Genevieve blinked, the spell breaking as reality rushed back in. She pulled away from Zaeryn fully, though her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was still uneven. She shot Ingrid a look that was half annoyance, half lingering arousal, before settling back slightly on the cushion, needing a moment to recompose herself.

Ingrid stepped forward, her earlier territorial look completely gone, replaced by a smile that was all undisguised anticipation. "My turn," she declared, her voice a sultry purr.

Zaeryn, still riding the high from the last kiss, felt his own eagerness surge. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to this. He didn't just wait for her; he acted, reaching out and grabbing her hand, giving it a firm, undeniable tug. Ingrid didn't stumble.

Using his pull for momentum, she swung her leg over with a fluid, confident motion and settled directly onto his lap, straddling his thighs. The entire room seemed to suck in a collective breath, holding it, all eyes fixed on the intimate tableau.

Her body was incredibly warm against his, the heat sinking through his uniform instantly. Her stormy, blue-gray eyes were inches from his, sparkling with a challenging, playful light. His hands found their place, sliding around her waist to rest on the curves of her hips, pulling her fractionally closer.

"Ready for your... turn?" he murmured.

Ingrid didn't answer with words. She leaned in, her yellow hair falling forward like a curtain, obscuring them slightly from the prying eyes of the room. She closed the final distance.

The kiss was immediate and consuming. It wasn't the fierce, competitive clash he'd shared with Genevieve; Ingrid was the one claiming him. Her lips were soft but moved with a confidence that made his pulse hammer. Though clearly inexperienced, she nipped his lower lip, a sharp, playful bite that sent a jolt straight to his groin.

He answered with a grip on her waist tightening, pulling her down as his tongue swept into her mouth. It was a hot, wet exploration, a dance of dominance and surrender.

"Wow, is he..." Ingrid's eyes flew open mid-kiss, widening in shock. She hadn't seen it, but straddling him, she could feel the thick, hard ridge of his erection pressing against her through both their pants. She made a simple, instinctive grind against it, and a soft moan escaped her.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her braless, ample bosom against his chest, the sensation of her hard nipples through her thin top making the moment even more arousing.

He hadn't even gone through half the girls, and Zaeryn felt himself losing the battle for control. And Ingrid felt it. "He's getting even bigger. Is that even possible?"

Zaeryn felt her shift, her body grinding instinctively against his arousal, drawing another muffled sound from deep in his chest. This was not how he had pictured this; he expected simple kisses, not someone grinding on him. The entire room, the whispers... it all vanished, replaced by the intoxicating friction of Ingrid moving against him on his lap.

Ingrid finally pulled back, her breath ragged, her blue-gray eyes hazy and dark with desire. A slow, triumphant smile spread across her lips as she leaned her forehead against his. "Well," she panted, "I think Jyn's 'intense' comment was a massive understatement." She gave him one last, quick peck before gracefully sliding off his lap, her gaze proprietary as she reclaimed her cushion, letting the other girls get their turns too.

Zaeryn took a steadying breath, his body thrumming. Next was Ryla, then two others. He went through the motions, keeping the kisses brief, almost chaste and briefer. He had to; after Ingrid's performance, his body was on a hair trigger, and the last thing he needed was the full-blown tent he was already pitching in his pants to become even more obvious.

After Ryla and the others were done, the room was silent, all eyes turning to the next logical participant. Meira, who had boldly suggested the "empirical research," suddenly looked less sure of herself.

Her earlier challenging smirk was nowhere to be found, replaced by a nervous flush as she became the center of attention. She fidgeted slightly, her gaze flicking from Zaeryn to the floor, then back to Zaeryn.

Zaeryn, still feeling the warmth from the others' proximity, watched her. He saw the hesitation, the sudden shyness beneath her bold exterior. A gentle, understanding smile touched his lips. He didn't say anything; he just held out his hand, a clear, silent invitation.

Meira's eyes met his. She took a visible breath, as if steeling herself, then stood. She walked over and cautiously took his outstretched hand.

Zaeryn used the grip to gently guide her down onto the bench beside him. She sat stiffly, her body close but not quite touching.

"You're... really going through with this," she whispered, her voice a little shy.

"Only if you want to," Zaeryn murmured. "Data collection, right?"

She let out a nervous laugh. "Right." Then her expression shifted, and she couldn't even look him in the eye as she said, "Umm, look. I don't have any experience with this so..."

"Oh, we all don't have experience here, Meira," Ingrid called out from her cushion, her voice laced with amusement. "Besides, you started this. Don't back out now."

Meira took a shaky breath and leaned in, her kiss quick and hesitant, but sweet.

When she pulled back, her face was bright red. And then, as if she had just regained confidence, she went in for a full kiss this time.

After they pulled back, she looked as red as a tomato.

"See? Easy," Zaeryn murmured, giving her hand a squeeze before letting go. Finally, he turned to the last woman beside him. "Morticia?"

"Finally. Best for last, right?" Morticia didn't wait for him to lean in. She shifted, turning her body fully toward him on the bench. She leaned in and kissed him. It was unlike the others. It wasn't a fiery clash like Genevieve's or a possessive claim like Ingrid's. It was slow, deliberate, and impossibly thorough. It felt as if she were learning him, cataloging every texture, every taste, with a focused, quiet intensity.

The sheer, analytical intimacy of it was almost more arousing than a passionate attack. When she finally pulled back, her face was slightly flushed, her usual calm mask ruffled, and a small, satisfied smirk touched her lips.

With the experiment seemingly concluded, all eyes in the group, Ingrid, Genevieve, Morticia, Meira, and Ryla, swiveled as one. They all looked across the room at Leia.

She was still standing by the snack table, looking at them. She had watched Zaeryn kiss her friends like it was nothing.

She saw the sudden weight of their collective stare, and her face took on a mask of irritation. "What?" she snapped.

"Nothing," Ingrid responded sarcastically. "We just thought it was your turn."

Leia looked genuinely, deeply offended. "My turn? To kiss... him?" She scoffed.

"Dream on," she said, her glare landing on Zaeryn. "And stop looking at me like that, anomaly."

"I wasn't," Zaeryn said honestly, though he had been. "Well, maybe just by chance."

Feeling the lingering effects of the last half-hour, and the very obvious strain in his pants, Zaeryn stood up, clearing his throat. "Excuse me," he said to the group. "I need to... use the restroom."

The second the door to the hallway hissed shut behind him, the tension broke. Genevieve and Ingrid burst into laughter, followed by the others.

"Did you see his pants?" Genevieve giggled. "He was definitely enjoying the research."

"Goddess, that was so hot," Ryla admitted, her cheeks pink.

"So," Meira said, her confidence returning now that he was gone, "who do you think he'd actually choose to date from us?"

"Me, obviously," Ingrid stated, crossing her legs with a smug look. "We get along great, and I was the one who invited him."

"Please," Genevieve retorted, "He seemed to enjoy all of us. Why would he choose you?"

"Girls, stop arguing," Morticia cut in, her voice calm and final. "It doesn't matter. He already has a girlfriend. Jyn told me."

The group went quiet.

Ingrid let out an annoyed groan, "Damnit!"

"He has a girlfriend?" Meira asked, her voice a mix of shock and disappointment. "Who is she? She's so lucky."

"According to Jyn and Yuna, her name is Sage," Morticia replied. "She's a scientist at Stellan Innovations."

Ingrid scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "A girlfriend? That doesn't mean anything. He still kissed all of us, didn't he?"

"Well, we kind of pressured him," Ryla said.

__

The second the door to the hallway hissed shut behind him, the tension broke. He found the guest bathroom down a short, quiet hall, a sleek, dark-tiled room, and quickly locked the door, leaning back against the cool surface.

Zaeryn let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He stalked over to the sink and splashed cold water on his face, the shock of it a welcome contrast to the heat still thrumming in his veins.

His body was still on a hair-trigger from Ingrid's... thorough kiss, not to mention the others. The full-blown tent he'd been fighting was undeniable now that he was alone, straining uncomfortably against the fabric of his uniform pants.

"Goddess Astraea," he muttered to his reflection. That was... intense.

A slow, predatory grin spread across his face. "Data collection," he mused. He had to admit, this academy was turning out to be far more... hands-on than he'd anticipated. He'd walked in expecting hostility and got... an experimental kissing booth. And the results…

He closed his eyes, leaning his hands against the cool counter. 'System. Status report. Show me the logs for the new bonds'.

The familiar interface bloomed behind his eyelids, listing the fruits of his actions.

[SYSTEM LOG]

[NEW BOND FORMING: GENEVIEVE]

[CATALYST: Intimate Contact & Mutual Attraction]

[VITAE ABSORPTION DETECTED: +10 Vitae Points]

[STATUS: Synchronization Initiating... Full Signature Mapping at 6%]

[NEW BOND FORMING: INGRID]

[CATALYST: Intimate Contact & Mutual Attraction]

[VITAE ABSORPTION DETECTED: +15 Vitae Points]

[STATUS: Synchronization Initiating... Full Signature Mapping at 7%]

[NEW BOND FORMING: MEIRA]

[CATALYST: Intimate Contact & Mutual Curiosity]

[VITAE ABSORPTION DETECTED: +10 Vitae Points]

[STATUS: Synchronization Initiating... Full Signature Mapping at 5%]

[NEW BOND FORMING: RYLA]

[CATALYST: Intimate Contact & Shy Curiosity]

[VITAE ABSORPTION DETECTED: +5 Vitae Points] (Note: Brief contact limited full transfer)

[STATUS: Synchronization Initiating... Full Signature Mapping at 2%]

[NEW BOND FORMING: MORTICIA]

[CATALYST: Intimate Contact & Analytical Curiosity]

[VITAE ABSORPTION DETECTED: +10 Vitae Points]

[STATUS: Synchronization Initiating... Full Signature Mapping at 4%]

[...Two additional minor bond-links initiated. Vitae gain minimal (+1 each)...]

Zaeryn let out a low whistle. Five new bonds initiated in less than an hour, plus a couple of minor ones. His Vitae reserves felt topped off, buzzing with fresh energy. The exhaustion from the day's training was completely gone, replaced by a thrumming vitality.

"Well," he said to his reflection, the grin turning wolfish. "That's what I call... efficient networking."

___

Meanwhile, somewhere else at the same time,

Viora stood before the crystalline doors of Athea's chambers. The royal wing was silent. She pressed the door ringer.

A full minute passed before the doors slid open with a hiss.

Inside, the chambers were faintly lit. It was lit only by star-charts on the walls and the capital's lights far below the viewport. Athea stood at the glass, her back to the door, wearing a dark silk nightgown, her hair loose down her back.

She turned slowly, her ice-blue eyes neutral. "Viora? I wasn't expecting you."

Viora stopped, "I want to see him."

Athea's composure held, though her stillness intensified. "See who, daughter?"

"Zaeryn, my brother," Viora said.

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