Eris is scrubbing my back with the towel, when suddenly, she pauses. I feel her fingers trace a slow line down my spine, sending an unexpected jolt of electricity through me.

“EEEKKK!”

I squeal, completely caught off guard. My heart pounds wildly, thumping in my chest like it’s about to leap out. Instinctively, I jerk away from her touch, my body reacting before I can even think.

Eris freezes, her hand lingering in midair, a soft murmur escaping her lips. “Ah… I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “Your skin… it’s so smooth, I just wanted to feel it. It’s the most perfect skin I’ve ever seen.”

Her words sink in, and I can feel my face heating up, a blush spreading fast across my cheeks. My heart does a little flip at her confession.

“O-ohh…” I stammer, not knowing what to say. My skin still tingles from where her fingers brushed against it, a lingering sensation I can’t seem to shake. The room falls into an awkward silence, thick with unspoken words, and I shift nervously under her gaze.

“S-sorry,” Eris mutters, looking away with a flicker of guilt crossing her face. “If you don’t want me to, I won’t do that again…”

There’s something in her tone that makes my heart ache a little. She sounds disappointed, and sad, as if she’s holding something back.

I glance at her, biting my lip, wondering what to say…

Well, it’s just a touch…

And it’s not like I hated it, right?

Alright…

“It-it’s okay…” I mumble. “You can… touch me… if you want…”

Thus, I lean back ever so slightly, my back brushing against her hand again, trying to show that I’m fine with it.

But this time, Eris gasps softly, her eyes widening as if startled by the contact. She pulls her hand away.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder at her.

“Ah, n-nothing!” Eris stammers, shaking her head as she regains her composure. Then, after a brief pause, she moves closer.

“Well, if you say so… I’ll touch you now!”

“Y-yeah…” I nod, my heart still racing. “But… um, don’t just hover your fingers like that! It tickles too much!” I try to sound playful, hoping to lighten the air between us.

And seems like it’s working.

Her smile widens, turning playful. “Yay!” she giggles, placing her palm flat against my back, this time much more deliberate.

The warmth of her hand spreads slowly across my skin, the roughness of her palm contrasting with my softness. It’s… strangely intimate, and my body reacts immediately.

Ba-dump… ba-dump…

“Oh, your heart’s racing!” Eris teases, her voice low, almost a purr. Her fingers move gently, tracing a light circle against my back.

“I-it’s because you’re still tickling me!” I protest, trying to sound nonchalant, but my voice wavers slightly. The way her hand lingers there, warm and steady, is making me feel things I can’t quite describe.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Suddenly, she leans in a little closer, her breath brushing against my ear. “Mmm… sure, blame it on the tickling.” Her voice drips with mischief, sending another shiver down my spine.

“Eh? W-what do mean by that???” I stammer, trying so hard to suppress the little tremor that runs through me.

But Eris just chuckles. “Just kidding, nothing.”

And for a while, we just stay like that—Eris’s hand tracing gentle patterns on my back, her fingers grazing over my skin like she’s memorizing every inch of it, feeling it, reading it like a book. It feels oddly intimate, like she’s learning something about me in a way that words never could. My breath catches in my throat, but I don’t pull away this time. I let her explore, even though it makes my heart race.

Finally, Eris lets out a soft sigh and goes back to scrubbing.

The towel moves across my back in slow, rhythmic motions, and I relax into her touch once more. The gentle friction of the fabric against my skin feels nice, soothing even.

“You know,” I say after a few moments, trying to break the silence, “you have nice skin too.”

Eris pauses, her hand freezing mid-motion. “Me?”

“Yeah,” I nod. “I like it. Mine’s always so pale… like I’m sick or something. But yours… it looks healthy, and strong, glowing…”

“Hihi, thanks,” she murmurs, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder for a moment.

Yup, her skin might be more rugged than mine, but there’s a beauty in it, a kind of strength that I admire. Despite all the adventuring, the rough training, she’s still delicate in her own way.

After all, she’s just a girl.

Girls are very soft.

“And not just that,” I continue, my eyes trailing over her toned arms, “your body is incredible too! I mean, how did you get those muscles? It’s like you’re perfectly sculpted!”

Eris laughs lightly, shaking her head. “Perfect? Nuh-uh! I think I’m a bit too muscular, honestly. I doubt many people like girls who look this strong.”

“What?” I shake my head in disbelief. “No way! You look amazing!”

Despite having the perfect abs, the perfect toned arms, her figure is still so elegant, so feminine. It’s the perfect contrast between strength and beauty, a mesmerizing contrast. I love it. It’s hot.

Like, really, really hot.

But I just can’t tell her straight like that, can I?

I may sound weird if I say so.

“I see,” Eris says. She pauses for a moment, then continues. “So… you like it? My body?”

Eh???

That once again catches me off guard.

My face heats up again

“W-well, yeah!” I reply, trying so hard to maintain my composure. “It’s the complete opposite of me, right? My arms and legs are like noodles, look!” I say and flex my non-existent muscles in front of her. “And… well, your chest is, uh, way bigger than mine!!!”

Hearing that, Eris chuckles.

“So what? I think your flat chest is cute,” she replies. “Yours is just the perfect size. I love it.”

EH???

I blink, taken aback.

Did she just say… that she loves flat chest?

And most importantly… my chest???

AAAA!!!

My face is burning again!!!

And Eris just grins at my reaction, clearly enjoying the effect her words have on me.

“Well, you know… it’s way easier to move and fight without anything in the way. I’d trade for yours any day!” she adds with a teasing wink.

Oh….

So that’s why she said she loves it…

It makes perfect sense.

However…

SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO WORD IT LIKE THAT!!!

JUST DON’T GET MY HOPE UP LIKE THAT!!!

Now, for the first time, I’m mad. I can feel my eyebrows twitching. This catgirl, I want to bite her so bad right now, for all the pain she’s causing to my heart today!

“Alright, then give me your boobs, I will trade you mine!”

“Deal!” Eris exclaims without hesitation

Haizz…

I sigh to myself

This Eris…

Stupid Eris!

I then spend a few more minutes in grumpy mood.

Well, at least she’s still good at scrubbing back!

Thus, I close my eyes and enjoy the back scrub again, trying to forget about what she just said. But suddenly, Eris leans in and whisper to my ears again.

“You know, you were really cute today. Especially in that pink dress.”

And with that, damn it!

My cheeks heat up again!

“I-I was?” I stammer, turning to face her, wide-eyed.

Eris’s expression softens, her lips curling into a gentle smile. “Yeah,” she says quietly. “You’re the cutest and most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Felicia…”

Her words hit me straight in the chest.

Ba-dump!

….

AAAAAAAAA!!!

I quickly turn away, my face burning brighter than ever.

Then, for a moment, I can’t speak. I don’t know how to respond, but a smile spreads across my face.

I find my self grinning ears to ears uncontrollably, my heart swelling inside my chest like a balloon.