Kyrie slowly reached out her hand. It wasnât a hand gesture when she was escorted. As if putting her hand on the mirror, five fingerprints came obliquely toward him.
He couldnât help but feel a little soft. The sight of Kyrie reaching out to him with her own hands was very unfamiliar and willing.
Nathaniel quietly raised his left hand and put the ends of his five fingers together. Kyrieâs body temperature was higher than that, so the place where it reached became hotter. Perhaps because of that, something came up in his stomach. It was an unfamiliar feeling.
âIâll tell you if it hurts.â
As if Kyrie was teaching him how to feel, she slowly clasped his hand. A small hand that could break with one of his thumbs, fearlessly and fiercely, clasped between his knuckles.
Nathaniel just moved his eyes and looked closely at her hands. The fingers with clean and small nails wriggled on the back of the hand to fill the empty space between the fingers.
It was only then that Nathaniel realized that this was quite dangerous.
[If someone sees.]
âI locked the door.â
[Ah]
It would have been better not to say that. Now he had no excuses.
âWould you like to give it a try?â
Perhaps because it was night, Kyrieâs voice was smaller and muffled as compared during the daytime. Nathaniel gently caressed her hand, so to speak, to the point of touching her skin. Then Kyrie was startled and whispered.
ââŚâŚItâs really strong.â
He laughed a little bit.
I havenât even put strength yet.
âBut itâs okay, isnât it? I guess itâs because I use my hands often. But I think itâll hurt if you hold it hard.â
[I see]
Nathaniel answered calmly like a drunk person and remembered the extent to which she had said.
âYou donât have to use your hands.â
On the other hand, Kyrie immediately took off her hand as soon as the work was over. As the body temperature disappeared, cold air quickly came in. He wondered if the night air was originally this cold. At that moment, she turned her arms and raised her sleeves. Her pearly white, her smooth inner arms were exposed. She behaved as if there was no cold air.
âTouch it.â
Kyrie reached out her arm with her sleeves fixed. The eyes were wide open and solemn.
Nathaniel smiled bitterly and wrapped around Kyrieâs arm with his left hand. It was warm and soft. The widest area under her elbow was also available to him in one hand.
[âŚâŚwiden it.]
âIâm doing it.â
Nathaniel sighed. In fact, the current sigh was not something to worry about her, but something that was about to come out.
âElbow.â
Her hand went higher. The slightly pointed elbow bone was touched. Nathaniel supported Kyrieâs elbow with his finger and slightly pressed the thick part of her arm with his thumb.
âUgh.â
Kyrie groaned awkwardly. At the same time, his movement stopped.
[Does it hurt?]
âNo. Because itâs coldâŚâŚ.â
She whispered.
âItâs okay. It doesnât hurt.â
Even if it didnât hurt, he didnât intend to press it anymore. It was not very good to see white skin pressed and rising round around his finger. He was about to take his hand off, but Kyrie whispered.
âHold my upper arm, too. Wonât you be able to grab this side? Usually, when you hold someone, you support them with your arms.âŚ.â
She said so and pulled her sleeves to her shoulders. A white arm was revealed under the wide sleeve. Usually, ladies from noble families wear dresses that cover their elbows, so of course, the top was as hard to see as their feet.
[Kyrie.]
âYes.â
He considered in his head to show his sincerity, and then said what he was thinking.
[If you have any intention, itâs better for me to tell in words]
âWhat?â
Kyrie frowned.
She might have thought it was an insult.
Nathaniel suddenly got a little tired.
Yes. She has no intention. Iâm sure she doesnât.
It was only thanks to his experience that he was able to maintain an expressionless face. Nathaniel reached out. As he held Kyrieâs arm as if wrapping it, the soft flesh fully touched his finger.
Kyrie flinched. No man would have touched such a place. Nataniel pretended not to know and swept the skin down with the tip of his fingernail as if it were tickling her.
âHng.â
It was only then that Kyrie blushed a little. As the cold air flowed a little more, he could see goosebumps over her pear-like skin. Kyrie made a tearful face.
[Power?]
ââŚ..It doesnât hurt.â
Nathaniel clasped her hand. As the cold disappeared, Kyrie trembled. Looking at her, Nathaniel got up, leaning against the desk.
[Shoulders.]
He took the initiative again. When he held her shoulders with both hands, Kyrie was surprised, but soon looked up at him with her bright eyes. His lady is so fearless.
Both shoulders, round like the swanâs neck, were small and thin enough to be lifted easily. When he pressed hard between her shoulder and collarbone with his thumb, Kyrie flinched.
[Does it hurt?]
âNo. More than I thoughtâŚâŚ, hik.â
Even before her words were over, Nathaniel gave strength to his hand. It wasnât enough to bruise.
âThis hurts.â
Kyrie said honestly with a frown. He smiled a little and pushed her shoulder away. She said it hurts. He didnât feel comfortable trying to test his patience in something he hadnât thought of before.
Iâve given you a moderate warning. It was time to quit.
[ThenâŚ]
However, Kyrie nodded resolutely.
âItâs next time.â
Nathaniel looked up at the ceiling again. The first head of Buchanan, who is far above, should have taught his children to be more alert.
[Whatâs next?]
He was a little tired and asked. After taking a deep breath, Kyrie smiled awkwardly.
âExcuse meâŚâŚ So as not to rupture the intestinesâŚâŚ, you know, right?
Then, Kyrie Buchanan slowly walked into his arms.
Nathaniel hardened.
Was it her arms or her heart?
Did she not walk in, but flew in like a butterfly?
Or was it fluttering like a flower and blown away by the wind?
âBut is there anything that can be done here? However, now that I think about it there might be oneâŚ..â
Perhaps she was feeling shy, because Kyrie was busy chattering something in her mouth. The content almost passed by his ears. All he could feel was the appreciation that her voice was pretty good.
Nathaniel lowered his head and looked at the top of Kyrieâs head. He could see a neat parting in the dark, the eyelashes below it, the gentle shoulders further down. Her hands endured awkwardness and lay round on Nathanielâs chest.
It felt weird.
But he could tell one thing. Now, Kyrie, who ran away, rejected, despised, hated, cried, and walked away on her own as if it had nothing to do with him even if he was not in this world.
Right now he will never forget this sight now.
[âŚ.Kyrie.]
âBut I think the room is a little cold. You didnât do that, did you? When itâs over, have someoneâŚâŚ.â
[Kyrie.]
âWhat?â
[Kyrie.]
âAh.â
At the third time, Kyrie grasped his intentions, looked up and faced Nataniel.
âYes, Nataniel.â
Nathaniel slowly raised his arm and slowly hugged Kyrieâs body. Because of her short height, when she shrank, Nathanielâs chin was placed on Kyrieâs neck. Itâs cold. Kyrie muttered. His skin felt the tension in her body.
Nataniel hugged around Kyrieâs back from the tip of his finger. It was a back with prominent wing bones. The curvature of the body under the thin linen was stark. A fragile muscle was pulsating under the palm of her hand.
[Cat has hair.]
âHuman beings also have hair.â
[Thatâs true.]
Nathaniel blinked.
I feel drunk.
[But youâre not a cat.]
âWellâŚâ
Kyrie muttered, not a word or admiration. Now he knew it was embarrassing.
Nathaniel hugged her more strongly. When he hugged her back with a waist less than a handful, Kyrie was now completely trapped in his arms.
ââŚ..this is, I mean, how much strength is this?â
Curie, who was humbly in the situation, asked. Now, Nathaniel, who is good, responded by supporting Kyrieâs back head.
[I donât know.]
âThat is..âŚ.â
[Does it hurt?]
âNot really.â
[Tell me if it hurts. Iâll do it softly.]
âYesâŚ..â
Kyrie blurred the end of her speech. Nathaniel smiled silently. He felt the touch of her hair, back of her neck, back, and waist to his heartâs content.
ââŚI, Nataniel.â
Kyrie faltered and began to pull away her body.
âSlowly, I think Iâm okayâŚâŚ.â
[A little more.]
Nathaniel spoke softly and kissed Kyrieâs head.
Itâs a funny thing. Why did I find out now?
Obviously, she was not a bug, a lark, a cat, or a cotton candy.
âItâs late at night, and I have to sleepâŚâŚ.â
[Iâll put you to sleep]
âWhat? I donât need it.â
Kyrieâs tone became cold at once. At times like this, Nathaniel laughed because he looked like a cat with an inflated tail. But sheâs not a cat. Sheâs very small, cute, fragile, and lovely, but sheâs not a cat anyway. He realized it too late.
[You said youâd help me, right? Iâm sure you did.]
âAre you sure itâs helping you?â
[Yes.]
He slowly put Kyrie in his arms. One arm was still left at the waist, so it wasnât that far away. Even though she looked awkward, Kyrie did not run away and looked up at him. Defenseless, with no guard. Nathaniel laughed helplessly.