The air in Sando's apartment hung heavy with the weight of unspoken words as Gendai set her belongings down, the soft thud of her bag echoing in the dimly lit room. Sando's golden eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing his chiseled features. "You packed light," he remarked, his voice low, teasing the edge of curiosity. "Are you… staying here?"
Gendai's emerald-green hair shimmered under the faint glow of the overhead light as she met his gaze. "It'd be hell to deal with him after what happened," she said, her tone sharp but tinged with exhaustion. "Pulling him off you was bad enough, and then you landed that sneaky hit on him. I figured it was time for me to leave too."
Sando shrugged off his cape, the fabric whispering as it fell to the floor. He strode past her, his presence commanding yet effortless. "That Raijin guy," he said, glancing over his shoulder, "he's fast—as fast as me, which surprised me."
Gendai's lips parted, but her words faltered. Her mind drifted to Kazimir, whose speed outstripped even Raijin's lightning. A shadow of concern passed over her face, her thoughts spiraling. Sando's sharp gaze caught the shift in her expression. He stepped closer, his hand brushing her shoulder. "You're spacing out. Everything okay?"
"Uhh…" Gendai's voice wavered, caught off guard by his sudden proximity. "Yeah, just… lost in thought."
Sando leaned in, his golden eyes locking onto hers, his blonde hair falling softly over his forehead. The space between them seemed to vanish, the air charged with an electric tension. Gendai's heart skipped as his face drew closer, his breath warm against her skin. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" he said softly, his voice a gentle caress. "I get it, but you don't need to dwell on him anymore. I'm here, Gendai. And I won't hurt you like he did."
Her cheeks flushed, her green hair catching the light as she looked down, unsure how to respond. His fingers brushed a stray lock of her hair, the touch sending a shiver down her spine. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you," he murmured.
Gendai's eyes flicked up to meet his, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is it?"
The world seemed to pause, the silence stretching like a taut thread. Sando's gaze softened, his voice low and deliberate. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
Her mind flashed to a distant memory—a dungeon cloaked in shadow, where she first met Kazimir, his voice echoing through the stone corridors. The moment had sparked something in her, something she couldn't name. "Yes," she said, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest. "I do believe in love at first sight."
Sando's lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes gleaming with something deeper, something that made Gendai's pulse race. "When I first saw you," he said, "I fell in love. Even though you weren't a Vandor, I was captivated. I became your biggest fan."
Gendai's breath hitched, her eyes widening as his words sank in. "But… you hardly know me," she protested, her voice trembling. "You don't even know my age."
"I'm twenty-six," Sando replied, unfazed. "And you?"
Her jaw dropped. "You're six years older than me? I'm only twenty!" She paused, her voice softening. "But still… you don't know me. And I'm a succubus. Doesn't that go against your god?"
Sando's gaze never wavered. "It doesn't matter what you are," he said, stepping closer. "I see a woman walking the path of Solaris, yearning to be reborn." His voice was like velvet, wrapping around her heart. He leaned in, their faces inches apart, and time seemed to stop.
Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss—a spark that ignited a wildfire. Gendai's heart thundered as she melted into him, the world fading to nothing but the warmth of his touch. They pulled back, breathless, their eyes locked in a shared moment of vulnerability.
But the fire within Gendai burned too fiercely to be contained. With a sudden surge of desire, she threw herself into his arms, straddling his lap as their lips crashed together again. Her fingers tore at his clothes, urgency overtaking reason. Sando's hands roamed her body, peeling away her garments as their breaths mingled in the heated air. Her skin flushed as his lips found her neck, each kiss sending sparks through her veins.
They tumbled onto the couch, a tangle of limbs and desire. Sando's hands explored her curves, his touch igniting her senses as she arched beneath him. "Come on," she whispered, her voice a sultry plea, "devour me."
Sando's eyes darkened with hunger as he positioned himself above her, their bodies entwining in a rhythm as old as time. Gendai's moans filled the air, her mind a whirlwind of sensation and emotion.
When it was over, they lay together, breathless and spent. Gendai's thoughts raced as she stared at the ceiling, her heart still pounding. Did I just give myself to him? she wondered, her mind reeling. My first time… with him. Am I in love? This connection… it's unlike anything I've ever felt.
Her body hummed with a strange, exhilarating warmth. Whatever this was—fate, desire, or something deeper—she had no regrets. She had loved every moment of it.