The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 105: He didn’t think I was weird

Warmth spread across my face and I licked Damar’s fingertips, my tongue slowly swirling around them and then sucking lightly. This had turned into something else entirely but I still didn’t want to admit it.

Fenric watched from behind, having a satisfied smirk.

I parted my lips slightly, my breath hitching so sharply against his fingertips, and he could even feel it on his wrist. His body went rigid, as though he’d forgotten how to react. Even his tail—always so subtly restless—stilled completely.

I felt his fingers twitch once in my mouth, instinctive, uncertain, like he didn’t know whether to pull away or stay exactly as he was.

And then, as if trying to suppress something, his tail that had gone still slapped on the floor and that caught my attention.

I looked at it, with his fingers still in my mouth, but it had gone still again.

What was it?

Did this make him uncomfortable? I wondered. Only to look up and find him covering his mouth, his eyes squinting and trembling lightly.

His eyes weren’t cold, but distant and unreadable, in a good way. Since he seemed so flustered that he didn’t know what to do anymore.

They were glistening under the moonlight, fixed on me as though I was doing something he could not utter from his closed mouth... Something dangerous.

My heart began to pound so loudly I was sure both of them could hear it.

This meant he liked it, right?

I was worried I was doing it wrong. It was meant to be a simple lick to make him feel better, but it turned into something else, something weird and lewd, and we could both feel it in our souls.

That longing to keep at it.

But no, I just can’t continue. If this keeps up, I’m sure the one who’s going to get eaten isn’t the meat but me.

I finally pulled back slowly, releasing his fingers with the faintest slurping sound, and before I could stop myself, I blew gently on them—just once—like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"T-there," I whispered, unable to make eye contact at the moment. "Does it hurt less?"

For a moment, Damar didn’t answer.

My heartbeat seemed to be the only thing I could hear at the moment because it was damn loud. Why wasn’t he answering? What was he thinking?

Did he want me to continue? Was this not enough?

Say something.

My restless heart jolted as soon as he spoke,

"...Yes," he said hoarsely. "It feels... better. Thanks to Ari,"

I finally took a peek and saw him blushing.

His hand hovered over his lips, as if trying to hide the smile he had on, and this gave me a sense of relief.

At least... He didn’t think I was weird.

Our hands were still tangled together. Neither of us let go.

My chest felt tight, my breath shallow, and when I looked up again, his gaze softened even more—just like that time, playing all over again, when he was ’seeing’ me. Truly seeing me.

It made me feel warm.

Fenric, who had been watching with his legs crossed and his chin propped on his hand, clicked his tongue quietly.

"Tch," he muttered, smiling. "You two are going to make the fire jealous."

I shot him a look, flustered, but he only laughed under his breath, clearly pleased with himself.

Still... he didn’t interrupt.

What he did, rather, was wrap his arms around my waist and drop his chin on my shoulder.

"What are you...?"

"If we’re going to have a moment of silence, then I want to hold you too." He said, his eyes landing on my interlocked fingers with Damar. "It’s only fair," he lifted his gaze and his eye met Damar’s. "Right?"

Damar did not respond. Instead, he focused on me.

His eyes, his breath, his hands... Every single thing seemed to be fixed on me.

The fire crackled softly beside us. The meat rested forgotten on the stone and the moon hung low and bright above us, bathing everything in silver.

Damar’s thumb brushed, just barely, against my knuckle—hesitant, asking permission without words. Then, he raised his other hand and brushed my hair softly, his hand grazing my ear.

My heart skipped.

This was definitely turning into something else.

"I... I think we should get back to the grilling." I said, my voice soft and low.

"Yeah, good idea," Fenric said. "Though, I’m sure we would all appreciate this moment to last longer."

He wasn’t wrong. I wanted to just stay still, let Fenric’s warmth permeate into my body from behind and the feel of Damar’s hand as he gazed at me every so sweetly from the front.

But just then, my stomach let out a soft growl.

My face burned red and I dropped my head on Damar’s chest. This was so embarrassing. I wanted to hide.

Fenric laughed.

"Your stomach makes such cute noises, Arinya." He said and I mumbled.

"Shut up!" But he laughed more and even Damar let a soft laugh slip past his lips.

At the sound of his laugh, I raised my head. Both Fenric and I stared in shock.

To think the snake knew how to laugh as well.

Seeing us staring, he turned his head and cleared his throat.

"Ari said we should get back to it." He said and it was clear he was trying to change the topic.

I, who had been embarrassed by my growling belly, forgot about it and laughed at my husbands cute way of changing the topic.

"Yes, you’re right," I said. "We should get back to grilling. But first, let me wash your hand."

"Why?" He asked, though he gave me his hand obediently.

"Because my saliva is all over it," I said. "I need to wash it off." But as soon as I said that, he took back his hand.

It baffled me how fast he could slide his hand away. But what baffled me even more was his reluctance to wash his hand.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

"Why do you want to wash it off?" He asked and I stared, confused.

Does he want his hand smelling like my saliva the whole time while he’s supposed to be enjoying his meat?

"That... Shouldn’t I?" I asked and he frowned, his forehead creasing.

And before I knew it, he took his fingers to his open mouth and began to suck them. He slurped on them while I stared, flabbergasted.

What was the meaning of this?

Once he was satisfied, he gave me back his hand and said,

"Now you can wash it."

I looked at his hand dripping with his own saliva, confused and bewildered. Was my husband secretly a... I gulped... Pervert?