Demonic Po*nstar System Chapter 1074: Left Alone

Yunohana sat beside Kaiden, close enough that their knees touched. Her fan went onto the table. For once, she seemed content to leave it there.

"How is your shoulder?" he asked.

"Quite comfortable. You have been asking me that all day."

"You’ve had a busy day."

"I have." Her smile grew. "I believe it was supposed to involve lunch and a pleasant excursion on the water."

"To be fair, we did have those."

"We did. Along with several things I would have struggled to put on the itinerary."

Kaiden grinned, and she leaned against his arm, pleased by his reaction. Through the garden screen, a breeze moved the maple’s leaves while she considered the man she had brought home.

"I am glad we went," she said.

"The feeling is mutual."

"Because your dungeon got a ridiculous upgrade?" Yunohana asked slyly.

Kaiden knew a trick question when he heard one, responding perfectly without missing a single beat. "What? Of course not. It’s because I got to spend so much time with an amazing woman."

"The continental gateway upgrade matters none at all, then?"

"..."

"Just kidding," Yunohana giggled seeing his troubled expression. "Your face can be rather expressive, Kaiden..."

Then her eyes softened. "You were very good to me today... You even rescued me from your mother’s wrath."

Kaiden remembered her trying to explain the ridiculous wish of hers while Vespera watched.

To date her son, who could be Yunohana’s child as far as age went...

"I meant what I said," Kaiden decreed.

"I know. I have been thinking about it."

Her hand rested over his, and for a while she enjoyed being there without trying to fill the silence.

When the attendant returned, Yunohana thanked her and asked that they be left undisturbed. She arranged their cups beside the pot, then turned to him.

"Would you like some tea?"

"I’d always be happy to drink your tea. But..."

"But...?" she prompted, starting to pour into his cup.

"Right now, I’d rather taste something else. I got a taste earlier today, and I haven’t been able to get it off my mind ever since."

The teapot paused above his cup. Yunohana regarded him for a moment, then finished filling their cups with a sly smile.

Yunohana set down the teapot and rose, letting her fingertips brush along his cheek. They lingered beneath his chin as she stepped beside his cushion, coaxing him to turn with her.

Kaiden turned sideways on his cushion beneath that gentle guidance, thoroughly enjoying her attention. As her thumb brushed the corner of his mouth, she gathered her skirt with her free hand and settled facing him on his thighs, her knees resting on either side of his cushion.

The pleasure in her smile deepened when his arm closed around her waist. She wound her arms around his neck and leaned toward him, stopping with her lips just above his.

"And what might that be?" she purred.

Kaiden watched those lovely lips form the question, their teasing curve making it difficult to keep his thoughts straight.

"Alice’s killer cookies."

Yunohana’s smile disappeared as her eyes narrowed. "Hey-"

Before she could give him the reply he deserved, Kaiden drew her closer by the waist and kissed her.

Her protest became a muffled sound against his lips. Surprise held her still for a heartbeat, but he stayed with her, smiling into the kiss as her narrowed eyes slowly closed.

With her arms tightening around his neck, Yunohana kept him exactly where he was. The kiss grew gentler as she answered him, taking her time now that she had his attention so thoroughly.

She had approached him with confidence, offered him a lovely invitation, and received a joke about cookies for her trouble. The indignity deserved punishment, yet the warmth of his hand at her waist and the affection in his kiss made it terribly difficult to remain offended.

Kaiden’s free hand settled against her cheek. His thumb brushed over her skin while she kissed him with growing certainty, tilting her head to meet him. He had been enjoying her teasing all evening; having her this close made him want to give her every reason to keep choosing his company.

When their lips finally parted, neither of them went far. Yunohana remained comfortably on his lap, her nose brushing his as she tried to preserve the last of her reproach.

She failed.

Then she laughed softly, her forehead resting against his.

"What?" he murmured.

"I was going to be an excellent hostess."

"I’m having a wonderful time."

"Your tea is going to get cold."

"I’ll survive."

The pleasure of holding her came with a tenderness that made him careful. This woman had spent the day teasing him on her yacht and finding excuses to take his hand, growing more confident whenever he let her know he wanted her near.

He wanted to give her that confidence every day.

Yunohana eased back enough to see his face, her fingers remaining at his shoulder.

"I told your girls I wouldn’t end our first date in bed with you."

"Although I might shed some manly tears, I shall accept this grave news with my head held high."

Yunohana laughed before she could offer him a suitably solemn answer.

"How very brave of you. Shall I fetch a handkerchief?"

"I was hoping for a little comfort from my adorable hostess."

"Is sitting on your lap insufficient?"

"It’s certainly helping. I might just pull through."

Kaiden tightened his arm around her just enough to make her laugh again.

"Then I shall refrain from summoning a healer."

"Please spare me that. I’d never hear the end of it."

"Would another date assist your recovery?"

"We’ll have to wait and see. I’ll tell you when we’re there."

Her fingertips brushed his cheek as she considered this very cheeky patient of hers.

"How terribly shameless."

Yunohana had meant what she said aboard the yacht. Even when she invited him here, she had expected tea and conversation, with perhaps another kiss before he returned to the guest rooms.

But she was still on his lap, enjoying how readily he held her. The next date he wanted was already hers to accept. She could have that, breakfast with him, and evenings when she could ask him to remain without wondering whether she was asking too much.

She wanted them terribly.

She took his hand and brought it between them.

"Kaiden?"

"Yes?"

"I’ve never had a lover before."

Saying it made her nervous enough to wish she had left the subject for another evening. She could welcome him into her home and tease him over tea, but being wanted this personally still left her afraid of disappointing him.

Kaiden turned his hand beneath hers and held it, his smile becoming unbearably sly.

"I had a pretty good idea."

Yunohana’s eyes widened.

"Was it that obvious?"

His grin deepened as he drew her feminine curves closer with the arm around her waist.

"Yeah."

"How?"

"What? Did you think being a turbo-graceful, ultra-feminine, mature woman would make you seem experienced?"

"Perhaps not experienced, but... not even one lover? I give off such a terribly pure air?" She looked down at herself, then back at him. "That simply isn’t possible."

"Well. Maybe I just have a very good nose."

Yunohana gave him a deeply wry look.

"A very good nose?"

Kaiden leaned toward her neck and sniffed.

*Sniff*