Brandon scaled the steps, planning on heading towards his room, but the sight of Elaine’s room door in the distance caused his heart to skip.
"Maybe I should apologize now... as they say, a stitch in time saves nine. I doubt the context to that saying is accurate though, but whatever." Sighing, he steeled himself.
He walked up to her door, raising his knuckles. He hesitated a bit before delivering three slow knocks...
But all that replied to him was silence. He sighed... indeed, it seemed Uriel was right. His action did come across as hurtful.
He could hear her breathing on the other end, so the only possible reason she didn’t reply was probably because she didn’t want to hear from him.
Hesitating a bit, he decided, "I can’t just head back now..." he said to himself as he grabbed the door knob.
Entering without knocking, especially after what just happened a few hours earlier, wasn’t wise, but he figured there was no harm.
Especially since he could clearly hear movements in the room. No way she’d be stark naked in her room, right?
Worst comes to worst, he opened the door, didn’t see her, and he wouldn’t pry further.
He nodded to himself, feeling that was reasonable... twisting the door knob, the door swung open.
He arranged his posture, clearing his throat and ready to apologize. He wasn’t even planning on stepping inside the room...
But when he laid his eyes on what stood directly across from him, he froze, his breath seizing and his body going stiff.
Elaine, dressed in nothing more than rich blue panties and a delicately strapped bra, from the streamline of her slender waist to her hips that held a perk ass.
Her pale, beautiful skin, slender frame — everything was a feast for the eyes, which his betraying eyes relished uncontrollably.
He knew this was wrong... "Fuck! Fuck!" he screamed inwardly, yet his body betrayed him, his muscles suddenly too weak to facilitate movement.
Then it happened. She whipped her head his way, her gaze meeting his, catching the bold glint of desiring want going wild within.
His racing heart went still, and his blood ran cold... "Fuuuuuuck!" being the only thought he could process.
Time seemed to halt, freezing the moment in place, both parties remaining still...
Until soft footsteps rang out from behind... Someone was coming!
If anyone stepped into that hallway, with the angle of Elaine’s door, she’d be seen for sure.
And somehow, the thought of another man laying their eyes on her filled Brandon with so much aversion.
His eyes widened. He was finally about to react when suddenly Elaine moved swiftly. In a brisk and clean moment, before he could even blink, she had closed the distance, already before the door. Pulling him by the collar, she dragged him inside, pulling the door shut at the same time, just before Uriel’s silhouette could step into the hallway.
Brandon was shocked. "What are you doing?" he hissed silently, his eyes wide in shock.
Elaine didn’t look his way, holding the door closed even if she didn’t have to. She replied in a low tone, "I wanted to close the door and you were in the way."
"That..." Brandon went silent, unable to say more. Instead, he fought to resist the urge to stare. With her being so close, he turned around and closed his eyes.
"A-about that..." he started in a guilty voice, only to be cut short.
"Shhhhh!" Putting a finger on her lips, Elaine gestured for Brandon to remain silent.
The brisk, light footsteps rang across the hallway, growing closer and closer, but Elaine didn’t panic. Uriel’s room was the closest to hers, so that made sense.
It wasn’t until both of them heard the door creak open then slam shut that they let out heavy breaths of relief...
Elaine didn’t waste any time; she quickly equipped her armour, the pieces snapping into place with a bright glow.
"You can open your eyes now..." her voice rang.
Brandon sighed in relief, his eyelids parting. He turned around and bowed towards her right away.
His heart was embroiled in a chaotic mass of emotions. He merely came here to apologize and smooth things out, only to worsen the situation.
Elaine shook her head at this gesture, keeping her composure in check, using great willpower to suppress the tide of emotions threatening to well.
"No need for all this... now we are even..." she said, trying to downplay the incident.
But Brandon firmly shook his head. "Please, Elaine, I know I sounded harsh back there, but I really didn’t mean it like that... I came to apologize and... sigh, in any case, I didn’t mean for this to happen either, I swear."
Elaine’s heart skipped a beat. ’He came to apologize?’
She blinked in confusion. "I... I thought you didn’t want to talk about it?"
Brandon sighed. "Truth to be told, Elaine, I was just too embarrassed. Then you brought it up, I panicked, and then... sigh!"
Shaking his head, he bowed again. "I’m so sorry. I should have knocked louder. I just didn’t want to cause much of a commotion. I’m so sorry. It’s not like I’m trying to get back at you. Please find it in your heart to forgive me."
Elaine trembled, the composure she struggled to keep in check began to crack, as she was unable to hold her emotion in place... "You... you don’t hate me?"
Brandon rose, staring her in the eyes. "Now what would make you think that? I could never hate you even if I tried."
Elaine’s fists clenched tight, her body trembling at his words. At that moment, it was as though a knot was unraveled in her heart and a soothing feeling of relief washed over her.
Never in her life did she think a few words from a man could determine her mood so.
Bright-eyed, Brandon asked, "So?"
Elaine avoided his gaze, her cheeks blushing. "F-fine... I forgive you..."
Brandon beamed. He stared at her bashful exterior, and he felt a flutter in his chest, his mind involuntarily recalling the previous sight. He quickly shook his head.
Composing himself and suppressing all other thoughts and the overwhelming tide of desire raging in his heart, he stepped forward, offering a hand. "So we’re good?"
Elaine beamed, her eyes flickering bright. They said once perspective shifted, one would start seeing things differently.
And now, for the third time, Brandon saw Elaine as the most beautiful thing he had ever...
’No no no, I shouldn’t!’ Before he could affirm it, he suppressed it faster than it could register.
Elaine dismissed her gauntlets and took his hands. Her beautifully slender hands brought a soothing chill to Brandon.
While his rough hands brought with it a relaxing warmth to Elaine. Both stared into one another’s eyes, as they shook longer than they should have.
Brandon had to be the one to break the spell. "So... I have to go."
Snapping out of her daze, Elaine quickly nodded in understanding. Retracting her hand to her chest, she watched him leave...
Today, both sides didn’t affirm their desires, but the seed had been planted, promising a steady flourish.
...
Meanwhile in Seth’s room...
Upon his king-sized bed, he sat cross-legged, holding something in his grasp.
His eyes flashed, holding the reflection of a golden scroll — an item he had been lucky to acquire from his dead Treant foe.
A lot of items had scattered within the shadows, but this was the only thing that caught his eyes the most in the sea of shadows and the only thing he bothered to procure...
Reading through the description, an excited grin grew on his lips... "It seems I’ve found our next adventure."