The Life of Lust Demon

Sofia felt her stomach tighten at his casual use of the endearment, knowing it was all part of the act yet feeling strangely unsettled by it. She shot him a glare, though there was a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "I don't drink beer, remember?" she replied, rolling her eyes in irritation.

Anos shrugged, appearing unbothered. "Come on, with Brother Owen here, it's a special occasion! Why shouldn't we celebrate?"

Owen chuckled, catching onto the playful back-and-forth, his gaze lingering on Sofia as he leaned back, clearly intrigued by the pair's dynamics. "It's all good! We don't need to be so formal at home."

"Exactly!" Anos chimed in, raising his glass. "Let's toast to friendship!"

The three clinked glasses, and the soft hum of laughter and conversation gradually filled the room as they began to eat. As the evening wore on, Owen's curiosity finally broke through the pleasantries, his voice calm yet probing.

"So, Anos, how did you and Sofia end up together? I remember her being quite guarded around guys."

Anos had anticipated this question. Leaning forward, he spun a lighthearted story, recounting the "chance encounter" where he supposedly saved Sofia from a pack of wild beasts, embellishing every detail with dramatic flair.

Sofia couldn't help but smirk, shaking her head as he spoke. "He was relentless," she added, recalling the times he'd waited outside her school, hoping she'd join him for lunch. "Eventually, I figured it was time to give him a chance." She glanced at him, an affectionate glint softening her eyes as she tried to sell the story.

"His realm might not be as high as mine, but he has a good heart and ambition."

Anos grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief as he leaned back, crossing his arms. "So, is it my ambition or my charming personality that won you over?"

Sofia laughed, her expression softening despite herself. "Maybe it's that you always know how to make me laugh."

Anos raised an eyebrow and turned to Owen, looking as smug as ever. "See? Girls love a sense of humor."

Owen laughed along, but there was an unmistakable glint of skepticism in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment that he wasn't buying their act quite yet. The dinner conversation continued, though the tension beneath the surface only seemed to grow, as if each of them were waiting for something unspoken to be revealed.

After dinner, Sofia began to clear the dishes, and Anos casually invited Owen to join him on the plush sofa. The living room, just as cozy as the dining area, was illuminated by a warm table lamp, casting a calm glow over the room as the night deepened. The relaxed atmosphere lulled them into an easy silence, until Owen announced he was heading to the washroom.

As soon as he was out of sight, Sofia's carefully maintained calm unraveled, and she spun around to face Anos, her irritation barely contained. "You idiot!" she hissed, voice low but loaded with frustration.

Anos raised his hands in mock innocence. "What did I do wrong? I didn't even have a script! Improv, that's talent!"

Sofia's eyes narrowed. "Now he's suspicious! The whole point was to pretend we're dating so he'd back off, but now he'll definitely dig deeper!"

Anos' expression shifted, a mischievous sparkle lighting his eyes. "I have an idea."

Sofia's irritation melted into a wary curiosity. "What is it?"

"Just give me a kiss," he said, his tone as casual as if he were asking for another drink. A sly grin spread across his face.

Sofia's jaw dropped. "You're insane! I'm not just giving you a kiss for the fun of it."

Anos leaned closer, his voice smooth. "Think about it. The reason he's suspicious is because even though we're supposedly together, we haven't done anything couple-like. It's not convincing."

Sofia paused, her mind racing. "So… you're suggesting…"

"Yes," he said with confidence, his gaze holding hers. "When he comes out, just lean in for a quick kiss. Just a small one, like a peck. He'll catch us in the moment and be convinced."

Sofia glanced at the hallway, a mixture of dread and anticipation flooding her as she realized he might be right. She took a deep breath. "Fine," she murmured, feeling her heart race as she tried to gather her courage.

The bathroom door faced the living room sofa directly, ensuring Owen would have a clear view of them. Sofia shifted nervously, her hands beginning to sweat as the plan became all too real. She glanced at Anos, who looked entirely unperturbed, his eyes shining with confidence.

Click—

The doorknob turned. Panic surged through her, and before she knew it, she was in his lap, her hands wrapping behind his neck as she leaned in, her eyes shut tight. Just before their lips were set to meet in a modest peck, Anos shifted slightly. Their lips met, and she felt his hand settle on her waist—then, unexpectedly, on her lower back, pulling her in as he gave her a light but firm squeeze.

The kiss jolted her, and a shockwave of realization washed over her. Her mind blanked, heart thundering as the intimacy of the moment overwhelmed her. She clung to him, caught in a rush of emotions she hadn't anticipated. The logical part of her knew it was an act, but her heart was convinced of the realness of the moment.

Owen stepped into the living room, his footsteps faltering as he saw them entangled, their kiss lingering just a moment too long to be innocent. He froze, disbelief coloring his features as his mind raced to reconcile what he was seeing. Read new adventures at empire

Just then, a familiar ding rang out in Anos' mind, breaking the spell as he pulled away, clearing his throat. "Successfully kissed Sofia. Scumbag points + 700,000. Mission Compilation: 70%," the system's voice echoed in his mind, and he had to fight back a smirk.

Owen's face darkened, jealousy and frustration flashing through his eyes as he quickly averted his gaze. "Cough, cough. It's getting late," he muttered, his voice barely hiding his irritation. "You both should rest early. I'll… I'll take my leave."

"Take care, Brother Owen!" Sofia called out, her voice trembling slightly as she attempted to regain her composure. Her cheeks burned, a mix of embarrassment and a lingering heat from the unexpected kiss.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Sofia rounded on Anos, fury blazing in her eyes. "Anos!"

"What are you glaring at me for?" he asked innocently, though the mischief hadn't left his eyes.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"You idiot! That was my first kiss!" she burst out, cheeks reddening further as she recalled how easily she had fallen into the moment.

Anos raised his eyebrows, looking slightly taken aback. "Wait a minute! That was my first kiss too! And I don't see myself complaining about you stealing it from me!"

The room fell silent, both of them caught in the weight of the evening's events.