Lucas kissed the ice-cold palm and took a deep breath. As the chilly scent, like winter air, seeped deep into his lungs, he felt his hair stand on end.
If it were someone else, they would have pulled away long ago, unable to withstand the cold mana like the night air, but he buried his face even deeper, almost crushing his nose.
Unlike other parts, Iberis’s hands were covered in countless scars. The hands, both back and fingers, were full of wounds as if mercilessly slashed with a knife, traces left by endless repetitions of frostbite.
Looking at the marks where skin had been torn and reattached, or where flesh had fallen off and new skin had grown, Lucas’s heart ached thinking about how difficult Iberis’s life must have been before meeting him.
The scars that densely covered the dry skin, like a tree withered by winter wind, were evidence that Iberis had endured continuous pain beyond what even an ability user’s unique healing power could handle for a long time. He hadn’t seen it directly, but he heard that the feet were in a similar condition to the hands.
Because Iberis was extremely reluctant to show his bare body to others, Lucas hadn’t seen his feet yet, but as they started the second stage of guiding, Iberis was gradually allowing it, so he thought he might have the opportunity soon.
Is it because of the Name?
Lucas slightly frowned, thinking about the Name that would be on Iberis’s right ankle.
In the early days when the Name phenomenon occurred, anyone could confirm that name, but not anymore. At some point, it became invisible unless one met certain conditions, such as being the Name partner or a blood relative.
Nevertheless, ability users who had Names on their bodies tried their best not to expose that area. This was because those with decoding abilities or using special machines could reveal the name.
Moreover, for some unknown reason, some people’s Names inscribed on their bodies were fully exposed. In other cases, hidden Names would suddenly appear during guiding or when suffering from ability use side effects.
Lucas suspected Iberis might be one of those cases. If so, it made sense why he was reluctant to expose his ankle, almost to the point of obsession. In any case, Names were still largely an unknown territory with few discovered aspects.
If only we had met a little earlier.
Feeling deep regret, Lucas gently kissed each of Iberis’s fingers. Thanks to daily guiding over the past few months, Iberis no longer suffered from frostbite, but it was impossible to erase the scars already etched on his body.
Thinking he should apply scar removal cream every day from now on, Lucas licked the long trace of new skin growth across the palm.
“Huh!”
As the warm, moist flesh tickled his palm, Iberis’s fingers curled inward.
“D-don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s… dirty.”
“Not at all.”
Lucas quickly grabbed Iberis’s wrist as he gestured to pull his hand away. Then he carefully planted kisses on every visible scar.
At the series of small kisses pecking like a bird’s beak, Iberis let out a groan. A strange tingling sensation bloomed from his hand, conquered by Lucas’s lips.
The warmth that climbed up his palm brushed past his curled fingertips and reached the protruding knuckles. Lucas lightly bit the bulging joints and rubbed his lips on the rough back of the hand. Then he opened his mouth and left teeth marks.
“Ugh!”
Like giving medicine after inflicting a wound, he bit with sharp teeth and then sucked with soft lips, leaving a petal-like pink mark on the pale skin. After kissing the trace he had made, Lucas suddenly pulled the thin wrist that couldn’t move.
“Mmm, nn…”
As his half-lying body was forcibly raised and his view changed, his lips were engulfed. Straddling Lucas’s thighs, Iberis trembled as the sweet breath invaded his mouth.
Lucas devoured and entwined the small, plump tongue with his own. Their breaths intermingled and saliva mixed between their tightly pressed lips.
“Haah…”
As Iberis let out a faint moan and wrapped his arms around the firm neck, the pressure around his waist increased. The movement of the tongue exploring his mouth also became more intense.
While continuing the kiss, Lucas caressed the dry back. He knew he should be gentle since Iberis had just used his ability, but he kept feeling rushed. He grabbed the zipper at his fingertips and pulled it down in one go.
Zzzip.
The combat suit of an Esper looked extremely complicated from the outside, but was surprisingly easy to take off. Although first-stage guiding had become common now, there had always been many who preferred guiding through intense physical contact, so combat suit designs tended to allow for quick guiding anytime, anywhere. Iberis’s clothes were no exception.
“Ah.”
As his top slid down with just one touch from Lucas, exposing his collarbone and chest, Iberis hunched his shoulders in embarrassment. He was still shy about guiding in the bedroom or office when they were alone, but having his clothes removed in the car, albeit still at the active battle scene, sharply awakened his consciousness that had been hazy from the erotic skinship.
Whether aware of Iberis’s feelings or not, Lucas immediately buried his face in the fair skin revealed before him. He was in a state of unfulfilled desire, as he hadn’t proceeded with guiding beyond kissing for the past few days, careful of Iberis’s mood after the disappointment of the investigation’s conclusion.
As he pressed his lips to the markings that had noticeably faded over the past few days, the scent of flesh, stronger than usual, pierced his nostrils. Lucas opened his mouth wide like a hungry beast and bit into the straight collarbone.
“Ugh, wait, Luke…”
Iberis tightly closed his eyes, feeling a pain so sharp it almost brought tears. The place where Lucas had bitten him burned as if on fire.
As if he couldn’t hear Iberis’s voice, Lucas slid his lips downward. Then he sank his teeth one by one into the smooth skin, white as porcelain.
“No, not there, hah!”
“Why not?”
Lucas exhaled a ragged breath at Iberis’s protest and took the protruding part of his chest into his mouth. His eyes, clouded with desire, sparkled like intense summer sunlight.
“Huu, can’t we, do this when we get back? I’m sweaty… It’s dirty, so after I wash…”
Iberis pleaded in a small, faltering voice.
“What sweat? As I said before, you’re not dirty at all, so don’t worry.”
Lucas retorted as if to say not to make such ridiculous excuses, and languidly wrapped his tongue around the hardened nub. Iberis, with his naturally low body temperature, rarely sweated even during combat, let alone in normal situations. This was because his body became colder as he used his ability.
“Haah, nn, I don’t like it here… Ah!”
As the sharp teeth like needles chewed on the tender flesh, a stinging sensation and electrifying pleasure surged together. Iberis shuddered and rested his forehead on Lucas’s crown.
“Everyone does this in the field. You’ll have to get used to it from now on, so don’t resist.”
“That may be true, but…”
Iberis trailed off, biting his lip. Lucas was right. Because proper rest areas were scarce on the battlefield, ability users often conducted quick guiding sessions in empty military vehicles or rest tents.
The official car assigned to him as a Major was far better than typical military vehicles or prefab tents. As Lucas had mentioned earlier, it was not only tinted to prevent outsiders from seeing in, but also equipped with soundproofing.
Moreover, when the partition between the driver’s seat and the back was lowered, the space where the two of them were became a perfect private room for guiding. That’s why it was even more embarrassing.
His senses, sharpened more than usual from the battle, detected even the faintest sounds or presence from outside. Because of this, even though he knew there was no one around the car, he kept feeling on edge, his heart uneasy like a child doing something wrong.
“Right now, I just want to, to kiss.”
“Hmm, I’d like to grant the Major’s request if possible… but it’s difficult right now.”
“Why, hah.”
As Iberis was about to protest Lucas’s refusal, he flinched greatly at the touch languidly caressing his nape. His body, consumed by the guilty feeling that someone might notice what he and Lucas were doing, reacted even more sensitively to the slightest stimulation.
“Because kisses alone aren’t enough to calm the Major’s mana.”
Lucas raised his head and kissed him, speaking as if stating the obvious. He leisurely led Iberis while stroking near his shoulder blades. He felt a faint warmth from the skin that fit snugly in his palm.
Confirming that Iberis’s body had warmed up compared to before, Lucas moved his hands more boldly. He slid his fingers along the concave line of the spine while simultaneously caressing the upper body with his other hand.
Lucas firmly grasped Iberis’s hips, which were trembling at his touch, and pulled him close. Then he thrust his hips, stimulating their tightly pressed lower bodies.
“Ahh!”
“…You’re excited.”
Lucas murmured, gently rubbing their lower halves together. He kissed Iberis’s earlobe, which had turned slightly pink, and whispered subtly.
“Shall I use my hand like last time?”
“Ugh, haa…”
Iberis shuddered, his shoulders hunching as the warm breath enveloped his ear. He narrowed his eyes and glanced at Lucas, who was seducing him so skillfully. It was a gaze full of suspicion.
“Be, be honest.”
“About what?”
“You… hnn… This isn’t your first time, is it?”
