Chapter 79: God... just how can I make you mine, Lizzie?
[Present Time]
Lynsandra and Elias tried some street foods they had tasted before, along with new ones to satisfy their curiosity. They even played a few arcade games, only for Elias to discover that Lynsandra was absolutely terrible at them.
As for Lynsandra, she eventually realized that Elias was truly something else.
He grinned often, and his yang energy was so overwhelming that she sometimes felt like he could exorcise her on the spot. But whenever he focused on something, his features sharpened naturally, making him look dangerously attractive.
Overall, it was a nice date.
Actually, it was better than she had expected.
Was it tiring? Yes.
But even now, she felt like she could go on forever.
"Hah." A short laugh escaped her as she lowered her gaze. Her hands rested on either side of her against the bench near the market where they had stopped to rest.
When Elias had dragged her away from the harem earlier, she was still wearing heels. Now, however, a new pair of sneakers wrapped comfortably around her feet—the ones he had bought without her noticing. She didn’t even know when he found the time, but thanks to him, her feet no longer ached.
"But they don’t exactly match my outfit, do they?" she whispered, her lips still curved into a soft smile. "Enlly... do you like him?"
Enlly didn’t answer, but even so, Lynsandra knew her wolf shared the same feelings.
Strange, considering their bond had been strained to the point it was almost beyond repair.
"What if I... choose him?" The words slipped out before she could stop herself, catching her completely off guard.
Her eyes widened as she flinched at her own voice. "Did I really just—"
"Hey!"
Her breath hitched as she looked up, startled, and saw Elias slowing from a jog toward her. The moment their eyes met, his brows furrowed.
"Are you okay?" he asked, sitting beside her. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."
"Ah." She cleared her throat and shook her head, trying to recompose herself. But she couldn’t entirely hide how shaken she was by the thought that had crossed her mind.
"What did you—" she trailed off when a pink cotton candy appeared in front of her.
Confusion crossed her face as she took it and lifted it slightly.
"A pink... flower?" she asked, noticing it wasn’t shaped like the usual fluffy sphere, but crafted like a bouquet.
He smirked and winked. "I thought I should get you flowers. It’s not a date if I don’t give you any, right? But I also figured you might want something sweet. I’m low on budget, so I had to be resourceful."
"You say that so proudly. Aren’t you afraid that’ll be a turn off?" She let out a strained laugh and looked at the cotton candy bouquet. "We tried so much food tonight. I feel like my stomach might burst."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you trying to make me gain weight?"
"A chubby Luna?" He tilted his head back with a grin.
"Why are you smiling like a fool?" She scrunched her nose and leaned away, refusing to dwell on whatever image had formed in his mind.
Elias only laughed and cast her a sidelong glance, keeping his thoughts to himself. After all, he had just imagined Lynsandra gaining weight because she was pregnant with his pups.
"Man..." He leaned back, propping his elbows along the backrest of the bench. His legs stretched out slightly apart as he watched her pinch a bit of the cotton candy.
She had claimed she was full, yet here she was, guiding a soft pink tuft to her lips.
Elias followed the movement—from her fingers to her mouth. His gaze lingered on her soft lips as they closed, then on the way she slowly licked them when the candy melted.
"Heh." He chuckled as she hesitated before pinching another piece, yet did it anyway. "Is it good?"
"Mhm."
"Can I have some?"
Lynsandra raised her brows and turned toward him, only to see his mouth wide open.
"If you want to taste it, use your hand," she said, holding the cotton candy between them. "Go on."
"Mhm!" he protested, shaking his head with an exaggerated frown. Then he opened his mouth again and blinked innocently, attempting to look adorable despite his naturally sharp features.
Conflict flickered in her eyes. But after spending only a few hours with him, she had already learned that Elias was twice as stubborn as anyone she knew. He would probably keep his mouth open even if a fly flew in.
With a soft huff, she pinched a piece and fed it to him.
His mouth stretched wider the moment she did, a muffled chuckle escaping as if he had just won something monumental.
"Goodness," she murmured, looking away.
Then she heard him say, "It’s a little bland, isn’t it?"
"Bland?" she repeated, turning back toward him.
To her surprise, the moment she faced him, Elias leaned forward.
His head tilted slightly, and before she could react, his lips were on hers.
Her eyes widened in shock, her heart skipping for a split second. Her hand shot up instinctively, clutching his shoulder. Her brows drew together as he moved his mouth gently against hers, sliding his tongue between her lips to taste the lingering sweetness of the cotton candy.
People passed by, and the night market bustled just as loudly as before. But it all blurred as her eyes slowly fluttered shut.
Why...
She tried to pull away slightly, only to feel his hand slide to her back, holding her in place.
...is my heart beating like crazy?
It was just a kiss.
And not even their first.
He had kissed her before, and back then, it was more intensely. Hungry. Dominating. That time, her heart had barely reacted beyond a flicker of heat.
But this...
This kiss was gentle, deliberate, and sweet.
And yet her heart raced wildly, her cheeks burned, and her eyes remained closed.
When Elias finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers and chuckled softly. Lynsandra slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head at the same time he drew back.
"Never mind," he said lightly. "It’s sweet—very sweet."
He reached out and wiped the corner of her lips with his thumb, his eyes half-lidded. His smile was warm, but it didn’t hide the desire slowly blooming in his gaze.
"God... just how can I make you mine, Lizzie?"
