The sound of water came from the master bathroom on the second floor, a steady, splashing rush.
Tinia had his own full bathroom in his room, but this clingy golden fox insisted on squeezing into the master bedroom with her. No matter how much she tried to shoo him away, he refused to leave, as if afraid she might vanish into thin air the moment he looked away. He even insisted on showering right under her nose.
After he bought this house, he had renovated it inside and out. The bedsheets were new, soft cool grey.
This was the capital planet, the heart of the Empire's power. Outside, countless eyes were probably fixed on this villa; the old men in the Cabinet were likely tearing their hair out in worry.
But right now, there was only the sound of water, and the dull thud of Tinia occasionally bumping into the bathroom doorframe.
He was too impatient.
The water in the bathroom stopped. Less than half a minute later, the door was yanked open.
Tinia walked out with a head of wet, golden hair. He was wearing only a loose bathrobe, the sash tied loosely around his waist, revealing a large expanse of pale chest. Water droplets rolled down his collarbone, disappearing into the folds of the fabric.
He hadn't even dried his hair. In a few long strides, he was at the bedside.
The mattress sank heavily under his weight.
The datapad in Jiang Lijin's hand was snatched away and tossed onto the carpet. In the next moment, he climbed onto the edge of the bed on one knee, his tall frame looming over her, trapping her completely between his arms.
Tinia didn't speak.
He just stared down at her from his height. Those blue eyes, usually so bright and sparkling, now seethed with fervent emotions. Grievance, lingering fear, and a possessiveness so intense it was almost overflowing.
He didn’t say a word, just stared at her for a long, hard moment. Then, like a mountain, he came crashing down.
A heavy weight, damp and fragrant, pressed solidly onto her.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, like a large, emotionally starved dog. He rubbed his nose firmly against her skin, greedily breathing in her scent.
Jiang Lijin could barely breathe under his weight. She pushed against his shoulder. “You're so heavy. Move.”
“No,” Tinia refused. Not only did he not move, but he tightened his arms, pulling her even closer. He slipped one leg restlessly between her knees, forcing himself to fit completely into her embrace.
He had just taken a hot shower, and his skin was scorching. Through the thin fabric of their clothes, Jiang Lijin could feel the rapid, thundering beat of his heart.
“Sister…” he murmured, his lips brushing against her chin as he kissed his way upwards, slowly.
Jiang Lijin closed her eyes and let him do as he pleased.
She lifted her hand and buried it in his semi-wet golden hair. The strands were cool. When her fingertips touched his scalp, she felt a faint shiver run through him.
“I'm here,” she said softly.
Just two words, but they were more effective than a thousand reassurances.
Tinia froze completely for a moment.
The next second, a huge golden fox materialized out of nowhere, taking up half the bed.
The young master, in moments like this, could no longer control his spirit beast. It was a phenomenon that occurred in a male when he was both extremely relaxed and emotionally stirred.
The giant fox’s fluffy tail restlessly swept across Jiang Lijin's calf, tickling her. It laid its massive head on her stomach, a low, rumbling purr emanating from its throat.
Tinia's own face turned even redder. He thought letting his spirit beast out was a bit embarrassing and reached out to push the fox away, but Jiang Lijin stopped him.
“It's pretty cute,” Jiang Lijin said casually, scratching the fox behind its ear. The texture was wonderful.
The giant fox squinted its eyes in pleasure, its tail wagging nonstop.
“It's a total traitor,” Tinia grumbled sullenly, but his body honestly pressed even closer, stubbornly trying to steal space from the fox.
The night deepened. Only a dim bedside lamp was on in the room.
Tinia's kisses drifted from her chin to the corner of her mouth, finally settling on her lips. Unlike the frantic kiss downstairs, this time he kissed slowly, thoroughly.
Jiang Lijin parted her lips slightly, welcoming his advance. Tinia's breathing grew heavier and heavier. His hand, originally resting on her waist, began to slide upwards restlessly, caressing her back through the fabric.
Jiang Lijin's own breath became ragged.
Tinia’s robe had already come undone somewhere along the way. He stopped moving and propped himself up slightly.
Those blue eyes locked onto hers again. The corners of his eyes were red, nearly bleeding. In the depths of his gaze was an unadulterated madness and desire.
But he still didn't speak.
Jiang Lijin looked at him. In those blue eyes, she saw only her own reflection. There was no room for anything else in his pupils.
She smiled.
Jiang Lijin didn’t pull away. She responded with action, looping her arms around his neck, pulling him down gently, and initiating the kiss on his Adam's apple.
Tinia let out a muffled groan. The last of his taut nerves snapped.
He took the lead, firmly pressing her down beneath him. Kisses rained down, no longer tentative, no longer restrained. Only primal instinct and consuming desire remained.
Jiang Lijin was lifted up by Tinia's mental force, pushed wave after wave toward the peak, only to fall heavily back down.
In the midst of it, Tinia’s tears suddenly fell into the crook of her neck.
Scalding drops slid down her collarbone, tightness stinging her heart.
As he took his insatiable pleasure, he called her name, over and over again.
“Sister… Sister.”
Each word came with a thick, nasal tone. All the grievance and lingering fear of the past few days came pouring out.
Jiang Lijin was exhausted by his relentless ministrations. It was both infuriating and amusing. This guy was doing the most domineering things while putting on a face of having suffered a terrible injustice.
“Crybaby,” she gasped out a scolding, reaching up to clumsily wipe the corner of his eye.
Tinia didn’t argue. Instead, he clung to her even more stubbornly. He persisted in this way—marking her body, leaving his imprint, his brand.
Time passed. It could have been a long while.
The storm subsided.
The giant fox at the foot of the bed had long since disappeared. Only Tinia remained, sprawled heavily over her, showing no sign of moving.
He turned his head, his nose pressed against her temple, his breathing slowly steadying.
Jiang Lijin raised an arm to grab the blanket, but he caught her wrist, lacing his fingers into hers, one by one.
“Don't move,” he mumbled, his voice already growing drowsy and hoarse. “Let me hold you a little longer.”
The datapad lay quietly on the carpet. The unread messages on the screen had already climbed into triple digits.
But no one paid it any mind.
