I kissed Seraphina. Falling completely back against the elevator wall. For the moment, all we could do was focus on our lips as we intertwined with one another.

  This time, we were in a place of our own. There were no eyes anywhere anymore. All of this was just us. No moving car, no uncomfortable leather seats, and as much as I disliked the thought, I also loved the lack of words.

  It couldn’t stay that way, though.

  I moved my hand down and slid it up her thighs, tracing her lines with my finger as I kissed her deeper, softer. Tender and tender into her lips. My tongue gently rolled out and licked at her lips, nudging her mouth to open a slight bit.

  Slowly, I slid it in, my hand now riding up the side of her shirt and holding it up.

  “Seraphina…” I muttered, breaking the kiss. “Is this okay?”

  She shook her head and pulled my neck closer once again, sealing the kiss. That was all the answer I needed.

  It was to read her. To read her body. She was feeling good, and more and more of me was feeling even better with every moment that she liked.

  I was doing this.

  All this pleasure.

  This kiss.

  All that she was feeling.

  All the heat in her cold breath.

  It was all mine. It was all due to me. I was the one behind it.

  Our tongues rolled together as we kissed more. I coiled my tongue over her gums, gently sliding it further into her mouth. I felt some of her saliva fall onto me as I rolled my tongue back into my mouth. A breath, and we were at it again.

  Seraphina and I pushed each other a little more. Her hands desperately moved to my clothes and started to splay around. Exploring. Desperately searching. She was not looking for anything in particular, but just wanted her hands to be on mine.

  Inexperienced. Clearly, both of us were. But there was more than enough space for me to breathe. It was out of love and a deep passion.

  I moved my hand lower this time. Slowly sliding over her stomach to the line of her laced panties. I tugged at it slightly, pulling the string behind with my hand. She was breathing deeper the closer my hand was to her lower half.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  I touched her stomach. With my palm, I pressed down on her navel, below it, onto her stomach, her womb. Slowly pressing deeper into her body.

  My other hand remained on her neck, sliding over her cheeks as I continued kissing her.

  “Mmm… Elara…”

  I took it as a sign.

  To go further.

  My hand lowered again. My fingers slid into her innerwear. I headed down to her panties and pushed my hand inside.

  “Hisshh.”

  Seraphina’s back straightened up with her breath, and so did I rise alongside her. We were both pulled up, almost as if a magnet was tying us together. Its link weakened at the same time as well, as both of our bodies shuddered and lowered. My hand slid further down. I was nearing her slit when Seraphina broke the kiss and leaned forward.

  She closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder.

  I stopped. She seemed to be shuddering.

  I gently moved my hand out. The other one on her back.

  “Are you ok?”

  “It’s lessened. The pain… I am sorry, I just… I have never been in this relief before.”

  A smile tugged at my lips as soon as she said those words.

  I gently stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.

  “I got you.”

  We were back in the office. Seraphina laid down on the couches while I spun around on the chair at my desk. The office was enormous, and I couldn’t believe we had been so occupied with each other just moments ago that we did not even think about entering.

  It was risky.

  It was beyond risky. This was still the Ashen Gryphon building. If nothing else, then Guild Leader Gloria could enter whenever she wanted. It was really a risky thing for us to not even be in the office.

  Perhaps it was because the entire event was so hard to process directly that I couldn’t help but think about these other things.

  The fact was.

  Seraphina and I had done something that was not just for the skill.

  And… I wanted to do far more.

  I buried my face in my palms as I realized what I was thinking. My ears were turning red, I could tell. What was even going on.

  There was no control over me.

  “How are you feeling now?”

  I asked, taking a breath. “Should I bring you some water?”

  “No… I am good. The pain is slowly coming back. But it's bearable.”

  I hoped that would remain the case. I didn’t want her to be in too much pain anymore.

  It was extremely saddening.

  Even though there were so many other layers attached to this for Seraphina, I couldn’t believe I kept thinking about myself and how I felt. My chest was still aching from the rush and excitement. It was almost like it was freezing over somewhere.

  Should I ask her what we were doing?

  What about the kissing? Was it even necessary to talk about this right now? I mean, we could have, and yes being transparent was correct.

  But “I think we should take our time and talk about things. Soon.”

  Seraphina turned her gaze toward me, falling to her side.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked.

  “A lot of things.”

  “I am too…”

  “It’s better to give ourselves the time to think, yes?”

  Seraphina nodded. Her lips pursed together. She seemed a little pained. Perhaps by the words.

  “What is it?”

  She shook her head.

  “Tell me.”

  She opened her mouth slightly. Then closed it. Once again, she opened it.

  Why. What was stopping her from addressing things to me?

  “Are you… thinking positively of me at least? Can I know that?”

  I smiled.