Chapter 3.2

“Liat.”

Perhaps sensing her state, Alvin’s grip tightened on her wrist. Snapping out of her reverie, Liat clung to her fading consciousness.

“Uh, yeah. I’m here.”

She had to forget. Suppress it again. These were memories she didn’t need to recall.

“Don’t think about anything else, just look at me.”

His hazy brown eyes flickered between his eyelids.

As their gazes met, Alvin let out a pleased laugh and pulled Liat’s wrist onto his head. Her fingertips brushed his soft hair. The tickling sensation made her fingers curl. Alvin sighed again, his lips curling in satisfaction.

His fuzzy mind was filled only with Liat. Only her, deeply and wholly.

“I’m sorry. For everything, I’m sorry.”

“There you go again. Let’s talk when you’re fully awake.”

“Heh, okay. As long as you don’t avoid me, I’ll do anything.”

His deep chocolate-colored eyes disappeared. When his irregular breathing calmed, Liat finally stopped stroking his hair.

Her fingers slid down, tracing the contours of his face. His cheeks had grown thinner in just a few days, and she stroked them again and again.

“I’m the one who’s more sorry.”

She had gotten so absorbed in her new hobby that she had forgotten what was truly important. Her mind had melted from the nightly mischief she allowed herself, and something had clearly gone wrong.

Liat punched her own head and looked him over carefully.

His hair had grown long enough to slightly cover his eyes, and his overall figure had become thinner. Her gaze dropped, stopping at one spot.

The decisive culprit for the distance between her and Alvin was showing its presence, even though it wasn’t *rect. The sweat-soaked loungewear clung to his skin, clearly outlining the shape.

“Liat, you’re crazy.”

Liat pressed her forehead. Unlike Alvin, hers was only lukewarm. She wished it would boil over with fever like his.

Her thighs tensed.

It was only natural, really. She’d teased her own flesh thinking of him. Now that she had some peace, the fragments of her nighttime games wedged themselves into the gaps. The heat blooming below spread throughout her body.

How could she have such shameless thoughts in front of a sick friend?

She hit her forehead several times. Even when she wanted to take a break, her wrist was still trapped.

When she twisted her wrist, Alvin let out a hot breath and twisted his body. Because of his sudden movement, Liat was pulled on top of him.

Her soft chest pressed against his hot, firm chest.

Her tender flesh lost its shape and was half-crushed atop his flat pectoral muscles.

‘Ah, dear God.’

Liat forgot to breathe and called out to the heavens.

The heat seeping through the thin pajamas made her dizzy.

As Alvin inhaled, his chest expanded, pressing tightly against hers. Her heart pounded violently, squashed against his solid chest.

She worried Alvin might wake up from the pounding.

One of her hands, stretched out for balance, had long since lost its freedom. She barely managed to plant her free hand on the bed, creating some distance between their chests, but the other hand was still caught and pressed against his lower abdomen. Muscles bulged beneath her palm.

“Ah, ah…….”

It was a series of ordeals.

To make matters worse, her hem had ridden up, and her sweaty skin stuck to her palm. Liat swallowed hard.

For someone who’d only recently awakened to her s*xuality, it was a rather cruel punishment. She felt like she’d go mad, disgusted with herself for having dirty thoughts about her sick friend.

“……Liat?”

Unexpected events kept happening.

Alvin’s hazy gaze was filled only with her. Even in his dazed state, the man before a woman licked his lips. A burning thirst arose.

“What, is this a dream……?”

His voice, crawling up from his dry throat, was terribly low.

“Uwah!”

He hugged her tightly as she lingered atop his chest. Without leaving any gap, he pulled her up to his eye level, helping her settle into a comfortable position.

Alvin seemed pleased with Liat’s weight pressing down on him, smiling as he breathed hotly through his nose, savoring her presence.

“Ah, Alvin, let go.”

“No. At least in my dream, listen to me.”

He rubbed his nose against her exposed nape, inhaling deeply. Goosebumps rose on Liat’s smooth skin.

“……You smell nice.”

“It tickles! Let go!”

“You’ll avoid me again when you wake up. No. If it’s a dream, I should enjoy it……”

“If you don’t let go right now, I really will avoid you, Alvin!”

“……That can’t happen.”

His snake-like arms loosened, but the weight pressing down remained, keeping her close. Liat, lying atop him, felt like she would melt from his scent and heat.

“You’re actually awake, aren’t you?”

Just as she was suspicious, something poked her soft body. What was pressing against her so mercilessly was exactly what she knew it was.

Alvin’s member, which he’d been clutching and groaning over for so long.

Liat felt like screaming.

“You, you!”

She glared at him with narrowed eyes, but he had already drifted back to dreamland, leaving her resentment nowhere to go.

She pushed his arm away and rolled to the side, slipping away. The woman’s face lying right next to him was flushed red like a flame.

Liat squinted her eyes and then used the blanket to cover her body, which was arousing her desires.

“But, it still shows……”

Even over the blanket covering his lower body, the vivid presence could be felt. His aroused manhood, standing tall with anger, filled her vision.

Several minutes passed. As she stared blankly at it, it gradually calmed down. It took quite some time for him as well. Given its size, it took longer for the heat to fade.

Liat sat up and returned to her chair.

The image of his self-pleasure flashed through her mind. His mouth panting for breath, his arm moving up and down without restraint, his face flushed deeply from the heat.

‘Why is he so sensual, making people……’

Even the blush rising with a slight fever, sweating here and there, felt strangely alluring.

It was a mess.

Her neatly combed pink hair was now a tangled mess. She took a deep breath. She wanted to turn her head away, but somehow, it kept coming back to its original position, as if by some trick.

As if possessed, she stretched her hand toward the blanket covering him.

“You look hot, you look hot……”

She made a bland excuse and slipped her arm in deep.

Knock, knock.

“Ah!”

“My Lady, may I come in?”

“Y-yes, come in.”

The knock snapped her back to reality. Delin entered carrying a tray, checking on Alvin’s condition.

“It’s a relief the fever seems to have gone down. We’ll have to watch him for a while, though.”

“He’s still talking nonsense—are you sure he’s okay?”

“Oh, My Lady. It’s just the fever making him confused. Besides, we can give him his medicine, so you should rest for a bit. You’ll collapse at this rate.”

Liat shook her head firmly.

“This happened because of me. I’m fine. But, did you get a reply from the Duke?”

Delin handed her a letter along with a paper knife.

The letter was brief. He apologized for his troublesome son and asked her to take care of him.

There was not a hint of concern for Alvin, and Liat clicked her tongue at the Duke’s coldness.

“Am I the only one worrying like this?”

Liat looked at Delin, seeking agreement.

“Um, well, the Duke must be busy with work lately. I’m sure he’s hurting inside.”

“There’s nothing about worrying for Alvin in the letter.”

The Duke hadn’t shown any special concern for his son, who had even moved to another territory for his unrequited love.

“That’s why Alvin is so starved for affection.”

Delin smiled awkwardly. Knowing the limits of Alvin’s desire for affection, Delin decided to leave early to avoid saying something she’d regret.

“Ahem! Well, My Lady, I’ll take my leave now. If you really feel unwell, you must let me know, okay?”

“Got it. Oh, how’s Uncle Tom?”

“He’s much better after resting, so you don’t need to worry. He said the medicine you sent worked wonders for his back.”

“That’s good to hear. You can go.”

The door closed. Once again, the two of them were left alone in the enclosed space.

“Alvin, get up and take your medicine.”

Was the energy he used to lift his manhood the last of his strength?

Even when she shook him, there was no response. He should have woken at her voice, but his closed eyes remained in a thin line.

Liat sighed deeply, picked up the medicine, and brought it to his mouth. She used her fingers to pry open his tightly shut lips.

It was her first time touching someone else’s lips.