Felix had only briefly glanced at the woman before him when he was on the inn's ground floor. He wasn't that interested then, but now that he could look closer, he saw that she was quite pretty.
She wore the same deep red dress she did before, but somehow, the whole atmosphere around her had shifted. If previously she could likened to a high-grade prostitute while she sat on the gang leader's lap, she now felt more reserved and pure, which only enhanced the allure she displayed before.
Felix took a moment to observe her, and curiously enough, she did the same to him. As she stared at him, Felix noticed her face gradually turning red. His eyebrows rose in surprise at the unexpected blush until he realized that he was currently bare-chested as he dried himself. Considering the situation on the ground floor, he found that reaction quite curious.
Felix failed to realize that, compared to the gang leader's overly fat physics, Felix's body seemed chiselled out of marble due to numerous years of fighting as a mercenary. Even the countless scars on his chest only improved his manly appeal. Few women wouldn't be attracted to such a physique.
The woman on the other side of the door was also attractive, and the unexpected blush only improved her attractiveness. Looking closer, she was a head shorter than Felix, making her a little taller than the average woman, as Felix was quite tall. Her hair was a deep brown with a hint of green, which was quite unusual and gave her an exotic feeling.
Felix thanked her for the hot water, which pulled her out of her reverie, yet her gaze was still stuck on his chest. Felix found it quite funny, and he couldn't help but let a laugh escape his lips. Hearing Felix's laugh, the young woman's blush only deepened, and she finally raised her gaze to look him in the eyes. Her eyes were a deep green, and, for some reason, Felix felt enraptured. It took him quite an effort of will to break eye contact. Cold sweat poured out of his skin as dread washed over him. He had to use every ounce of his strength to not let it show on his face.
Felix was a seasoned mercenary, and he was used to danger. He had no qualms about risking his life and could roam the battlefield fearlessly. Yet, this young woman's eyes felt more dangerous than most of the things he had encountered. What made Felix feel fear wasn't that she threatened his life but that her eyes possessed an unnatural charm—so strong that one could lose one's free will and become a simple thrall in her presence.
Luckily, Felix wasn't a stranger to this type of charm. He had travelled far and wide, met many people, and even encountered many monsters who used them. Charms were also quite challenging to use, as once the target is aware of them, their effectiveness drops considerably. Although Felix was now aware of the charm, the young woman still seemed just as attractive. Felix's experience told him that the charm was probably not done consciously but simply innate. Felix finally relaxed a little when he saw the young woman fidgeting in front of him as he was silently staring at her.
"Is there something else?" he asked.
"Hmm...," she answered hesitantly. "You're not from around here, right? You seem like a traveller."
"I'm only passing through."
Her face brightened, and she was obviously overjoyed at his answer. A radiant smile appeared on her face, and her charm was in full swing. Felix had to hold himself back from hugging her.
"I've been stuck in this small town my whole life, and I've never had the opportunity to talk with an outsider," she said as she leaned closer to him. "Tell me! What's the outside like? Is it true that monsters roam the forests, and some are so big that they tower over even the town's wall?"
The unexpected change took Felix by surprise. She was now so close that he could feel her breath on his face. Her upward gaze and thin red lips made her quite endearing. Returning to her senses, the woman recoiled lightly and apologized for her outburst. Her blush intensified.
Felix simply smiled before beckoning her inside his room. Although the young woman was initially hesitant, once Felix started talking about some of his adventures, she entered, joy visible on her face.
As Felix was washing, he continued telling his stories. The young woman was sitting on the small bed, wholly absorbed in his words. As enthralled as she was by his stories, Felix could still feel her gaze wandering over his body.
The young woman seemed to be no older than twenty, a few years younger than Felix himself. Yet, she exuded maturity and elegance as she sat on the bed, listening— contrasting her previous demeanour.
As he finished washing his upper body and starting on his lower parts, the woman left her seat and approached Felix. Her eyes were glued to him, and her breath quickened. Her slender hands glided over his skin. Felix saw no reason to refuse. He wrapped one arm around her slim waist and pulled her even closer. Both her hands left his chest and reached for his face, pulling both of their lips closer until they finally made contact. Felix was also no stranger to the female form, yet the sensation of her lips felt out of this world. It took most of his willpower not to lose his mind.
Felix wanted nothing more than to lose himself in her body, but he knew better than to be so careless. That is, until she pushed herself gently from his arms, turned around and unhooked her dress, letting it fall to the floor. The sight of her bare back almost took his breath away. He had seen many women, but this one had them all beat. She was neither too fat nor too skinny. Her muscles were well-toned, yet she felt soft to the touch. Her breasts were neither too small nor too big, which gave just the proper contrast against her waist and hips.
Standing there in her undergarment, she turned around, beckoning Felix to her as she let herself fall on the bed. Felix stood there, motionless for a few moments, as he admired the view, his arousal quickly rising.
As he approached the bed, she reached for his arm and pulled him in for another kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and kissed him frantically. Her arousal was about to explode. Felix finally let go and immersed himself in her body.
As they battled under the sheets, Felix remarked that she wasn't as clumsy as she made herself appear. This was obviously not the first time she did this. As he pondered the implications, she seemed to redouble her efforts, and her charms finally overwhelmed him.
The night deepened, and midnight came and went; they finally grew apart, exhausted but content. Felix lay on his back, feeling the afterglow as she snuggled under his arm, laying her head on his chest. He could feel her soft breath on his skin as they drifted asleep.
It has been a long time since Felix felt so relaxed in the company of another, as he would always keep his guard up. Yet, for some reason, he found it natural to be with her. She was a stranger to him, and he didn't even know her name. Yet, he felt closer to her than he thought possible.
She felt perfect, yet such perfection felt unnerving.
* * *
As the first few rays of morning light flowed through the sole window, Sofia awoke. She looked to her left only to find the man she had spent the last few hours with fast asleep. She gently slithered out of his embrace, making sure not to wake him before getting out of bed.
She quickly dressed herself in the clothes she had left on the floor. Then, she glanced around the room, looking for anything valuable.
She was more complex than she made herself out to be. As she inspected the room, her eyes rested on the sword in the corner and the small pouch on the dresser. Trying not to make any sound, she quickly reached for them both. However, as she reached for the sword, the wooden floor suddenly made a sound.
Sofia quickly stopped and eyed the man on the bed. She held her breath, only to see him turn on his side away from her. Fortunately, he was still fast asleep. Relief washed over her, and she let out a slow breath. Without wasting another moment, she took both the sword and the pouch before leaving the room. As she closed the door, Felix suddenly turned around, his eyes wide open, and stared in the direction she had left.
Interesting, he thought.