CHAPTER 52: INTERRUPTED TEMPTATION

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I couldn’t stop.

My fingers were trembling against her skin, desperate—no, ravenous—as they explored the softness of Akane’s waist. Her hands were trapped gently between mine, and I was kissing each one like they were sacred, like I’d go insane if I stopped. Every time I felt her pulse jump, I wanted more. The scent of her sweat, the warmth of her flushed cheeks, the way her eyes fluttered as my mouth neared hers—it was driving me mad.

And worst of all?

I knew something was wrong.

I wasn’t just aroused. I was consumed. My thoughts weren’t mine anymore. Logic was a distant whisper, drowned beneath the pounding of blood and the overwhelming need to make her mine right then and there.

I had her pinned against the wall. One arm cradled the small of her back. The other wandered up her ribs, fingertips brushing the curve of her bra. I couldn’t pull away. My body didn’t want to. I didn’t want to.

Then the knock came.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It was sharp. Urgent.

But I ignored it.

Akane’s lips parted, her breath hitching as my thumb brushed across her skin. My mouth was halfway down her neck when the knocking came again, louder this time.

"Ren!" That was Ayame’s voice.

Still... I didn’t move. Neither did Akane. Her body trembled against mine, but not with fear. Her arms had wrapped around my shoulders. Her nails scratched my back lightly through my shirt, pulling me closer.

I was about to lift her shirt.

Thud thud thud.

"Ren, open the door! Something’s wrong!" That was Elira’s voice now—panicked. Desperate.

Akane’s eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. And in that single second, I knew—she felt it too. The haze. The pull. It wasn’t just me.

I should have stopped. But instead... I kissed her.

Hard.

Her lips were warm and eager. My hands gripped her thighs, ready to lift her. My mind screamed get her on the bed. That was all I could think. Nothing else mattered. Not the door. Not the knocking. Not the fact that something was seriously, terrifyingly wrong.

The door burst open.

And chaos followed.

"Ayame—!"

"What the hell?!"

"Ren!"

I barely registered them rushing in. I only felt hands—multiple—grabbing my shoulders, pulling me back, separating me from Akane’s heat. I snarled, actually snarled, resisting for a second before blinking and realizing what I was doing.

My breath came fast. I was sweating. Shaking. And Akane—Akane was flushed, her top riding halfway up, her lips red and slightly swollen from our kiss.

Sora was the first to speak.

"What the hell were you two about to do?!"

"I—" I looked around, confused, disoriented. The scent of Akane still clung to me. "I... I don’t know. I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. It was like—"

"You’re not okay," Ayame cut in firmly, stepping between me and Akane. "Ren, you’ve been spelled."

Spelled?

The word hit me like a splash of cold water.

"What?"

"You’re under a spell," she said again, slower this time. "Some kind of enchantment."

I glanced down at my hands—trembling, greedy, still twitching like they missed her body. My mouth was dry. My pulse erratic. Even now, with all of them around me, part of me still wanted to grab Akane and carry her to bed.

"What’s happening to me?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

Then all eyes turned to Elira.

She looked pale. Guilty. Almost afraid.

"Elira?" Ayame pressed. "You want to tell him, or should I?"

Elira stepped forward, wringing her hands.

"I... I didn’t mean for you to drink it," she said softly.

"What?" My voice dropped. "Drink what?"

She winced. "I made a potion. A love one. Not real love—just a temporary kind. Just a harmless experiment, I swear. I saw an old alchemical recipe in one of the elven scrolls my mother gave me and I wanted to see if it would react with human ingredients. But it wasn’t finished yet."

My mouth went dry. "You made a love potion."

She nodded. "And I thought I sealed it properly. I didn’t think anyone would even touch it—let alone drink it."

I looked between the girls, something inside me growing cold. "Wait... when?"

"When you came back from the gym with Akane," she said. "You both went to the kitchen, right? You drank from the silver thermos on the counter?"

I remembered. Vividly. I’d walked in, hot, parched. Saw the drink. Didn’t think twice. Just downed it.

"You’re telling me... I drank that?"

She nodded, shame written all over her face.

"But... this doesn’t feel like a love potion. This is—this is too strong. I couldn’t even think clearly. I still can’t. It’s like I’m possessed."

"That’s because..." Elira hesitated, eyes flickering toward Ayame for help. "I might have... added a little elven magic to it. Just to stabilize the reaction."

"A little?" Ayame scoffed. "Elira, you amplified it."

"I didn’t mean to!" she cried. "I didn’t know it would do this! I didn’t think Ren would drink it! I just... I was curious, okay? I didn’t even put it in the fridge because I thought it was incomplete."

"But it gets worse," Rin said from behind, her voice tight. "Why did it affect Akane too?"

Everyone turned toward her. Akane had sunk into the nearest chair, head in her hands, her chest still heaving. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes distant—like she was still caught in the haze.

"Elira?" I said slowly. "Why did she get affected?"

Elira bit her lip. "How soon after drinking it did you... kiss her?"

"I—right away." I stared at Akane. "I kissed her almost immediately after."

Elira shut her eyes.

"Then that explains it."

"Explains what?"

"The magic was still fresh. The spell’s arcane structure hadn’t finished binding to your body yet, which means when you kissed her, part of the enchantment passed to her too. Through the lips. Like a... magical exchange."

My head reeled. "You’re saying... I infected her with it?"

"She got a partial dose," Elira said. "A diluted fragment of the original spell. But strong enough to cloud her thoughts—make her want more."

Akane looked up at that. Her expression was distant, confused, then horrified. "That’s why... I couldn’t pull away."

A beat of silence passed through the room.

And then I stepped back.

"I can’t believe this," I said quietly. "You brewed a magical love potion, didn’t label it, left it on the counter, and now... now I nearly—" I choked, thinking of what might have happened if the girls hadn’t come in. "I could’ve gone too far."

"But you didn’t," Sora said quickly, stepping closer. "We stopped it. You’re okay."

"Are we?" I snapped, voice cracking. "Because I’m still shaking. I’m still thinking about her. I still want—" I stopped myself.

Everyone could see it in my eyes.

Even now, the spell was working.

Akane’s scent still lingered on my skin. Every heartbeat sent a craving through me. I didn’t know if it was the magic or something deeper. But I hated it.

"I need it gone," I said, gripping the edge of the wall. "Get this thing out of me."

Ayame approached and placed a cool hand on my arm. "We will. But you need to calm down first. The more worked up you are, the more the spell feeds."

"Elven enchantments loop off desire," Elira whispered. "Emotion amplifies them."

Akane looked at me again, and this time I saw it—real fear in her eyes. Not of me, but of herself.

"I almost let you," she whispered. "I... I didn’t want you to stop."

"It’s not your fault," I said quickly, moving toward her despite myself. "It was the spell."

"No," she said, eyes watery. "A part of me did want it. Even before the kiss. That’s what scares me."

The room went silent again.

Then Ayame clapped her hands together once, breaking the tension.

"Okay, listen. We’ll figure this out. Elira, you’re going to make an antidote."

"I already started," Elira said quickly. "I just need a few more ingredients from the garden."

"Good," Ayame nodded. "Until then, Ren—you’re not allowed near Akane."

"What?" I blinked.

"You’re still under the influence. And she’s... exposed. You two need distance."

I nodded slowly, fighting the urge to look at her again. "Right."

"I’ll stay with her," Rin offered, already moving beside Akane. "You go shower. Cool off. Reset your body."

"And after that," Sora added, arms crossed, "we’re all having a very long conversation about what not to leave around the house."

I let out a shaky breath, eyes landing on Elira.

She looked crushed.

"Elira."

"I’m sorry," she whispered. "I never meant for this. I just wanted to do something impressive."

I closed my eyes.

"Next time," I said softly, "just give me flowers."

And with that, I left the room.

Still burning.

Still bound.

Still not free.

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As I stepped out into the hallway, still flushed with heat and frustration, I barely made it two steps before Mei leaned against the wall with a sly grin.

"Well, well," she purred, eyes glinting. "So... how was the wall pin experience?"

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.

"Mei, not now."

She giggled. "Just asking! You looked like you were about to devour poor Akane."

I didn’t answer. I just kept walking.

Her voice trailed behind me, sing-song and shameless.

"Bet she liked it."

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