Chapter 784: Maya: Don’t Tickle Me… I Can’t Hold It
Chapter 784: Maya: Don’t Tickle Me… I Can’t Hold It
Rachel’s eyes fluttered open. She pushed herself up slightly on one elbow and looked between me and the entrance of the shelter where Maya still stood, clearly uncomfortable.
"Dexter... help Boss. What are you thinking, just sitting there? Can’t you see she’s waiting?"
I nodded, got to my feet, and walked over to Maya. She was standing with her thighs pressed tightly together, her face still burning with embarrassment, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in small, restless movements.
Without a word, I moved toward the dying fire, found a suitable length of wood, and carefully bound a still-glowing piece of charcoal to the end of it so it could serve as a makeshift torch. Once the light was steady, I turned back to her.
"Aunt Maya, let’s go. The sooner we finish, the sooner you can come back and rest."
Maya gave a small, embarrassed nod and followed me away from the shelters. The soft glow of the torch pushed back the darkness just enough to light the path between the trees.
We had only walked a short distance when she suddenly reached over and pinched my waist hard.
I sucked in a sharp breath and put on a pained expression.
"Hss...! What was that for this time?"
Maya glared up at me, her voice low and sharp with lingering jealousy even as she kept her thighs pressed together.
"You didn’t do anything with Rachel while I was gone, did you? Don’t lie to me."
I stopped walking and turned to face her fully, keeping my tone calm and serious.
"Didn’t you see for yourself? We were just lying there quietly the whole time. And I clearly promised you I wouldn’t touch Rachel until we’ve made things clear between us. I keep my word."
Through my mind-reading ability, her internal reaction came through at once, softer than her outward expression.
[It’s good... At least he has some conscience... He didn’t break the promise the moment I turned my back...]
I studied her face for a moment, then asked quietly,
"Aunt Maya... have you thought about it properly?"
Maya blinked, pretending not to understand even though her ears were already turning pink.
"Thought about what? You’re being vague again."
"About us," I pressed gently. "About what you said earlier. About whether you’re willing to be with me."
She was silent for a few steps, the torchlight flickering across her flushed face. Her hands fidgeted at her sides. Finally, she spoke, her voice small but steady, though still laced with worry.
"...I... I agree to be with you. I’ve already decided that much. But I still can’t face Rachel and your mom like this. I’m too ashamed. What would they think of me if they knew? And Rachel... she would hate me. She would look at me like I stole something from her."
I reached out and gave her hand a light, reassuring squeeze.
"Leave all of that to me. I’ll handle the conversations. You don’t have to carry it alone."
Maya shot me a warning look, though there was less steel in it than before.
"You better. If you make a mess of this... if you hurt her or make everything worse... I won’t forgive you. I mean it."
We continued walking a little farther into the quieter part of the trees. After a moment I slowed my steps and glanced at her with a deliberately mischievous expression, even taking a small step back as if I were a bashful young woman.
"Then... do you still need to pee? Or was that just an excuse to pull me out here alone in the middle of the night?" I lowered my voice in exaggerated suspicion. "You’re not planning to take advantage of me out here in the dark... are you, Aunt Maya?"
Maya’s eyes flashed. She spun toward me and started lightly hitting my chest with both hands, her face scarlet.
"You brat...! You dare tease me like this after I came to you for help?! See how I deal with you...!"
I put on an exaggerated pained look, hunching my shoulders under her light blows.
"Ouch...! Aunt Maya, that hurts... You’re surprisingly strong when you’re embarrassed..."
The moment the words left my mouth, Maya’s expression changed. She immediately stopped hitting me, looking genuinely worried as she peered up at my face.
"Did I hurt you? I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to hit that hard. You always make me lose my temper with that mouth of yours..."
I couldn’t hold the act any longer. A low chuckle escaped me as I reached up and lightly tapped the tip of her nose with one finger, still teasing her.
"I was just teasing you. You’re cute when you get flustered."
Maya stared at me for a second, then let out a small, flustered huff and looked away, the mix of embarrassment, relief, and residual jealousy still plain on her face.
We started walking again. The forest was quiet except for the soft crackle of the torch and the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot.
After a short while, I glanced sideways at her and noticed she was still walking with her thighs pressed firmly together, her steps a little shorter and more careful than usual. A mischievous idea formed in my mind.
Without warning, I reached over and began lightly tickling her side with my free hand, fingers dancing along her waist and the sensitive spot just above her hip.
Maya’s body jerked violently. A sharp, panicked sound escaped her as she twisted away from my hand, both arms clamping down to protect her sides.
"D-Don’t...! Stop it...! Aah—! I’m serious... don’t tickle me...!"
I only grinned and continued the light, relentless tickling, chasing the spots she tried to shield.
"Why not? You’re even cuter when you’re trying not to laugh... or is it that you can’t handle it right now?"
Maya’s face turned an even deeper red. She glared at me with watery, desperate eyes while still trying to keep her thighs locked tightly together, her voice rising in genuine panic.
"Don’t...! I mean it...! I can’t hold it...! If you keep tickling me, I really won’t be able to hold it anymore...! Stop... please... aah...! Dexter...!"
She kept twisting and trying to push my hand away, her breathing growing shorter and more frantic, the urgent need she had been carefully controlling now pushed right to the edge by the relentless tickling.
Every little jolt threatened to break her control completely, and the glare she shot me was equal parts anger, embarrassment, and pure desperation as she fought to keep from losing the battle right there among the trees.
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