Rebirth of the Interstellar Pope <Mecha>

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

【Anno pondered the significance of revealing his identity to Rufeite. When he had asked, "Rufeite, can I kiss you?" he had resolved to keep his true identity-Pope Anno-hidden.】

【It was undeniable: he felt a powerful attraction to Rufeite. Anno hoped that Rufeite could fall in love with the genuine Anno, rather than the Pope he was expected to be.】

"Rufeite, can I kiss you?" he repeated, this time with more confidence.

Rufeite raised his eyebrows, surprise flickering across his face. A smile broke through as he nodded. "Of course."

In religious tradition, a kiss on the cheek served as a sign of reverence for the Pope, a custom popular during Camilla's time. It was clear Rufeite misunderstood Anno's intent; when he allowed Anno to kiss him, he likely perceived it as merely a gesture of respect.

Rising from his seat, Anno gazed intently at Rufeite across the dining table. Rufeite extended his left hand, and Anno took it gently, cradling it in both of his before pressing a kiss to the back.

First kiss, complete.

Rufeite regarded Anno with a look of warmth akin to that of an elder, nodding in encouragement.

Taking a deep breath, Anno leaned over the table, cradling Rufeite's cheeks in his hands.

Rufeite smiled softly, saying, "...It's okay, be brave... um..."

Before Rufeite could finish his sentence, Anno pressed forward, capturing Rufeite's lips in a long, passionate kiss. He held Rufeite's chin with one hand while letting the other caress his cheek, pouring every ounce of his longing into the kiss.

Anno held his breath, his cheeks flushed with emotion, still unwilling to pull away. Tentatively, he extended his tongue, brushing it against Rufeite's lips. When he sensed Rufeite's surprise, he pushed forward without hesitation.

At that moment, Anno's consciousness surged back to life, igniting his once-restless heart. The powerful connection reverberated through the restaurant, stirring Rufeite's own sea of consciousness.

Both forces clashed: Anno's was aggressive, while Rufeite's remained slightly restrained.

Rufeite, taken aback, could only respond with bewilderment. He had experienced many forms of admiration and worship from the faithful, and though he had received kisses before, they had always been on the cheek or the back of the hand. No one had ever dared to kiss the esteemed Rufeite with such fervor-let alone use their tongue!

Though Rufeite did not push Anno away, his brow furrowed as his sea of consciousness reacted instinctively, as if attempting to restrain Anno. But Anno's consciousness responded quickly, entangling with Rufeite's and pushing back, a powerful force suppressing the other.

Rufeite's intuition was not mistaken; he could feel the difference. Anno's consciousness was no longer the weak presence it had once been; it mirrored the powerful force that had emerged during their physical training that morning-strong yet controlled.

Finally, Anno withdrew, his cheeks still flushed and his eyes glistening. He met Rufeite's gaze with a playful smile.

"Before I kiss you enough, you can try to move your sea of consciousness again," he challenged.

Rufeite raised an eyebrow. "Can I say I'd rather die than obey?"

"No," Anno replied playfully. "But if you don't want to continue, we can save it for next time." With that, he leaned back, adjusted his breathing, and retracted his vast sea of consciousness.