My whole body felt heavy, boneless, like the hot spring had melted every muscle and left only the deep, throbbing ache behind. Dravic was still inside me—thick, softening now but not small enough to ignore. Every tiny shift of his hips sent a fresh sting through my raw walls. I couldn't stop the weak, trembling whimpers that leaked out with each breath.
He exhaled slow against my temple—long, satisfied sound. Then he started to pull out.
Slow. So slow.
The drag was unbearable. My sore entrance clung to him, fluttering weakly as the thick head slid backward. Every ridge, every vein dragged along the swollen inner walls—sharp burn that made my thighs shake harder around his waist.
"Nghhh… haa…"
A long, broken whimper slipped out before I could swallow it. My fingers dug into his shoulders—nails leaving faint red crescents. Tears blurred my vision again.
He paused halfway—gave me a second to breathe—then kept going. The head finally popped free with a soft, wet sound—squelch—followed by a slow trickle of warmth running down my thighs into the water. The sudden emptiness hurt almost as much as being full: a raw, gaping ache that made me clench on nothing, walls spasming weakly.
"Ah—!"
Small, hurt gasp. My legs finally slipped down from his waist—too weak to hold on. I slumped forward against his chest, forehead on his shoulder, breathing in short, shaky bursts.
Dravic wrapped both arms around me—tight, secure—and lowered us both until we were sitting in the shallower water. The surface came up to our shoulders now; warm waves lapped gently at our necks. He pulled me sideways onto his lap so my side pressed to his chest, my legs draped over one of his thighs. One arm stayed locked around my waist; the other cradled the back of my head, fingers threading gently through wet hair.
I curled into him instinctively—face tucked into the crook of his neck, arms limp between us. Couldn't move. Didn't want to. The ache pulsed everywhere—deep inside, at the rim, down my thighs. Small tremors ran through me every few seconds; I couldn't stop them.
He rested his cheek on top of my head. For a long minute there was only the sound of water moving, our breathing, and the occasional soft splash when one of us shifted.
Then he spoke—voice low, rough from everything, but warm.
"Ugh… that was insanely good, Renji." He kissed the top of my head—slow, lingering. "You're amazing. You lasted for more than four rounds."
I couldn't speak. My throat felt raw; my tongue too heavy. All I managed was a small, trembling exhale against his neck. Tears kept slipping—quiet, unstoppable—dripping onto his collarbone.
He didn't push. Just held me closer—arms tightening like he was trying to fold me into him completely. One hand rubbed slow circles on my lower back; the other kept stroking my hair, fingers gentle against my scalp.
After another long silence he tilted his head so his lips brushed my ear.
"How was it, Renji?" he asked softly. "You… like it?"
I didn't answer. Couldn't. Just pressed my face harder into his neck, small shudder running through me.
He went quiet again. Then—voice smaller, careful now:
"I'm sorry… did I go too far?"
I swallowed. It took everything to force the words out—slow, cracked, barely audible.
"Y… yeah." My voice shook. "I… I feel like my body will… tear apart…"
The admission made fresh tears spill. My fingers curled weakly against his chest.
Dravic went still for a second. Then he hugged me tighter—arms wrapping fully around me, one hand cupping the back of my head, the other pressing between my shoulder blades so my chest was flush to his. He tucked his face against my hair—inhaled deep, like he was trying to breathe me in.
He rocked us gently—tiny side-to-side motion, barely enough to ripple the water. His heartbeat thudded steady under my ear—strong, grounding. One hand kept rubbing my back—wide, soothing strokes that followed the curve of my spine down to the small of my back, then up again. The other cradled my head like I was something fragile.
I stayed curled against him—legs tucked close, arms limp between us. The ache still throbbed deep inside—raw, swollen, pulsing with every heartbeat—but the warm water and his hold dulled it slowly. My tears kept coming—quiet, exhausted sobs that shook my shoulders every few breaths.
He didn't tell me to stop crying. Didn't shush me. Just kept holding—tight enough that I couldn't shake apart, gentle enough that I could breathe.
His lips brushed my hair again—soft, repeated kisses along my part.
"You're okay," he murmured every time I shuddered. "Rest now."
The mist kept rising around us—thick, white, closing the world down to just this: warm water, his arms, the slow rise and fall of his chest under my cheek.
I closed my eyes.
The ache lingered—deep, real, impossible to ignore.
But for the first time in hours, it felt… bearable.
He didn't let go.
Not once.
Steam drifted lazily over the surface of the hot spring, wrapping around us like a soft veil. The night air was cool, but the water was warm—almost too warm—and Dravic's arms around me only made it hotter.
He was hugging me tightly from behind, his chest pressed against my back, his chin resting lightly on my shoulder. The steady rise and fall of his breathing brushed against my skin. The heat of the water mixed with his body warmth, and for a moment, I couldn't tell which one made my heart beat faster.
"You're tense," he murmured near my ear.
"I'm not," I lied.
He hummed softly, his arms tightening just a little. "You are."
The water rippled as I shifted slightly. His hold wasn't forceful.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
The forest around the spring was quiet. Crickets chirped in the distance, and the moon reflected faintly on the water's surface. The steam curled between us, softening everything.
Slowly, my body relaxed.
The warmth seeped into my sore muscles, easing the pain from the earlier fight. My shoulder still ached faintly from the bear's strike, but it was manageable now.
After a while, Dravic loosened his hold.
"We should head back," he said softly. "It's getting late."
I nodded.
We stepped out of the water, the cool night air brushing against damp skin. I tried not to look at him too much as we dried off and got dressed. My movements felt awkward, but he moved naturally, as if nothing was unusual.
We cleaned up the area properly before leaving—no traces, no mess. Just as we found it.
By the time we started walking again, night had fully fallen.
The forest path was dark, shadows stretching between the trees. I was about to suggest slowing down when a soft glow appeared beside us.
Dravic raised his hand slightly.
A small sphere of light floated above his palm, bright but gentle, casting silver light across the path ahead.
He smiled. "You'll be able to do this too soon."
We walked side by side under the artificial glow. The forest felt different at night—quieter, deeper. But with him beside me, I didn't feel nervous.
After a while, the familiar outline of the lodgings appeared.
"We're here," I said quietly.
He nodded.
We stopped in front of my room.
For a brief second, neither of us moved.
Then he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
It wasn't teasing this time. It wasn't playful.
His arms wrapped around me, and I hesitated for only a moment before returning the embrace.
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against my lips.
It was brief, but it made my heart skip.
When he pulled back, he was smiling.
"Goodbye, Renji. See you again next time."
"Y-Yeah… see you again," I replied.
He held my gaze for one more second, then turned and walked away down the dimly lit path, the small light sphere fading with him.
I stood there until he disappeared from sight.
Then I went inside.
The room felt quiet without him.
I closed the door, walked to the bed, and the moment my body touched the mattress—
All the exhaustion hit at once.
The fight. The training. The hot spring. And all.
I collapsed onto the bed.
My eyes closed almost immediately.
And before I knew it—
I was asleep.