Chapter 113-Favorite pastime

Chapter 113: 113-Favorite pastime

"No?"

The way he asked that tore her mask off completely. Aymara wanted to know what manual Nathaniel was using to attack her. Every point hit the nail on the head.

"Perhaps only half a day," she admitted, darting her eyes away.

Nathaniel sighed dramatically. "How generous of you."

She laughed despite herself. Then, after a brief silence, she squeezed his hand.

"I’ll try," she promised.

It wasn’t an easy promise to make. Her memories of Dylan and Sarah had left wounds that could not be erased simply because Nathaniel had offered her reassurance.

She knew that fear could return unexpectedly, especially when she least wanted it to but she could try.

She could learn to trust Nathaniel without forcing herself to forget everything she had endured.

And perhaps, one day, she would no longer feel the need to prepare for betrayal whenever someone offered her affection.

Nathaniel lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss against her knuckles.

"That’s all I ask."

Aymara’s heart fluttered and then she remembered something.

She abruptly sat up straighter and turned toward his smartwatch. "Wait."

Nathaniel looked at her. "What is it?"

"Can Roa hear and record everything we’ve been saying?"

A brief silence followed. Nathaniel’s expression became suspiciously innocent.

Aymara’s stomach dropped. "Nathaniel," her cheeks turned red again.

"Yes, sweetheart?" he played even innocent while enjoying how cute she looked.

"Answer me."

He glanced at the watch. "Roa, are you still connected?"

"Affirmative, Master. I have maintained the connection throughout the conversation."

Aymara froze. She desperately wanted to jump off the ship and be devoured by beasts. Nathaniel would never let her live down that moment, it was in record.

Nathaniel immediately covered his mouth, but the laughter escaped anyway.

"YOU!"

She snatched the cushion from his lap and struck his shoulder with it. "Why didn’t you tell me?!"

"You didn’t ask!"

"You knew I was embarrassing myself!"

"I was under the impression that you were having an important conversation with me."

"You..."

"Would you like me to disconnect Roa?" he asked, struggling to maintain a straight face.

"Yes!"

"Roa, disconnect."

"Connection terminated."

Aymara stared at the now-silent watch, then slowly turned toward Nathaniel.

He smiled at her and she smiled back and for one brief, dangerous second, the room fell silent and then Aymara lunged for him.

Nathaniel barely had time to put down the watch before she grabbed his arm and began shaking him.

"You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met!"

He laughed, leaning away from her as carefully as his body allowed. "And yet, you seem very determined to keep me despite knowing this."

"Unfortunately, I’ve already invested too much in you!"

"Ah. So I’m an investment?"

"A very expensive one!" she said with a puff of her blushing cheeks.

"Then I hope the returns are satisfactory," he said with suggestion in his tone.

Aymara stopped shaking him. Their eyes met as the suggestion settled in.

The teasing words lingered between them, but something warmer settled into the silence that followed. Nathaniel’s smile softened, and his gaze drifted briefly to their joined hands.

"I’m afraid I’m not very good at offering you anything in return," he said quietly. "Not yet."

Aymara’s expression changed. She knew what he meant. Nathaniel had been trying to contribute in every way he could, using his technical knowledge and resources to help strengthen their survival.

Yet beneath his efforts lay a concern he rarely voiced directly: the fear that his frail body made him a burden.

She moved closer and placed both hands on his cheeks. "Who told you that you have nothing to offer me?"

"No one."

"Good because whoever says such nonsense deserves to be thrown into the ocean."

Nathaniel smiled faintly.

Aymara gently rubbed her thumbs over his cheeks.

"You’ve already given me something precious," she continued. "You make me feel like I can finally breathe without worrying about what someone will demand from me next. You don’t ask me to become someone else to deserve your affection. You don’t make me feel guilty for wanting things, and you don’t punish me for being afraid."

Her voice softened. "And when I’m with you, I don’t feel as though I have to earn the right to be loved."

Nathaniel went completely still. For a moment, he seemed unable to find an answer.

Aymara smiled at him, though her own eyes had begun to sting. "So stop worrying about whether you’re giving me enough. If I want something from you, I’ll tell you. And if I want to spoil you, I’ll do that too. You don’t get to decide that you’re a burden simply because you can’t do everything yourself."

Nathaniel swallowed. "Mara..."

"Besides," she added, deliberately brightening her tone, "you built Roa. You have an entire underwater bunker filled with advanced technology. You can coordinate repairs, monitor ships, and probably take over half the world’s remaining computer systems if you put your mind to it."

"Probably not half the world..."

"Don’t interrupt my praise," Aymara pinched his cheek playfully.

He laughed softly. "Fine. I’ll accept your generous exaggeration."

"Thats a much better attitude."

She leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "And for the record, I don’t need you to become some invincible man who can fight a hundred enemies with his bare hands. I just need you to stay alive."

The smile on Nathaniel’s face faded into something tender. He lifted his arms and drew her into a careful embrace, holding her against his chest.

"I intend to," he whispered.

Aymara rested her cheek against him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Outside their secure vessel, the ocean remained dangerous. The heatwave continued to trouble survivors, and the mutated creatures lurking beneath the water were growing increasingly aggressive.

Somewhere beyond their surveillance range, hostile people were making plans that neither of them yet understood.

But for the moment, they were safe and Aymara wanted to treasure every second of that safety.

Until Nathaniel spoke again. "Although, there is one thing I would like you to do for me."

She immediately lifted her head. "What is it?"

"Since you were so concerned about Roa taking my attention away from you, perhaps you could make it up to me."

Aymara eyed him warily. "Make it up to you how?"

He smiled. "Stay with me a little longer tonight."

She blinked. That was all? After everything he had done to torment her, she had expected something much worse.

"That’s your request?"

"Yes."

"You could have asked for a kiss."

Nathaniel’s eyebrows rose. "Would you have given me one wish?"

Aymara’s face warmed. "Don’t push your luck."

He chuckled, and she leaned forward to press a quick kiss against his cheek before he could say anything else.

"There. That’s your compensation. Now stop talking."

Nathaniel touched his cheek, looking remarkably pleased. "I see. Perhaps I should lose more games in the future."

Aymara immediately pulled away. "Absolutely! From now on, I’m winning every single time!"

"Even if I ask you to let me win?"

"Especially then!"

His laughter followed her as she grabbed the controllers and returned to her place on the sofa.

She was determined to reclaim her dignity through victory. Unfortunately, she had underestimated one very important thing.

Nathaniel had just discovered that teasing her was far more entertaining than winning any racing game.

And he had absolutely no intention of giving up his new favorite pastime.