Chapter 399 - 357: Is This How You Accept Him?
Chapter 399: Chapter 357: Is This How You Accept Him?
"DRIP..."
In the pitch-black, silent bathroom, water still dripped from the showerhead, sending ripples across the surface of the tub already filled with hot water.
Through Gu Ning’s tear-blurred vision, a blue light flickered, sometimes dim, sometimes bright. The dripping grew more frequent and louder, and her drifting thoughts and hearing became a confused jumble, making it impossible to distinguish the source of the sounds around her.
’Did Barto forget to turn the faucet off all the way?’
The blue light before her flared bright again. She bit her lip, her hands gripping the edge of the sink, straining so hard her knuckles turned white. It was as if she were about to tear a chunk from the solid stone.
The sounds of swallowing and licking gradually drowned out the dripping water, like a beast hidden in the night savoring its captured prey.
...
The moment her knees touched the cold countertop, Gu Ning couldn’t hold on any longer. Her hands went limp, and her back slid against the cool mirror.
Barto instantly let go, catching her with lightning-fast reflexes as she went limp. Seeing her tremble violently, he asked, "Are you cold?"
Gu Ning covered her face and shook her head. With her feet braced against his shoulders, she gave him a push, even though the force was so faint Barto could have ignored it completely.
But the gesture of rejection still made him pull back slightly.
He meticulously licked every trace of Gu Ning’s taste from his lips before burying his face in the crook of her neck and taking several deep breaths.
"You’re crying?" Barto’s cheek brushed against the dampness on Gu Ning’s face. He reached out to wipe her tears away, asking for what felt like the dozenth time, "Are you sure it’s not uncomfortable?"
Her recent whimpers had sounded like she was in pain, but the sound was like a scratch against his very bones, an itch that seeped into the marrow and sent a tingle through his entire body.
It was the same sound he had heard that night in Zone 15, standing outside her and Alex’s room.
Looking at the tears on her face, he couldn’t tell whether she felt more discomfort or pleasure.
Gu Ning’s voice was hoarse. "I’m not uncomfortable."
"It’s very..."
"Pleasurable."
As if he’d just been praised, the corners of Barto’s mouth curved up.
He affectionately nuzzled her face like a pet devoted to its owner, kissing her cheeks and licking her tears dry.
The tears were salty, a completely different flavor from the honey-sweet taste of a moment ago, but he found it just as intoxicating.
Tasting the different flavors on Gu Ning, he suddenly understood why those other males were so fanatical and obsessed with her.
He wasn’t in heat, yet he adored her scent this much. So what must it be like for males driven by their instincts?
He didn’t understand females, nor did he understand males who went into heat.
Ever since his regression, he hadn’t had a heat cycle. In fact, since he’d regressed before reaching adulthood, he had never experienced one at all. This was one of the reasons his Mutant Value had remained relatively stable over the years.
He had fallen for her before he fell for her scent. He was captivated by her long before his genes were.
His heart recognized his love for her long before his male instincts did.
"What about you?"
Gu Ning’s face was starting to itch from the little fox’s kisses. She gave him a gentle push and asked her question.
Barto’s reaction was calmer than she’d expected, and even more composed than Alex had been. It was surprising, yet not entirely.
He was a Mixed Breed and didn’t go into heat, although...
"I’m very happy, too," Barto said, his voice muffled against her neck.
...
Hearing the satisfaction in his tone, Gu Ning cradled Barto’s damp head and sighed softly.
’This innocent little fox is really something else...’
Gu Ning felt a wicked little thrill.
After they held each other for a moment to recover, Barto lifted Gu Ning off the sink.
Barto’s gaze swept across the spacious bathroom, lingering on the chair for a second. He could feel her still trembling slightly in his arms. Worried she’d catch a chill, he hesitated briefly before lowering her into the tub.
Gu Ning sank into the warm water and let out a long, contented sigh.
A moment later, water SLOSHED over the sides as the tall, blue-glowing figure squeezed into the wide tub, filling it to the brim.
’So we’re bathing together after all,’ Gu Ning thought.
Just when Gu Ning thought they were done, Barto pulled her into his embrace. Kissing her face and neck, his hand began to stir the water. "This way, you won’t get cold."
Gu Ning tried to stop his hand. "Wait..."
She failed.
But he stopped abruptly, his expression one of pure shock. "It’s so... small?!"
Gu Ning’s face flushed hot again. She pulled out of his embrace and retreated to the other side of the tub. "Hurry up and wash. We still have things to do."
"This is how you accommodate him?"
Barto’s tone grew serious, laced with disbelief.
Gu Ning was speechless.
’I thought Barto managed to hold back because he understood what was happening. Turns out he was just busy...’
’...eating.’
’This is as far as we go.’
’She knew they couldn’t go any further. If he decided to satisfy his curiosity and explore, there would be no stopping him tonight.’
’I’ll have to find a time to discuss this with him when he’s actually calm...’
Barto brought the hand that had touched her up to his face and examined it.
He had taken an Inhibitor, but it hadn’t taken full effect yet. His sharp nails hadn’t completely retracted, which was why he hadn’t dared to touch her with his hands before. They were only just now pulling all the way in.
"Did he force you?"
Barto licked the flavor from his fingers, his brow furrowed as he asked Gu Ning.
Gu Ning sank a little lower into the water. "Don’t worry, he didn’t. Alex wouldn’t do that."
Barto didn’t seem convinced. "Really?"
Gu Ning replied, "Really. If he had forced me, would I be standing here in front of you, perfectly fine?"
’That’s true...’ Barto thought. ’It’s so small, how could they possibly... match...’
"Then you two..." Barto’s curiosity overwhelmed his craving for Gu Ning. "How did you manage to mate successfully?"
Hearing the little fox’s blunt question, Gu Ning wanted nothing more than to submerge herself completely.
"Tell me," Barto said. "Is it a secret between you two?"
Gu Ning let out a GURGLE of bubbles. Thinking fast, she said, "I’ll tell you after we finish our bath."
Upon hearing that, Barto quickly finished washing both of them.
"Tell me now," Barto said, draping a towel over the little human’s head. He began drying her hair with one hand and his own with the other.
"I’ll tell you after our hair is dry."
...
The hairdryer WHIRRED against Gu Ning’s wet hair. She lay with her head in Barto’s lap, her wrist held up as she edited a video on her terminal. The warm air made her eyelids grow heavy.
Half an hour later, Barto turned off the hairdryer. "It’s dry. Now tell..."
Gu Ning was asleep.
...
Annoyed, Barto gently pinched her cheek. He set down the hairdryer, then carefully lifted her and placed her on the bed.
After checking Gu Ning’s medicine vial, Barto lay down beside her. He took the hand that wore the terminal, carefully watched the half-finished video and raw footage a few times, and then continued editing and doing the post-production work for her.
In the middle of the night, Gu Ning woke up needing to use the bathroom. She had just moved the arm wrapped around her waist when it pulled her back again. The Beastman’s furnace-hot body pressed against her back, his head nuzzling her neck as a low, hoarse, and sleepy voice murmured in her ear:
"Tell me now..."
Gu Ning was speechless.