Another Life, Another Me

92. Marionette

"..."

"..."

His robes slipped down his chest cleanly and barely held onto his waist thanks to the silk strap that wrapped around his waist.

"Ah..." I finally breathed as I let go of him and awkwardly took a single step back.

Unfortunately, it was as if his abs were a magnet that relentlessly drew my eyes to them.

Imagine the most perfect set of abs in existence.

Yes...

The most perfect set of abs in existence.

It was always a wonder to me how Ace wasn't a male lead.

He was handsome, intelligent, strong, and overwhelmingly kind.

But, unfortunately, he wasn't even mentioned as a character in the otome game...it was as if someone like him didn't exist at all.

I wonder...

What would have happened to Ace if I had never found him or left him alone that one night...the night where we first met...?

Was he simply destined to die...?

I paled at such a thought.

What in the world would I be doing now if it weren't for Ace...?

"..."

Unconsciously, before I could even think about it, I walked up to Ace and wrapped my arms around him.

Here.

I was so glad that he was here.

Unfortunately, it was too late when I realized that Ace's chest was still bare.

"...Cordelia...hey...wait..."

"Hmm...?" I mumbled in reply as I looked up at him properly.

That's when I felt his warm skin rub against the cheek of my face.

"E-Eh...?" I stuttered as I widened my eyes.

W-What was I doing again...?!

"Cordelia...I'm...serious...you should let go of me...right now..." Ace murmured to me in a somewhat low voice.

"Huh?"

"It's dangerous..."

(A/N: Bonk. Go to horny jail.  ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ)

His chest felt so hot that it was almost as if it were on fire.

I froze on the spot.

"You're not going to let go...?" Ace asked me.

"...Uh...Wait a minute—"

"I warned you, Cordelia," Ace said as he easily lifted me up in the air against my will.

"Huh? E-Eh???" I protested as I weakly smacked his arm.

I could feel myself blushing from my cheeks all the way to my ears.

What in the world was this man doing??

But when I tried shooting Ace a very mean glare, I realized that he had a wide smile on his face and that he was on the verge of laughing this whole time. 

"Y-You're teasing me...aren't you..." I frowned, completely embarrassed that I nearly fell for it.

Ace licked his lips a bit and gave a small humorous chuckle.

He was blushing a bit as well.

"Of course I was joking, Cordelia...You know I wouldn't do anything you wouldn't like..." Ace said as he continued holding me in his arms.