Demonic Po*nstar System Chapter 1060: Mother

"I should hope not. I haven’t had breakfast."

Kaiden laughed, earning a wounded look from the woman tucked beneath his arm. He could at least have tried to restrain himself while she was explaining how she had accidentally arrived to ask for his hand.

His hold tightened in affectionate apology, and Yunohana leaned into him despite herself. After everything he had just said, there was very little point pretending her hopes were modest.

With his warmth at her side, Yunohana found the courage to meet Vespera’s eyes again.

"Then... I would like to make him happy. Your son has been very good to me, and I want to be someone he is pleased to come home to."

Her voice softened as she said it. The wish had grown larger while she stood in this room, listening to him claim her so readily. She wanted to belong with him, to be welcome among the women who loved him, and she wanted his mother to know how seriously she meant it.

"I hope you can believe that."

Vespera studied her for a moment, then looked toward the hand her son kept at the woman’s waist. "I believe you."

"You do?" Yunohana asked, her breath catching at the reassurance.

"You have been making him happy. I’ve spoken to him often enough to notice." Vespera returned her attention to Kaiden. "And you seem to have decided where you stand."

"I have," he said, his smile softening.

"Yes. I can see that."

Tucked against Kaiden, Yunohana was making a valiant effort to wait for the rest without appearing impatient. She was failing beautifully enough to draw a sigh from Vespera.

"Then you have my blessing. I hope you take good care of each other."

For a moment, Yunohana could only look at her.

She had it.

The other women had welcomed her, Kaiden wanted her, and now his mother had said yes. Happiness filled her so completely that she forgot the careful thanks she ought to have offered, forgot the embarrassment that had kept her pressed against his side.

"Did you hear that?!"

Turning in Kaiden’s arm, she caught his shirt and rose to kiss him.

Her lips met his before he could say a word.

Kaiden felt her smiling against his mouth. The impulsive little kiss was full of joy, with her fingers holding his shirt as though she meant to make quite certain he understood how happy she was.

He understood.

As she began to draw back, his free hand came to her cheek. Yunohana paused beneath his touch, looking up at him with her lips still parted.

"There’s no running now," he murmured, smiling as he leaned down to meet her.

"Mm..."

The warmth of his mouth made her close her eyes. She had meant to give him one kiss, but his hand was slipping into her hair, his arm drawing her comfortably against him, and she found herself rising to meet him before remembering where they stood.

His mother’s bedroom.

Yunohana opened her eyes just enough to look past his shoulder. From the edge of the bed, Vespera was watching her with the same dreadful attention she had brought to their conversation.

"Kaiden," she whispered against his mouth. "Your mother is watching."

He eased back, his thumb brushing her cheek.

"Would you like me to stop?"

She ought to have said yes. There was a perfectly serviceable chair by the window where she could sit with her knees together and thank Lady Ashborn for her understanding. She could even discuss the dungeon in complete sentences.

Instead, Yunohana looked at his mouth.

"...In a moment."

Her hand slipped from his shirt to the back of his neck, and she drew him down to her.

"Mm..."

This time she kissed him properly, letting him feel how happy he had made her. His pleased response warmed her all the way to her toes; encouraged by it, she pressed closer and forgot the apology she had been composing for his mother.

Vespera could see every bit of it. Yunohana knew that, could feel the scrutiny even with her eyes closed, yet being wanted so openly after that dreadful conversation made it impossible to muster the appropriate shame.

She liked him. Terribly. He was holding her as though she belonged there, and she wanted a little longer to enjoy it.

By the time Kaiden lifted his head, her fingers had tightened at his nape. She let them relax reluctantly, looking up at him with a happiness she had given up trying to hide.

"Hi, Yuno."

"...Hello."

Then she heard what he had called her.

"Yuno?"

"I can’t keep calling you Yunohana all the time. It feels so formal when I’m holding you like this."

Her smile crept back despite the effort she made to consider his explanation with suitable gravity.

"I see. You have decided to shorten it for your convenience."

"Do you mind?"

"...Would you say it again?"

Kaiden brushed his lips against her forehead.

"Yuno."

"Mm."

She tucked her face beneath his chin, thoroughly pleased with the arrangement. He could make her this happy simply by removing part of her name. How was she supposed to conduct herself sensibly around him?

She had spent the whole afternoon encouraging this man to want her.

Apparently, she had been terribly successful.

"I believe," she managed, "I may have become a little carried away."

"Just a little."

"Kaiden..."

Her protest lacked conviction. He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek, and she leaned into his hand before catching herself.

From the bed, Vespera cleared her throat.

Yunohana lowered her hand from Kaiden’s neck and turned toward Vespera, taking considerable care to look properly attentive. His arm remained around her waist, which made recovering her dignity a rather optimistic undertaking.

"My apologies. I..."

She looked at his mother, then at him, and began laughing helplessly.

What a hopeless creature she had become. She wanted to straighten up and express her gratitude, yet she was so delighted to be in Kaiden’s arms that she kept pressing closer instead.

"Thank you for being so kind to me," she said, managing at last to meet Vespera’s eyes. "I am very happy. Truly."

"I’ve gathered that already. Now sit down before my shameless son helps himself to another kiss."

"Yes. Thank you, Mother."

Vespera closed her eyes.

A very long, weary exhale left her lips.

Being the mother of such a greedy boy...

Was not an easy job.