Star Hedonist-Chapter 11: A Second to Breathe

"Hehehe~"

Clara and Nyx's laughter echoes through the hangar—relieved, safe, happy.

*TREMBLE*

The Safira still shakes violently as it pushes through Zhaaros' atmosphere, thanks to Diego's reckless piloting, forcing the crew to hold onto anything stable to keep from falling.

But Clara and Nyx? They're already on the floor, tangled up with the mysterious white-haired man in a very compromising position.

After being pulled in by the steel cable, the white-haired man had landed right on top of both women, his face currently nestled between Clara's softest assets, while Nyx lies sprawled on top of him in the opposite direction.

As soon as Clara finishes celebrating another miraculous escape from death, she lifts her head and sees his bright white hair.

"Heeh~??!" Her face turns red in an instant as she shoves his head away. "Hold on, Big Guy!!"

He watches as those heavenly pillows pull away, already missing them—along with Clara's sweet scent.

He tries to get up, but in doing so, he shifts against Nyx, making her eyes widen in surprise.

"Ah?! You're packing some serious equipment there???"

"You have no idea," Clara smirks, her face turning slightly pink.

He quickly regains his balance despite the shaking ship and extends his hand to Clara.

She takes it, starting to pull herself up. "Thank yo—"

*TREMBLE*

The Safira lurches again, and Clara loses her balance. He reacts instantly, wrapping his arms around her, but the sudden movement pushes them both backward.

THUD

They slam against the wall, and he holds her tightly—protecting her from the impact.

Now, they're pressed even closer together. Clara looks up at him, her hands resting on his bare chest, and meets his bright white eyes, filled with that same confident, charming expression.

She grins. "Seems like keeping our distance isn't exactly wor—"

He doesn't let her finish.

Instead, he captures her lips in a deep, burning kiss.

'Huh??' Clara is completely caught off guard, but she doesn't push him away.

Even if she wanted to, she couldn't.

Her body is already addicted to his kisses—not just because of the raw, powerful energy flowing from his body into hers, but also because she adores the taste of his lips, the feel of his touch.

*TREMBLE*

The Safira jerks violently again, sending everyone in the hangar flying—including Clara and the white-haired man, forcing their kiss to break.

"Damn!!" Matteo curses, struggling to stay upright.

"The captain's gonna crash the damn ship at this rate!" Nyx grumbles, using her agility to get back on her feet.

Then, she glances over—

And sees Clara and the white-haired man still clinging to each other.

"Guys!?"

Jex's voice suddenly booms through the hangar speakers—

And finally, the Safira stabilizes.

"The captain handed the controls back to me. I'm stabilizing the ship in Zhaaros' orbit."

"Thanks the good Lord!!" The crew members in the hangar breathe in relief, finally able to stand properly.

"Clara? Nyx??" Jex's voice sounds concerned.

"Are you guys okay?? I saw everything through the cameras..."

"We're fine." Clara responds cheerfully, stealing a glance at the mysterious man.

"Good thing our new friend was ready to help again." Jex comments, her tone grateful.

"Yeah..."

Clara can't hide the warm, affectionate smile spreading across her lips. "I think he likes saving me, hehe~"

As the Safira crew regains their footing in the hangar, Nyx walks toward Clara and the white-haired man with calm, steady steps.

She pulls back her hood and looks directly into the white-haired man's brilliant, unreadable eyes.

Her own gaze is resolute, an amiable expression softening her elegant face.

She stands straight, her posture flawless—like a soldier at attention—and then she bows formally.

"Inochi wo arigatou." ("Thank you for my life.")

Her voice is soft, carrying genuine sincerity.

"Ah, you don't have to be so formal, Himeko." Clara playfully pats Nyx's shoulder.

"He's already..."

Clara steals another glance at him, her cheeks warming up again.

"Well, part of the group, you know."

"Hmm..."

Nyx lifts her gaze, flashing Clara a small, knowing smirk before taking a closer look at the mysterious man standing before her.

The longer she examines him, the more impressed she becomes, and he does the same.

He had assumed that Clara was in a league of her own when it came to flawless beauty, but this woman—she was undeniably unique.

Yet, their contrasts were striking.

Unlike Clara, whose golden-bronzed skin had an effortless sun-kissed glow, Nyx's skin was just as pale as his, almost porcelain-like. She was slightly shorter, standing at 1.72 meters, with a slender yet elegantly toned physique. Her curves? Just as mesmerizing—but subtly different.

Her features were a breathtaking fusion of different Earth cultures—her sharp green eyes and delicate nose carried traces of Eastern beauty, while her silky blonde hair—tied into a high ponytail, adorned with two small braids framing the sides of her forehead—gave her a strikingly Western elegance.

But beyond her beauty, the most distinctive thing about Nyx was what adorned her arms—or rather, what remained of them.

Intricate floral tattoos stretched along her upper arms, seamlessly blending into cybernetic prosthetics.

Her left arm—from just above the elbow to her fingertips—was entirely cybernetic, composed of sleek metal plating and ultra-advanced wiring, humming with the precision of high-grade technology.

Her right arm, however, told a different story—the cybernetic limb extended from just below her shoulder to her wrist, but her hand remained untouched, flesh and bone.

There is also a small cybernetic implant behind her left shoulder, where a long katana rests—its gleaming black steel blade adorned with subtle cybernetic enhancements around its hilt and base.

With her tight black clothing and cybernetic augmentations, Nyx would easily be called a cyborg ninja on Earth.

But aboard the Safira, she is known as a lethal assassin—and at the same time, a miraculous healer.

"..." Nyx finds herself lost in thought, staring at the mysterious white-haired man.

"..." He also gazes at her in silence, creating a strange atmosphere.

"Ehhh?" Clara shifts uneasily, breaking the silence.

"He's not talking much... I guess he spent too long with those barbarians..."

"Hmm?" Nyx glances at him, then at Clara, her expression curious before she eventually nods in understanding.

"I see. We all need some rest."

"Phew!!" Matteo approaches the trio, exhaling a long sigh of relief. "We really need that!!"

He smiles warmly at the girls and the white-haired man. "I'm just glad you're both safe."

Scratching the back of his head, he grins sheepishly. "I wasn't very helpful, was I? But lucky for us, our new friend here is as strong as an Argonian Bull! Haha!!"

"He really is strong..."

Nyx glances at him with that same curious expression.

"Even Javier would have struggled to pull them up with the hoverbike like that—and that's with all his implants..."

"Oh, Javier..." Matteo starts to say something but pauses.

"..." Clara also falls strangely silent, averting her gaze.

"What did he do this time??" Nyx immediately notices the shift in their moods, and her expression hardens.

"It's nothing, it's over now." Clara responds quickly.

Nyx ignores her and fixes a sharp stare at Matteo.

And, of course, Matteo starts talking immediately. "He attacked Clara."

"That cowardly bastard!!!" Nyx's hand instinctively moves toward the katana on her back.

But Clara signals for her to calm down. "It's fine now. He didn't manage to hurt me at all."

"Really?" Nyx gives her a doubtful look.

"Yeah, our friend took care of that too." Matteo says proudly, giving a thumbs-up to the white-haired man.

"Oh?" Nyx turns her curious gaze back to him.

"Maybe it's because you just saved my life, but I think I already like you."

Nyx's bright green eyes meet the white-haired man's piercing gaze, and they nod subtly at each other in mutual respect.

The atmosphere shifts, and Clara's eyes narrow slightly as she glances between the two.

"Ahem—"

Matteo breaks the silence. "He's definitely going to need your help, Nyx. Yours and ours, especially since the captain doesn't seem too fond of him."

"Why?" Nyx asks, but quickly shakes her head and sighs.

"Javier... of course. Well, this big guy saved us, so we won't turn our backs on him."

"No doubt."

Matteo nods firmly. "But let's figure that out later. For now, I bet you could use a drink, huh? I sure as hell need one!"

"I need a bath." Nyx dusts off her black trench coat. "And then a drink, naturally."

"Let's go upstairs and check the damage..." Matteo heads toward the elevator.

Nyx glances one last time at the mysterious man, then at Clara, before following Matteo.

"We'll be right behind you." Clara smirks and winks at Nyx.

Once Nyx and Matteo ascend in the elevator and the other crew members also return to the upper decks, Clara exhales in relief and turns to face the white-haired man.

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"My big guy!" She wraps her arms around him, and he gently holds her in return. "You saved me again. Thank you!"

Clara smiles lovingly, and he caresses her chin, tilting her head slightly as he leans in.

That usual flush of warmth returns to her cheeks, and she lets him kiss her again.

"Mm~"

Clara doesn't even try to contain her soft moans of pleasure, letting them escape as she deepens the kiss, feeling that familiar rush of energy seep into her body—empowering her, intoxicating her.

The kiss lingers for over a minute before Clara finally pulls away, her breath uneven, her eyes shining, an expression of pure bliss on her face.

"You really like kissing, huh?"

"..." He simply gazes at her with that same confident expression, his teasing smile ever present.

Clara laughs. "I'll let you do that more later, but right now, we need to plan our next move."

He seems curious, his attention fixed not just on her words, but on her soft, rosy lips as well.

Meanwhile, Clara's brows furrow slightly as she thinks aloud. "I completely trust Himeko, but the others..."

She glances around, making sure no one is eavesdropping, before turning back to him.

"I mean, Jex and Matteo are among the best, and there are plenty of good people on this crew, but well..."

"I don't see them staying calm if I tell them I found you inside an alien sarcophagus."

"And of course, I should let them know you're probably a superpowered alien!"

"But..."

Her expression softens, her eyes filled with affection as she gently strokes his face. "You've saved my ass multiple times... I can't do that to you."

"The captain would lock you up in a cell... or even eject you from the ship."

Clara grows more and more nervous. The white-haired man notices, wrapping one arm around her waist, his other hand gently brushing against her cheek.

"This is good..." Clara sighs, looking up into his pure white eyes.

"Alright, I'll tell them later. But for now... let's just bend the truth a little:"

"I found you in the pyramid, trapped in a simple Thek'Shar cell. You're just another treasure hunter, like us, but your crew met an unfortunate end while exploring those ruins."

"Oh, and about you not talking... you're mute, simple as that." Clara grins and nods.

But then she sees his curious expression. "Wait... are you actually mute? I haven't heard you make a single sound this whole time..."

"..."

He doesn't answer. Just smiles. That same confident, unreadable smile.

Clara sighs.

But then, he touches her face again, his fingers trailing from her cheek down to her neck.

Then, he leans in.

Her lips part slightly, trembling in anticipation—ready for another kiss.

But to her surprise, he doesn't kiss her.

Instead, he moves closer to her ear, and—even more surprisingly...

"Clara..."

He whispers her name.

His voice is deep, yet smooth, as clear as a bird's song, as steady as a mountain.

And just as seductive as everything else about him.

*Thump-thump*

Clara feels her heartbeat quicken.

"You can talk!!!"