The evening air carried a cool breeze, contrasting the day's warmth. The amber hues of the sun bathed the estate in a soft glow as I trudged toward the cattle shed.
I felt the faint chilly breeze brushing against my sweat-soaked shirt from the training. The effects of the stamina pill had long worn off, but its lingering influence and the heat of the strained muscles helped me ignore the chill.
Rafaella was already at work when I arrived. She stood with a hose in hand, spraying water across the shed floor to clear away the muck. Her white blouse was rolled up, exposing her toned arms that moved precisely. Her messy braid swayed slightly with each motion, and the simple sight of her so focused made something stir within me.
She glanced at me briefly, offering a soft smile. "You won't have much to do now," she said lightly, her voice carrying over the gentle hiss of the water.
I nodded in response, grabbing the spade from the corner and stepping inside.
The work was significantly lighter than I expected. I guess the herd had been fasting or was on a diet because they hadn't shat as they did earlier. Either way, it is more relaxing than the intense session in the morning.
"There was so much mess earlier because we hadn't been here for the past days," Rafaella said on time, answering doubt in my mind.
I realized Rafaella was trying to start a conversation, but I only nodded again, more focused on getting the job done quickly than on small talk.
Strangely, the stench that had nearly overwhelmed me this morning now seemed bearable. Maybe it was the remnants of the stamina pill, or perhaps I was adapting to the conditions fast. Regardless, I rapidly progressed on the task without the conditions of the filthy place not bugging me as much as before.
As I worked, a playful voice cut through the comfortable silence.
"You guys can't stay still for a moment, can you?"
I turned to see Lissy sauntering towards us. She had a playful grin, and a bucket balanced effortlessly in her hands. Her magnetic honey-brown eyes sparkled with amusement as she peered at us.
"You came early," Rafaella said warmly while glancing over her shoulder as she worked.
"Eh, I couldn't let the new guy do all the work," Lissy replied, shrugging as she gave me a sideways glance. "Wouldn't that make me look bad?"
Meanwhile, I finished the last of my work and took the hose from Rafaella to clean myself off.
"Can you bring the milk churn from the house, Nero?"
Hearing Rafaella's request, I nodded and left for the house without a word.
I walked back slowly with the large milk churn in hand, thinking of how to get a chance to make a pass at Lissy.
When I returned with the heavy milk churn, I heard the sound of the duo's carefree laughter drifting out of the shed. But the moment I stepped into the entrance, they both fell silent.
Lissy was crouched beside one of the botaurs, milking it with practiced ease.
The sight of her in that position with her body bent forward, her hands steadily working the beast's teat in a rhythm, made my mind spin. Her fleshy thighs emphasized under the strain of her squatting posture, the gentle sway of her chest with each movement of her work, and the way her clothes hugged her in the right places, all of it, ignited a sudden surge of heat within me.
However, I quickly tore my gaze away, reminding myself that Rafaella was still around. I was not interested in giving her any chance to pick on me.
And Rafaella, thankfully, was too preoccupied to notice.
She turned to me for the churn in my hands. I recognized her face soften when her eyes briefly flicked over me, drenched with sweat from work and training. She made a face as if apologetic and gestured towards Lissy with a smile.
"Why don't you give her a hand while I load the bottles onto the cart? Just fill the churn as she fills up the bucket," she suggested kindly.
"Sure," I replied, trying to keep my tone even while gloating my luck.
When Rafaella left for the house, leaving Lissy and me alone, I didn't waste a second to savor the view of the married woman crouched on the shed floor.
She must have caught me staring, but she didn't let on, humming a soft, playful tune as her hands worked steadily, milking the beast. The gentle arch of her back and the subtle sway of her hips. It was almost too much. I had to force myself to look away before she noticed and made some snarky comments.
"So, how was your first day at work?" she asked, her honey-brown eyes glinting as she glanced at my sweat-drenched shirt clinging to my body. Her lips curled into a knowing smile. "It looks like Raff ran you into the ground, you poor thing."
"This?" I said, shaking my head. "Nah, this isn't from work. It's from training."
"Training? What kind of training?" she asked curiously, tilting her head slightly as her hands continued their practiced rhythm on the beast's teats.
"Hand-to-hand combat and spear work," I replied, keeping my tone casual even as my gaze betrayed me, wandering to the gentle sway of her chest as she worked. "I've been sparring with a wooden puppet Alvin set up for me."
Her lips twitched upward, and for a moment, I thought I saw a mischievous grin flicker across her face.
"So," she said slowly, passing me the bucket of milk, "you're good with your spear, then?" Her tone dropped a notch, and the way her lips curled into a playful smirk made me pause.
"Of course," I replied evenly, trying not to let her get to me. "It's something I've been good at for as long as I can remember. I'd even say it's my strongest talent."
Only when I poured the milk into the churn did the potential double meaning of her question sink in.
My gaze flicked back to the married woman's face, trying to read her expression. She simply looked at me with wide, innocent eyes.
"The bucket?" she prompted, holding out her hand with a slight tilt of her head. Her lips quirked in a slight grin as if daring me to say something.
"Sorry," I mumbled, handing the bucket back sheepishly.
"You know," she said, lowering her voice just enough to make my heart skip, "you should spar with someone real. It'd feel a lot better having a partner who can… handle you."
I froze. Her sweet honey voice and the way she worded it felt like an invitation to me.
My throat felt dry, and I had to force myself to swallow.
Was she toying with me? Or was she being serious?
Damnit, I can't tell.
"I… I'd be happy to spar," I said cautiously, testing the waters. "Would Mrs. Lissy like to give it a try?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know a thing about fighting." Lissy let out a light laugh, shaking her head as she stood from her squat. With a sway of her hips, she sauntered to the next botaur.
"But," she continued, her tone teasing, "maybe I'd learn if someone taught me." She crouched again, cleaning the beast's udders before resuming her task.
This time, the new position was even more provocative than the last.
Her back arched slightly more, showing off the curves of her ass. And as she pulled the teat of the beast in slow and deliberate suggestive movement, I realized the woman knew exactly what she was doing.
She was playing with me. There was no doubt about it.
"Something on your mind, Nero?" Lissy asked suddenly, glancing up at me with a raised brow. Her tone was casual, but her smirk clarified that she was enjoying this. "You seem… distracted."
"No, just… thinking about giving Mrs. Lissy some pointers on fighting," I said, forcing a confident smile and trying to match her energy.
"Why? I'm just a pretty dairy woman. Why should I of all people learn how to fight?" Lissy replied with a giggle, her voice dripping with mock innocence as she passed me the bucket.
I emptied the contents into the churn and returned the bucket, this time meeting her gaze with a serious expression. "It's exactly because you're a pretty woman that you should learn how to fight," I said. "These days, there are plenty of scumbags who'd take advantage of someone like you if they had the chance. Knowing how to defend yourself is always worth it."
For a moment, her teasing facade faltered. Her lips thinned straight, and she gave a small nod. "You're not wrong," she admitted softly. "There are plenty of scumbags around here I need to watch out for."
Then, she composed herself as though nothing had happened. Her voice turned sweet, and the mischievous glint in her eyes quickly returned. "So, Nero, do you plan to train me with your spear?"
I smirked, happy to know she was playing along.
"Trust me, Mrs. Lissy," I said, lowering my voice to make it as risque as possible. "A spear is a great choice. It is effective, versatile, and easy to handle. Mine, for example, is long, thick, and has incredible reach. I think Mrs. Lissy would love it."
I let the words hang in the air, my meaning as blatant as possible. There was no way she could misinterpret it unless she were a moron.
If she got angry, I'd backpedal and apologize. But if she kept the game going… well, she was interested.
Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, I thought she'd call me out. But instead, she laughed, a melodious, tinkling sound that filled the shed as her pearly teeth flashed in amusement.
She didn't respond, but the absence of protest gave me a rush of excitement. Still, the lack of a clearer reaction left me dissatisfied.
Should I stop now?
No, I needed to push a little more. Only if I figure out where her boundaries lie will I know how to press forward and when to stop.
But what should I do? Should I tell her outright? No, that might backfire. She would take it as me, thinking of her as an easy lay. What else then? Hmm, since she is open to all dirty talk, I should check where she draws the line for being touchy-feely.
Something quick. Something enough to gauge her reaction without giving her time to overthink it.
As my eyes roamed over her figure again, they landed on her perfectly curvy ass. I decided to give it a quick, playful slap. If it backfires and she reacts harshly, I apologize and try to pass it off as an attempt to swat a fly.
I stepped closer, my hand halfway raised, when a sharp voice shattered the moment.
"NERO!!"
I froze on the spot. My heart plummeted as I slowly turned, catching sight of Rafaella storming toward us. Her face was a whirlwind of fury and disbelief, her quick and heavy steps landing like hammers on my growing anxiety.
"What were you trying to do?" she demanded, her voice sharp and cold.
"Nothing!" I stammered, stepping back instinctively. "I was just-"
"Just what?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she snapped, "Don't even think about playing dumb with me, Nero. I saw you!"
She paused briefly before spitting out her words like daggers. "I warned you. Twice! You gave me your word that you'd behave. What kind of person are you to break your promises this quickly? Do you have no shame?"
Her words hit like a barrage of punches, leaving me stunned and flustered. My brain felt fried, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Being caught red-handed and publicly scolded filled me with a deep shame. To make matters worse, it seemed like all chance I had with Lissy was slipping away.
"It's not what it looks like." I tried to talk my way out of it, unintentionally sounding defensive in a low tone.
But Rafaella wasn't having any of it. Her expression hardened. A mix of anger and hurt flashed in her eyes. "I trusted you," she said, her voice trembling. "I even shared my accomplishments. And this is how you repay me? By harassing my friend?"
"I wasn't harassing anyone!" I protested, my voice rising slightly in frustration. "You're misinterpreting-"
"Enough!" Rafaella snapped, cutting me off. Her trembling hands clenched tighter, and she glared at me with an intensity that momentarily silenced me. Her angry voice soon gave way to something deeper. "You're just like the rest of them, aren't you?" she said, her voice breaking.
The tension in the air became suffocating, and Lissy, who had been standing on the sidelines, watching the events unfold in confusion, stepped in with concern etched on her face.
"Raff, calm down," she murmured, pulling her friend into a tight hug. "Tell me what happened."
"I-I saw him trying to T-touch you inappropriately," Rafaella stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper as her racing heart betrayed her tension.
Lissy's honey-brown eyes flicked to me briefly, her expression unreadable, before she gently pressed Rafaella for clarity. "Are you sure you saw it correctly?" she asked softly, her voice soothing. "You were watching us from the entrance. What if… what if you misunderstood?"
Rafaella pulled back slightly, her lips trembling. "No, Lissy, I saw him. He was bringing his hand down quickly toward you."
"Raff, what if he was just trying to grab the bucket from me? I have heard bits from you scolding him in the morning. Could this morning's argument with him clouded how you saw things just now?" Lissy asked patiently.
I couldn't hear all the words Lissy whispered to her, but I saw the shift in Rafaella's expression. I could see flickers of doubt creeping into her angry face. My heart slowed, and a wave of relief washed over me. Thankfully, it seemed Lissy was taking my side.
But relief quickly turned to frustration as I stared at Rafaella. Since I'd arrived at Crafts Wood, she'd done nothing but humiliate me at every turn. And now, she was serving as a cockblock, muddling all my plans. I knew this was the best chance to bring down her pride a notch and make her apologize.
Just as I opened my mouth, I caught Lissy's sharp gaze. It wasn't angry, but it was a clear warning.
Don't escalate this further.
Lissy could already see the wheels turning in his head, and her subtle shake of the head stopped him cold.
"Look at you, Nero," Lissy said suddenly, her voice breaking the tension. She said warmly. "You're all sweaty and tired from work. Why don't you take a bath? We are almost finished here. Raff and I will cover the rest."
Nero recognized Lissy's suggestion as the cue to escape this mess with whatever dignity he had left.
"Okay," he muttered, turning on his heel and leaving the shed without another word.
As his footsteps faded, Lissy turned her full attention back to Rafaella, firmly in her embrace.
"Are you okay, girl?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern. "I know things have been weighing on you lately, but listen to me. I'll always be here for you. Alvin is here too, and now we have the new guy as well. It was a one-time mishap. It won't happen again. In a few months, things will return to normal. You'll see." With a tender tone, she spoke as if singing a lullaby, pulling her closer for a comforting hug.
Rafaella leaned into the hug, her body trembling as the tension slowly drained.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice steadier now. She missed that human warmth.
"Do you need to take a potion?" Lissy asked after a moment, pulling back to examine her friend's face.
Rafaella straightened, shaking her head. "No. I want to avoid it as much as I can. I'm starting to think the potion might be causing these mood swings. My emotions have been all over the place lately."
"Fair enough," Lissy nodded understandingly. "Then go rest. I'll take care of the delivery."
"What? No!" Rafaella protested, forcing a cheerful smile. "I just got sidetracked. I'm fine. If you're done, I'm ready to go."
Lissy eyed her skeptically, seeing through the forced enthusiasm. But instead of arguing, she smiled and said, "All right, just give me a minute to finish up."
Without the youngster to fool around and Rafaella filling the gap he left, Lissy quickly completed her tasks as promised.
When Rafaella fastened the milk churn, Lissy said carefully, "Let me lift it. Your hand still hasn't fully healed, right?"
"It's almost healed. Come on, I did this in the morning already. Just give me a hand," Rafaella said, lifting one handle of the churn with her left hand while Lissy held the other and guided a Taurus to the cart.
Together, they lifted the heavy milk churn and loaded it onto the cart before securing the animal for the ride.
"Raff, I talked with him. He doesn't seem like a bad guy," Lissy said in a measured tone.
"I know," Rafaella admitted as she climbed into the driver's seat. "That's why I brought him here."
"Don't you think he might run off if you treat him like this?" Lissy asked.
"No way," Rafaella replied, shaking her head. "You don't understand. We were close, like siblings. Even if I scold him harshly, he won't take it seriously if it is from me. We'll patch things up. He won't leave me. Not in my current state."
Lissy wanted to remind Rafaella that Nero probably didn't comprehend her problems fully, but she held her tongue. Instead, she offered a small smile and stepped back as the cart rolled forward with a flick of the reins.
Rafaella passed her smile, and the cart rushed forward.
Lissy watched the cart disappear down the road with swirling thoughts.
Right then, Nero's head poked out from the main door's threshold.
Nero decided he couldn't pass up the opportunity to strengthen his connection with the playful married woman. The fact she was not only comfortable with his shenanigans but also chose his side against Rafaella gave him confidence in his endeavor.
"You haven't bathed yet?" Lissy asked in a surprised tone.
Nero scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was just about to. Are you leaving for home, Mrs. Lissy?"
She didn't respond immediately. Her eyes scanned him with an amused expression. Then, as if she'd decided, she gestured toward the path leading deeper into the estate grounds.
"There's a pond further down the estate. The water's clear and cool. It'll refresh your mind and vessel. Come on, I'll show you."
Something in her invitation, something in her gaze, and the way she spoke made it impossible to refuse. He hesitated momentarily before grabbing a towel and a bar of soap, falling into step behind her.
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