Chapter 28
Aknock at the door wakes me up. I slowly open my eyes. My wounds hurt, but my physical condition is not too bad—certainly not as bad as the first time I used Zantrax. Struggling to my feet, I go to the door and open it.
“Morning! How are you feeling?” Moe’s cheery voice greets me.
I blink, surprised both at her countenance and her blinding smile.
She… She’s smiling… At me.
Did something happen that I’m not aware of? Just yesterday she didn’t know how to avoid me better—though she did wait up for me for dinner. It’s odd, but entirely welcome.
“Much better,” I answer. “Although I do need a shower since I’m sweaty.”
She nods. “Go wash and come back here. I’ll change your bandages when you return.”
“Uhm… Right, of course. Thanks.”
Since I don’t want her to change her mind, I quickly wash up, making sure I get rid of all the sweat accumulated throughout the night and I smell good for Moe.
Goodness, now that I think about it, she was so close to me last night when she was patching me up.
Did I smell? I did exert a lot of effort during the mission, and there was also the stench of blood.
I hope I did not put her off. So I do a double cleanse, making sure I scrub any and all potential dirt from my body. Of course, I can’t help but get some soap on my wounds and that hurts so badly I want to scream.
But I don’t.
Moe would hear, and the last thing I want is for her to hear me howl in pain like a coward.
When I’m done, I put on a pair of clean pants and prepare a fresh shirt to wear after she changes my bandages.
She’s on my bed, waiting for me.
I gulp down—I hope the bed doesn’t smell either. I should have changed the sheets before I allowed her to sit on them…
“Thank you for this,” I clear my throat and sit down next to her.
She merely smiles at me before she moves, going down on her knees in front of me.
My eyes widen. Images from the night before, of her in the same position, flood my mind. Back then I was hurting too badly to focus on that. But now…? My mind is clear enough that the mere sight of her on her knees gives me…strange ideas.
“It looks so much better than last night,” she murmurs softly as she takes in my wound.
“It’s all because of your sewing skills.”
She laughs. “I suppose, though it’s my first time sewing flesh.” She glances up at me, her expression suddenly growing serious. “Although I do hope I will not have too many opportunities to do so in the future.”
The warning is clear. I give her a silent nod.
She sprinkles some medicinal powder on my wound to speed up the healing before she changes the dressing and wraps the bandage all around my torso. Her focus is entirely on tending to my injury. My focus is entirely on…other things.
How can I not get those thoughts when she’s so close to me, her sweet, floral scent invading my nostrils? When the heat radiating from her body is so inviting? When her breath, fanning over my now-clean skin makes me break out in a sweat again?
How can any healthy male resist intrusive thoughts when the object of his fantasies is so close? It’s impossible.
“Done,” she exclaims with a smile.
“Uhm, yes. I… I should get dressed.” I suddenly stand up, looking for my shirt. Where did I put it?
“Your hand,” Moe says in a low voice.
“Huh?”
“The shirt is in your hand,” she adds.
Mortification floods me as I tighten my grasp over the shirt in my hand.
“Right. I knew that. I was just—”
I was just what? Imagining you doing other things on your knees?
I squeeze my eyes shut. My cheeks are flaming.
“Right,” I repeat. “I’ll get dressed. You should, too.
I promised you we’d go out today,” I ramble on—anything to get a small reprieve from the growing situation in my nether regions.
“I’ll take you to Mesquine District to try their famous desserts,” I continue as I all but push her out of the room.
“What? But I thought you were just saying that because you were feverish.”
“No. We’re going. Meet me in the living room in ten minutes.”
I shut the door after her and take a deep breath. Closing my eyes, I try to think of unpleasant things so I can quickly resolve the situation in my pants—it seemed to work in the past.
When I feel ready enough to meet her again, I put on a shirt and a thicker sweater since my coat is now in tatters.
Moe was quick too. She’s changed from her loungewear to a pretty light blue walking dress and a burgundy cape on top of it.
Her hair, usually in a neat bun at her nape, is now flowing freely down her shoulders.
I stop in my tracks. Perhaps the thought exercise from before didn’t completely work since I feel the stirrings of desire take hold of me again.
Damn it! Why can’t my body obey me for once?
She gives me a shy smile and I all but spill in my pants, right then and there.
“You didn’t have to,” she murmurs. “But thank you. I’ve always wanted to see the Mesquine District.”
“Of course,” I say in a dignified and not at all trembling voice. “Shall we?” I offer her my arm and we set out.
For the first time since Moe moved in, she is rather generous with her smiles and not at all stingy with words. If she can bestow such attentions on me, then how can I not give her the most grandiose, most extravagant outing of her life?
After all, that is why I risked my life for extra money. So my Moe can have all the beautiful things in life.
The fact that she grants me her presence and her smiles is all the reward I could have dreamed of.
The dessert shop is one of the most famous attractions in Mesquine District.
They’re particularly known for their jelly cakes, made from a combination of fragrant flowers and fruits from the mountainous area of Sattoriya.
Due to the limited quantities available, the desserts are not only expensive but also in extremely high demand.
The line outside stretches some two hundred steps. When we arrive there, my face falls as I think about waiting so long—not for me but for Moe. It’s cold and a little humid. It might rain later. Hopefully the line will move fast and they won’t run out of jelly cakes by the time we make it there.
“This is so exciting,” Moe mentions, her eyes sparkling with joy as she takes in the long queue. She wrinkles her nose. “I can almost smell the sweetness in the air.”
She’s right. The smell is intoxicating and far reaching.
“If you like them, you should get some for later too,” I offer. I don’t know how expensive they are yet, but if she likes them it’s all worth it.
“Really?” She blinks. “That’s so generous of you, Nyk. Thank you.”
I stare at her, unmoving.
“I’m curious if I can recreate their recipe, with local flowers and fruits—” she continues, but I can’t focus.
She notices my expression a few moments later.
“Nyk?” She calls out.
“…” I gulp down. “Nyk?”
“I… I’m so sorry. I won’t call you by that name if you don’t like it. I don’t know what came over me and—”
“No, don’t. I like it. No one’s ever called me that so I was just taken aback.”
“Are you sure I can use it?”
“If it’s you.” I nod. “I think Nyk suits me better. But only when you say it.”
Her cheeks redden and she glances away. But I catch a small smile pulling at her lips. Instantly, my expression mirrors her own.
Time passes fast; not because the line moves quickly, but because I’m lost in her sweet words and shy smiles. Before I know it, we’re at the counter, ordering a pack of six jelly cakes which cost a staggering twenty-five slova.
“T-twenty-five?” Moe repeats incredulously. She leans in to whisper in my ear. “Nyk, I think we should just go. I’m sure there are cheaper options. This is insanely expensive.”
“It is.” I don’t deny that. “But it is a rare opportunity. Besides, we have the funds. I told you I got paid a lot for my last job.”
“But—” She tries to protest again, but I can see the way she looks longingly at the cakes inside the store.
“Here you go,” I tell the clerk and hand him the money in exchange for the cakes.
Moe lets out a resigned sigh, but she doesn’t take her gaze off the box.
“I suppose we can do it just this once,” she murmurs, more to herself.
“Come on.” I pull her with me to one of the sitting areas. There is a domed area where paying customers are allowed to sit should they want to. Most people who buy jelly cakes do so as take-away for their masters, so it’s quite easy to find an empty table.
We both sit down and I start preparing the table, placing a napkin in front of Moe as well as a bottle of water that I brought with me.
She smiles at my thoughtfulness and I can’t help but pat myself on the back for having such foresight. Moe takes a cake and brings it to her lips. The bottom layer is a soft, spongy texture while the top layer is entirely made of fruit and flower compote.
I watch her carefully waiting for her reaction.
“How is it?”
“Oh my!” She presses her hand to her mouth as she chews. “This is…” she shakes her head. “I’ve never had something so good before, Nyk,” she speaks as she keeps on taking bites.
I try it as well, nodding at her. “It might be expensive but I think it deserves its fame.”
“A bit too expensive,” she grumbles. “But just this once, right?”
She’s already on the second cake. By the time I’m done with my own portion, she’s finished the second one too and is looking longingly to the third. Well, perhaps I shouldn’t have suggested she keep it for later.
“Go on,” I say and push another jelly cake toward her.
“I shouldn’t…” She receives the cake, holding it indecisively in her hands.
“Please. I’ve already had enough so you can have the rest later. I’m not a fan of sweet things anyway,” I add a small lie.
Her brows go up.
“You’re not? Then why did you want to come here if you don’t like sweet things?”
“Uh…” My eyes widen with panic. “I heard everyone at work talking about it but I never had anyone to go with so I thought…” She looks at me expectantly. “I thought you’d like it.”
Mostly the truth.
Her lips tremble with mirth.
“You’re a really nice male, aren’t you, Nyk?”