The water rippled, and the temperature climbed.

The scalding steam burned the girl’s delicate, fair skin, leaving a patch of red.

The man’s warm palm cupped her cheek. His jet-black pupils gazed through the hazy mist at her dazed eyes.

Even though his chest was heaving, he maintained an unhurried demeanor.

He gently caressed her sweat-dampened cheek, waiting patiently.

"We’re... we’re..."

The girl’s mind was a chaotic mess. She couldn’t tell where she was and had completely lost the ability to think.

It was as if only a single voice remained in her head.

’Fall. Surrender. Make a deal with the devil. Give yourself to him, body and soul.’

Driven by the voice, she lowered her head to kiss him again, but the pressure on her jaw tightened, stopping her.

"Baby girl, you only get a reward if you answer the question correctly."

The devil’s voice was hoarse. He blew a breath of air by her ear, and the sensation made her shiver uncontrollably.

’I want this so badly...’

’So badly...’

That feeling of ants crawling all over her skin returned. It was like an electric shock, with tiny currents running through her veins, reaching every part of her body.

Her heart beat faster and faster, and a buzzing sound rang in her ears with each tremor.

"Help me..." Her eyelids drooped as she clutched the collar of his damp shirt, her red-rimmed eyes sending him desperate signals.

The devil remained unmoved, cruelly letting her struggle alone.

The girl didn’t know what to say. Her mind was a blank slate, while her body’s natural reactions washed over her in relentless waves.

She straddled the devil’s waist, and an accidental touch brought her against the cold metal of his belt.

Then, her limbs went weak. Her feet lost their purchase and slipped. With a SPLASH, she broke free from his hold and tumbled into his arms.

The effects of the drug were still spreading, corroding her fragile nerves.

She sobbed softly by his ear, the corners of her eyes flushed red.

Yates Donovan glanced sideways, staring at her face for a moment. Finally, he let out a soft, laughing sigh. "Alright, stop fidgeting."

He caught her fingers as they thrashed in the water. They were soft and delicate. He gave them a gentle squeeze, then guided her hand to his belt.

CLICK.

She squeezed her eyes shut in defeat, thinking she could finally just fall into a comfortable sleep.

’If I fall asleep, it’ll all be over.’

But the light overhead was too blinding, making her eyes ache.

After what felt like an eternity, the man in front of her pulled her into a tight embrace, peppering her earlobe with intimate kisses.

The air was humid, and the bathroom’s temperature continued to rise with the hot water streaming from the faucet.

Mia Grant was finding it hard to breathe. She was also covered in sweat, a sticky, uncomfortable, and strange sensation.

She tried to escape his scalding embrace, but the man’s chest was like a wall of bronze, impossible to push away.

His vein-popped arm was still wrapped tightly around her waist.

He gave her no room for retreat.

"Where are you running?"

The man’s muffled laughter echoed in her ear. His chest rumbled as he laughed, making her vibrate along with him.

She didn’t know what he was laughing at, but his laugh sounded malicious, wicked...

’I want to hit him, but I don’t have the strength to lift my hand.’

He stopped teasing her. His longing kisses lingered as he asked, "Do you know what we’re doing now?"

A while had passed, and Mia Grant’s mind had cleared a little.

But her reactions were still sluggish.

After a pause, she finally nodded.

"Are you satisfied?"

A few seconds later, she nodded again.

Immediately after, she heard that wicked laugh again.

He held her tighter, greedily savoring the warmth of the moment. ’She’s so well-behaved, so adorable...’

Her ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

Clearly, she didn’t want to talk; she was trying to resume the battle.

But he caught her again, holding her still.

She lifted her head from his shoulder in a daze, her eyes filled with confusion, as if asking, ’Don’t you want to anymore?’

The man leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, their noses touching.

He said he did.

It’s just that—

He had always been one for pointless talk.

"Since you know what we’re doing, you should understand that this is something you should only do with someone you like."

"So, baby girl."

He seemed to be struggling too. His voice wavered, and he paused for a moment before speaking. "You have to say something sweet. Do you know what you should say now?"

He was understanding of her current confused state of mind.

So he thoughtfully gave her a hint.

But she stubbornly refused to speak.

Even at a time like this, with the devil holding all the cards, she was still trying to hold her ground, to protect her last line of defense.

After a long standoff, Yates Donovan was the first to surrender.

Her gaze was resentful yet pitifully endearing. One look was all it took for him to be unable to resist.

She had her ways of getting to him.

It had always been this way.

Before he could make another move, a timid and somewhat wronged voice suddenly whispered by his ear, "I... I like you."

"..."

Yates Donovan froze.

It was no exaggeration to say that in that instant, all other sounds were blocked out.

It was an indescribable feeling.

To describe it with just the two words "racing heart" felt far too superficial.

This was a feeling he had never experienced before.

In recent years, the only time he had come close to such a wondrous feeling was the moment he learned she had jumped into the sea.

It was impossible to describe accurately.

His heart felt as if it had been pierced by a long nail. When the nail was pulled out, it drew out strands of red thread.

Inseverable and tangled.

It spread from his heart until it enveloped his entire body.

His body was like a dormant volcano that, after centuries of slumber, was suddenly jolted by tectonic shifts, causing the rock layers to fracture.

Magma churned madly within.

All around were the screams of fleeing humans.

One cry louder than the next.

Accompanied by the wails of children.

Until the volcano erupted, and all fell silent, leaving only their intertwined heartbeats.

He kissed her trembling lips and told her, "You’re wrong, baby girl. It’s not ’like’."

"You have to say ’love’."

As an overwhelming, suffocating sensation washed over her, she clung to his neck and softly uttered, "I love you."

"Yates Donovan."