Chapter 33: The Slow Collapse ( 33 )

Chapter 33 - The Slow Collapse ( 33 ) Kyouko felt it,that slow, wandering touch. Haruki's hand had started to drift, fingers brushing closer to her breast. She let out a soft, breathy laugh and gave his hand a gentle, playful slap. "No, no~" she whispered with a teasing smile, her eyes glinting. "Even a kiss is more than enough... for now." But Haruki wasn't done. He leaned in again, and this time, there was no hesitation. Their lips met,warm and familiar now, yet still thrilling. The kiss was slower, more romantic. Lingering. His lips molded perfectly against hers, and Kyouko responded, melting into the moment. Her fingers instinctively curled into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him just a little closer. Her heart raced again. When they finally parted, Haruki chuckled, his eyes half-lidded with satisfaction. "Is that kiss your breakfast?" Kyouko asked, trying to keep the mood light, her tone teasing even as her lips still tingled from the kiss. He grinned. "Best breakfast I've ever had." Kyouko turned away quickly, forcing herself to focus on the plates. "Now, eat properly." Her voice was firm, but her cheeks were still flushed. Inside her mind, the weight of what just happened pressed down on her. Damn it... I was so lost in the kiss... so lost in him... I forgot. Forgot that this man is my son-in-law. This kiss,this closeness,there's no undoing it now. She sat across from him and watched as he began to eat, cheerful as ever. And all she could do was smile and pretend everything was still under control. But Haruki slid his chair closer, right beside her, their thighs brushing. "Haruki~ eat," Kyouko said, glancing at him with an expression that tried to be stern but couldn't hide her fondness. He leaned his shoulder into hers. "Feed me~" She sighed with a small smile. "This big boy..." Still, she picked up a piece of omelet and brought it to his lips. Haruki opened his mouth with a soft grin and let her feed him, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're enjoying this too much," she mumbled. "Only because your hands are soft," he teased. Kyouko rolled her eyes and glanced away, but she couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. Then she muttered, almost too quietly, "We already overdid our 'friendship...'" "I know," Haruki replied without missing a beat. "And I don't regret it." Kyouko's hand stilled. Her heart skipped. She turned slightly, her gaze meeting his. "The way you kissed," she said slowly, "it was like... like you haven't kissed anyone in a long time." Haruki didn't answer right away. He leaned in just enough to whisper, "Because I haven't." Kyouko's breath hitched. Something about the way he looked at her,it wasn't just lust. It wasn't just play. It was longing. And it scared her just a little... because it mirrored her own feelings. "My daughter didn't kiss you?" Kyouko asked softly, her eyes lingering on Haruki's face. Haruki shrugged slightly, his gaze dropping to the food for a moment. "Sometimes... just quick kisses. Before work. Before bed." Kyouko's heart sank a little. "Oh..." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Silence lingered between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Haruki took another bite, chewing slowly. Kyouko watched him,this man who had become more than a guest in her house. More than a son-in-law. She reached for the teacup, but her hand paused mid-air. "I see why your kiss felt... hungry," she said quietly. Haruki turned to her, eyes searching. "And yours?" he asked. "It felt like it had been waiting for years." Her fingers tightened slightly around the teacup. "Maybe it was," she whispered. Neither of them spoke after that. Not because they had nothing to say,but because too much was already understood. After breakfast, Haruki gathered his documents and checked his laptop bag. "Kyouko-san?" She turned from the sink, drying her hands. "Hmm?" "You said last night you wanted to follow me today..." "Oh, right!" She smiled. "Wait here; I'll go get ready." She stepped toward the stairs, but before she could take another step, Haruki gently caught her wrist and pulled her back. He leaned in, his lips brushing hers with the confidence of someone who no longer questioned if it was allowed. Kyouko kissed him back,slowly, softly, her hand briefly resting against his chest. She pulled back slightly, her voice breathy and tinged with a faint smile. "If we keep kissing the whole day... nothing else will get done." Haruki grinned, his eyes still on her lips. "That's not such a bad idea..." She gave him a playful look and shook her head before hurrying up the stairs. As she disappeared from view, her smile faded into a thoughtful expression. So this is it... She touched her lips gently with her fingers. It's no longer just a kiss... it's something more now. Something we can't take back. He hadn't hesitated. Not even for a second. And Kyouko knew,sooner or later,Haruki would want to go further. And she didn't know if she could, or even wanted to, stop him. Let's just hope it wouldn't be too soon... Kyouko stood in front of her wardrobe, her fingertips lightly grazing the fabric of her blouses, dresses, and tops. But her thoughts weren't on what to wear. They were on him. Haruki... She closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a quiet sigh. Because she knew,once it was done, once she gave in,there would be no turning back. She understood what men wanted: sex. Once desire was fed, it never faded,it only grew. A kiss today would evolve into something more tomorrow. That was how it always went. That was how they all were. She smiled faintly, but it was tinged with nervousness. We were strangers once. Just a mother-in-law and her son-in-law. An accidental brush of lips during morning stretches. A hug under the stars when no one was watching. The teasing. The looks. Her resting her head on his shoulder that night. It all felt harmless,until it wasn't. Now, the kiss had happened. A real one. Not playful. Not mistaken. But deliberate. Lingering. Soft. Warm. Real. And she had returned it. Later... what would it be? A touch? An embrace? More? What if she wanted to stop, and he didn't? The thought made her chest tighten. She hadn't been touched by her husband in so long. They never had sex anymore. Kyouko could hardly remember what that felt like. But Haruki... Haruki was young. Passionate. Confident. And now, he was clearly interested. But Kyouko knew she was playing with fire. Haruki was her son-in-law. Satomi's husband. Sooner or later, they'd end up in the same bed. And once that happened,it wouldn't stop there. It would become sex. Every day, every night. Maybe gentle, maybe passionate. Maybe slow. Maybe rough. But always real. Always intense. And what would come next? Kyouko sat quietly on the edge of her bed, a towel still wrapped around her hair, her fingers tangled together in her lap. She knew Haruki. She had watched him, talked to him, and touched him enough to understand the kind of man he was. Romantic. Gentle. Patient. But also quietly persistent. A man who, once he found something he desired, wouldn't let go of it easily. He wouldn't rush. He'd wait. Just like he had waited for that kiss. From innocent teasing kisses to something deep and serious, he had slowly peeled away every wall she'd built with soft glances, gentle touches, and reassuring words. And now... she had fallen. Hard. It wasn't just attraction anymore. It was something deeper. A quiet longing. A dangerous comfort. And deep down, Kyouko knew that when she finally surrendered her body to Haruki, it wouldn't be because he forced her. It wouldn't be because she felt she had to. It would be because she wanted to. Because her heart and body would ache for it. And when that happened, she wouldn't be able to stop. ( End Of Chapter )