Cassian wore a deeply disappointed expression as his enjoyable bath with Lumine was abruptly cut short. A sharp, low mewling sound reached them from outside—the healed, purple-colored kitten had woken from its nap.
The tiny creature cried loudly, searching for its mother but finding no one. Lumine immediately perked up, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "She's awake," she said with a bright smile before stepping out of the washroom, her wet, bare body glistening.
She didn't wait for Cassian to say anything. Letting out a sigh, he accepted his fate, grabbing her clothes and following after her, still sulking over the interrupted moment.
Cassian found Lumine gently petting the cautious kitten, which hissed at her at first, attempting to swipe at her with its tiny claws. But as time passed, its wariness began to fade, especially when she offered it Cassian's favorite fruits as snacks.
Watching his beloved treats disappear into the kitten's mouth left him a little disappointed—he had been looking forward to eating them himself. But when he saw Lumine's bright, excited smile as the kitten accepted a small piece of grape from her hand, his mood softened.
Smiling, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing his bare body against hers. Her figure was a masterpiece—not just beautiful, but intensely provocative and erotic. It was a sight rivaling the likes of Katherine and even her own sister, Cassandra.
As Cassian wrapped his arms around Lumine's waist, his gaze shifted to the kitten, who was eagerly devouring piece after piece of fruit from Lumine's hands.
"She's hungry… so cute," Lumine cooed, watching the tiny creature's big, sparkling light-purple pupils shine with excitement as it enjoyed the delicious treats.
Cassian felt a twinge of jealousy but couldn't help but smile. Reaching out, he gently rubbed the kitten's head, earning a pleased purr. Yet, despite the affection, the kitten didn't pause in its feast. Accepting his defeat, Cassian sighed, realizing he wouldn't get to taste his favorite fruits, but in the end, he was content just watching the two enjoy the moment.
As, he found his own satisfaction simply by holding Lumine's naked body, relishing the feel of her soft skin against him—especially since she wasn't stopping him.
"So… are we going to adopt her?" Cassian asked, resting his face on Lumine's shoulder, his cheek brushing against hers.
"Should we?" she replied with a smile before adding playfully, "Wouldn't that make us an official couple? Adopting a pet together and all?"
Cassian blinked in surprise. "Aren't we already one?"
Lumine nodded, gently petting the kitten, who was now nibbling on a piece of apple nearly half its size. "We are," she said, then glanced at him teasingly. "But since you never mentioned it to anyone, I thought maybe you were hiding our relationship.
Cassian felt a twinge of guilt—she was right. He hadn't told anyone about their relationship. It wasn't exactly the most honorable thing to do, but he had his reasons. There were other women in his life, and if they found out Lumine was his official girlfriend, things could get… complicated.
But now, he wanted to be upfront. He enjoyed being with women—any woman who wanted to be with him, really—but if he was going to keep walking this path, he had to be honest. And first, that honesty had to start with Lumine.
Among all the women, she was the one most compatible with him—in age, habits, and even strength. She was his equal, something rare in this world. But more than that, he simply liked her. A lot.
As he gazed at her, watching the way the soft glow of moonlight illuminated her features, she looked almost ethereal. Her silver eyelashes shimmered, her deep blue pupils reflecting the light as she focused on the tiny kitten in her hands.
Yet, even with all this, he couldn't bring himself to say he was only hers. Instead, he spoke the only truth he could:
"The road with you is beautiful… but let's not talk about the destination just yet."
Lumine turned to him, confusion flickering in her eyes. Cassian simply smiled, offering no further explanation. Because, truth be told, even he didn't know where this was heading. He was caught in something—a situation neither of them had fully defined.
But he couldn't keep lingering in the middle of all these women forever. He needed to sort out these complicated relationships, and the first step was being honest with Lumine.
Gently, he pulled her onto his lap, letting her pamper the kitten while he gathered his thoughts. After a moment, he spoke. "Lumine, there's something you should know about me—something I haven't told you yet."
"Oh? Secrets?" she asked, her tone laced with excitement as she turned to face him. Then, with a teasing smirk, she added, "Don't worry, you can tell me anything. I won't let a single word slip. Just… don't tell me you used to enjoy having your backdoor explored."
Cassian let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "I don't…" he said, though a hint of awkwardness lingered in his smile. Taking a deep breath, he finally admitted, "The thing is… I have relationships with other women besides you. And for now, I can't end them."
Lumine simply nodded, her expression calm as she stroked the kitten's soft fur. "I know…"
Cassian blinked, caught off guard. "You know? How?"
Lumine tilted her head, her silver eyelashes fluttering as she gave him an amused look. "I've thought about it a lot, and honestly, I don't mind it much anymore," she said casually. Then, with a teasing yet serious smile, she added, "And just so you know, I don't love you or anything like that. That's why I can be reasonable about it."
Her smirk deepened as she leaned in slightly. "Which also means I can stop liking you anytime I want… just so we're clear on the mutual feelings."
Cassian chuckled at her words, wrapping his arms around her slim waist. His hands brushed against her toned stomach as he asked, "So, you mean you could also be with other men if you wanted?"
"Yeah," she nodded, then mischievously added, "Why? Do you have a problem with that?"
Cassian didn't hesitate. "Yeah. And not just one—a lot of them."
Lumine's grin widened as she continued pampering the kitten. "Well then… that sounds like your problem."