87. Dragon Pattern
“Hey, you two better have something going on!”
Speaking of cunning, this couple is pretty evenly matched.
But usually, Roswiser is better at taking the initiative, and since this is her home turf, she often gets the upper hand.
Now, this no-glance challenge is a fair game; it’s all about how the couple maneuvers around each other.
Leon knows that Roswiser’s advantage right now is her sizzling hot sheer black swimsuit, so if he can just focus his gaze elsewhere, he can effectively avoid that overwhelming visual stimulation.
With that in mind, Leon pretends to be relaxed, lounging back with just his neck and head visible, slightly closing his eyes, looking content.
Roswiser glances at Leon and knows he’s deliberately avoiding eye contact.
But she can’t just say, “Hey, look at me!” because Leon would definitely twist that around.
So… it’s time to use some classic tricks to deal with this guy.
“The fireworks are so beautiful; it’d be a shame not to appreciate them,” she says. “Since you’re too scared to look at me, why don’t you just appreciate the fireworks?”
“Scared to look at you?”
Perfect, that’s the magic word!
Leon sits up. “What makes you think I’m scared?”
Roswiser grins. “Oh, great! Then come a little closer so we can snap a few photos together!”
Leon immediately chickens out, gulping nervously. “I… I have a sore waist. It’s hard to get over there. I can just see from here.”
“Alright, if you won’t come over, then I’ll come to you.”
“Hey, don’t—”
Splash—
Before Leon can protest, Roswiser stands up from the hot spring, the sheer black fabric clinging perfectly to her graceful figure, and underneath, her fair skin is subtly visible, all hazy and sensual.
Water trickles down her skin, the steam from the hot spring strategically concealing her chest and lower abdomen, giving Leon a little breathing room.
Her long legs create a splashing sound in the water as she saunters over to Leon and plops down next to him.
Shoulder to shoulder, Roswiser mischievously nudges him. “You giving up?”
Leon scratches his cheek, scoffing. “We’re just getting started; no way I’m giving up!”
“Hah, let’s see how long you can keep that up!”
With a beauty so close, her scent envelops Leon, and he can’t tell if it’s the surrounding ambiance or Roswiser’s fragrance.
His thoughts drift from admiring the fireworks to plotting how to retaliate against Roswiser.
In the midst of his pondering, he hears a cheerful little tune from beside him:
“Twinkle~ twinkle~ little star~”
Leon turns to look, and Roswiser meets his gaze.
With a knowing smile, she continues to sing, “Dragon patterns are like little stars~”
Leon rolls his eyes. “That’s not as catchy as… I love bathing when I’m feeling good.”
“Hmph.” Roswiser also looks away, hugging her knees and gazing up at the night sky.
Leon lowers his gaze, wary of sneaking a peek; he doesn’t even dare to let his peripheral vision linger too long.
After all, she’s so close that their arms brush with every breath.
In this downward glance, Leon suddenly gets an idea.
He slowly reaches his hand into the water, then lets it drift downward.
Roswiser, enjoying the fireworks show, points at a burst. “Leon, look at that firework, doesn’t it remind you of my dragon pattern—wait? Ouch—”
Before she can finish her sentence, Roswiser feels a tingling sensation at the tip of her tail.
Looking down, she sees Leon gently pinching her tail’s tip, pulling it up from the water.
Roswiser glares, “Let go of my tail!”
“Come on, sweetheart. What a beautiful evening! I might not get to hold your hand, but I can at least hold your tail, right?”
He knows the tail is an exceedingly sensitive part of Roswiser. From what he can recall in their few deep interactions, he always managed to “subdue” her or make her feel more comfortable by fiddling with her tail.
Sure enough, Roswiser’s face quickly blossoms with a blush.
She swallows hard, feeling a “ticklish and sweet” sensation at the tip of her tail, thinking maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let Leon squeeze it a bit tighter after all.
But in the midst of this no-glance challenge, she cannot let Leon control her tail.
She reaches out to grab her tail back.
But Leon is quick, pulling her tail out of the water and tossing it over to his side.
“Leon, you—ah~…”
His warm, broad palm slides along her tail. The perfect amount of pressure at the tip sends an electrifying sensation coursing through her.
Roswiser’s body weakens, and her legs instinctively clamp together.
Seeing Roswiser’s reaction, Leon feels quite pleased.
Just as he thinks to continue, Roswiser seizes his hand.
“What’s wrong with holding hands to enjoy the fireworks? Dear husband?”
“……”
Roswiser takes Leon’s hand, slowly moving it away from her tail.
The delightful, tingling sensation starts to fade, and Roswiser internally breathes a sigh of relief.
Leon stares at their intertwined hands, lost in thought.
He remembers the first time he held Roswiser’s hand was thanks to Moon’s “pushing them together”;
The second time was at Isar’s place, where Roswiser was afraid of spiders, and he boldly offered his hand for her.
And now… is it her turn to take the initiative?
Though this is just to move his hand away from her tail, Leon can clearly sense an air of tension and… shyness from Roswiser during this hand-holding.
While Leon is lost in thought, Roswiser quickly pulls her tail back and stows it away.
Leon suddenly feels empty-handed and ruefully thinks it’s a pity.
Roswiser sighs and chuckles, “My tail feels a bit off today. Let’s save the tail rubs for another time.”
Leon gives her a sidelong glance but says nothing.
Roswiser turns her attention back to the night sky.
For the moment, neither of them makes another move.
But the hands that had just intertwined still hadn’t let go—
And instead seemed to be tightening their grip.
Two competitive souls are like that.
If one accidentally squeezes a bit too hard, the other will take it as a challenge and retaliate with more strength.
A vicious cycle until—
“Hey, easy there, you’re hurting me,” Roswiser says.
“Yow.”
That little “yow” is short but brimming with Leon’s pride as the victor.
They both ease their grip and return to the warm, tender hand-holding they started with.
Roswiser thought that this cute, ambiguous act of “holding hands” would make Leon feel a little flustered, igniting the glow of the Dragon Pattern.
But unexpectedly, even after she was getting a bit restless about holding hands, the glow on her chest’s Dragon Pattern still didn’t respond.
Roswiser’s mind raced. She realized she had to capture Leon before her patience ran out.
“Ah!—” Roswiser suddenly exclaims.
Leon instinctively turns his head to look, but thankfully he halts that instinct just in time.
There are no spiders here; it’s suspicious that she’d just yell out like that.
Leon won’t fall for it.
“I activated my Dragon Pattern! Ha-ha~ You lose~”
Leon’s heart drops, suddenly flustered, sitting up straight to look towards Roswiser’s chest.
However, the Dragon Pattern doesn’t respond at all.
Instead, he gets a very clear view of the softness blossoming at Roswiser’s chest.
Beneath that sheer fabric, her magnificent curves are practically calling out to him, the corner of the Dragon Pattern diving deep into her “valley,” leading to all sorts of tantalizing thoughts.
“Does it look good?”
“Good—what good! I didn’t see anything!”
Leon quickly averts his gaze.
But that brief glimpse left a significant impression on him.
Roswiser’s figure is nothing short of perfect, her silhouette sharp, curves pronounced, and the size just right.
Leon shuts his eyes tightly, shaking his head, trying to erase that stunning image from his mind.
“It didn’t even light up; you’re lying to me!”
“Maybe if you look a little longer, it’ll light up,” Roswiser teases, smirking.
“Shut it, Evil Dragon! I’m not looking at your Dragon Pattern anymore!”
Splash—
The water swishes as Roswiser leans in closer to him.
Her soft body gently presses against his arm, she leans in close and whispers, “Stop holding back; let it light up, and we can end this torturous challenge. It’ll be good for you and for me…”
After a few rounds of provocations and careful thoughts, it reaches Roswiser’s flirty teasing phase.
Leon had seen this coming.
“Well? Hmm?”
She places her hand on Leon’s shoulder, her tone soft and alluring, making it hard not to waver.
Leon feels his breathing become more rushed and heavy.
He knows that if he doesn’t act soon, Roswiser’s Dragon Pattern lighting up is just a matter of time.
His mind races.
Facing Roswiser’s advances… what should he do?
What to do…
Ding—
Leon suddenly has an epiphany.
Since he can’t block this Mother Dragon’s flirty onslaught no matter what, then—
He swiftly turns towards Roswiser and grasp her wrist.
Roswiser is momentarily shocked, still processing, when Leon gently tilts her chin up with his other hand.
They press their exposed upper bodies close in the hot spring, gazing into each other’s eyes, the atmosphere suddenly turning sultry, making the temperature rise considerably.
Roswiser’s pupils flutter.
Thump—thump—thump—
Is… that Leon’s heartbeat?
No.
Wait.
It’s hers…
It’s her own heartbeat!
Roswiser bites her lip; the pride of the Silver Dragon Queen forbids her from losing control of her desires.
Just feeling vulnerable… What’s so hard to manage?
“Doesn’t it feel terrible to hold back?” Leon says softly.
Roswiser meets his gaze unyieldingly. “You’re struggling to control yourself too; don’t think I can’t see that.”
“Oh, really? Then let’s see who can hold out the longest.”
“You think I’m scared of you, Leon?”
However, things seem to be progressing in a way they hadn’t anticipated—
Both their Dragon Patterns on their chests suddenly begin to flicker!
And this flicker isn’t steady like usual, more like a faulty light bulb—on and off.
Both feel a jolt of panic.
“What’s going on…” Leon asks.
“I don’t know. Leon… I… I…”
After a moment of panic, they lock eyes again.
In the depths of their black and silver eyes swirls an undeniable desire and love for one another.
The Dragon Pattern serves as a switch for desire, and when the switch malfunctions, desire clearly can no longer be contained.
The night is deep, the fireworks are bright, and they cannot distinguish whether the other’s face has flushed or their feelings have ignited.
But one thing is certain—they both very much want to… kiss each other’s lips.
“Leon…”
“Roswiser…”
The beauty raises her delicate arm, wrapping it around his sturdy back.
Her cool, soft palm rests against the figure concealed beneath the sheer black fabric, holding him tightly.
The last and most beautiful fireworks of the night explode in midair.
At the same time, Leon leans in to kiss the Silver Dragon Queen.
XX
Dragon Pattern: Are you treating me like a light bulb since I won’t light up? Don’t you love the flirting? Let’s see if you can handle the flirting now!
