Welcome to the Innocent World

I and Athlea sat at the food table, the night settling around us as we eat our meal. Finally Athlea was little calm and normal after all my awkward behavior which irritates her it seems. All because of Beta peeking from behind the kitchen. *Cries Inside*

I took another bite, watching Athlea out of the corner of my eye as she pushed her food around her plate. Something seemed to weigh on her, but she hadn't spoken up yet. I noticed her lips pressing into a thin line as she chewed slowly.

Curious—and a little concerned—I gently nudged her. "Hey, you seem quiet tonight. Is everything okay?"

She looked up, blinking out of her trance and offering me a small, forced smile. "Oh, it's nothing really," she replied, though her voice carried a hint of hesitation.

Raising an eyebrow, I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand.

"Come on, Athlea, I can see something's bothering you. You know you can talk to me." I gave her my warmest, most reassuring smile, hoping she'd open up.

Sighing, she relented, setting down her fork and folding her hands in her lap. "It's just… I talked to my husband earlier." She paused, looking away for a moment before glancing back at me. "He told me he won't be coming home this month either."

I felt a pang of sympathy for her, noting the sadness in her voice and the way her eyes clouded over.

"That must be hard," I said softly. "I can't imagine how lonely that must feel for you."

Her lips trembled slightly as she forced a smile. "Yeah, I mean, it's not like I don't understand. His work is demanding, and he's dedicated to it, but…" She trailed off, her voice faltering as she looked away again, trying to mask her emotions. "Sometimes, I wonder if he even realizes how much time he spends away."

I reached across the table, gently taking her hand in mine. "Athlea, that's tough. It's okay to feel sad about it," I murmured, stroking the back of her hand with my thumb. "You deserve someone who's there for you, who can share in those small, precious moments."

She blinked at me, her eyes widening slightly. "Do you really think so?"

I nodded, smiling softly. "Of course. You're amazing, Athlea. Any man would be lucky to have you by his side. I'm just sorry he doesn't seem to see that."

A faint blush crept up her cheeks, and she gave a weak chuckle. "You're just saying that to make me feel better," she mumbled, though I could tell my words had struck a chord.

I shook my head, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"No, I mean it. You're thoughtful, smart, beautiful…" I paused, letting each word sink in. "And anyone who doesn't recognize that… well, they're missing out."

She looked down, her blush deepening as she smiled shyly. "Thank you, Austin. That… that really means a lot to me."

I leaned closer, softening my gaze. "You know, Athlea, I don't like seeing you sad. I want you to be happy." Gently, I lifted her chin, meeting her gaze. "You deserve all the happiness in the world."

A hint of vulnerability flickered in her eyes, and she looked down again, her fingers brushing over mine absentmindedly. "I… I never thought someone would say something like that to me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.@@novelbin@@

I gave her a playful grin, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Then I'm glad to be the first."

She chuckled softly, her smile growing a little brighter. "You're good at this, aren't you?"

"Good at what?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Buttering me up," she teased, a sparkle returning to her eyes. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to steal me away."

I shrugged, leaning back with a smirk. "Well, can you blame me? You're a treasure."

Her laughter filled the room, rich and warm, and for a moment, it felt as if all the sadness had evaporated, leaving only the two of us sharing a genuine connection and I want to keep her distracted or else she will notice Beta.

She looked at me thoughtfully. "It's nice, though, to feel like… someone actually notices me," she said softly, a tinge of wistfulness in her voice. "Sometimes, with him always away, it feels like I'm invisible."

I reached over and gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"You're far from invisible, Athlea. In fact, I'd say you're hard to ignore." I allowed my hand to linger for a moment, caressing her cheek. "If he can't see that… then maybe he's the one who needs to open his eyes."

She looked up at me, her expression softening as she leaned into my touch. "Thank you, Austin. You have no idea how much it means to hear that from you."

The air between us shifted, growing warmer, more intimate. Her gaze held mine, and for a brief moment, I felt as if time had slowed, leaving only the two of us suspended in the quiet stillness.

I leaned forward, pressing my lips to hers in a soft, tender kiss. She gasped, but didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into me, her hand resting against my chest as our lips moved in sync. The faint taste of chicken and lime lingered, but it was her warmth, her softness that held me captive.

Her eyes slowly closed, her shoulders relaxing as she melted into the kiss. My heart raced, and I felt a surge of warmth flooding my chest. From the corner of my eye, however, I spotted a familiar figure peeking over the kitchen counter, her cat ears twitching and her aura glowing with a sharp, unmistakable red.

~Please Beta..calm down. I said in mind.

I ignored Beta's jealous glare, focusing entirely on Athlea, determined to savor this moment.

Athlea's eyes fluttered open, gazing up at me with a mixture of surprise and pleasure. She pulled back, a shy smile gracing her lips as she took a shaky breath.

"Let's eat first, Austin," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

I chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Yeah, you're right." I picked up my drink, raising it in a lighthearted toast. She laughed softly, clinking her glass against mine, her cheeks still flushed.

We chatted casually as we finished the meal, sharing drinks and stories. Her laughter felt genuine, her mood lighter, and I felt a surge of satisfaction knowing I'd managed to lift her spirits. Eventually, we finished eating, reclining in front of the table, sipping our drinks and exchanging soft smiles.

After a while, I felt the urge to excuse myself. "Just a minute, I'll be right back," I said, getting up to head to the bathroom.

"Take your time," she replied, giving me a soft smile.

When I returned a few minutes later, I was surprised to find Athlea missing from the table, the plates and leftovers gone, leaving only our drinks. I glanced around, my brows furrowing in confusion.

Just then, the faint sound of running water drifted from the kitchen. Curious, I approached and found Athlea washing the dishes, her back turned to me as she hummed softly. And crouched below the counter, hidden from view, was Beta, her eyes narrowed in irritation, watching Athlea with unrestrained jealousy.

Her claws are out and she is on the verge of slashing Athlea.

Instantly, I dashed in the kitchen and forced a smile, stepping up to Athlea with a slight sense of unease.

"Athlea, you don't have to do that. I can handle it later."

She turned, giving me a playful smile. "Oh, stop being so modest, Austin. Let me help. Besides…" She hesitated, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Am I not… someone close to you?"

Her words made my heart skip a beat. Smiling, I moved in behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She relaxed, leaning back into me, her head resting on my shoulder.

I reached out, shutting off the running tap, and silence settled between us. Slowly, I lifted her hands to mine, feeling the mix of coldness of water and warmth of her skin as I whispered,

"You're very dear to me, Athlea."

She turned her face toward me, her eyes half-lidded and dreamy. She pressed her lips to mine, her hands coming up to rest on my chest as she melted into the kiss.

She rubbed her ass on my dick and it felt so warm and inviting, and I felt a deep satisfaction building within me. I also moved my crotch on her ass as we both giggled and playfully teased each other.

With one hand, I started undoing the knot of her wrap dress, my movements slow and deliberate as I kissed her more deeply. She responded, her body yielding to me as her fingers tangled in my hair.

As I slid her wrap dress from her shoulders I found out that she wasn't wearing Bra inside. Desperately, my hands moved over her large soft melons. Gently caressing her boobs and twisting her nipples as we kept smooching.

"Very understanding you are." I said, smirking at her. She knew, I said that because she wasn't wearing any Bra.

"All for you, handsome." She said.

We both giggled and continued kissing. I held her waist and lift her up on the kitchen. We smooched harder, our tongues twisting and melting into each other.

And then—pain.

A sharp sting jolted through my leg, breaking me from the kiss in shock. Beta had clamped her teeth into my calf, her eyes blazing with a fiery red aura of jealousy.

My eyes widened, a mix of shock and confusion swirling within me.