Andrey took a small step back, his back pressing against the cool bathroom tiles. The room suddenly felt smaller. The towel that had been draped over his shoulder now hung loosely in his hand, forgotten.

"We shouldn’t be in here," Andrey said, his voice lower than he intended. "This is the bathroom. The others—" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Hmm." Sein tilted her head, her green eyes moving slowly down his body, then back up to his face. "And? What’s wrong with the bathroom?"

She stepped closer.

Andrey’s internal alarm blared. ’This is dangerous. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. Or maybe she does. That’s worse.’

Sein raised her hand.

Her fingers brushed against his chest, tracing the line of his collarbone, then sliding down to his shoulder. Her touch was light, almost curious, as if she were examining something she’d never noticed before.

"You’ve been working hard," she said quietly, her voice losing its usual sharp edge. Her fingers pressed against the firm muscle of his shoulder, then his arm. "I didn’t realize... your body has changed."

Andrey’s breath caught.

He could feel the warmth of her palm through his thin shirt. She was close enough that he could smell her. Not just sweat, though there was that too. There was something else underneath. Something clean, almost floral. Her shampoo, maybe. Or just... her.

"You work hard too," Andrey managed, his voice steady despite the pounding in his chest. "We all do."

Sein’s fingers had stopped on Andrey’s chest, but they hadn’t moved away. Her green eyes were fixed on his face, sharp and focused, but there was something else beneath the surface. Something softer. More vulnerable.

"I heard something today," she said quietly, her voice low. "From one of the Association clerks. There’s a hero in the eastern district who’s been acting strange lately. Aggressive. Reckless. His party members are worried."

Andrey forced himself to focus on her words, not on the warmth of her hand still resting against his chest. "Strange how?"

"Unstable mana output. Mood swings. He’s been clearing gates alone, refusing backup." Sein’s thumb moved absently, tracing small circles on his shirt. "The clerk mentioned he was part of an expedition that recovered a corrupted artifact a few weeks ago. They thought it was purified, but..."

"But it wasn’t."

Sein nodded. "The corruption might have affected him. Or he’s hiding the artifact himself. Either way, it’s a lead."

Andrey’s internal thoughts churned. ’An artifact outside a gate. In a hero’s possession. If the corruption is spreading, we need to act fast. But Sein’s information is secondhand. We need confirmation.’

"We need more details," he said. "The hero’s name, his guild, the artifact’s location. Without that, we’re just chasing rumors."

Sein’s fingers finally stopped moving. She looked up at him, her expression softened. "I know. That’s why I thought we should investigate together. Quietly. Before anyone else catches wind."

Andrey nodded slowly. "Good. We’ll start tomorrow morning. I’ll contact Hope, see if she has any additional intel."

Sein’s hand dropped from his chest.

For a moment, they just stood there, the small bathroom feeling even smaller than before.

Then Andrey felt it.

Light pressure. Deliberate.

His eyes widened.

Sein’s other hand had slid down, her fingers resting against the front of his sweatpants.

Andrey’s breath caught. "Sein. What are you doing?"

Sein’s green eyes looked up at him, a mix of curiosity and something sharper. Her voice was low, almost teasing.

"Your penis is getting harder..."

Andrey’s breath hitched. His hand instinctively moved to her wrist, though he didn’t pull her away yet.

"Sein... stop," he said, his voice strained, trying to keep control. "This isn’t the time—"

But Sein didn’t stop. Her fingers traced the outline of his cock through the fabric, stroking slowly, feeling it twitch and harden further under her touch.

She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a small, almost challenging smile.

"Is it getting this hard... because of me?"

Andrey’s jaw tightened. He could feel the heat rising in his face, his cock betraying him by throbbing against her palm. Sein’s hand continued its slow, teasing strokes, pressing firmer now, rubbing along his length.

"Sein..." Andrey’s voice came out rougher than he intended. "You’re playing with fire right now."

Sein leaned in closer, her body almost pressing against his. Her breath brushed against his neck as she whispered again.

"Then why aren’t you stopping me?"

Her fingers slipped under the waistband of his sweatpants, brushing against the bare skin of his lower abdomen, inching lower...

Andrey’s breath caught in his throat as Sein’s fingers slipped further under the waistband of his sweatpants. Her touch was bold, deliberate, brushing against the base of his cock before wrapping around the thick shaft.

Sein’s green eyes never left his face. She slowly stroked him inside his pants, feeling him harden fully in her grip.

"Your penis... it’s getting even harder," she murmured, her voice low and slightly husky. "It’s twitching in my hand..."

Andrey’s back pressed harder against the cool tiles. His hand moved to her wrist, but he didn’t pull her away. His voice came out strained.

"Sein... stop. This isn’t—"

But Sein continued stroking him, her fingers moving up and down his cock with growing confidence. She leaned in closer, her body almost pressing against his, her breath warm against his neck.

"Why should I stop?" she whispered. "You’re clearly enjoying this. Look how hard you are... because of me."

Andrey groaned quietly, his hips twitching forward into her hand despite himself. Sein’s strokes became smoother, firmer, her thumb brushing over the sensitive head on each upward motion.

"Sein..." Andrey’s voice was rough, barely holding on. "You’re really pushing it right now..."

Sein smirked, her green eyes gleaming with a mix of arrogance and arousal. She squeezed him gently, feeling him throb in her palm.

"Good," she said softly. "Then don’t hold back."

Her hand moved faster inside his pants, stroking him with clear intent. Andrey’s breathing grew heavier, his hands gripping the edge of the sink behind him as pleasure built rapidly.

The bathroom felt smaller, hotter. Sein’s body was close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her. Her free hand pressed against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat.

"Tell me, Andrey," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear. "Does it feel good when I touch you like this?"

Andrey gritted his teeth, trying to keep control, but his cock betrayed him, throbbing harder in her hand.