NOVPUBRiley's eyes narrowed faintly as he took it all in.
He knew how this night would end. He had seen such preparations before and knew that he was in for a great ride for tonight indeed.
Still, his expression remained calm, touched with that ever-unreadable smile of his.
"Kind people attract more than just luck," he mused to himself as he stepped forward. "Sometimes, they attract fire... and sometimes, something far more complicated."
Jade stepped forward as well, her expression serene, but her eyes searched his face for something—approval, perhaps. Or maybe just acknowledgment. She held a small tray with a teapot and two porcelain cups.
"You came," she said softly, her voice carrying like a whisper on the wind. Her words to Riley did not become so formal also like she used to before clearly hinting about what this meeting would entail between the two of them.
"You invited," Riley replied, his tone light. "It would have been rude not to."
She smiled, and for a moment, she looked almost shy. "This is nothing grand. Just tea and... a little conversation, if you're willing."
"I've had far less for much more troublesome company," he said with a chuckle, accepting the cup she offered. Their fingers brushed for the briefest moment—just long enough for a flicker of her qi to dance against his skin. It was warm. Stirring.
They sat across from each other beneath the blossoming tree, the low table between them polished to a mirror shine. The tea was fragrant, delicate in flavor, but Jade seemed far more interested in studying his face than drinking it.
"I wanted to thank you properly," she said finally, setting her cup down. "For what you did for me. I... I don't think words can capture it."
"You've already thanked me by walking your own path. That's enough." His gaze flicked over her once more, calm and unreadable. "Though I suspect this evening isn't only about gratitude."
She lowered her gaze, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No. It's not."
Silence settled between them again. Not awkward—just heavy, like something unsaid hovered between their breaths.
A brief silence hung between them, thick with unspoken words and quiet anticipation. The moonlight filtered down in silver slants, casting delicate shadows across the courtyard. Jade stood there for a moment, eyes on Riley, her expression unreadable yet undeniably alluring.
Then, without warning, she moved.
Rising to her feet with quiet elegance, she brushed the folds of her dress and gave him a knowing look, one that stirred something deep in his chest.
"I have another surprise waiting for you inside," she said softly, her voice like silk over bare skin. Her lips curved into a mysterious smile before she turned away and walked toward her private courtyard.
Riley stood frozen for a moment, his mind catching up with what was happening. There was something different in the air—charged, intimate, and deliberate. She had planned this.
She had cleared the house of servants and slaves, ensuring complete privacy for whatever was to come. There would be no eyes watching, no ears listening—only the two of them, alone in the hush of the night.
He followed, drawn like a moth to flame.
Jade walked with unhurried grace, every movement elegant and calculated. As she stepped past the threshold of her chamber, she reached up and undid the first clasp of her gown.
The soft fabric slipped down her shoulders and fell to the floor without a sound. She didn't pause. She didn't look back.
One by one, she removed the rest of her clothing, letting it trail behind her like breadcrumbs guiding him into temptation. By the time she reached the center of her room, she was completely bare—bathed in moonlight, unapologetic, breathtaking.
The doors closed behind her with a gentle thud, shutting the world out.
When she turned around, she was already naked, and Riley stood there, staring as though mesmerized. His eyes roamed her body, lingering on every curve, every detail, as if trying to memorize her with a single glance. Desire burned in his gaze, fierce and raw, and Jade felt it like heat across her skin.
She smiled.
This was what she wanted—him, this version of him, the one that looked at her like she was the only thing that existed in the world. For Riley, she would offer more than just her body. She would give her trust, her vulnerability… even her first time.
He hesitated, though, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. "Are you sure this is really what you want?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "This might be a gift too expensive for me to take."
Jade stepped forward, each movement confident and filled with purpose. "I'm sure," she replied. Her voice didn't waver. There was no doubt in her tone.
She didn't tell him why—didn't explain the thoughts that had brought her to this decision, or the feelings that had taken root in her heart. She let her actions speak louder than any words could.
Climbing onto the bed, she laid herself down with quiet grace. Then, slowly, deliberately, she parted her legs—offering herself to him in the most intimate way possible.
She was utterly exposed, vulnerable, yet completely unafraid.
Her skin glowed beneath the pale light, smooth and flawless. Her body was untouched—innocent and pure. And yet there was no hesitation in her, no fear.
Only readiness.
Riley's breath caught in his throat. For a moment, he just stood there, trying to decide whether to move forward or walk away.
But he was only a man—and no man could resist a sight like this, not when it came from someone he genuinely desired.
With Jade with him tonight then she could finally take all three great beauties in the Stone Mountain Sect.
He could already envision how good it would be walking around the sect with Leia, Bianca, and now with Jade alongside his walks.
"Soon." Riley mused happily.
He stepped toward the bed, slowly, almost reverently. There was something sacred about the moment, something far deeper than lust.
He reached for her.
Jade watched him come to her, heart pounding in her chest—not from fear, but from something deeper. Excitement. Hope. A quiet yearning she hadn't fully understood until now.
Whatever happened after this, she knew one thing for certain:
This was her choice.
And tonight, she would give herself completely.
Riley couldn't tear his gaze away from her. Jade lay beneath him, vulnerable yet confident, radiant in her nakedness. Every inch of her called to him—not just her body, but her trust, her willingness, the way her eyes met his without a flicker of fear.
He shed the last of his clothes in a single, swift motion. The cool air kissed his skin, but all he felt was heat—the heat between them, rising with every heartbeat. When he moved onto the bed, his body aligned with hers perfectly, as though they had been made for this one moment.
He braced himself above her, muscles tense, not from hesitation but from the effort of holding back.
Their skin met—bare chest to bare chest—and sparks flew. Jade gasped quietly at the sensation, the firmness of his body, the warmth of his touch. Riley leaned closer, until their foreheads nearly touched, his breath mingling with hers.
"Last chance to back out," he said, voice thick and low. "If you don't say anything, I'll eat you alive and make love to you until sunrise."
His words were teasing, but his tone was serious—this wasn't something he took lightly. His eyes searched hers, needing her to be sure.
Jade's heart was hammering, her breath short, but her answer came without hesitation.
"I'm yours," she whispered. "I want you to take me, Riley."
A quiet storm stirred in his eyes, as if her words unlocked something inside him. That was all he needed to hear.
He kissed her.
Their lips met in a fiery clash—his mouth hot and urgent against hers, stealing her breath and sense of time. It was nothing like she expected. Not gentle. Not slow. His kiss was demanding, consuming, hungry. He wasn't just touching her lips—he was claiming them, drawing her into his world with every movement.
"Mmmh…" Jade moaned softly against him, her hands flying up to grip his shoulders. It was her first kiss, but Riley didn't hold back, and neither did she.
At first, she struggled to keep up, but instinct took over. She moved with him, let herself melt into his rhythm. When his tongue parted her lips, she let him in—and even dared to return the favor. Their tongues danced, tangled, teased. Her lips tingled, her breath caught, and her mind began to blur.
Every kiss grew deeper, messier, needier.
She could feel her body responding—warming, softening, craving more. Riley's hands were on her now, exploring her waist, her sides, the gentle slope of her hip. He worshiped her with every touch, never rushing, but never hesitating either.
"You're perfect," he murmured between kisses, his lips brushing her cheek, her jaw, her throat. "So soft… so beautiful…"
His voice sent shivers down her spine.
