Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord

Jessica nearly choked. "What?! How—how did you even get this? Do you know how expensive it is?"

Jayden gave a sheepish smile. "I've been saving since rehab. We get allowances too, you know." he said.

Jessica narrowed her eyes instantly, s. "You're lying. You promised you wouldn't

lie to me again."

Jayden sighed. "I sold some beast corpses. Restaurants pay a lot for exotic meat." he said. But that was only half true.

He had sold all the beast corpses in his inventory along with some E-Rank crystals he deemed useless. The money he got plus the one that remained from his earlier contract was what he used to purchase the diamond necklace.

Jessica's mouth parted in awe. "You did that for me?" she muttered softly.

Jayden shrugged, downplaying it. "Don't worry about it. Here, let me put it on you." he said, stretching out his palm.

Jessica's eyes softened as she handed him the necklace. Jayden took it carefully. Then Jessica turned, exposing the graceful line of her neck. His fingers brushed her skin as he fastened the chain, sending sparks down her spine. Jessica shivered, biting back a smile.

When she turned back, the diamond rested against her collarbone like a droplet of light. She touched it with trembling fingers, eyes shining. "It's beautiful. Thank you, Jayden."

Jayden lifted a hand to her cheek, his thumb stroking gently. "You don't have to thank me. You deserve it."

Jessica leaned into his touch, her own hand rising to his face. "I love you." she whispered.

Jayden's heart clenched. "I love you too." he whispered back, before raising her chin to bring her face closer to his. Jessica's heart thumped loudly as she closed her eyes, waiting for the magic to happen.

Then, their lips met, soft at first, then deeper... a kiss heavy with everything unsaid. When they broke apart, their foreheads pressed together, the world reduced to the rhythm of their breaths and the unspoken language in their eyes.

Above them, the stars burned quietly, witnesses to a moment that belonged to no one else but them.

After a long while of emotions and connections, Jayden finally stood, brushing the dust from his hands. "Alright, birthday girl," he said softly, glancing at Jessica who was still gazing at the stars. "Let's get you off this roof before you decide to sleep up here."

Jessica pouted playfully but rose to her feet. "Fine," she teased, "But you have to admit, it's the best view in the house."

Jayden smirked. "Not really. My view's been sitting beside me all night."

Jessica's lips curved into a smile at that, and she gave him a light shove. "Corny."

"True," Jayden admitted.

They moved together to the edge of the roof. Jessica hopped lightly down onto the balcony, her heels clicking against the railing as she balanced before stepping onto the floor. Jayden followed, landing beside her with effortless grace.

Inside, the room was quiet and faintly cool, the moonlight spilling across the floor from the balcony glass. Jayden moved ahead, walking her toward his door like a gentleman, his hand brushing hers every now and then as though testing whether to hold it or not.

When they reached the door, Jayden leaned forward and turned the knob, opening it for her. "Here we are," he said softly, motioning for her to step out.

But Jessica didn't move right away.

She lingered at the threshold, one hand resting lightly on the frame, the other brushing the diamond pendant at her chest. She turned back to him, her eyes shimmering in the low light. "Thank you," she said, her voice warm and hushed.

Jayden tilted his head. "For what?"

"For tonight. For this." She held the pendant gently between her fingers, the crystal catching the glow from the city beyond the balcony. "You made my birthday a memorable one."

Jayden smiled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I think that gratitude belongs to Cassie. She's the one who rented out an entire club just for you." he chuckled.

Jessica laughed softly. "True. Cassie made my night... but you—" she looked at him with a smile that softened into something heavier, "You made my whole day. This morning, all I wanted was more time with you. And somehow, I got it. From breakfast to the arcade, to the club, to now... and it feels like my wish came true."

Jayden's chest tightened at her words, a warmth blooming inside him. He swallowed. "I'm glad too," he said honestly. "If I could... I'd make every day like this."

Jessica smiled wryly, her eyes dipping down for a moment before meeting his again. "I wish it didn't have to end."

Jayden's lips curved. "Yeah... me too." he muttered, and they stared at each other in silence, both unsure of what to say next.

Then finally, Jessica stepped out into the hallway at last, pausing only to whisper, "Goodnight, Jayden."

"Goodnight, Jessica," Jayden murmured back, his gaze following her as she began to walk away.

He closed the door gently and leaned against it, exhaling. But the silence didn't last long. His mind replayed the roof, the kiss, the way her lips had felt under his, how he had held himself back both in the morning and again tonight. He wanted her. He had wanted her then, and he wanted her now.

His fingers brushed over his lips absentmindedly, heat burning low in his chest. He debated going after her, but that was pointless... He was already turning to open the door.

The door creaked open, Jayden's hand still on the knob, his chest rising and falling faster than it should.

And there she was.

Jessica.

Frozen in place, her fist raised mid-air, about to knock. The corridor light spilled against her figure, outlining the curves of her body beneath her slim dress. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, just as his did seeing her there. For a moment, neither of them breathed.

"Jessica..." his voice came low, rough, almost a whisper.

Her eyes flickered.. down to his lips, back to his eyes.. and there was no mistaking it, the same fire burning in him was alive in her too. Her face carried the same look he imagined was etched on his own: desire, hesitation, and something dangerous simmering underneath.

"Hi," she said, her voice husky, quiet, as though afraid to break the spell.

Jayden's lips parted. "...Hi." he replied, taking a step forward, his eyes lost in hers.

And as if mirroring him, Jessica took a step forward as well.

But that was all it took.

The fragile string of restraint between them snapped.

They surged toward each other like magnets, their mouths crashed together in a heated kiss that tasted like relief and hunger all at once, Jessica's hands flying up to clutch at the back of his neck, Jayden's arms wrapping tightly around her waist to drag her against him. She gasped softly into his mouth, the sound spurring him further as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving against hers with a fever he'd been holding back all day.

Jessica broke the kiss only for a second, whispering breathlessly, "You didn't think I was gonna let the night end just like that, did you?"

Jayden's golden eyes gleamed faintly in the dim corridor light as he smirked, his forehead resting against hers. "Honestly? I was hoping you wouldn't."

Then he kissed her again, harder, hungrier... there was no hesitation. No holding back. No restraint.

Their kiss deepened, lips parting, tongues meeting in a desperate dance that sent heat flooding through them. Jessica whimpered softly against his mouth, the sound nearly undoing him.

Jayden pressed her back against the wall just outside his door, caging her in with his body. His palm rested at her waist, his thumb brushing dangerously close to her hipbone through the fabric of her dress. Jessica arched into him, nails grazing the back of his neck, urging him closer.

"Jayden..." she breathed against his lips, her voice trembling but laced with want.

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his golden irises glowing faintly in the dim light, betraying the storm inside him. "Do you... want this?"

Jessica's gaze was molten, unwavering. "I came back, didn't I?" she whispered, her hand trailing down to his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heart beneath her palm.

That was all the permission he needed.

He kissed her again, harder this time, his hand sliding up her back, pressing her against him as though to erase the space that dared exist between them. Their breaths mingled, ragged and uneven, the world shrinking until it was only them—the taste of her lips, the scent of her skin, the heat of her body.

Jessica tugged at his shirt, fingers curling into the fabric, pulling him inside the room without breaking the kiss. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them away from everything else.

Jayden stumbled backward until the back of his knees hit the bed, causing him to fall on the mattress with his butt. Jessica still in his arms, their lips fused. She climbed onto him, straddling his lap, her dress riding up slightly as her knees pressed into the mattress.

Her lips left his for a heartbeat, only to trail along his jaw, down to his neck. Jayden hissed through his teeth, his fingers flexing at her waist, gripping her as though she were the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Jessica..." he murmured, half a plea, half a warning, his voice breaking under the weight of desire.

She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze again, her lips swollen from their kisses, her eyes glassy with fire. "Don't stop this time," she whispered.

Jayden nodded. He wasn't planning to.