"So you didn't want to stay at my place? Even though I stayed at yours?"

Leo weakly smiled, "Come on, Azrael, it's not that, and you know that righ—" before he could finish, she placed her fingers on his lips as she whispered, "Then… stay with me tonight."

Her touch froze him. Her skin, warm and smooth, brushed against his trembling mouth, and the faint scent of her perfume — a soft, intoxicating blend of rose and something deeper — filled his lungs. The words she whispered melted into his ears like a spell, erasing logic for a heartbeat.

Leo gulped and subconsciously nodded his head… as if her eyes had mesmerised him for a second, making him nod.

His chest tightened as her gaze caught him, those eyes shimmering like an ocean of unspoken desire. It wasn't just her beauty that stunned him, but the quiet longing that lingered behind her smile.

Azrael giggled like a child who got the candy she wanted. She leaned forward, her face inching closer to his… almost touching his lips before standing up, taking the empty plates, and moving to the kitchen.

Her hips swayed naturally as she walked away, each graceful step threatening to pull his gaze away from reason.

Leo, with beet-red cheeks, blinked, feeling… he almost thought she was going to kiss him?

For real!

He thought that!!

His heart drummed in his chest, wild and uncontrollable. The thought alone was enough to make his pulse ache with confusion.

He clenched his fist… 'That freaking dream… was that the cause my heart skipped a beat?' he thought as he touched his chest…. He could feel it… His heart was beating faster than necessary.

The heat spread down his neck, crawling through his veins. That dream — the one he could barely admit even to himself — replayed in flickers, the sound of her voice, the feeling of her touch.

He took a deep breath, but it only made the warmth stronger.

Leo shook his thoughts away and took a deep breath… man, he had been doing this too many times today!

His throat felt dry, and he tried to steady himself, forcing the air to slow in his lungs. But every time she moved, every time her hair caught the light, something inside him stirred again.

Seeing her washing the dishes, Leo muttered, "I can help you," he said as he stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

His voice came out lower than usual, almost a murmur.

The soft clinking of plates mixed with the gentle splash of water, and the small kitchen suddenly felt too small for both of them.

"Hmm? No please… I am fine," Azrael said gently. However, Leo insisted, "I cannot make you do all the work… I mean… I feel guilty letting you do everything alone," he said softly.

"Let me help you."

Her laughter echoed faintly, "Hahha... You're sweet… but you don't have to," she said, turning slightly, her wet hands glistening under the dim kitchen light.

Even though he had rejected her, she had been taking care of him so warmly, even when he lost consciousness, she took care of him… If he didn't offer any help, he would be a monster at this point.

His guilt mixed with something else... something far more dangerous.

He wanted to repay her kindness, but what he really wanted was harder to admit, even to himself.

Seeing Leo's serious face, Azrael sighed, "Fine…"

Her lips curved slightly, but her cheeks still glowed pink.

Leo smiled as he was about to grab the plates to wash when,

"However… I don't need you to wash the plates."

Her tone shifted. Soft… hesitant… as though she was holding back something fragile.

"Then?" Leo tilted his head as he saw… blushing?

The tips of her ears had turned crimson.

Her shoulders trembled faintly, and she looked over her shoulder.

Ba-dump!

Leo's heart was getting weak for this lovely lady!!

Arrhh!

He calmed down his heart as he saw Azrael tilting her head with shyness.

She muttered, "C-Can you… hug me from behind?"

Her voice quivered, almost lost in the running water.

Leo's heart skipped a beat seeing her shyness… sure, he had seen her like that before, but now… for whatever reason, it felt… different, almost unique.

Her vulnerability... so cute~

There was no act, no playful teasing — only a trembling woman who wanted to feel warmth.

He gulped. He knew… he needed to say no, yet…Her soft breathing, the faint movement of her hair brushing her neck, the gentle curve of her back — all of it drew him closer like gravity.

"If… if that's what you want, then…" he slowly moved behind her.

Leo's heart beat faster, so did Azrael's, as her legs trembled when he got closer to her and his hands, like a slithering snake, curled around her hips tightly.

Her breath hitched as his warmth pressed against her back. His fingers brushed her waist, tracing her curves with trembling restraint. Her body leaned slightly into his... not resisting, only shivering with emotion.

The faint rhythm of their breaths blended, soft and uneven, like a melody they both feared and longed to continue.

Still, there was distance between them… a minute one.

He could feel the faint warmth of her back, the softness of her hair brushing against his chest whenever she shifted slightly.

Azrael didn't worry, just smiled warmly as she continued to do her dishes… Meanwhile, Leo was trying his best not to get hard!!

His jaw tightened, his breath shallow. The subtle sway of her waist as she rinsed each plate made him dizzy. Her soft humming, unaware of his inner struggle, only worsened it.

Every sound, every movement, seemed designed to test his restraint!!

DAMN!!

His eyes trembled when he saw her nape, that delicate curve that begged to be kissed. His nose filled with her scent… that faintly sweet, addictive scent that made his body tremble.

He was really at his dangerous limit!

A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

It felt like… the dream coming true.

That same dream that haunted him — her voice, her breath, the heat between their bodies.

'Oh god!' He screamed silently, trying to control himself, especially his hand that touched her hips… he could feel her curves… that flat tummy and… wide hips, the kind that could drive any sane man insane.

His fingers tensed, trembling as he tried not to squeeze. The softness under his palm felt too real, too inviting.

"How is it?"

Her sudden voice broke through his thoughts.

"Damn hot—arhm… what?" Leo flinched when she suddenly asked. Azrael glanced at him with a frown, "What did you say?"

Leo's throat went dry. He coughed, his face red as a flame. "I didn't hear you… What did you say again?"

Azrael frowned as she stared at him with a sly expression before muttering, "I meant… how was the food?" Her tone lingered longer than it should have, her lips curving just slightly.

Leo coughed again, calming down, "Well, it was damn delicious."

Azrael's expression softened as she started to wash the plates while saying, "It's my first time cooking for someone… was it really good?"

Her voice had a shy flutter, the kind that made his chest ache. The gentle splash of water echoed like the rhythm of her heartbeat, slow and deliberate.

Leo blinked, surprised, "First time? I didn't expect that… for a first-timer, it was really good."

He chuckled faintly.

Honestly, if it was really her first time cooking, he would give her hats off!

There was something touching in that... the idea that she did it all just for him.

Azrael chuckled, "I am very happy you like it," she said with a gentle tone and… kind of sad?

The change in her voice was so slight that most would have missed it — but Leo didn't. That faint crack beneath the sweetness made his chest tighten... he didn't know why, but he was reacting too much for her.

Leo frowned, noticing that. His hand slowly moved tighter, not sure why, but he didn't want her to be sad.

Her body tensed at the sudden closeness. The warmth of his arms pulled her in, and for a moment, neither spoke.

Azrael muttered, "Have you… remembered anything?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper, fragile, as though she already feared the answer.

"My past?"His tone grew heavier, and she nodded slowly.

Azrael nodded, "Yes…"

Her reflection trembled faintly in the water as she waited.

Leo sighed as his eyes fluttered with heaviness, "No… I don't remember anything," he said, and when he said that, the plate in her hand loosened and fell into the sink as her fingers trembled.

"I-I see…"

Her words cracked softly, her shoulders trembling as she stared down at the sink.

Leo frowned, seeing her reaction, "Do we… have a past?"

A strange feeling rose in his chest... not memory, but an ache that felt like it should have been one.

Azrael smiled softly, "Yes, we do… I came to visit you when you were young and always running around… buying things, eating outside... taking baths together…" she suddenly chuckled as if she found something amusing,

"When I pinched your peepee… You ran to your mother and cried… haha," she said with both amusement and melancholy.

Her laugh carried both sweetness and pain, like a memory she cherished but could no longer hold.

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