Taboo Online

Lauren’s praise made Luke’s chest swell more than any of the system notifications had.

He remembered the first bird diving beneath the branches. Unveiled Weakness had exposed the pale knot beneath its wing, and Oracle’s Glimpse had placed the location directly into his mind. Instead of panicking, he had waited for the creature to commit to its false turn before stepping into its real path. His blade had passed straight through the knot.

Later, five birds had attacked together, and he had still found the gaps between them. Mercer’s lessons kept his feet planted while Truth Behind Motion separated their real intentions from the movements meant to distract him.

Lauren had shown him where to strike, but Luke had controlled the spear. They had won together, and instead of wanting to hide from the next monster, he found himself hoping another one would appear. He probably should have been more disturbed by that.

"I could feel myself getting better," Luke said. "Not just stronger. I understood what they were doing."

"You certainly looked excited."

"I was."

"I noticed."

Luke glanced toward the entrance. Nothing moved beyond the curtain of rain, though part of him hoped that would change.

When he turned back, Lauren had raised one hand toward his chest. Violet light moved across her blindfold again.

Luke caught her wrist. "What are you doing?"

"Checking you."

"The system healed me."

"It restored your health. That doesn’t mean it removed every weakness."

"You just told me your head hurts."

"I won’t use it for long."

Before Luke could stop her, the lines across her blindfold brightened.

Unveiled Weakness moved slowly over him and revealed what normal sight would have missed. Faint traces of old bruising lingered beneath his skin where Mercer had struck him during training. His hands and forearms carried thin lines of strain from gripping the spear, while the mana channels across his shoulders still glowed after his repeated use of Reinforce.

The skill followed those channels down his chest and stomach, and Lauren’s lips began to curve.

Luke immediately became suspicious. "What?"

"Nothing."

"That smile isn’t nothing."

"You have several lingering weaknesses."

"Where?"

"Your right shoulder has been strained repeatedly. Your left wrist still carries damage from training, and Reinforce has placed more pressure on your lower back than you realize."

Luke frowned. "That doesn’t sound funny."

"It isn’t."

"Then why are you smiling?"

Lauren allowed the skill to travel lower.

Luke knew exactly where she was looking despite the blindfold, and his body reacted before he could control it.

Lauren’s smile deepened. "Oh, dear."

Luke’s face grew hot. "What did you see?"

"Your mana seems unusually active in one particular area."

"That isn’t an injury."

"I didn’t say it was."

"Then it isn’t a weakness either."

Lauren rubbed her thumb across the inside of his wrist. "It appears to be a serious weakness in your concentration."

Luke stared at her.

The glow across her blindfold faded as she released Unveiled Weakness, but her hand remained in his. Her other hand rose toward his collar while she leaned forward.

Truth Behind Motion gave Luke no vision, only an immediate understanding of what Lauren intended. She meant to catch his collar, pull him down, and kiss him.

Luke moved first.

He caught her around the waist and leaned in before her fingers closed around his clothes. Lauren’s surprised breath touched his lips a moment before he kissed her.

She froze for only a heartbeat. Then her arms tightened around his neck, pulling him close enough that Luke stopped wondering whether he had misread her.

He settled one knee between her legs to keep his balance. The wet fabric of her suit felt smooth beneath his palm as he held her waist, while his other hand moved across her bare thigh.

Lauren’s skin was cool from the rain, but warmth gathered beneath his fingers almost immediately. Her lips parted, and Luke followed without waiting for her to guide him.

A pleased sound escaped Lauren against his mouth as his hand traveled higher and reached the exposed curve beneath the high-cut edge of the suit. Her body pressed forward, pushing the weight of her breasts against his chest.

Water trapped between their clothes warmed as they moved together. Lauren’s long hair fell around them until Luke could barely see anything beyond pale skin and dark strands brushing his face.

During their first dungeon, Luke had barely managed to speak whenever Yvonne came close. Now he could feel the small change in Lauren’s breathing when his thumb pressed into her thigh and the way her body followed whenever he shifted nearer.

Those reactions gave him more courage than any teasing could have. He angled his head and kissed her more firmly. Lauren’s fingers tightened in his hair as she answered with the same hunger.

His hand moved farther along her thigh, and her nails lightly scratched the back of his neck. She slowed the kiss without taking away any of its heat, keeping him pressed close while her other hand remained tangled in his hair.

Then her fingers trembled again.

Luke noticed immediately and pulled away before the rest of his body could argue. Lauren followed his lips for a fraction of a second before realizing he had stopped.

Her breathing had become heavier again, though Oracle’s Glimpse was no longer entirely responsible.

"Your head," Luke said.

She rested her forehead against his. "You chose a very inconvenient moment to become responsible."

"You were shaking."

"I was enjoying myself."

"You were doing both."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

Luke kept his hand on her thigh but loosened his grip. "You were going to kiss me first."

"Mhm."

"Truth Behind Motion told me."

Lauren tilted her head. "So you cheated."

"You used Unveiled Weakness to look at my erection."

"I was conducting a medical examination."

"You were smiling."

"My patient had an amusing condition."

Luke narrowed his eyes. "You told me to stop hesitating."

"I did."

"So I stopped."

Lauren’s teasing smile softened. She lifted one hand and traced her thumb across his lower lip.

"I noticed, darling."

Luke kissed the tip of her thumb before he could lose his courage. "Good."

Lauren’s lips parted, and a faint flush spread across her cheeks. Luke liked that far too much.

She leaned back against the wall while keeping one leg on either side of him. "You’re becoming dangerous."

"You created Yvonne. This is your fault."

"Yvonne belongs to her Mama Boy."

Luke’s hand shifted higher along her thigh. "Then I don’t want anyone else seeing her like this."

"Like what?"

"Soaked, barely covered, and sitting with her legs around me."

Lauren’s smile widened. "Possessive too?"

"Only about my girlfriend."

The answer came without embarrassment. Lauren’s teasing expression faded into something quieter as she raised one hand and rested it against his cheek.

"I don’t want anyone else seeing me like this either."