Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 212

Adeline stretched her legs toward the opposite end of the bathtub, her toes brushing against Shane’s bare chest. He pressed firmly along the bones and muscles from her ankle to her calf, carefully working out the tension.

When he pressed on the tightest spots, it hurt so much that she let out a sharp gasp, but overall, it felt refreshing.

Shane was so focused on massaging her right leg, as though it were the most important task in the world. When their eyes met, he smiled and grabbed her submerged left leg.

“If you pull me under again, I’ll get mad. I’m not falling for it twice.”

“Got it.”

Adeline, who had been yanked underwater and ended up swallowing a mouthful of water through her nose before, threw out her warning. Shane responded with a tone that sounded oddly regretful.

She didn’t understand why he sounded disappointed. Watching someone cough and sputter water couldn’t possibly be an enjoyable sight.

One surprising thing about Shane: he liked meaningless pranks.

They were never harmful—just small, teasing antics. For instance, he’d tug her legs to pull her into the water, hide her favorite bookmarks, or hand her snacks right after she’d finished brushing her teeth. They didn’t have much purpose beyond being a minor nuisance.

‘Is this his way of venting pent-up frustration or something…?’

Whenever she asked if he had complaints, he would insist there weren’t any. With his sharp features and bright, innocent eyes, it was hard to accuse him of lying. She had no choice but to shrug it off.

Once he finished massaging both her legs, Shane took her hand and pulled her upright. Exhausted, Adeline couldn’t muster the strength to lift a finger and let him do as he pleased.

Another surprising thing about Shane: he enjoyed physical affection.

This wasn’t entirely unexpected. After their reunion, Shane had often initiated touch, as if trying to rebuild their connection physically. Back then, it had been casual—innocent gestures with no ulterior motives.

But now, things were different. His touches were clearly a prelude to something more.

‘In short, he’s being seductive.’

The saint-like man she had once thought him to be now seemed like a thing of the past.

Shane looped her arms around his neck and leaned in, his lips seeking hers. He devoured her mouth, sliding his tongue inside as her head tipped back from the intensity of the kiss. His large hand cradled the back of her head, his fingers threading through her wet hair.

As he scratched lightly at her scalp, Adeline shivered at the sensation.

The kiss deepened, and their breaths intertwined. A hazy lightheadedness settled over her, and the pleasant warmth in her chest spread. Though she had been limp and exhausted, at some point, she found herself clinging to his neck with her hands.

The wet skin where their bodies pressed together radiated heat, though it wasn’t solely from the warm water of the bath.

Shane’s low chuckle resonated as he kissed her. Adeline, barely opening her heavy-lidded eyes, stared at the blue gaze she loved so much.

Her voice, husky and subdued, broke the silence.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You’re just so cute.”

Shane’s eyes darted to her hands clasping tightly behind his neck, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. Adeline huffed and pouted.

“I wasn’t clinging—I was just holding on to balance myself.”

“Right, but I like it when you hold on.”

Before she could protest, he captured her pouty lips and gently nibbled at them.

“Ah, not the face! If Lloyd sees bite marks, what am I supposed to say?”

“Anywhere else is fine, then?”

“No neck, no arms, no hands, no chest.”

“Then anywhere else is okay.”

“…Well, as long as it’s somewhere no one else can see…”

No matter what she said, Adeline was hopelessly weak against Shane.

When he slid his hands to her waist and pulled her closer, Adeline found herself perched on his sturdy thighs.

She leaned in, pressing her nose against his, and peppered his face with kisses—on the tip of his nose, his cheekbones, the corners of his lips, his temples, and even his ears.

Shane closed his eyes as if to savor the moment.

Though his body had already been taut from the start, with each kiss, it only seemed to grow more tense. Adeline could feel it clearly, even as she chuckled and rubbed his ears with her thumbs.

“Can I leave a mark too?”

“…A bite mark?”

Shane’s half-lidded, darkened blue eyes blinked slowly, his voice slightly delayed as though his focus had shifted entirely elsewhere.

So cute.

Pressing a soft kiss over her favorite pair of blue eyes, Adeline let herself sink further into his embrace.