Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Breaking Point [R18]

Yena unbuckled her weapon belt and set her spear against the wall, but she didn’t turn around to face him right away.

Her breathing grew a little shallower, and the light fabric of her shirt showed the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

’We’re finally behind closed doors, and there is nowhere left to hide from the tension,’ Kai thought, his eyes tracking the smooth curve of her hips as she stood near the edge of the bed.

"So," Kai said softly, breaking the silence with a slow step forward.

"It looks like we’re sharing the bed tonight, teacher."

Yena turned around slowly, her eyes locked onto his face with a mixture of desire and defensive caution.

She crossed her arms under her chest and offered a small smirk.

"Don’t get any ideas yet."

"I guess I’ll just have to work a little harder then," Kai murmured, closing the remaining distance between them until he could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.

The Scarlet Lotus offered a level of comfort Kai had not seen since he left the millennium ballroom.

Room twelve sat at the end of a quiet hallway, boasting solid cedar walls and a wide balcony overlooking the bustling night market.

They desperately needed to wash the wasteland from their skin.

Yena claimed the basin first, disappearing behind a wooden privacy screen. Kai stepped out onto the balcony, listening to the soft splashes of water while trying to keep his mind focused on their upcoming mission.

He watched the armed female guards patrolling the streets below, taking mental notes on their patrol routes and weapon choices.

Yena finally emerged a long time later, wearing nothing but a loose, thin silk robe she found in the wardrobe.

The soft white fabric clung to her wet skin, highlighting every single curve of her athletic body.

She left her wet hair hanging loose around her shoulders.

Kai took his turn washing up as quickly as possible.

He scrubbed the grime from his arms and chest, eager to return to the main room. He stepped out wearing his trousers and a loose linen shirt left completely unbuttoned to combat the warm night air.

Yena was sitting on the edge of the large bed, pouring ruby liquid from a bottle of strong desert wine into two glass cups.

She handed him a drink when he sat down beside her, and her eyes dragged slowly across his bare chest.

"You are staring again," Yena mocked softly, though her voice sounded much huskier than her usual sharp tone.

"I’m just appreciating the view," Kai replied, taking a slow sip of the wine.

"And you can’t blame me for looking when you spent the last three nights leaning against my shoulder."

Yena laughed quietly, a genuine sound that transformed her entire face.

She took a long drink from her cup, and the strong alcohol quickly brought a warm flush to her sun-tanned cheeks.

"I was cold in the dunes, boy. Do not let it stroke your ego too much."

"My ego is fine," Kai smirked, shifting slightly closer until their knees almost brushed.

"But I think you liked the attention, and you definitely liked the body heat."

Yena looked down into her wine glass for a long moment, tracing the rim with her thumb.

"I haven’t been with a man in years, Kai. Living out there alone makes you forget what a gentle touch actually feels like."

’She is finally dropping the tough scavenger act,’ Kai thought, feeling a sudden rush of protective warmth mixed with pure, unfiltered lust.

"I am tired of holding back what I want," Kai told her honestly, setting his empty cup on the wooden bedside table.

"And I want you, Yena. I have wanted you since I first saw you holding that spear in the ruined outpost."

The sexual tension in the room finally reached a complete breaking point.

Yena didn’t offer another sarcastic remark or try to push him away with a joke. She suddenly reached out, grabbed Kai right by the collar of his open shirt, and pulled him into a fierce, hungry kiss.

It was passionate and highly aggressive as she had clearly been holding back her own intense desires for days.

Kai responded immediately, deepening the kiss without a single second of hesitation.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and slid his hands down her lower back.

Gripping her ass firmly, he pulled her body flush against his own so she could feel exactly how much he wanted her.

The silk of her robe offered almost no barrier between their bodies.

He pushed the loose garment entirely off her shoulders, exposing her full, sun-tanned breasts to the dim lamplight.

He broke the kiss and trailed his lips slowly down her jawline.

Kai kissed her neck, sucking and biting gently right on her pulse point while whispering dominant words against her heated skin.

"You’ve been teasing me for days," Kai murmured, letting his hands roam freely over her warm curves.

"Acting tough while your body was begging for this."

"Ngh!"

Yena moaned softly, arching her back to press herself even closer to his mouth.

Her hands tangled in his hair, gripping the strands tightly while she breathed in shallow, ragged gasps.

"Look at these perfect tits," Kai whispered, trailing his kisses down her collarbone. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Been dying to taste them since the first day."

He kissed the soft swell of her breasts, drawing another loud, desperate moan from her lips.

"Ahh!"

She tasted like sweet wine and warm desert spice.

"Tell me how long you’ve wanted my hands on you, Yena," Kai demanded softly, kissing his way back up to her jaw.

She was breathing hard and clearly very turned on by his aggressive words.

She kissed him back frantically, tasting like desire and pent-up frustration.

Kai hooked his arm under her knees and tried to push her backward onto the silk sheets so he could finally finish what they started in the desert.

Yena stopped him right before her back hit the mattress.

She placed a trembling hand flat against his chest and gently pushed him away.

Her face was flushed deep red, and she struggled to catch her breath in the quiet room.

"Not tonight," Yena whispered, looking directly into his eyes with sadness.

"Not like this. I want you, but I need to be sure you’re not just using me to forget her."