A while later, when the air had cooled and the forest felt calmer—
"Why don't we go to the hot spring first?" Dravic said with a relaxed smile.
I froze.
"W-What?"
He tilted his head. "What's wrong? Didn't I tell you this is the last day of the week?"
"I… I know, but—"
"Come on," he said lightly, stepping closer. "You'll miss me too, right?"
My face heated up instantly. "T-That's not the point!"
He chuckled. "Then what is?"
I hesitated, then muttered, "It hurts."
He blinked. "Hurts?"
"I feel like it's killing me," I said honestly. "It's worse than getting hit by a monster."
For a second, he just stared at me.
Then his expression softened.
"Hm? Then I'll be gentle, okay?" he said quietly.
I didn't answer.
My silence probably said everything.
He reached out and took my hand. His grip wasn't tight—just warm.
"Come on," he said, starting to walk. "Don't be scared."
"I still didn't say yes," I protested as he gently pulled me along the forest path.
He glanced back at me and smiled, that calm, confident smile that made my chest feel tight.
"I know," he replied.
And without letting go of my hand, he continued walking
The forest path opened up to the familiar steam-shrouded clearing. The hot spring waited exactly as before—smooth dark rocks ringing a wide shallow basin, water so clear it reflected the late-afternoon sky like glass until the heat haze blurred everything soft and dreamlike. Mist curled low over the surface, carrying the faint mineral scent that always made the air feel heavier, warmer, safer.
Dravic released my hand only long enough to shrug off his tunic and step out of the rest. No hurry. No sharp movements. He folded the clothes neatly on a flat stone—always so annoyingly composed—then turned back to me with that same quiet smile from earlier, but now there was a teasing glint in his eyes, like he knew exactly how nervous I was and found it amusing.
"Your turn," he said, voice low and playful. "Or do I have to strip you myself?"
My fingers shook as I undid laces and let fabric pool at my feet. The air kissed skin that still felt too sensitive from the walk, from his thumb brushing circles over my knuckles the whole way here. Naked now, I hesitated at the edge, arms crossing over myself without thinking.
He waded in first, water rising to mid-thigh, then looked back at me with a raised brow.
"Come on. Water's nice." He smirked. "Unless you're scared I'll bite."
I stepped down slowly. The heat swallowed my calves, then my knees, then higher—immediate, enveloping, loosening muscles I hadn't realized were locked tight. When the water reached my hips I let out a small, involuntary sigh.
Dravic moved closer—fast enough to make water splash lightly—grabbed my waist with both hands and tugged me against him. Not rough enough to hurt, but firm enough that I stumbled forward into his chest. His arms locked around me, water lapping between us. He leaned down, lips brushing my ear.
"Still hurts from earlier?" he murmured, voice teasing but low. "Poor thing. Guess I'll have to be extra nice… or not."
"A little," I admitted, voice small against his collarbone. "From… before. And just… everything."
He chuckled—soft, amused. One hand slid up to the back of my neck, fingers threading into my hair, tugging my head back lightly so I had to look at him.
"Then let me make it up to you first," he said, grin widening. "No waiting around. You look too cute when you're all tense."
He pushed me back gently but steadily until my shoulders met a smooth warm rock at the edge. The stone was hot against my back. He lifted one of my legs with a quick grip on my thigh, hooking it over his hip so I opened for him. The move was playful—almost casual—but it made the sore spot inside twinge right away.
"Easy there," he said when I winced, but he didn't stop. Just held my leg in place, thumb stroking the inside of my thigh in lazy circles. "Breathe."
His other hand went between us. Fingers—two at once—pressed at my entrance, circling the rim slow at first, teasing, then pushing in with a steady slide. Not gentle like before, but not slamming either—just firm, confident, stretching the tender muscle.
"Ngh—!"
I gasped, fingers digging into his shoulders. He paused halfway in, watching my face with that same playful look.
"Hurts?" he asked, tilting his head. "Or just feels good-hurts?"
"Stings… a bit," I mumbled, biting my lip.
He hummed, amused. "Good. Means you still feel me." Then he pushed the rest of the way in—slow but without stopping—curled his fingers and rocked them once, twice, hitting that spot on purpose.
"Ah—there—!"
My legs jerked. He laughed low in his throat, the sound vibrating against my neck.
"See? Body likes it even if you're whining." He started moving his fingers—steady rhythm, not too fast, but deeper than I expected. Each thrust made a soft wet sound under the water, slick and obscene.
He leaned down without warning and took me into his mouth—lips wrapping around the head, tongue flicking the slit quick and teasing. Then he sucked—firm pull, cheeks hollowing a little.
"Haa—Dravic—!"
I gripped his hair tighter, not sure if I wanted to pull him off or hold him there. The mix of fingers thrusting inside and mouth working me made everything feel too much—sore, full, hot.
He bobbed slow at first—letting me feel every inch of his tongue sliding along the underside—then sped up just enough to make my hips twitch forward on instinct. Not because I wanted to, just because the suction pulled it out of me.
"Ngh… slow—please—"
He pulled off for a second—lips shiny, grin wicked. "Slow? But you're getting so hard already." He licked a long stripe up the side, teasing. "Admit it feels nice."
I shook my head fast, cheeks burning. "It… stings inside… and—"
He cut me off by going back down—deeper this time, throat relaxing so more slid in. Fingers kept thrusting—firm, steady, curling on every push to brush that spot again and again.
My breathing turned shaky. Small whimpers slipped out with each bob of his head and rock of his fingers. Legs trembled hard against the rock.
"Hn… haa… too much—"
He moaned around me—low, playful vibration that made me jolt. Fingers sped up a fraction—still careful not to be mean, but definitely pushing the edge.
The pressure built fast—tight, sudden, not really pleasure but just too much friction and heat. My hips jerked once more—uncontrolled.
"Ah—ngh—I'm—"
It hit. Sharp release. I came with a choked, broken sound, spilling into his mouth in quick pulses.
"Nghhh… haaah… ah—!"
He swallowed everything—didn't pull off until I was done twitching and whimpering from oversensitivity. Fingers slowed, then eased out carefully, making me flinch one last time.
He rose up slow, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes dark and teasing.
"See? Not so bad," he said, pulling me against his chest. His arms wrapped around me—tight, possessive, but not crushing. "You even sounded cute when you came."
I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing shaky. "Still sore…"
He chuckled again—low, warm against my ear. "Yeah. And you love it."
Water lapped soft around us. Mist kept rising.
The ache felt sharper now, pulsing, but he held me steady anyway.