The moment Nova slipped into the small rest chamber and the heavy door thudded shut behind him, the world outside collapsed into a distant, muffled echo. The thunder of the arena, the cheers, the clashes—everything vanished as if someone had thrown a blanket over the noise.
Inside, the air felt thick and warm, almost intimate in the way it clung to his skin—far too calm compared to the chaos he had just walked out of. It felt like stepping into another world entirely, one shaped by quiet breaths and lingering tension rather than battle cries.
Celise was already there.
The instant she saw him, something in her carefully maintained composure cracked. Not fully—just a flicker, a tremor, a heartbeat of raw emotion slipping through her mask. She moved toward him quickly—far faster than someone pretending not to be worried. Her eyes swept over him with sharp, desperate precision, as if cataloging every bruise, every mark, every tiny injury he could be hiding. Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching before she could speak.
"Nova…" Her voice came out softer than she intended, a shade more fragile than she ever allowed herself to sound.
Before she could continue, the Ven-Drive reacted. A faint hum shivered through the air as the black armor plates detached themselves, peeling away from his body like living metal. Each piece folded elegantly into itself, layer collapsing into layer until the mass condensed into a single glowing sphere.
It hovered for a moment—almost reluctant to leave his side—before drifting smoothly into Nova's grimoire in a perfect, seamless motion.
Celise's gaze followed it, but only briefly.
When her eyes returned to him, they stayed—lingering, evaluating, almost hungry in the way they searched his face. "You took several direct hits," she murmured, stepping close enough that her breath grazed his skin. "Are you sure you're not—"
He didn't let her finish.
Nova stepped forward with deliberate intent, closing the distance in a single heartbeat. His hand slid around her waist and pulled her against him.
Celise let out a tiny, startled inhale, her palms landing on his chest—not to push him away, but because her body didn't quite know how to steady itself with how suddenly she found herself pressed to him. His warmth seeped through her dress, enough to make her pulse skip.
Nova lowered his head, brushing his lips along the sensitive junction where her neck met her shoulder. The scent of her perfume—soft, warm, unmistakably feminine—mixed with the heat of her skin, drawing him in deeper.
He inhaled slowly, deliberately, letting that scent settle in his lungs like something addictive he had no intention of resisting.
Celise shivered, her breath catching. "Nova…" she whispered, her voice trembling—not from fear, but from the warmth pooling low in her stomach.
He smirked against her skin, speaking with a low, velvety rumble that sent a faint vibration through her neck. "Now I'm fine, Celise. Completely healed."
His hand tightened at her waist, pulling her flush against him as his thumb traced slow, teasing circles over the fabric of her dress.
Celise's exhale came sharp and breathy, impossible to hide, her fingers curling deeper into his shirt as if anchoring herself.
"You… you could at least warn me before doing things like that," she said, trying to steady her voice, though the tremor beneath it betrayed her completely.
Nova lifted his head, their faces inches apart, and held her gaze with slow, deliberate patience. "Why would I," he murmured, "when your reactions are this cute?"
Her cheeks flushed a warm, stunning shade that only made her look more vulnerable. She tried to turn away, her lashes lowering as she fought to regain her composure.
But Nova didn't allow that distance. His hand slid from her waist, traveling up the curve of her side with languid, sensual confidence until his fingers reached her chin.
He tilted her face back toward him, gentle but undeniably firm.
"Don't look away from me," he said softly, the command sending a subtle thrill through her.
Celise's breath hitched as her eyes met his—wide, flustered, trembling. Her fingers tightened into the fabric of his shirt, her body leaning toward him as if drawn by a gravity she couldn't fight.
So when Nova leaned in, she didn't resist.
Their lips met—slow, soft, exploratory. But the moment she responded, the kiss shifted instantly. It deepened, grew hotter, hungrier. Celise inhaled sharply against his mouth, her hands rising to slip around the back of his neck as she pressed her body into his with sudden, unfiltered need.
Nova guided her back until her shoulders touched the wall. The closeness intensified, and neither of them slowed. The kiss grew wilder—messier—Celise's breath coming uneven, her lips moving with growing urgency. She melted into him completely as Nova's hands slid down her waist, then lower.
He grabbed her perfect ass in a firm, heated grip.
Celise gasped against his mouth—her body tensing, then melting with a soft, helpless sound she couldn't suppress. Her fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer, kissing him harder, needier. Her breathing turned quick and shaky, her body molding into his like she belonged nowhere else.
Nova's other hand moved boldly—up her side, over her ribs, until his palm cupped her breast through her dress. He squeezed softly, sensually, his thumb brushing in slow, intoxicating circles that made Celise's knees nearly buckle. She moaned into the kiss, her body trembling as Nova fondled her, heat sweeping through her in overwhelming waves.
They were seconds away from losing themselves entirely—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"NOVA! YOU IN THERE?"
"Don't shout, you fool!"
Celise froze, her lips still parted against Nova's. "N-Nova…" she whispered, breathless and shaking, trying to gather herself.
But Nova didn't let her go.
He kissed her again—deeper, hotter—ignoring the door, ignoring the voice, ignoring the entire palace. Celise's breath escaped in a startled gasp, her hands flattening against his chest—not pushing, just overwhelmed.
"Nova—someone's—mm—someone's outside—" she tried to speak, but he swallowed her words with another kiss, pulling a soft, desperate sound from her throat as he pinched her nipple through her dress.
Knock. Knock!
"ASHBOURNE?!"
Flustered, trembling, Celise forced herself to break the kiss by leaning forward and biting his lower lip—not harshly, but sharply enough to make him stop.
Nova blinked, surprised, then slowly smirked.
Celise stepped back immediately, her face burning as she rushed to fix her hair and straighten her dress, avoiding his gaze entirely. Her breath still shook with the remnants of everything they hadn't finished.
"…Stop doing that," she whispered, her voice warm and breathy. "We're outside…"
Nova leaned in just enough for his breath to brush her cheek. "You say that… but if I check your panties right now, I bet they're soaking wet."
Celise froze for a heartbeat, her breath catching in a way she clearly hadn't meant to reveal. The flush on her cheeks deepened, blooming beautifully across her skin. Instead of jerking away, she lifted her hand halfway to her mouth—then hesitated, lowered it, uncertain.
"…Nova…" she whispered, lower, softer, almost shy.
Her eyes dropped to the floor, lashes lowering as if looking at him directly was suddenly too much. She shifted subtly, the faint turn of her hips betraying both embarrassment and the warmth gathering beneath her composure.
When she finally dared look up again, it lasted only a moment—a brief flicker of eye contact—before her gaze darted away. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers lingering longer than necessary, a nervous habit she didn't usually have.
"That's… not fair to say," she murmured, her tone edged with embarrassment—and something warmer she tried hard to hide. "You can't… just say things like that."
Her fingers curled lightly around her dress, a subtle but unmistakably flustered gesture. She drew a slow breath, attempting to steady herself, though the slight quiver on her exhale gave her away.
"You always do this…" she added under her breath, shy and almost accusing, though her voice softened near the end, "…you make it hard to keep my composure."
Nova didn't tease her this time.
Instead, he eased his hand along her back and drew her a little closer—a motion natural, unforced, grounding her without overwhelming her. Celise's breath softened at the contact, her shoulders relaxing as she allowed herself to lean into him.
Nova dipped his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead—warm, slow, lingering just long enough to quiet the last of her fluster.
Her eyes fluttered shut for a brief second, her hand rising instinctively to rest on his chest as if steadying herself.
When he pulled back slightly, he didn't move far. His lips brushed near her ear, his breath warm as he whispered,
"You are mine forever."
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CHAPTER:- [141 - DEPRAVED PERSONALITY] IS AVAILABLE ON MY P@TREON