Nol didn't know what he was thinking.
Once relaxed and with the alcohol slipping down his throat, his thoughts scattered in all directions like confetti from a firecracker.
He reached for that swaying tail, his left arm draped over Teest's shoulder, passing through the cascading long hair. He wondered, if he hadn't sought Teest before the queen awakened, showing his alignment with Teest, what would happen to the succubi?
If this was indeed related to Teest, the guy would probably try to persuade the queen to leave. He wasn't one to keep trouble close… With his sweet-talking mouth, Teest always got what he wanted.
If they left the Lost Tower prematurely, the fate of the succubi was uncertain.
...
Nol's fingers glided over the soft muscle at the tip of the tail, which slipped through his grasp. Half of Nol's body pressed onto Teest, trying to capture it.
Teest remained still, letting Nol cling, solid and warm like a tree. The weight of Nol pressed onto his thighs, and Teest remained silent, not willing to surrender his tail.
'His partner was always like this,' Nol thought. Teest did what he wanted.
The man shattered all of his hesitations and lukewarm feelings, washing them clean with blood. He appreciated that, but he couldn't allow Teest to do anything to him… This was their boundary. So, how should he "punish" him?
....
Teest's tail was as nimble as he was, and Nol couldn't grasp it. The room, heated by the fireplace, made him sweat.
Punishment, right, punishment…
Cold treatment? Nol doubted its effectiveness. Reprimand? He didn't expect the Mad Monk to self-reflect. Or should he squeeze the tip of his tail hard?
While trying to capture the tail, Nol spoke intermittently to Teest. He wasn't even sure what he was saying; he just needed to vent.
Teest's hair slipped between his fingers, and a few seconds later, Nol realized he was stroking it. He gazed at the handsome face and eyes resembling the color of the golden bewilderment fruit. Teest's expression was gentle, always looking like everything was under control.
That was the downside of being with someone for so long. Unless you couldn't stand them, you would inevitably develop some affection.
Nol closely observed Teest's eyes, full of mirth, like a cup filled with the bewilderment dew. Suddenly, Nol felt thirsty and a little annoyed. All his thoughts were about the man before him.
A man who would dance amidst death—a beautiful, untrustworthy lunatic.
Maybe he was just too thirsty, Nol thought. His arm, draped over the other, felt like it was burning. His thoughts were jumbled, unable to focus on one thing. His mind was only filled with those eyes. He felt the pull of the vortex and quicksand again, and this time he was too close.
Nol's body acted first, his lips brushing over those eyes, pausing at Teest's forehead.
A kiss.
Teest's body tensed up, and his pupils dilated momentarily, as if what hit his forehead wasn't a gentle kiss, but a bullet. Nol, in turn, seemed to be repelled by this invisible recoil, the hot sweat washing away much of his drunkenness.
"…Don't suddenly use charm on me."
He tried to reason out his daze. His heart raced, and his blood was still burning, but the pain had become numb.
Teest was silent for a moment. His body moved slightly, and his tail stood still. "The interesting thing is, I didn't. Besides, you've just acquired 'mental magic immunity', honey."
Nol stared intently at the other's lips, recalling the time he had kissed them in the dungeon. Back then, he felt only embarrassment, but the kiss from not long ago had set his mind aflame.
Forcing himself to examine Teest from head to toe, Nol found himself puzzled by another thought. He had shared rooms with many people, been to swimming pools, and seen attractive men in movies not dressed appropriately. Nol swore he had never been attracted to the same sex.
But now, suddenly…
Before Nol could sort his thoughts, Teest let out a sigh-like exhale. The man slowly tilted his head upward, leaving a gentle kiss on Nol's lips. It was a fleeting kiss, so light it felt like a feather's touch, softer than the one in the dungeon.
Unlike that time, their skin was now moistened by sweat, sticking together as if soaked in warm syrup, making separation difficult.
Teest's eyes were slightly curved, and his voice was soft and almost unrecognizable.
"Obsessing over others isn't a good habit."
He raised his hand, cupping Nol's eyes with his palm, his voice ending in a deliberately vague tone. "This might help you understand your feelings, Mr. Lich…"
'Here it comes again,' Nol thought.
The Mad Monk was once again trying to induce him into "self-exploration", as if he was an emotionally troubled teenager. The turmoil of battle or an ambiguous kiss—the former alarmed him, the latter bothered him.
Though not physically bound, he felt as if he was being led by invisible threads. He couldn't be lured again, couldn't lose his boundaries, couldn't let this man speak anymore…
So, Nol leaned down, silencing Teest's potentially continuing words with another kiss.
The room fell into immediate silence.
The sensation was unexpectedly exhilarating, as if he had trapped a fluttering butterfly in a jar or caught a cunning beast in a trap.
Nol firmly gripped the long hair; his actions were borderline rough. He kissed awkwardly but thoroughly, tasting the lingering sweetness of the other's drink.
With one hand clutching the strands, the other hand persistently sought Teest's tail. This time, Nol managed to grasp it, and it rested tamely in his palm, like a rope.
Their breaths mingled, and lips intertwined. Fabric rustled against skin, making Nol's cloak crumpled while Teest's white shirt rode up, exposing a vast expanse of skin.
Nol's fingers were numb, and the back of his head was getting hotter. The aftertaste of the battle, the fatigue of the tension, and the burning heat in his blood all found an outlet at this moment.
He couldn't think about anything anymore.
...
Nol's kissing technique was admittedly lacking, but due to the lack of a basis for comparison, Teest wasn't entirely certain of this.
Their initial kiss had left Teest quite shocked, but he saw it as an opportunity—
What a precious moment it was. Perhaps Nol would never drink again or ever feel this intoxicated and confused. The thrill of the first kill in battle was unmatched.
So, he kissed back, with a cunning gentleness and a malicious politeness. This was like a chain delivered right to his doorstep—another method for him to bind the other to his side.
Besides life, loyalty, and love, he could give Nol everything he wanted, including his body.
Moreover, Nol was strikingly handsome, and Teest delighted in lighting up those beautiful blue eyes. Maybe they could explore new pleasures together. Wouldn't that be a way to strengthen their bond?
Nol continued to kiss him almost voraciously, the feeling of skin against skin being overwhelmingly electrifying. Teest's tail couldn't help but quiver slightly, and there was a subtle pain from where the hair roots were being pulled.
The edge of the bed sank heavily, and an emptied wine glass tipped to the side. The ice cubes inside clattered to the floor, filling the warming room with the rich scent of the intoxicating drink.
Kissing was such a pleasurable activity, Teest marveled. Nol's hands had long slipped beneath the fabric, resting on his shoulder blades, while he caressed the back of Nol's neck, entranced by the sensation.
"Haa…"
The lengthy kiss paused for a moment, and Nol took a deep breath. With his eyes slightly unfocused, he looked at Teest, a faint blush painting his usually pale face.
"It seems your thoughts are now quite clear." Teest whispered into Nol's ear, his tail tip caressing Nol's spine, moving upwards. "How about a hug?"
He deliberately elongated and emphasized the word 'hug', making it sound tantalizing. His tail tip emerged from Nol's collar and gently rested at the corner of his lips.
Suddenly, Nol laughed.
He reached out with both hands, squeezing Teest's face, watching as the handsome features turned comical. "For you, this is another transaction, right?" he asked in a daze, his lips still slightly swollen.
"…Or a reward? Or perhaps a punishment?"
Nol's gaze softened with a hint of regret. He lessened the pressure of his hands, one of them caressing Teest's cheek. "Tell me. I can't tell anymore."
'It didn't seem like any of those,' Teest thought, needing to find a more fitting, compassionate wording…
"Never mind, it doesn't matter." Suddenly, Nol spoke again, mirroring Teest's words from earlier, beginning to play with his long hair once more. "I feel really good right now, so I can tolerate a lot of things."
His tone was still detached, professional even, leaving one to wonder whether he was lost in the moment or soberly aware.
Nol's entire weight was pressed down on Teest's legs, his hands resting on Teest's shoulders, and silver-white hair draped over Nol's wrists. The bed was right behind them. Teest knew all they needed to do was lie back.
Whatever followed would surely be pleasurable—although Teest had never been anyone's lover, he had seen enough internal organs of people to understand human anatomy. He also quite enjoyed the sensation of their kisses. They would have a delightful night.
But Teest paused, perhaps due to the alcohol, feeling something was off about this plan.
If they continued like this, they might become "partners" in another sense, but then what? Could he truly hold onto the other?
'This won't work,' Teest thought, his slightly fevered mind pondering. It wasn't enough. He wanted to see those eyes shine brighter. He still felt an… unsettling emptiness, akin to hunger.
Nol bent down, lifting the long hair from the side of Teest's cheek, aiming to steal another kiss. Teest gently pressed against his throat, the thick tail tip prying open his teeth and slipping into Nol's mouth.
The heart-shaped tail tip rolled inside the mouth for a moment, successfully finding the location of the trachea. It squeezed forcefully, blocking Nol's airway.
At the same time, Teest grasped Nol's shoulders. He slightly tilted his head and bit down hard on the side of Nol's neck, where it was closest to the carotid artery.
Sharp teeth instantly punctured Nol's neck skin, and blood gushed out immediately.
Choking and pain overwhelmed him, and Nol coughed madly.
The last of the drunkenness faded with the rapidly flowing blood, which stained Teest's white robe as it flowed down Nol's collarbone. Nol instinctively struggled but was firmly held in place by Teest's arms.
"Honey, are you sober now?" Teest asked, almost tenderly.
Nol spat out the tail tip from his mouth and cast a healing spell on his neck. Only then did he look at Teest with a complicated expression.
"Whether it's a reward, a deal, or a punishment, I'd prefer you make that decision sober," Teest said with a smile, looking saintly despite the fresh blood on his teeth. "What do you think?"
The first of the three laws of the Mad Monk: Teest never asks too much.
But today, Teest had many questions.
"I apologize for my behavior," Nol said. The passion faded, and his thoughts became clear again.
He was indeed attracted to Teest. Now, he had to admit it.
That being said, the current situation was somewhat embarrassing, but he hid his embarrassment well. He might have misunderstood the implications of the "hug". Maybe Teest changed his mind. Who knows?
'Perhaps Teest didn't like intimate contact with others,' Nol thought. After all, this guy was good at disguising emotions. Maybe Teest was a bit overwhelmed when they kissed.
The second law of the Mad Monk: Teest always has his motives.
But Nol couldn't figure out Teest's motive, given the inconsistency in his behavior. If the Mad Monk didn't like these interactions, there were countless ways to avoid such a situation. Of course, the bewilderment dew might have also dulled Teest's senses.
"No, no, no. You can't force a swordsman, Mr. Lich. I liked your kiss and would definitely not resist more." Teest's smile grew bigger, and his tone was astonishingly sincere. "I just suddenly felt that, well, now isn't the time to go further."
The third law of the Mad Monk: Teest never speaks his true feelings.
But at this moment, Nol truly didn't know if this was true or false.
Strange.
Nol got up from Teest's lap and tidied up his robe. He straightened the fallen wine glass and then sat beside Teest, deliberately keeping his distance. They sat side by side, staring at the flickering fire.
Teest's gaze crawled on the side of his face, making it itch.
Just as Nol was about to turn his head to look, he felt a weight on his leg. Teest had laid on him, with his long hair covering Nol's thigh and hanging off the side of the bed.
"Let's talk about job advancement," Teest whispered, as if nothing had happened.
Nol's body stiffened, not looking at Teest's similarly swollen lips. "You're now a 'Fallen Knight', with options to become a 'Greed Knight' or a 'Decay Knight'. The advantage of the former is…"
"Wait, wait." Teest's tail flicked, the tip touching Nol's lips. "I have three options, honey."
Ignoring any potential misconceptions, Nol frowned and then raised an eyebrow. "Did you get that achievement?"
"Yes, killing over 10,000 high-level dungeon creatures within 60 minutes. The 'Ruthless Tyranny' achievement became 'Harbinger of Death'. I now have the option of becoming a 'Death Knight'."
Nol stood up abruptly, catching the famed Mad Monk off guard, who almost tumbled off the bed.
"Choose this one!" Nol grabbed the unsteady Teest with excitement in his eyes. "Pick this one, and I'll explain after!"
What's the rush? It's not like it's going to run away!
Teest sat back on the bed aggrievedly and pressed the "Death Knight" decisively.
Kinky Thoughts:
Talk about kinky…