Chapter 25: Zeria

I kissed Zeria again before she could hide behind another argument.

Not rushed.

Not rough.

Just deeper than before.

Her breath caught against my mouth as I guided her backward over the bed, one hand steady at her waist so she never had to wonder where I wanted her to go.

The mattress dipped beneath her.

She followed willingly.

That mattered.

Her arms slipped around my neck almost instinctively, fingers curling behind me as though she had decided that if she was going to be embarrassed, she might as well hold on properly.

Progress.

Beautiful progress.

I broke the kiss only long enough to look at her.

Her blue eyes were wide.

Face bright red.

Golden hair scattered across the pale sheets.

She looked like someone had taken the wisest woman in the kingdom, removed every answer from her head, and replaced them with one extremely confusing man.

I smiled.

Her brows furrowed.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Smile like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you know something I don’t.”

I considered that.

“In this specific subject?”

“Yes.”

“I know several things you don’t.”

“That is very annoying.”

“Welcome to my side of most conversations.”

She opened her mouth to answer.

I kissed the corner of it.

Her response vanished into a small breath.

Then I moved lower.

Jaw first.

A soft kiss beneath it.

Then another along the side of her neck.

Zeria stiffened immediately.

Not pulling away.

Just reacting.

Her hands tightened around my shoulders.

I kissed the same place again.

A faint sound escaped her.

She froze.

I paused.

She looked horrified.

Not at me.

At herself.

“What was that?”

I almost laughed.

“Your body filing a positive review.”

“Caled.”

“I’m serious.”

“You are never serious.”

“Occasionally during natural disasters.”

She tried to glare.

Then I kissed her neck again.

The glare disappeared.

So did most of her argument.

Her head tilted slightly without instruction, giving me more room.

Oh.

The Great Sage learned fast even when she had absolutely no idea she was learning.

I let my lips travel slowly along her neck and down toward her collarbone.

Every new place gave me a new reaction.

A sharper inhale.

A tiny shiver.

Her fingers pressing harder into me.

Sometimes a quiet sound she seemed determined to pretend had come from somewhere else.

I watched everything.

Zeria could hide ideas behind cheerful smiles.

Could conceal political plans from entire councils.

Could keep the existence of humanity secret without blinking.

Her body, however, was a terrible liar.

I kissed just above the neckline of her dress.

Her breath trembled.

I looked up.

She was already watching me.

“Still okay?”

Her embarrassment softened.

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

Good.

My hands found the fabric around her waist.

I moved slowly, giving her every opportunity to stop me.

Instead, Zeria lifted slightly when she realized what I was doing.

Trust.

Again.

Dangerous, beautiful trust.

I eased the dress upward.

She helped without quite admitting she was helping.

The fabric passed over her body, then over her head.

Golden hair fell loose again afterward.

I set the dress carefully beside the bed.

Then looked back.

Zeria immediately covered her face.

I laughed softly.

She remained in simple white undergarments, pale skin glowing beneath the warm light of the room.

She was petite everywhere.

Delicate.

Soft.

Nothing exaggerated.

Nothing dramatic.

Just Zeria.

And somehow that made looking away significantly harder.

I took a slow breath.

“Cute.”

Her fingers spread slightly over her face.

“That is not helping.”

“It wasn’t meant to.”

“You’re terrible.”

“I’ve built a reputation.”

She kept hiding.

So I gently caught one wrist.

“Come on.”

“No.”

“Big Sister.”

“No.”

“That title worked better yesterday.”

“It is being used against me.”

“Yes.”

She peeked at me between her fingers.

I smiled.

Her face became even redder.

Amazing.

I lowered her hand away from her face.

Then kissed her before she could replace it.

Zeria relaxed beneath me almost immediately.

Her embarrassment did not disappear.

It simply lost the argument.

Our kiss deepened.

I let the contact become more exploratory, showing her slowly rather than overwhelming her.

When the tip of my tongue brushed hers, she startled.

Her eyes opened.

She made the smallest surprised sound.

I pulled back half an inch.

“Too much?”

She stared at me.

Then shook her head.

“No.”

“Want me to stop?”

Another shake.

“No.”

“Then quit looking at me like I just invented witchcraft.”

“You did something unexpected.”

“That describes my entire personality.”

Her lips twitched.

I kissed her again.

This time when the kiss deepened, she did not freeze.

She hesitated.

Then tried to follow.

Awkwardly.

Carefully.

Adorably.

The Great Sage of Inizio was learning how to kiss through direct experimentation.

Somewhere, science was proud.

I moved lower again.

Along her jaw.

Her neck.

Collarbone.

My hands eased the remaining fabric from her upper body as my lips continued their path.

Zeria looked down.

Then immediately looked away.

Her arms almost crossed over herself.

I caught one hand gently.

“Hey.”

She looked back.

I smiled without teasing this time.

“You’re beautiful.”

That did more damage than any joke.

Her face turned scarlet.

Her eyes dropped.

“You say things too easily.”

“Some things are easy to say.”

She did not answer.

I leaned down and kissed the upper curve of her chest.

Her body jolted slightly.

Another kiss.

Lower.

Then to one sensitive point.

Her fingers slid into my hair.

I felt them tighten.

Her breathing changed instantly.

“Caled…”

“Hmm?”

“What are you doing?”

“Research.”

“That is my excuse.”

“I’m borrowing it.”

She tried to argue.

Then I kissed the same place again.

Her words collapsed into a breathy sound.

I smiled against her skin.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

My other hand moved over her gently, exploring without rushing.

Every touch brought another reaction.

Her hips shifted slightly.

Her back arched once before she caught herself.

Her hand in my hair became firmer.

And the sounds escaping her became harder to hide.

Zeria seemed increasingly offended by her own inability to remain composed.

Which only made it cuter.

“You’re making noises,” I murmured.

Her eyes opened.

“Stop talking.”

“Oh?”

“Please.”

“Polite.”

“Caled.”

I laughed softly and returned my attention to her.

Eventually my kisses moved lower.

Past her stomach.

Her breathing grew more uncertain as she realized where I was going.

I looked up once.

Zeria was watching me.

Face red.

Eyes nervous.

But she did not stop me.

My hands rested lightly against her thighs.

“Still with me?”

She swallowed.

“Yes.”

I eased away the last piece of clothing separating her from complete vulnerability.

Zeria immediately covered her face again.

I stared.

“You really like doing that.”

“I cannot help it.”

“You climbed into my room.”

“I know.”

“You started kissing me.”

“On the cheek!”

“We’ve progressed.”

“That is exactly the problem.”

I smiled.

Then looked at her.

Not playfully this time.

Appreciatively.

“Beautiful.”

She made a helpless little sound and turned her head toward the pillow.

I leaned down.

My kisses began along the inside of her thigh.

Nothing rushed.

Nothing abrupt.

Just slow movement toward a place her body was already anticipating.

Her thighs tensed beneath my hands.

“Caled…”

“Yes?”

She hesitated.

“What are you going to do?”

“Make you feel good.”

“That did not answer the question.”

“It answered the important part.”

She looked suspicious.

I kissed closer.

Her breath caught.

Another kiss.

Closer still.

Then I reached the place I had been moving toward.

Zeria’s entire body stiffened.

A sharp gasp left her.

Her fingers grabbed the sheets.

I stayed gentle.

Slow.

Letting her understand sensation before adding anything more.

For several seconds, she seemed unable to decide whether she wanted to ask questions or simply experience what was happening.

Experience won.

Her breathing became heavier.

The hand gripping the sheets tightened.

Her other hand eventually found my hair again.

At first, she only rested it there.

Then another wave of sensation moved through her and her fingers curled.

“Oh…”

There it was.

Not confusion anymore.

Understanding.

At least enough.

I continued.

Slow rhythms.

Soft pressure.

Careful attention to every response.

Whenever something made her breathing sharpen, I remembered it.

Whenever her body relaxed instead, I adjusted.

Her sounds became louder despite her obvious attempts to contain them.

The great political mind who could calm nobles and guide kings was currently losing a private argument with pleasure.

I was enjoying that far more than was morally necessary.

Her hips shifted once.

Then again.

I steadied them gently.

“Caled.”

Her voice barely resembled the composed Great Sage.

“Yes?”

“This is…”

She stopped.

I waited.

Her face turned toward the pillow.

“What?”

“Very good.”

I smiled.

“Thought so.”

“Do not sound proud.”

“Impossible.”

She pulled lightly at my hair.

I laughed.

Then continued until her entire body became increasingly tense beneath me.

Her breaths came faster.

Shorter.

She murmured my name again.

Then something moved through her strongly enough that her body tightened all at once.

Her back arched.

Her hand clenched in my hair.

A broken sound escaped her lips.

Then she slowly melted back onto the mattress, chest rising and falling quickly.

I gave her several seconds.

Then climbed back toward her.

Zeria looked dazed.

I smiled.

She narrowed her eyes weakly.

“Do not.”

“You haven’t even heard the joke.”

“I can see it.”

“That’s impressive.”

I settled beside her.

“Feel good?”

Zeria took another breath.

“Yes.”

Then, after a pause, “Very.”

“Excellent.”

“It was strange.”

“Usually is the first time.”

She looked at me.

“Why did my body do that?”

I kissed her forehead.

“Future lecture.”

“You keep postponing explanations.”

“I’m teaching through demonstration.”

“That is not how responsible teachers behave.”

“Good thing I’m not responsible.”

She groaned.

I kissed her again.

Softly at first.

Then deeper.

Zeria responded more naturally now.

Still inexperienced.

Still following.

But learning.

Her lips moved against mine instead of simply receiving the kiss.

When we separated, I took one of her hands.

She looked at me curiously.

I guided it downward toward my belt.

The curiosity transformed immediately into alarm.

Her face turned red again.

“Caled.”

“Yes?”

“I know what that means.”

“Look at you learning.”

“I am serious.”

“So am I.”

She looked at my face.

Then at her hand.

I did not force it.

Just waited.

Zeria swallowed.

Then slowly began undoing the belt herself.

Good.

Her movements were clumsy from nervousness.

But determined.

Once she had loosened it, I helped with the rest.

My remaining clothes joined hers away from the bed.

Zeria looked.

Then immediately looked at my face.

Then looked again.

Her cheeks became impossibly red.

“That is…”

I raised an eyebrow.

She searched for words.

“Large.”

I almost laughed.

“Thank you.”

“That was not praise.”

“Too late.”

She covered her mouth.

I took her hand gently.

“Want to stop?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“Sure?”

“Yes.”

I guided her hand carefully, showing her where to touch and how.

Nothing complicated.

Nothing rushed.

Just enough for her to understand.

The first movement made me inhale sharply.

Zeria’s eyes widened.

“Did that hurt?”

“No.”

“Then why did you breathe like that?”

“Because it felt good.”

Her expression changed.

Interest.

Oh no.

Great Sage mode.

She tried again.

More carefully.

I closed my eyes for half a second.

Zeria watched my face.

“You like that.”

“Yes.”

“Like this?”

Another slow motion.

My jaw tightened.

“Yes.”

Her nervousness eased slightly.

She was still blushing.

Still shy.

But now she had discovered that she could affect me too.

That mattered.

The balance shifted.

I let go of her hand.

She continued on her own.

Not perfectly.

But with growing confidence.

Her eyes watched every reaction I gave her.

“You’re warm,” she murmured.

“Yes.”

“And very…”

She hesitated.

I opened one eye.

“Careful.”

She gave me a tiny offended look.

“I was going to say tense.”

“Safe.”

“And hard.”

I laughed.

“Also accurate.”

Her face turned red again.

I leaned down and kissed her neck.

My breathing had become heavier.

She noticed.

Of course she did.

“Does this really feel that good?”

“Yes.”

Zeria smiled faintly.

Not innocent exactly.

Pleased.

That was new.

Then she moved again.

I groaned quietly against her neck.

Her smile grew.

Dangerous development.

I kissed her deeply.

Less patient this time.

More hunger slipping through.

Zeria responded with a soft moan, arms rising around me again.

When we separated, I rested my forehead against hers.

My breathing was no longer exactly dignified.

“Okay.”

She blinked.

“What?”

“I’m losing patience.”

Her eyes widened.

“For what?”

I looked at her.

She understood a second later.

Her face turned red again.

I brushed my fingers along her cheek.

“I want to go further.”

Zeria held my gaze.

No joke now.

No teasing.

“Will it hurt?”

“Probably at first.”

Her nervousness returned.

I kissed her forehead.

“We don’t have to.”

She looked at me for several seconds.

Then shook her head.

“I want to.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

A small pause.

“Just be gentle.”

That was all I needed.

I shifted between her thighs.

Zeria watched me.

Her breathing was already uneven.

I kept my movements slow.

Careful.

Letting her feel what was happening before anything changed.

The first moment of joining made her gasp.

Her fingers grabbed my shoulders.

Pain crossed her expression.

I stopped immediately.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

“Zeria?”

She breathed.

Waited.

Then opened her eyes again.

“I’m okay.”

“We can stop.”

“No.”

Her grip softened.

“Just slowly.”

I kissed her.

Gentle.

Distracting her with my mouth while I moved only as much as she comfortably allowed.

Each small change made her tense.

Then relax.

Tense again.

I kept watching her face.

Nothing mattered more than that expression.

When I finally settled fully against her, tears had gathered at the corners of her eyes.

My chest tightened.

“Sorry.”

Zeria shook her head.

“It’s fine.”

“That did not look fine.”

“It hurt.”

“Exactly.”

“But I wanted this.”

Her fingers touched my face.

“And I’m still here.”

I kissed her palm.

“Tell me if you want me to stop.”

“I will.”

Then she added softly, “I want you happy too.”

That woman was going to destroy me.

I started moving.

Slow.

Very slow.

At first, Zeria’s expression remained tight.

Her hands held my shoulders.

Her breathing came through clenched lips.

Then something shifted.

The pain did not vanish completely.

But another sensation began replacing it.

Her brows relaxed.

Her grip changed.

Her legs drew closer around me.

I kissed her.

Zeria kissed back suddenly, almost urgently.

When we separated, she breathed against my mouth.

“It still hurts.”

I paused.

She shook her head quickly.

“But it feels good too.”

I smiled faintly.

“Confusing?”

“Very.”

“Welcome to sex.”

Her eyes widened.

“Now you say the word.”

“Timing.”

She almost laughed.

Then my next movement turned the laugh into a moan.

Much louder.

Her eyes widened again.

I grinned.

“Found something.”

“Do not analyze me.”

“Impossible.”

I continued.

Gradually faster.

Never enough to lose control.

Zeria’s body responded more openly now.

Her arms wrapped around me.

Her nails pressed into my back.

Every time pleasure caught her unexpectedly, she made another sound and then seemed embarrassed by it afterward.

Eventually, she stopped caring.

Good.

Her head fell back against the pillow.

Golden hair spread everywhere.

Her face was flushed.

Eyes half closed.

Breathing broken and fast.

Completely different from the woman who sat beside kings.

Beautiful.

She looked at me.

And smiled.

“Your face.”

“What about it?”

“You look so serious.”

“I’m working.”

That made her laugh breathlessly.

Then another movement broke the laugh apart.

She held me tighter.

“I like it.”

“My face?”

“The way you look right now.”

I leaned closer.

“I like yours better.”

She blushed even through everything else.

Somehow.

Impressive biological dedication.

My pace increased.

Zeria followed.

Her body no longer stiffened defensively.

Now she moved with me in small instinctive motions.

Learning.

Always learning.

Her voice rose again.

“I can take more.”

I slowed enough to look directly at her.

“Sure?”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

“Use words.”

“Yes, Caled.”

Good.

I moved faster.

Her reaction was immediate.

A sharp inhale.

Then a moan that she did not even try to hide.

I kissed her.

She met me eagerly this time.

No hesitation.

No lesson needed.

Her fingers slid behind my neck and held me there.

The kiss became messy from breathing and movement.

Neither of us cared.

Eventually, I felt tension building inside me.

Different from hers.

Familiar.

Approaching quickly.

I broke the kiss.

“I’m close.”

Zeria blinked through the haze.

“Close to what?”

I laughed despite myself.

Of course.

I kissed her forehead.

“To finishing.”

Understanding slowly appeared.

“Oh.”

I kept my voice lower.

“I need to know what you want.”

She stared at me.

“Whatever you think is best.”

“No.”

Her brows furrowed.

I slowed.

“Your choice.”

Zeria seemed surprised.

Then thoughtful even while breathing hard.

Finally, she pulled me closer.

“Stay with me.”

Simple enough.

I kissed her.

That was answer enough for me.

The rhythm became stronger.

Her breathing matched mine in broken intervals.

She held me.

I kissed her mouth, cheek, neck.

Some kisses became rougher as control slipped.

One caught her skin hard enough that she flinched.

I immediately slowed.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“I bit you.”

“A little.”

“That hurt.”

“Yes.”

I frowned.

Zeria touched my face.

“But I’m okay.”

“Tell me if I go too far.”

She nodded.

Then kissed me herself.

That shut me up.

Clever woman.

I continued, careful even as urgency built.

Zeria’s nails pressed harder into my back.

Her legs tightened.

Her breathing rose.

Mine did too.

Everything became heat, movement, tangled sheets, soft sounds turning louder, her mouth finding mine whenever either of us needed somewhere to put the emotion.

Then the tension inside me finally broke.

I held her tightly.

Zeria gasped and clung to me as the moment passed through both of us.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

We simply stayed there.

Breathing.

Shivering.

Her fingers slowly loosened against my back.

My forehead rested near hers.

The room had become incredibly quiet except for us trying to remember how lungs worked.

Eventually, I lifted my head.

Zeria was staring at me.

And smiling.

Not embarrassed.

Not confused.

Just warm.

I brushed hair away from her face.

“Sorry I hurt you.”

She shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

“You cried.”

“I also enjoyed it.”

“Complicated review.”

She smiled.

Then touched my cheek.

“I don’t mind some pain if it’s with you.”

I studied her carefully.

“That sentence needs conditions.”

Her eyebrows pulled together.

“What conditions?”

“You tell me when it’s too much.”

She nodded.

“And I stop.”

Another nod.

“No heroic Big Sister endurance.”

She smiled.

“Fine.”

“Good.”

I kissed her softly.

Then realized something.

My body had apparently not received the message that the evening was over.

Zeria noticed too.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Then she looked at my face.

I smiled.

That made her suspicious.

“What?”

“I have a problem.”

“What kind?”

“I still want you.”

Her cheeks warmed again.

“I thought we just…”

“We did.”

“And you want more?”

“Yes.”

“That is unreasonable.”

“I have many strengths. Moderation isn’t one.”

She laughed softly.

I brushed my hand along her side.

“Can we?”

Zeria looked at me for a long moment.

Then smiled shyly.

“I want more too.”

That answer nearly restarted everything by itself.

She touched my shoulder.

“Teach me.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Dangerous request.”

“I’m serious.”

“I know.”

She glanced away.

“I want to understand this better.”

“Research again?”

“No.”

A pause.

Then, quieter, “I want to know how to make you feel good.”

That hit harder than expected.

I kissed her.

“Big Sister.”

“What?”

“You’re going to create a monster.”

She blinked.

“You are already strange.”

“Fair.”

The rest of the night became lessons.

Not the kind Leyra had taught me.

No books.

No formal posture.

No diplomatic greetings.

Just whispered questions.

Kisses.

Hands learning where to go.

Bodies learning each other gradually.

Sometimes Zeria stopped me to ask why something felt different.

Sometimes she tried something simply because she had noticed my reaction earlier.

Sometimes she became embarrassed halfway through and hid her face until I pulled her hands away again.

And every time, she grew more confident.

Not experienced.

Not suddenly transformed into somebody else.

Still Zeria.

Still soft.

Still innocent in ways that made me laugh.

But curious.

Very curious.

And disturbingly focused on my reactions.

The Great Sage apparently approached intimacy the same way she approached every unfamiliar subject.

Observe.

Learn.

Improve.

Except this time, every successful experiment came with my breathing becoming less dignified.

As the night deepened, she began paying more attention to me.

What made my body tense.

What made me pull her closer.

Which kisses changed my breathing.

Which movements made me lose the ability to produce intelligent sentences.

She remembered everything.

Of course she did.

At one point, she looked almost proud after making me groan.

That was when I realized I had made a severe tactical mistake.

I had taught Zeria that pleasing me pleased her.

From there, she became dangerously enthusiastic.

If I asked whether she wanted to try something, she usually nodded.

If I guided her, she followed.

If something confused her, she asked.

And whenever I reacted strongly, that shy little smile appeared like she had just solved another difficult equation.

By the time the night had become deep and quiet beyond the curtains, the woman curled beside me barely resembled the blushing Great Sage who had thrown pebbles at my balcony.

Not because she had lost her innocence.

She hadn’t.

That was still there.

Still obvious.

Still adorably woven through everything she did.

But now she had discovered another side of herself.

One that wanted to understand.

Wanted to experiment.

Wanted to memorize every reaction she could draw out of me.

And judging from the way her eyes kept lighting up whenever she discovered something new that made my breathing hitch, she was far more interested in learning how to pleasure me than simply being led.

Who would have guessed?

The innocent Great Sage was incredible in bed.

A very curious girl.