to stop another sensual moan from escaping.
Just then, Tarmin’s large hand slipped beneath the sheet and seized her breast.
“Hah, ngh…!”
In the end, a heated moan escaped her.
Feeling her body gradually heating up despite herself, Enya pressed her lips together desperately.
Enya was greatly flustered by Tarmin’s actions.
She’d thought he would clumsily come at her with his own desire, but Tarmin was doing something unexpected.
Tender caresses, the kind one would give to the person they loved.
As she felt her underwear growing damp, able only to press her legs together helplessly,
Enya’s eyes widened when she felt his firm hand stroking up her leg.
Anticipating what would come next, she jerked her head up and shouted.
“T-Taal! Wait, just a second!”
“Mwah… No, what is it this time?”
“I-I, um, the bathroom, right, I need to use the bathroom!”
“The bathroom?”
Tarmin stopped caressing her and gazed at Enya.
His expression seemed to be checking whether she was lying.
Enya met his gaze, doing her best to act composed.
“...”
Before long, a mischievous smile appeared on Tarmin’s face.
Her heart sank.
“You’re lying, aren’t you? It’s obvious. Just get ready to enjoy yourself, okay?”
If only he were this perceptive at other times!
Enya’s face turned tearful.
Feeling his large hand stroke up as far as the outside of her thigh, Enya fidgeted before grabbing Tarmin’s arm.
Twisting this way and that, Enya pleaded with Tarmin.
“Please, at least let me turn off the light…”
*****