WMMAP - [S2] Shelter You

62: A Man Between Worlds

"If you pass, you get your reward."

Lucas snorted. The edge of his lips tugged slightly. "Depends on the reward," he said, challenging her. "Let see how Generous you can be first."

"You get to choose."

He hummed a short tune, amused at how fast she responded back.

"Anything?"

Athanasia remained indifferent. But the finger that hooked the waistband left its position and climbed forward from his stomach to his chest. Each stroke across the hardening muscles on his body made Lucas' body shaking slightly.

A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, but Lucas maintained his smirk through the trembling lips. So that he could show no sign of weakness.

But once her forefinger reached the left side of his chest, drawing a circle there as she maintained eyes contact, Lucas wetted his dried lips and took a sharp breath.

"Anything."

As if Athanasia had read his mind, Lucas watched her eyes leave his gaze and fell onto where he wanted her. Then she gazed back up.

Lucas swallowed another lump in his throat as she leaned in. Her other palm joined the other side of his chest.

Lucas' arms twitched, wanting nothing more but to flip her over. But upon showing the slightest movement, Athanasia pressed down his shoulders enough to make him let out a grunt.

"Aren't you a little rough with me?" Snorting, Lucas asked. "Is this supposed to be a revenge or a reward?"

Athanasia leaned her face in slowly without saying anything. Out of habit, Lucas parted his lips and closed his eyes, then waited.

He felt nothing but chill air when it was ever so comfortable just now.

He opened his eyes once more, growing impatient. The light that greeted him was warmer yet too bright.

Lucas ran his arms across his body, tapping, as though he were tracing for someone else. When he found nothing but his own skin, Lucas lifted his head and opened his eyes to look around, ignoring the sharp pain inside his head.

All he saw was empty side of the bed where bright sunlight laid upon. It dawned on him as he followed the light outside.

"Fuck you, Morpheus..." He swore angrily. Despite the blanket covering him, he could see a tent between his legs. "At least let me get to the good part, you bastard... Fuck..."

His eyes fell on the heater. From the numbers that shown, it was lower than he had remembered. Which explained why he felt an undeniable cold crept up to his body.

Lucas let his head fall back to the mattress. His hand rubbed his forehead, soothing the ache.

"God... I didn't even drink much last night..."

"What are you mumbling about?"

Lucas let out an unmanly scream and instinctively pulled the blanket to cover from his chest to above his nose. He looked to the direction of the voice, seeing nothing more than his girlfriend,  who put her hands on her hips above her neatedly dressed casual winter clothing, by the bathroom door.

"You know, it's better that we don't do horror movie date night anymore," said Athanasia as she went to the side of his bed before sitting down next to him. He could smell the fresh rose scent from the shampoo she used at home.

Lucas looked at her suspiciously, and she furrowed her brow at him.

"What's wrong?" Athanasia put her hand on his forehead, feeling his temperature. "Did the great imperial magician catch a cold? Fever?"