Chapter 28: The Bet’s Payment (+18)
Manaia hugged me from behind, her soft body pressing against mine as we continued watching the sun set on the horizon.
"I hope they can grow after this," I told her, my voice barely a whisper. "The path to becoming strong is hard."
"I know, Jax, that’s why I support your decisions. You’re the leader we need," she replied, her warm breath on my neck.
"I saw too many people fall in these past years," I continued, my gaze fixed on the reddish sky. "Many were due to carelessness, they fell into such dumb traps, and others out of pity. If there’s one thing my time in that damn kingdom taught me, it’s that if you hesitate to kill your enemies, the only thing waiting for you is death. I don’t want them to suffer the same fate."
Manaia moved in front of me, leaning her entire body against mine as she took my hands so I could wrap my arms around her from behind. "I know you’ll do the right thing. If you need help giving an order that’s hard for you, don’t hesitate to tell me. I can help you do the dirty work if necessary."
Listening to Manaia’s soft voice, I began to feel the softness of her body more and more, the curve of her hips against my thighs as she rested her head on my shoulder. A wave of arousal started to surge through my entire body.
"By the way, Manaia, don’t forget our bet," I whispered, turning slightly to look at her.
Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "I’m ready to pay you. Let’s go to my hut."
I shook my head. "No. Follow me."
We walked together along the beach, leaving the murmur of the village behind. We ventured into a deeper corner, where a sturdy tree stood alone. From there, the village looked like a distant cluster of lights.