Infinite Skill Devourer
Chapter 75: Skin Reactions Or Something Else II

Chapter 75: Skin Reactions Or Something Else II

Yurei took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain control.

She wasn’t about to let him see through her—not now, not ever.

Backed up against the wall in his room, she straightened her posture and glared at him, forcing a steady tone.

"Yes, I’m very sure," she replied, though the slight strain in her voice betrayed her.

Ryuen’s smirk widened, his cold eyes remaining on her face.

Deep down, he was loving the effect he had on her.

He pulled her closer until he was sure she could hear his heartbeat as well.

"You keep saying that," he said, his voice calm, almost amused, "but your hesitation tells a different story."

"There’s no hesitation," she shot back, narrowing her eyes. "You’re imagining things."

"Am I?" His tone carried a tinge of mockery, one that made her drop her hands from his face and stop at his shoulder.

"You keep deflecting, avoiding my question. Makes me wonder what you’re hiding under all those wraps. A secret, maybe? Or are you just afraid I’ll figure you out?"

Her expression turned to irritation as she crossed her arms, now putting a distance between them.

"I’m not hiding anything that concerns you. And even if I were, it’s none of your business."

"Oh, but it is," he said. "I’m part of your guild now, and that makes it my business. I can’t have any liabilities holding us back."

"Liability?"

"That’s rich coming from someone too paranoid to trust anyone."

Ryuen chuckled.

"Paranoia keeps me alive. What keeps you alive, Yurei? Is it all that armor you hide behind? Or is it the act you put on to keep people at arm’s length?"

Her jaw tightened, and she refused to look away.

She wouldn’t let him see how much his words affected her.

And how he was painfully right about everything.

"You don’t know anything about me."

She was getting very upset, and Ryuen was loving every bit of it.

"Not yet," he agreed, his smirk never faltering. His gaze moved to her lips for a brief moment before returning to her eyes.

"But I’m learning. And I think I’ve already figured something out."

"Oh?" she uttered. "And what’s that?"

"You’re afraid of letting anyone see what’s underneath," he said, his tone so matter-of-fact it made her blood boil.

"You think it makes you weak. But you know what I think?"

He tilted his head, a glint of amusement appearing in his eyes.

"I think it’s not weakness you’re afraid of. You just don’t want anyone to know how fragile you really are."

Her breath caught, and her glare became sharper.

"You keep saying that," he said in a low tone, "but the way you’re trembling says otherwise."

Yurei froze, her body betraying her despite her best efforts to stay calm. "I’m not trembling."

"Sure, you’re not," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He leaned in even closer, his gaze boring into hers.

"You’re shaking in your boots..." he paused to glance at her feet and chuckled.

"I mean your slippers, Yurei. And you hate it, don’t you? Hate that I’m seeing through the straps."

"You’re insufferable," she scoffed. "Why don’t you just drop it and leave me alone?"

"Because you make it too easy," he said, his smirk turning into a grin.

"Every time I push, you react. Makes me wonder what it is you’re so desperate to protect."

"Not you. You’re not worth the effort."

"Ouch," he exclaimed, placing a hand over his chest, feigning heartbreak. "That almost hurts."

Yurei clenched her fists.

"Are you done playing your little games?" she asked, now pissed and probably embarrassed by what he was doing.

"Not even close."

"This isn’t a game, Yurei. It’s just me figuring out if you’re as tough as you pretend to be. Spoiler alert—you’re not."

Her glare could have cut through steel, but he didn’t flinch. He still stood his ground.

"You don’t scare me."

"Good."

"Fear’s not what I’m after..."

I actually want to know if you’re capable of feeling something other than annoyance, anger, or frustration, he wanted to add but only smiled.

"I just want to know how long you can keep pretending you’ve got it all together."

Yurei opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak.

Ryuen’s hand moved, his fingers lightly brushing her chin to tilt her face upward.

That touch sent a chill down her spine, one that temporarily paralyzed her.

"You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that," he said, calmer now.

"But guts won’t save you if you don’t start being honest with yourself."

She slapped his hand away. "Don’t touch me."

He chuckled again, taking a step back. "Relax. You’re not my type."

Lies. And also the truth. He just didn’t know where to place her.

He could only agree on one thing. "But you are interesting. I’ll give you that much."

"I don’t need your approval."

"No, you don’t," he agreed, shrugging as he turned away.

"But you might need my trust. And trust me, Yurei—I don’t give that out for free."

Her heart raced as she stared at him, her mind filled with so many thoughts.

She could push him away, end this now, and act like it never happened the next day.

She was certain if she did that, it would take a while to face him or talk to him as usual.

But then, that would make her feel like a coward, like she was running from a challenge.

Or she could let him see, just for a moment, that he wasn’t entirely wrong—and that she was actually tough.

But before she could make a decision, Ryuen closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers in a slow kiss.

It wasn’t harsh or demanding, but it wasn’t gentle either.

It was just right, even better than she had imagined one would be.

She raised her hand to push him away, causing the blanket to drop.

However, the kiss was laced with an intensity that left her breathless.

Her hands froze mid-way, uncertain whether to push him away or pull him closer.

But she did what her mind told her to—she closed her eyes and slowly circled her arms around his neck, locking him in place.

Ryuen just chuckled softly and let his other arm snake around her.

He was stunned when he realized he was actually touching her skin.

But he didn’t stop.

’See? Not so tough now.’