Alex spent the rest of the day in the hospital bed, mostly sleeping, occasionally being hand-fed fruit by a very attentive Lily.
Thanks to the superior medical magic of this world (and perhaps Dr. Elise’s "special" IV drip), his recovery was supernatural. By evening, the pain in his chest had faded to a dull ache, and he could stand without his legs trembling.
"All clear," Dr. Elise said, checking him one last time as the sun began to set. "But seriously, stay away from mana training for a week. Your circuits are fragile."
"Understood," Alex nodded.
He changed back into his uniform—Lily insisted on buttoning his shirt for him—and they walked out of the clinic.
The cool evening air hit his face. He was alive. He had a tangled mess of a magical circuit, a body made of glass, and a maid who wanted to mother him to death.
But he was alive.
"Let’s go home, Master," Lily said, taking his arm and pressing it against her side.
"Yeah," Alex smiled. "Let’s go home."
****
The walk back to the dorm was quiet, mostly because Alex was trying not to trip over his own feet, and Lily was watching him like a hawk ready to swoop if he so much as stumbled.
As soon as the heavy oak door clicked shut behind them, Alex groaned.
"I need a bath," he muttered, sniffing his shirt. "I reek. It’s a mix of dried blood, sweat, and hospital disinfectant. I haven’t bathed since yesterday’s training session."
Lily’s ears perked up. The worry that had clouded her face instantly evaporated, replaced by a spark of professional—and personal—interest.
"A bath..." she repeated, her eyes drifting down his body. "But Dr. Elise said you shouldn’t overexert yourself. You’re still recovering."
"I can wash myself, Lily. I just need hot water."
"Absolutely not," Lily declared, crossing her arms and pushing her chest out. "You almost died today. If you slip in the tub, it would be a disaster. As your exclusive maid, I cannot allow that."
She stepped closer, unbuttoning her cuffs.
"I will prepare a sponge bath. You just sit there and let me do everything."
****
Ten minutes later, Alex was sitting on a wooden stool in the middle of the steamy bathroom.
The air was thick with the scent of jasmine steam. Lily had filled a silver basin with hot water and enough bubbles to drown a small animal.
"Arms up," she commanded softly.
Alex obeyed, lifting his arms. He was completely naked, his clothes already tossed into the hamper. The cool air of the room contrasted with the heat radiating from the basin—and from Lily.
She wasn’t wearing her usual uniform. She had changed into something... strictly functional. Which, in Erosbound, meant a translucent white slip that clung to her damp skin like a second layer.
She dipped a large, soft yellow sponge into the hot water. She squeezed it, letting the warm, soapy water trickle down her forearms.
"Hold still," she whispered.
She pressed the hot sponge against his neck.
"Mmm..."
Alex let out a long sigh as the heat seeped into his tight muscles. She moved the sponge slowly, tracing the line of his shoulders, scrubbing away the grime and the stress.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice low and husky.
"No," Alex rasped. "It feels... good."
She moved to his chest. Her movements were rhythmic and hypnotic. Scrub, squeeze, wipe. Scrub, squeeze, wipe.
But as she worked her way down his torso, the sponge seemed to become an inconvenience.
"This sponge..." Lily muttered, frowning at the yellow object. "It’s too rough for your sensitive skin, Master."
She tossed the sponge into the basin with a splash.
"I have a better tool."
She dipped her hands into the soapy water, lathering them up until they were slick and glistening. Then, she lathered her own chest.
She stepped between his spread legs.
"Lily?"
"Shh."
She leaned forward.
Instead of a sponge, she pressed her soapy, heaving breasts against his chest.
"Oh god," Alex gasped.
She began to wash him. She slid her body against his, using her massive, soft assets as the cleaning tool. Her nipples, hard from the temperature change, dragged across his skin, sending electric shocks straight to his groin.
"Is this... better?" she breathed against his neck, her hips swaying to create friction.
"Much... better," Alex choked out, his hands gripping her waist to stabilize himself.
She covered him in foam, sliding up and down his torso, her skin incredibly hot and slippery. It was a sensory overload—the smell of jasmine, the slide of soap, the overwhelming softness of her body enveloping him.
She pulled back slightly, looking down.
"We missed a spot," she noted, her eyes fixing on his lap.
Alex was hard. Painfully hard. His member stood at attention, twitching in the cool air, demanding attention.
Lily giggled. It was a sound of pure victory.
"The doctor said no strenuous activity," she reminded him, dipping her hands back into the warm water. "So you just sit there, Master. I’ll take care of the heavy lifting."
She knelt before him.
She didn’t use the sponge. She used her hands, soaping up his shaft with slow, deliberate strokes. She washed him with a tenderness that bordered on worship, exploring every vein, every ridge.
"You’re so healthy now," she whispered, her thumb circling the head. "Considering you almost died this morning... you certainly recover fast in the important places."
She leaned in, her hair brushing against his thighs.
"Let me make sure you’re... thoroughly clean."
She opened her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick a stray streak of foam from the tip.
Alex threw his head back, staring at the misty ceiling tiles.
"Lily..."
"Hush," she hummed against him, the vibrations running through his entire body. "I’m just doing my job."
And as she took him into her warmth, Alex decided that getting injured might just be the best strategy he had ever come up with.