"It's already over?"
Crystal suddenly spoke at this moment, gaining the attention of the other two. She looked as if she hadn't had enough of the show and wanted to watch more.
"Come here." Anom gestured for her to come closer, which she happily did.
Anom wrapped his hand around her shoulder before looking at Loreana. He didn't say anything and just kept staring at her with a slight smile.
Loreana understood his intentions, but the hesitation rooted in her heart prevented her from taking an immediate decision. She couldn't help but look at her daughter again, only to find her looking back with an encouraging smile.
Taking a deep breath, Loreana dropped the last bit of hesitation she had and stepped forward decisively.
She walked in front of the two before looking at her daughter. Her tone turned playful as she teased, "You wouldn't regret it later, would you?"
"Nope." Crystal said before sighing as she looked at Anom. "Besides, does he look like someone who can be content with just us three?" She asked in a mocking tone before saying to Loreana, "Won't it be better for you to join your daughter and prevent her from getting bullied in the future?"
Anom was speechless at her logic.
"Do you think this is an imperial harem for you to create factions?" He couldn't help but retort.
"Is it any better, though?" came the reply.
Anom wanted to speak, but he noticed that Loreana had turned silent. As he turned to look, he found her standing with her head lowered and her brows furrowed in contemplation.
Don't tell me she really bought it.
While he was surprised, a realization that such insecure feelings were not something he wanted his ladies to experience also dawned on him.
Grabbing Loreana's hand, he pulled her closer until she bumped into his chest and said, "Don't think too much about it." He then said it in a reassuring tone. "Currently, I only have you four."
But after hearing his words, Loreana was anything but reassured. Astonished, she looked at him.
"Four?" Crystal was also dumbfounded as she continued asking, "Me, Mother, and Luna; who's the other one?"
Gasp!
"I knew it!" Before even getting an answer, she gasped as she said while gnashing her teeth, "Which one of the two is it?"
"Neither." Anom instantly replied, as he caught her misunderstanding. "If you are talking about those two from the capital, that is."
"… Then?" Crystal was genuinely confused.
"Isn't it normal, dear?" But Loreana turned to her daughter. "You haven't even known him for a week." She said. "It's only normal for him to have someone like that."
She then once again turned to look at Anom before saying in a solemn tone, "I just hope that we three are not just extras you conveniently added to your collection."
Her words were quite harsh—hurtful, even. But Anom just smiled.
"You're just saying it for the sake of it." He said. "But you already know the truth, don't you?"
He understood that, at the beginning of their relationship, her nature as a mother would always prevail over her identity as his lover. But he didn't mind that one bit. If anything, he liked it that way.
Besides, as he had said, she was just asking for the sake of letting her daughter hear it. She herself shared a special bond with Anom, and she could feel that he really meant it when he asked for her to be in his life.
The interaction between their spirits was what created the initial mess of them both losing control, but it also contributed to forming a special link between the two. One that went beyond words.
"How about I take you to meet her?" He suddenly asked.
"Her… You mean…?" Crystal's slightly tense expression eased as she asked.
"Yep." He agreed. "How about it?"
Crystal was about to nod when she suddenly thought of something.
"You spent most of your time here?" she expressed her doubt. "Don't tell me it's someone from our family." She asked jokingly, but her expression changed when she saw Anom nod.
"You're right." He nodded, pursing his lips for a moment, and said, "It's your third aunt, Akoi."
"WHAT!?" Crystal shouted as she almost jumped. "You're joking, right?" she asked in disbelief.
Anom wanted to refuse, but Loreana's glare made him swallow his intended reply before he could end his act.
"Fine, bad joke," he admitted. "It's not her."
Crystal heaved a sigh of relief before showing an annoyed expression. "I would have beaten you up had that been true."
"Me too." Loreana expressed her agreement.
"So, where were we?" Anom tried to change the topic as he said, "Yeah, so. Let's go meet your other sister." He paused before turning to Crystal. Caressing her soft cheek, he asked, "Before that, would you mind calling Luna here too?"
Crystal nodded. Although she didn't know what means he was going to use, she understood his intentions and immediately went out to fetch her friend.
"So, where were we?" Anom repeated his question from earlier, but this time he was looking at Loreana with a smirk forming on his lips.
Loreana suddenly had a bad feeling for what was about to follow, but before she could step away, Anom took advantage of their close distance and grabbed her in his arms.
"Did you make your daughter angry so you could have me all to yourself?"
"Nonsense." Loreana furrowed her brows. "I just wanted her to understand how to confront a fickle rogue like you."
"Is that so?" He asked before saying, "But that's no reason for you to not get punished."
Before Loreana could inquire about the meaning of his words, he had already lowered one of his hands behind her legs.
"Eek!" Lifting her up in a princess carry, he moved towards the chair she had been sitting on previously.
"Wha—what are you doing?" Loreana asked in an alarmed tone.
Anom seated himself on the chair before lowering Loreana so that she ended up sitting on his lap with her legs on one side.
"Punishing you, of course." He replied, as a matter of fact.
Before she could ask, Anom had already moved his head toward her for a kiss.
Loreana's words got stuck as she looked at him, gazing at her as his face came closer. Resigning herself to her fate, she closed her eyes as she prepared herself to once again experience the weird feeling that she found somewhat enjoyable.
"Eh?" She couldn't help but become confused, as even after waiting for a few seconds, nothing happened.
Opening her eyes, she saw Anom looking at her with a smile. Looking at the faint anticipation in her gaze, he commented, "Quite eager, aren't we?"
Hearing his words, Loreana turned flustered, as she too had realized that her expression didn't suit her character. But she didn't have enough time to change it, as his next words made her feel stupefied.
"It is meant to be a punishment."
"Me kissing you will only make you enjoy it, won't it?" he asked before saying to her, "That's why you will be the one to kiss me."
"Is… Is there a difference?" Loreana couldn't help but be nervous but curious as well.
"Try it, and you'll know."
Looking at his expression, she knew he wouldn't allow her to back down.
'You've already agreed to something you've never thought was possible. This is nothing, Loreana. You can do it!'
Encouraging herself like that, Loreana gave a little nod to indicate her agreement before advancing her face forward.
Her eyelids fluttered as she found it difficult to stare at Anom while doing it. So she shyly lowered her eyes and focused on the act.
Finally, their lips connected. Loreana started by giving him quick pecks before they turned into short smooches, and then she became bold enough to kiss him without backing away.
Anom let her do what she wanted. Her inexperienced way of kissing made her seem cute.
As he was enjoying the moment, he was surprised when a wet and soft thing touched his lips.
Loreana broke away from the kiss as Anom saw her biting her lower lip in hesitation, looking so enticing that Anom had to control himself due to the fear of scaring her away. It was probably the first time she had done something like this.
Cheering her with his eyes, he gestured for her to continue.
Loreana's face was rosy, but she also seemed curious and hooked on the new feeling that she found fascinating.
Gathering her resolve, she finally acted and kissed him again. This time, she went in with her tongue.
"Mmh…"
Low, slurping noises echoed in the room that was otherwise silent as Anom welcomed her clumsy tongue with equal enthusiasm. His hands also moved, but this time, he held her head.
Intentionally or not, his palms were over her ears. But Loreana was too engrossed in their session to notice it. She found herself seeking pleasure and sensations she never thought she would get to feel. She could feel the love and yearning in each of his actions. It made her feel conflicted initially. But now that the conflict was resolving itself, along with her daughter's support, she herself seemed to be desiring him.
"Ahmn~" A light, muffled moan escaped her mouth as Anom bit her lip lightly, making her quiver.
They continued like this before Loreana opened her eyes slightly. She wanted to turn her head as she seemed to have heard something, but because of Anom's hold on her head, she could only forget about it.
As she once again began to lose herself in this new pleasure…
"Whaa!?"
A cute scream, filled with disbelief, suddenly grabbed her attention. Her tongue froze in action as she stared at Anom with her eyes wide open.
Anom found her reaction hilarious. But that was exactly what he wanted.
Turning her head towards the door, he said, "This is your punishment."