Chapter 58: Tease

[Stats:

Str: 15

Spd: 14 -> 15

Def: 13 -> 13.5

Int: 15

Gamma: 50 -> 75]

[Attribute Points: 0]

[Gamma Points: 630]

Luke sighed as he looked at his stats. They hadn’t increased much, even though the battle had lasted longer than it should have.

Truthfully, in the middle of the fight, he had considered dragging it out to improve his stats, test his limits, and grow through combat.

However, the moment that beast drove its long, predatory nails into his forearm, which was still bleeding, Luke lost his composure and decided to end the fight quickly.

Facing an enemy with low intelligence made things easier. Just like how the beast had charged at him blindly, failing to notice how Luke was luring it into a trap.

So yes, the battle had been far easier than the first beast he fought. Still, Luke realized he needed to pay more attention to his defense. Unlike most of his enemies, his body was still made of fragile flesh and bone.

’Speaking of defense…’ Luke shifted his gaze to the description of the reward he had received.

[Samurai Vest: Protective gear that increases durability and defense by ten points. It does not hinder the host’s movement. When worn, it manifests as a transparent layer over the host’s body, remaining invisible to others.]

Luke hummed in understanding. A nice reward.

He was still two hundred points short of leveling up, but he wasn’t in a rush. For now, he was strong and versatile enough to handle most situations.

“Alright, I’m back,” Luke called out as he walked behind the tree, only to be met with an unexpected sight.

Dalia sat there with her legs drawn in, her face pale, tears welling in her eyes. She was trembling, clearly terrified.

“Oi, oi… what’s gotten into you? The beast is dead. You can relax now,” Luke said as he crouched in front of her.

Dalia grabbed his hand and turned it slightly. “You almost got eaten by it.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Not once did I feel like it could overpower me. So stop overreacting and come here.”

Dalia whimpered, letting out a soft, broken sob as he pulled her into his arms. He hugged her gently, running his hand along her back to comfort her.

This was the first time Luke had seen Dalia cry like this. It surprised him. The world she came from should have been filled with dangers like this. So why was she this shaken, trembling so badly that he could feel it through her body?

He didn’t have an answer.

So he did the only thing he could. He held her, quietly, until she calmed down.

It took a while, but eventually, Dalia’s sobs faded. She slowly pulled away from him.

Luke offered her a small piece of cloth, and she accepted it, wiping her eyes.

“Feeling better now?” Luke asked, leaning back to give her some space.

The beauty nodded, her cheeks faintly flushed, her nose still slightly red.

“You’re injured… we need to do something about it.”

Luke hummed. “Help me wash it.” He reached toward his belt and suddenly pulled out something that clearly shouldn’t have fit there.

A large pitcher of water. How?

He didn’t give her time to question it. Getting to his feet, he removed his shirt.

Dalia could only stare, momentarily stunned by the sight of his solid, iron-like physique, his skin marked with scars that looked more like trophies than flaws.

Sweat and dirt clung to his upper body, yet instead of making him look unkempt, it only added to his rugged appeal.

Luke caught her expression and grinned. “Like what you see?”

Dalia quickly looked away. “What are you talking about? Show me your wound.”

Luke chuckled under his breath and sat down in front of her. He turned his arm, revealing the deep nail marks carved across his forearm.

“Go on,” he said softly. “Clean it, slowly.”

Dalia hesitated for a moment before reaching out.

Her fingers hovered just above his skin, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from him, yet not quite touching. For a brief second, she simply stayed there, as if gathering the courage to proceed.

Then, slowly, she dipped the cloth into the water and wrung it lightly.

Her hand trembled.

Carefully, she pressed the damp fabric against his forearm.

Luke didn’t flinch, but he felt it, the slight shakiness in her touch, the way her fingers lingered a fraction longer than needed. His gaze drifted to her face.

Dalia was focused… or at least trying to be.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pressed together in concentration, but the faint redness spreading across her cheeks betrayed her composure.

She moved slowly, almost too slowly, as if each motion carried weight.

He caught the sight of her big bosom heaving, a healthy amount of cleavage offered to his hungry eyes. Damn, she was hot and he was getting hard.

The cloth traced along the wound, wiping away the blood in gentle strokes. Every now and then, her fingers brushed against his skin, light, fleeting touches that sent a strange, quiet tension into the air.

Luke rested his chin on his hand, watching her.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice low.

Dalia’s breath hitched slightly.

“I am being careful,” she replied, though her voice came out softer than intended.

Her fingers paused for a second before continuing, this time even more deliberate. But the closer she leaned, the more aware she became of everything.

His presence.

His warmth.

The faint scent of sweat and something sharper beneath it.

Her heartbeat began to pick up.

Luke noticed.

His fingers were inches away from landing on her soft bosom, but he refrained.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips, though he didn’t say anything to her.

Dalia swallowed, trying to steady herself. She shifted slightly, but that only brought her closer, close enough to feel the heat of his body, close enough that the space between them felt… thin.

Her hand slipped just a little.

Her fingers pressed directly against his skin. His fingers touched the valley of her chest.

She froze.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

The air felt heavier.

Dalia quickly resumed, pretending nothing had happened, but her movements had grown slower, more careful, as if she was now painfully aware of every inch she touched.

Luke leaned back slightly, giving her space… yet his eyes never left her.

And that only made it worse.

Dalia’s ears burned, her entire body growing warmer by the second, as she continued.

But beneath the thin cloth and between her legs, something was extremely bothered and craving to be touched.

And yet, Luke didn’t seem to be in the mood of taking any initiative today.

He was going to torture her.

••••••••

A/N:- Sorry, only one Chapter today. I feel slightly unwell.

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