"You're offering me money?"
"W-What else do you expect, creep? My tribe hires mages for small tasks like this" she paused. "Not that I care what you are. But… even someone like you probably does anything for coin, right?"
His lips curled.
"So now I'm 'someone like me'?"
"I didn't say that!"
"You did."
Aurora bit her lip, flustered. "Tch… Just take it and go do the job already."
She wanted him out of the way.
She wanted him out of her head.
He stared at her hands, not the gold, and slowly reached forward.
Without a word, his fingers wrapped around hers.
"Ah!"
She flinched as her entire palm was swallowed by his grip. She tried pulling back, but he held her there, gently, yet unyielding.
Then, with deliberate slowness, he ran his thumb along the soft lines of her palm.
Back and forth.
Up and down.
Tracing every inch like it was a scripture.
Her face flushed.
"W-What are you doing?!"
He ignored her words and leaned slightly closer.
