Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

As another breeze blows, I close my eyes, savoring the rippling of a brook in the distance, of the rustle of leaves, of the chirping of birds. I breathe the fresh air into my lungs along with the smell of spring.

Magical.

“Utsukushii,” Toshi says.

I eye him curiously. “What does that mean?”

“Beautiful,” he answers in a tone that makes my breath catch as he gazes right into my eyes.

I snort as I throw the water bottle back at him. “How about you teach me another word?”

He catches the bottle with one hand. “What?”

“Liar.”

He gives a sniffle.

“Well?” I place a hand on my hip.

“Usotsuki.”

I cock my head to one side. “Isn’t that what you said earlier?”

“No. What I said a while ago was utsukushii. That means beautiful. Usotsuki means liar.”

“Ha!” I rub my chin. “Funny how they both sound the same.

“Honto ka.”

My eyebrows bunch up. “Now, what does that mean?”

“That what I said was true,” Toshi explains. “I wasn’t lying when I said you were beautiful.”

There goes that intense gaze again, sending a delicious tingle up my spine even as my cheeks grow warm. I can’t help it. I’m a novice when it comes to the flirting game. But I’m liking playing it with him. I find myself imagine taking it further. A touch. A kiss.

I look away.

“How do you say stop?” I ask him, focusing hard on the view, trying to ignore the way my body is so aware of him, of his every move.

“Yamete.”

“Yamete,” I tell him. “Please.”

“Onegai,” he supplies. “That’s what ‘please’ is in Japanese, though if you want to say ‘please stop’, you say yamete kudasai.”

I simply nod, the lesson going too fast now.

“How about let’s just go?” I ask.

“Ikimashou?”

“I meant shall we just go?” I gesture to the trail ahead.

“Oh.”

I let out a sigh as I walk past him. I don’t know how to play these games and truth be told, I’m too scared to try.

I keep walking, glancing after a while to make sure he’s right behind me since he isn’t making a sound. He is so he’s probably just light on his feet. Moving forward, putting one foot in front of the other in silence, I let my thoughts take over once more.