Chapter 182: A Moment of Peace (4)

He never thought that the beautiful woman he had met barely a day ago would now lie helplessly in his lap while he got to devour that amazing pair of breasts of hers.

Soon...

The only sound left in the cave was the slurping, sucking sound and Aria’s melodic gasps.

And after some time, Aria’s face had melted with intoxication.

She looked up at the ceiling with hazy eyes while she hugged the head of the man still sucking and biting her breasts.

"Haa... haaa..."

The thick bulge against her abdomen twitched hard.

She bit her lip as he lightly bit her stiffened nipple, eyes wet, and held his head there tighter.

After satisfied, Jake finally pulled back with a wet sound.

A thin string of saliva stretched from her swollen nipple to his lips before it broke.

Aria looked down at him, dazed.

Both of her shapely breasts were wet now, flushed, nipples slick and shining in the gold light.

Jake stared at the amazing sight for a second, breathing rough.

Then Aria slowly leaned forward again.

She did it the same way she had before... clumsy, hungry, like a needy cat that had already decided where it wanted to stay.

Her tongue brushed his cheek first.

Then she kissed his chin, missed his mouth again, and made a small frustrated sound before finding his lips.

Jake simply just let her.

Her bare, wet breasts flattened against his chest as she kissed him.

Simultaneously, Jake observed the woman who was holding onto him.

She was beautiful, shaken, and clumsy.

Then, unexpectedly, his thoughts became clear.

’That’s it. She’s going to be the next member of my crew!’

It wasn’t just her stunning looks, of course.

Aria was indeed beautiful... soft to the touch and with a neediness that stirred his passion.

He found himself growing fond of her. But her appearance alone wasn’t the sole reason for his feelings.

It was her potential.

Jake still remembered.

Aria was like him.

She had two classes, and one of them was a unique class too.

Even if that unique class turned out useless in the end, Jake was confident he could make her powerful with time.

His [Bonds Captain] had already changed Grace.

If Aria tied herself to him the same way, that second class would not stay buried.

Jake’s hand stayed on her waist as his eyes turned serious.

Aria kissed his chin again, unaware of how hard he was thinking.

Then Jake took his hand off that soft breast and set it on her delicate shoulder, pausing her.

Aria blinked at the sudden stop.

A sense of unease filled her chest even though her face stayed almost the same.

"What’s wrong...?" she asked, worried.

"Did I do something wrong? Please tell me so I can change. P-Please don’t discard me..."

Jake was somewhat taken aback by the sudden surge of panic.

The intense warmth from just moments before lingered, but beneath it, a more primal emotion surfaced: fear.

It was the fear of someone who had already experienced profound disappointment and abandonment.

’It seems she has some history...’

Jake already knew that most trash-class holders did not have an easy time in this world.

His experience with Grace had taught him that. Which meant this composed, beautiful young woman must have suffered in one way or another.

Considering that, Jake’s expression became gentler.

He maintained his hand on her shoulder and spoke with resolve.

"Aria," he said, "Whatever is going through your mind at this moment, it’s not what you think. I simply want you to listen to what I have to say for a moment."

He even leaned in and kissed her cheek softly to reassure her.

Aria’s fingers stayed clenched in his shirt as she felt his lips.

"...Hear you out?"

"Yes."

Jake held her gaze.

"I’m not stopping because you did something wrong. And I’m not about to throw you away after going this far."

Jake’s thumb brushed her shoulder.

"I paused because I need a clear answer from you."

At those words, Aria paused before nodding softly, the fear inside her chest loosening.

Jake looked at the flushed, half-naked woman in his lap with wet breasts and swollen lips.

Although her face showed no emotion, he could tell from her frightened eyes and carefully chose his next words.

"Once we escape this place, I’d like you to join me. My plan is to sail the seas, and I want you as part of my crew. You won’t be treated as a disposable maid, but as my comrade and also my... woman. Do you understand what I’m proposing?"

Aria went still.

The cave was quiet except for their breathing.

’Crew... Comrade... Woman...’

Three words landed one after another, and for a moment Aria did not seem to know which one to hold onto first.

Her hands tightened in his shirt.

"...Your woman," she repeated, voice small.

Jake did not look away.

"Yes. All of it. And I won’t sugarcoat it up. I want you on my ship, at my side, and in my bed. If you don’t want that, say it now."

Aria’s eyes flickered with a tremor.

While fear lingered, another emotion surged forward: a relief so intense it could be mistaken for pain.

She leaned in, her forehead resting against his as her damp eyelashes brushed his skin.

"...I want it," she whispered.

Jake felt the tension in his chest dissipate..

Aria swallowed, then repeated her words more clearly this time.

"I wish to accompany you. I no longer desire to be a maid. If you would accept me as part of your crew... as your woman... I will not have any regrets."

Jake’s hand moved from her shoulder to the back of her neck, and he said,

"Then it’s decided."

Aria nodded against him.

For the first time, a small, happy smile appeared on her usually serious face, and she couldn’t help but kiss the corner of his mouth.

"...Please don’t take it back later."

Jake kissed her properly.

"I won’t."

With that—

[Ding!]

[Aria Fragarach has met the requirements!]

[Ding!]

[Congratulations! Aria Fragarach has become your crewmate!]

[Crew (Pirate): 2]

Jake smiled at the windows.

The fear in Aria’s eyes vanished.

What remained was affection... wet, open, and locked onto him, as if she had already chosen her place.

He leaned back against the stone and looked at her.

Then he grinned, lewd and sudden, as if the serious talk had never happened.

"Ehem. And Aria..."

She blinked.

"As celebration for becoming my crew," Jake said, voice dropping, "there’s a tradition."

Then Jake leaned in and whispered near her ear in detail.

Aria’s composed face barely changed, but her ears went red as she bit her lower lip.

"...I understand."

She got off his lap.

Slowly, she knelt in front of him, between his spread legs.

The gold light from the orb fell across her bare shoulders and wet breasts as she looked up at him from the cave floor.

Jake’s hand rested on her hair.

Then Aria’s fingers went to his belt.

Her voice was quiet, but steady.

"Then... I’ll do the tradition properly."

Jake’s smile remained as Aria’s fingers unbuckled his belt, the leather loosening with a quiet click.

Meanwhile, Jake kept his hand in her hair, gently stroking and patting it, and he couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

He thought to himself, ’I never imagined I would acquire another crew member in this manner...’

Not only does she have two classes, but she is also an incredibly beautiful woman.

It seemed that even in the midst of disaster, there was always some element of good fortune.

He then let a wry smile, adding, ’But I need to ensure both of us make it out of here alive to fully appreciate the advantage.’

Filled with curiosity, he then decided to check her status.

However, his smile abruptly vanished, replaced by a frown.