**********************
Hideout02
The tension crackled in the air as Lucian stepped forward, walking towards Selene, stopping inches away from her. Their eyes locked, a silent battle of wills played out in the space between them. Just as Lucian was about to raise his hand, Selene's right hand shot up with blinding speed, her palm aimed at Lucian's cheek. But her hand stopped, mere millimeters from his face, frozen in mid-air.
A slight smile played on Lucian's lips, not because Selene's slap hadn't connected, but because he wasn't the one who had stopped it. It only meant one thing. Cortana was helping him.
Lucian raised his hand slowly, reaching towards Selene's cheek. He was about to touch her, to feel the heat of her skin against his, when Selene spoke, her voice laced with a challenge.
"How old, even, are you?" Selene asked, looking at him straight in the eyes, trying to mask the emotions simmering beneath the surface.
The question hung in the air, laced with a hint of something more.
Lucian's fingers grazed her cheek, a feather-light touch that sent a shiver down her spine. His hand lingered, tracing the line of her jaw, then slid down to her neck, gently pulling her closer. His breath brushed against her ear, sending a wave of heat through her.
"Old enough," Lucian whispered, his voice a husky murmur that sent shivers down her spine. He moved back, their faces inches apart, their eyes locked. The air crackled with unspoken desire, a potent mix of danger and attraction.
Then a grin stretched across Lucian's face, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.
"Prepare, they are waiting for us," Lucian said, his voice laced with amusement. He took the towel from Selene's hand, turning and walking toward the bathroom.
Selene watched his back with confusion and a hint of irritation, as her eyes glowed blue showing her strong emotions. She shook her head. 'It's just a deal. There's no need for us to be close like that,' Selene whispered, starting to pick clothes in the closet, trying to occupy her mind and stop thinking about Lucian. 'But now I'm sure of one thing. He isn't a kid,' she thought, remembering Lucian's actions. Even if he was a ruthless assassin from a ninja clan, no kid would act like that in front of a woman. And the way his gaze had lingered on her, the way his touch had sent a jolt of electricity through her... it was a potent reminder of the dangerous attraction that simmered beneath the surface of their uncanny alliance.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
Inside the bathroom, Lucian hung the towel, turning on the shower. He washed his face, pushing his hair up, when Cortana's voice appeared in his mind.
'Pity,' Cortana said, as if she could see Selene's heart already starting to soften towards Lucian. 'She could easily fall for someone in the right time, right place, right move,' Cortana mused, referencing in the movies. 'And with your charm, it would be easy. Who wouldn't want a loyal woman by their side?'
'Don't think about her character in the movie is the same here, how many times we have suffered for thinking it will have the same story, same plot in the movies,' Lucian answered shaking his head slightly.
'But it looks like it's working though,' Cortana said sighing in disappointment.
'No need to regret it. Raizo and Kim Yoo-ri are still waiting for us,' Lucian replied in his mind, knowing even a single whisper could be heard by Selene now that she was stronger. 'And I'm not comfortable enough knowing how old my physical age is in this world,' he added, although Lucian had a mental age of 35 now, and his physical appearance was more mature, he was still only 11 in this world.
'She didn't need to know that. In the worst case, you can always just tell her the truth,' Cortana whispered in his mind, trying to convince him to continue. It was a shame to give up on Selene, who was about to fall for his charm.
'Priorities,' Lucian said, scrubbing the dirt and dried blood off his back, chest, and stomach. 'What I'm more interested in is you being more excited than me. Why don't you explain that?' he asked with amusement, already knowing why Cortana was helping him.
'You should wash first, otherwise, you'll be late,' Cortana said, her voice a flustered stammer. 'Uh, I mean... well, you know... um...' She trailed off, abruptly disappearing into the soul space, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts.
'Cortana, hey, wait!' Lucian shouted in his mind, but he never got a reply. He shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. He couldn't help but find her sudden retreat amusing. It seemed Cortana was more affected by his memories than he thought.
Lucian chuckled, shaking his head, then turned his attention to the shower, focusing on the feel of the water, the steam rising in a gentle fog around him. He closed his eyes, savoring the simple pleasure of a hot shower, a brief respite from the chaos of their world.
When the water had thoroughly cleansed him, Lucian stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed. He reached for a towel, drying his hair, then combing it back, revealing the sharp angles of his face. Then he dried his body before Lucian covered his lower body with a towel, leaving his bare torso.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
When Lucian got out of the bathroom, he saw Selene sitting cross-legged on his bed, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and grey pants. Showing a fresh new look, and she was observing him closely, focusing on his upper body as he walked closer to her.
"You look more... simple, yet beautiful," Lucian said, looking at Selene up and down. Different from what she was always wearing, her death dealer outfit, and Selene looked up, staring into his eyes, not showing any emotions, though her clenched fist said otherwise.
Lucian showed a soft smile, but his eyes narrowed. He noticed her curves were more pronounced, and her nipples were noticeable through his shirt, and he walked towards the closet, opening it. He took out a simple black leather jacket, throwing it to Selene.
"Wear it," he said, his voice low and suggestive, "I find it hard to believe, you don't know how beautiful you're,"
Selene's eyes flickered to the leather jacket, then back to Lucian, not knowing what she was feeling.
"Are you not going out? Or are you going to watch me dress?" Lucian asked, a challenge in his voice, laced with a hint of amusement. He was enjoying the power dynamic, the way her gaze lingered on his exposed torso.
Selene just stood up, without talking, walking toward the door, holding the jacket. He watched her, her movements graceful and powerful. She stopped at the door, her hand resting on the handle. She turned her head, looking at Lucian up and down, her gaze lingering on his chest, the way his towel skimmed his sculpted muscles.
"Before our deal is finished," she said, a mix of provocation and dare in her voice, "I'll make sure to figure out what your secret is." She gave Lucian's lower body a pointed look, a flicker of something unspoken in her eyes, before finally leaving the room.
Lucian raised a brow as he looked at the closing door. "Now this became much more fun," he whispered with a smile, a playful glint in his eyes as he dressed in a tight-fitting black shirt and baggy white training pants.
The way she had left, a hint of challenge in her stride, had sparked a playful fire within him.
When Lucian got out of the room, he saw Selene leaning against the side of the door, wearing the black leather jacket, her gaze fixed on him. When she saw him appear, she turned away, starting to walk without looking back.
"Guns, I need guns," Selene said, her voice was low and cold, showing no emotions.
'I don't know if this woman is waiting for me or just really wants her guns,' Lucian thought with a chuckle, enjoying the challenge she presented. He walked with fast steps, leading Selene back to the laboratory.
"So you're done?" Selene asked, her voice laced with a hint of doubt, as she looked at the table, seeing it clean and tidy, without any blood or body parts.
"Why? Do you think I didn't finish my work so I can watch you naked?" Lucian asked, his voice was low filled with amusement, a playful smirk twisting his lips as he turned his head to Selene. His eyes deliberately lingered on the way her shirt clung to her curves.
Selene saw Lucian's teasing smile, but she remembered how Lucian had looked at her body, sending shivers down her spines. She felt her body heat up, looking Lucian in the eyes, her gaze was intense and unwavering.
"That's what it felt like," Selene said, following Lucian to the guns with cross arms, her fingers clenching tightly.
"You're wrong," Lucian said, shaking his head while taking a modified Glock 34 from the guns. As he raised his head, looking at Selene, his eyes meeting hers, "But that's why I finished my work faster," he said with a laugh, a sly grin spreading across his face. He didn't even try to hide his amusement as he took a belt gun holster, walking towards Selene.
"Then it looks like I have to pay you back for that, don't I," Selene asked, taking a step forward, her gaze never leaving his. She snatched the belt holster from Lucian as she tied it on her waist, her fingers brushing his skin for a fleeting moment. The air crackled between them, a charged tension that was as dangerous as it was exhilarating.
"You should probably do that," Lucian said, his gaze holding hers, his voice low and suggestive. He offered her the Glock, his hand lingering for a second longer than necessary.
Selene showed a slight smile, a flicker of a challenge in her eyes, as she took the Glock from Lucian's hand.
"We will see," Selene whispered, her voice barely audible, as she put the Glock in the holster, stepping closer to Lucian, her body radiating a potent mix of defiance and unspoken desire.
As they looked at each other, their eyes locked, they were sure about one thing: whether the deal ended successfully or not, they won't be enemies. But whether their attraction would turn to something more...that was a game they were both willing to play, until one surrendered.
__________________
END OF CHAPTER
Extra Chapter for 200 Power Stones
__________________
UPCOMING CHAPTERS SPOILERS:
Chapter 97: Sexual Tension, Chapter 98: Resigning & Joining, Chapter 99: Arrivals, Chapter 100: Introduction, Chapter 101: Information, Chapter 102: Temptations, Chapter 103: A intense bath R18, Chapter 104: Wryness R18, Chapter 105: Mitsuki's Powers, Chapter 106: Getting Ready, Chapter 107: Getting Ready(2), Chapter 108: Corvinus Castle, Chapter 109: Corvinus Castle, Chapter 110: A Hybrids Fall, Chapter 111: I told you so, Chapter 112: It's You, Chapter 113: Continuation, Chapter 114: William's Prison, Chapter 115: William's Prison(2), Chapter 116: William's Prison(3), Chapter 117: Death of the Twins, Chapter 118: I Fucking Knew It, Chapter 119: I Fucking Knew It(2), Chapter 120: The Last Fight, Chapter 121: The Last Fight(2), Chapter 122: A Swear to a God, Chapter 123: The end of William Corvinus, Chapter 124: Aftermath, Chapter 125: Aftermath(2), Chapter 126: Kim Yoo-ri & Mitsuki Back in Japan
_________________
Marishadow:
If you want to read 30 chapters ahead or you want to support my writingbecome a member of my Patreon on:
https://www.patreon.com/Marishadow
Every member helps me creating and sharing more with you all