Salvation Through Delusion C68

Chapter 68

I’d always been the one rubbing my dick between someone else’s thighs, so having it the other way around was a first—but it wasn’t bad.

In fact, it was new, and that very newness made it even more thrilling.

This position too—having someone’s sex caught between my own thighs and moving against it—was something I’d never done before, but my hips started to move on their own.

“Haa, ha…”

Hot breaths spilled from my lips. The wet, sticky sounds of our mouths meeting filled the air far too loudly.

It felt like I was about to completely lose my mind and just cling to him even harder.

Just a little more. Just a little longer.

Right when I was about to crave him even more—

[Beep, beep, beep. Ten minutes have passed.]

Thankfully, another sound echoed in my head.

‘Ah, right.’

It hit me like a bucket of cold water.

As soon as the mock training alert popped up, I unwound my arms from around Tyroc’s neck and quickly pulled my upper body away.

I had no idea what I looked like, but judging by the sight of his red, wet lips, I could pretty much guess.

My breathing was ragged too.

Tyroc, meanwhile, was perfectly calm.

If not for the look in his eyes, I might’ve thought he felt nothing at all—but those golden eyes were darker than ever, filled with heat and hunger.

That gaze brushed against me like a dangerous temptation, and I barely managed to keep myself from going further.

“Will one day of training be enough?” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

Realizing how I was still sitting on him, I tried to lift my hips to get up—but as soon as I moved away, a large hand wrapped around my back and pushed me down again. His grip was so strong that I gasped, eyes widening.

“Why?”

“You didn’t do it properly.”

“What? The energy hasn’t transferred yet?”

I raised my hand to check the divine beast’s tail, but before I could see anything, his other hand gripped the back of my head and pulled me in.

This time, Tyroc was the one who attacked first.

Before I could resist, a hot tongue invaded my mouth.

He wasn’t gentle like I had been—rough, but slow.

Just like I had done to him, he took his time, tasting me slowly.

In the middle of my confusion, a message from the divine beast flashed in my vision.

[Transfer complete.]

Transfer complete?

‘He hates being touched by others, doesn’t he?’

That line had always been the end of my relationships.

The first time someone said it to me, I’d tried to explain myself desperately.

No, it wasn’t that I hated people—my body just reacted on its own.

If “goosebumps” had a taste, it would be like biting into an entire lemon—so sour that it made my whole body shudder.

But when it was someone I liked, the discomfort went away after a while.

Of course, that excuse never worked.

And I kept putting off fixing it, blaming the world full of monsters for it.

Maybe it was lucky—or unlucky—that with monsters killing humans, I never really got a chance to date again, and my aversion to touch only solidified.

I could sleep on filthy floors, drink contaminated water, eat spoiled food without a problem—yet the touch of another person made my skin crawl.

Even I couldn’t understand myself.

According to my therapist, it might’ve been because my parents abandoned me when I was a child.

Still, it wasn’t life-threatening—just annoying.

So when I came to Tuvine, I didn’t think much of it.

But now, I couldn’t help thinking about it—because when Tyroc’s lips left mine, the usual disgust never came.

Why wasn’t I getting goosebumps?

Why wasn’t there that cold, creepy chill?

“How was it?”

The low question snapped me out of it.

What was I doing again? Oh—right.

I was still sitting on top of Tyroc, right after he’d suddenly kissed me again.

His kiss was rough and deep—the total opposite of the softness I’d given him earlier.

Maybe that was why his lips looked so red.

Mine probably did too.

At least my eyes weren’t as clouded with desire as his… right? Hopefully not.

“Rue.”

When I didn’t respond, he called my name.

The hand that had been behind my head slid downward, tracing my neck and back.

The slow movement spread through me like a spark, making me arch slightly before I finally forced myself to speak.

“It wasn’t good.”

His red lips curved into a smile.

Fine, I’ll admit it—his smile was gorgeous.

But thank God I wasn’t charmed by it.

For one, this position was uncomfortable as hell, and two, the solid, heavy thing pressing between my legs was way too distracting.

Not that I couldn’t understand why.

“I’m better at this,” I said.

“Transfer the divine beast’s power properly first, then talk.”

Right—there was that issue.

“What are you talking about? The divine beast said it’s done.”

“Then the problem’s with you.”

That pissed me off.

If there was one thing I refused to hear, it was that I was bad at physical stuff.

I might have issues, but I was damn good with my body—especially when it came to melting someone with a kiss.

“You really shouldn’t say that when you’re this hard.”

The moment I said it, he pulled my hips tight against his.

I tried to push him off, but it only made our lower bodies press together.

“I could say the same to you.”

“…I get hard easily.”

For once, I was grateful for my trashy past.

That excuse made the smile vanish from his eyes—they were sharp enough to cut.

“Right. You’re good at getting hard, and even better at taking it, aren’t you?”

The hand around my waist slid down and grabbed my ass hard. Then his finger pressed right between the cleft.

I flinched, pushing at his shoulders, but I refused to say “stop.”

It would sound too weak—too much like begging.

“No,” I gritted out, “I’m better at biting.”

Then, with a smirk, I added, “Though, Your Grace seems to be pretty good at that too.”

His lips curved again.

“Want me to show you?”

His low whisper brushed against my ear like a sinful tease. And damn, his voice really was sexy.

“Sure,” I said, smirking back. “Since we’re already in a tomb, biting each other to death doesn’t sound so bad.”

“I’ll let you live.”

He stared at me. The gold in his eyes rippled with heat.

That alone was enough to remind me of the heavy, throbbing thing between us—hotter and harder than before.

Mine probably wasn’t any different.

But neither of us said it.

If we did—if we admitted it—we’d cross a line we couldn’t uncross.

Thankfully, the divine beast’s tail came to the rescue.

[Mate?]

What… absolutely not?!

“No! How could you even—?!”

I yelped, pushing Tyroc’s shoulders hard before scrambling to my feet.

This time, he let me go without resistance.

He just raised a brow, looking confused, while the divine beast’s tail flickered vividly.

[Erection.]

I was speechless at the bluntness of it.

“What?” Tyroc asked lazily.

“N-Nothing. The divine beast—no, never mind.”

I shook my head fast.

First, I needed to calm down.

Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Will one day be enough?”

“What did the divine beast say?”

“Nothing important.”

“One month.”

What? A whole month of training?

“I already gave you the energy! You said a week at most!”

But he shamelessly stretched it even further.

“Two months.”

That unshakable golden gaze said it all—he was born knowing how to command and make others obey.

He’d probably learned it from the moment he opened his eyes.

Arrogant bastard.

But since he held the key to leaving this place, I had no choice but to play along.

“The divine beast just asked if you were my mate,” I muttered.

“And?”

What do you mean, and?

“I told it the truth. You’re not.”

I braced myself for a teasing remark, but he said nothing—just kept looking at me.

That stare made my skin prickle again, not from disgust this time, but from something I didn’t want to name.

I deliberately ignored it and asked, “So one day will be enough, right?”

“Yeah.”

Finally, the answer I wanted.

But for some reason, his eyes were glimmering with amusement, and my mood soured all over again.

“Phew…”

Rick let out yet another weary sigh, rubbing his tired eyes.

It had been exactly one full day since Lord Ewik’s estate collapsed.

Which meant Tyroc had been missing for a full day as well.

And still—no word, no trace, nothing.

It was as if the man had vanished into the earth itself.

All Rick could do now was hound the one person left.

“Haas. You still haven’t found His Grace?”