Willow and I continued walking through East Mesa City’s Third Terrace, exploring everything it had to offer. This was similar to the time we spent together in Clear Basin City, but there were several differences between then and now. The biggest was that we weren’t on a mission. Instead, our purpose was simply to spend time together and enjoy ourselves. There wasn’t the sense of urgency that we felt back in Clear Basin City.

Another difference was that we weren’t alone. Not really. After a while, I noticed that we had watchers keeping an eye on us. Three of them, in fact. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who those three were. Not that I blamed them. Willow was the young mistress of Clan Stone Pillar, and I was the young master of Flame Fiend Hall. It would be stranger if we didn’t have people watching over us. As long as they didn’t interfere with our date, I saw no reason to get upset.

For a moment, I considered telling Willow about our watchers. However, I refrained in the end. Given what I knew about her, she had already noticed them as well. And if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t risk ruining her enjoyment of the evening by bringing it up.

For the first few hours, Willow and I browsed through the myriad of shops in the Third Terrace. There were a lot more goods available here compared to Clear Basin City, and they were of a higher quality too. In one of the shops, I bought a silver necklace that matched Willow’s silver lotus hair pin. At first she tried to refuse, but gave in after much insistence on my part. However, she insisted on buying me something in return. In the end, she gave me a golden bracelet etched with intricate designs.

As we walked, we also encountered a few street performers. Similar to the cultivators in Evenfall City, they focused more on cultural pursuits rather than martial arts and mystic arts. Each one attracted a small crowd of people. Two in particular caught my eye.

One was a man who performed tricks with fire. The sight mesmerized me. He moved the flames in such intricate ways that they almost seemed alive. This was something that I would never be able to replicate with my current proficiency. As I watched him perform, my own understanding of Fire rose a little.

The second was a woman who danced while wearing an outfit made from loose silk. Strange jewelry hung from her outfit, which made a pleasant jangle every time she moved. The woman wore a veil that hid the bottom half of her face, leaving only her eyes uncovered. Her movements were sultry and hypnotic. They reminded me of what happened when I danced to my inner rhythm and caught a glimpse of One With The Fist. However, when I noticed that Willow started to get irritated, I stopped watching and moved on.

If this were a normal outing, I would have bought snacks as we walked to satisfy my hunger. However, I had other plans. Yesterday, Ellen told me about the finest restaurant on the Third Terrace, the Lotus House. According to her, not only was it the most expensive restaurant in the city, it was also one of the oldest.

At the time, I thought that was her way of hinting to me that she wanted me to bring her there at some point. However, I suspected that she mentioned it for this exact occasion. Still, I made a mental note to do something special for Ellen. She was as important to me as Willow, after all. Given how much she had helped us, she deserved it.

The Lotus House was a beautiful square building with an open air dining room. In the center was a beautiful lotus pond, from which the restaurant derived its name. With my spirit sense, I noticed several arrays focus on just the pond. No doubt, they were there to maintain it and keep it from drying up.

When Willow and I arrived at the Lotus House, a waiter brought us to one of the tables nearest to the pond. To his credit, he didn’t bat an eye when he saw me in my Demon Form. The same couldn’t be said for the restaurant’s other patrons. Most just stared, while others displayed open hostility. I ignored them.

As the waiter led us through the restaurant, I saw that it was designed in such a way so that no matter where one sat, one would always have a view of the lotus pond. It was a beautiful and serene sight that filled one’s mind with peace. Low lighting gave the restaurant a quiet and intimate atmosphere.

After showing us to our table, the waiter took our orders and returned a few moments later with spirit tea. After pouring each of us a cup, the waiter bowed and left. I sipped the tea, and let out a happy hum. It tasted better than most of the teas I had before. Of course, it couldn’t compare to the Starsoul Tea I received from Uncle Jericho, but it wasn’t a fair comparison. After all, he was the hall master of Celestial Warrior Hall. Still, it was delicious. I wondered if I could buy some before we left.

A comfortable silence fell over us, as Willow and I drank our tea and watched the lotus pond.

“I’m glad Ellen told me about this place.” I said, breaking the silence. “I don’t think I would have found this place on my own.”

Willow nodded.

“Yes,” she said, “Big Sis Ellen has been rather helpful.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “More so than I expected. I’m surprised. I thought she would… Well, it doesn’t matter.”

I raised an eyebrow at her.

“Come now,” I said. “Don’t do that. If you’re going to say something, finish it instead of stopping halfway.”

Willow flushed with embarrassment.

“It’s just… I’m ashamed to admit that I expected Big Sis Ellen to be more hostile towards me.” She said. “I thought she would be catty and competitive like the others. Instead, she’s been warm and welcoming.”

I didn’t have to ask who she meant by the others. It was clear that she was referring to Cultivator Harlow and Clarissa. While the three of them got along well enough, as Willow said, there was an element of cattiness and competition between them.

“I am blessed to have someone like her in my life.” I said. “She’s been nothing but accepting of me and my… Quirks.”

Willow smirked.

“You mean your desire to have multiple women?” She asked in a teasing tone.

I nodded.

“That’s part of it, yes.” I said. “And yet, I haven’t done much to show my appreciation for her. I intend to rectify that.”

“Let me help you.” Willow said. “You’re not the only one who wants to show appreciation for Big Sis Ellen.”

My first reaction was to decline her offer, since this was between me and Ellen, but I held my tongue. While Willow wasn’t officially my wife, since we still needed to deal with our respective clans, I considered her part of my family. Shutting her out would just create distance between us, which I didn’t want.

“I would like that.” I said. “Thank you.”

A plan started to form as the two of us discussed how we might show our appreciation for Ellen. We were in the midst of this, when the waiter returned with our food. He brought help, since I ordered a lot. Soon, our table was laden with food. So much so, that I feared it might break under the weight.

This earned us a lot of stares from the other restaurant patrons. These stares turned to looks of disgust when I started eating my food and let out moans of pleasure. I heard some of them mutter about disgusting and perverse demons, but I ignored them.

The meal itself went by without incident. Willow and I didn’t say a word to each other, since we were both too focused on eating. When we finished, I paid the bill and asked the waiter if the tea he served us earlier was for sale. The waiter gave me a knowing smile and said yes. I bought some, before Willow and I left the Lotus House.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

After that, I planned on bringing Willow to another venue for some late night entertainment. However, she had other ideas.

“No more anticipation.” She said, giving me a meaningful look.

I grinned at that, before I brought Willow back to Ellen’s immortal abode. We found it empty. In the kitchen, we found a note saying that everyone would be out for the night and that we had the house to ourselves.

“It seems that Ellen anticipated this.” I said, reading the note.

“How thoughtful of her.” Willow said.

I looked up and our eyes met. A thrill ran down my spine. I reached out towards her. Willow looked at me with nervousness and excitement in her eyes. After a momentary hesitation, she grasped my hand.

I led her to her bedroom. Neither one of us said a word, for fear of ruining the mood. Once we reached Willow’s bedroom and closed the door, the tension between us grew taut. Her face was flushed and her breathing quickened. I wasn’t much better. My demonic nature stirred. I hungered for Willow, and I wouldn’t be satiated until I had her. However, instead of rushing forward, I decided to take my time.

I pulled Willow towards me, before cupping her face in my hands. Rather than kiss her right away, I studied her features, drinking in the sight of her. Willow seemed embarrassed by this, but made no move to hide or pull away. It appeared that she planned on letting me take the lead for our first time together.

After a few minutes of this, I reached up to kiss her. Willow leaned down to meet me halfway. We both let out quiet moans when I lips met. Unlike our kiss from earlier, this one was slow and sensual. She felt warm and soft. I brushed my tongue against her lips, and she opened her mouth to let me in.

As we kissed, I guided Willow to her bed and sat her down. Afterwards, I reached over to undress her. However, Willow grabbed my hands and stopped me. We pulled apart.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “It’s just… I’m afraid. What if you find me lacking? I don’t want to disappoint you.”

I brought Willow’s hands to my mouth and kissed both of them.

“Only a fool would find you lacking.” I said. “You could never disappoint me.”

Willow looked at me with a vulnerable expression on her face, before she let go of my hands. With the utmost care, I resumed undressing her. First, I started with her jewelry before moving on to her clothing. It took some time, since her dress was more complicated than I realized. A part of me wanted to rip it apart, like a brute, but I refrained.

Soon, I removed the top part of Willow’s dress and exposed the upper half of her body. Her face turned bright red, but she made no attempt to hide herself from my scrutiny. I had already seen most of this before, since Willow’s usual attire didn’t hide much. However, it still felt like exploring new territory.

“You’re beautiful.” I said as I took in the sight of her, sounding a little breathless.

Willow closed her eyes and swallowed.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

I leaned forward and kissed her once again. What followed after that was a night of slow and gentle lovemaking. Thanks to the nights I spent with Ellen, as well the disciples of Flowering Blossom Palace, I was well versed in how to pleasure a woman. I used everything I learned for Willow’s sake. From the sounds she made, my efforts paid off. I couldn’t help but feel pleased by this. Of course, I made sure not to neglect my own needs.

The two of us were cultivators, so our stamina far surpassed that of mortals. We kept going through the night, and only stopped an hour before dawn. Afterwards, we held one another and fell asleep in each others’ arms.

----------------------------------------

It was late morning by the time I woke up, with Willow in my arms. It was a bit awkward, due to the size difference between us, but I didn’t mind. Instead, I felt nothing but contentment and satisfaction. The night we spent together had been years in the making, and I never planned on letting Willow go.

I spent the next few minutes just laying there, basking in the sensation. Willow let out soft snores as she slept, which I found adorable. She was one of the cutest people I knew. However, due to her appearance and how people judged her for it, she hid the feminine side of her. I intended to coax it out of her, little by little, so she no longer felt the need to hide that part of herself.

Then again, the greedy part of me wanted to keep that side of Willow hidden. Instead of sharing it with others, I wanted to keep it all to myself. Why should I let others know just how cute she was? However, I paid little attention to that part. I didn’t want to constrain Willow or cage her. That would only kill her spirit. I wanted her to soar.

My musings were interrupted when Willow stirred. She twisted around in order to face me.

“Good morning.” She murmured, a sleepy smile on her face.

I gave her a brief kiss on the lips.

“Good morning, Dear.” I said.

Willow’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed red.

“Dear…” she muttered, as if testing the word out. “Yes, I like the sound of that.” She gave me a bright smile. “Last night was amazing. I can see why some people let their lust get the better of them.” Her smile turned mischievous. “Is every man as proficient in bed as you are?”

I felt a surge of jealousy and narrowed my eyes at you.

“Does it matter?” I asked in a dark tone. “I’m the only man you’ll ever be with.”

Willow nuzzled my cheek, which eased my jealousy somewhat.

“Sorry,” she said, “I was just teasing. Of course, you’ll be the only man I’ll ever be with. You’re my husband, or soon-to-be husband.” She paused. “Though, I have to ask. What about other women? Not just any women, mind you. I mean your other wives.”

I took a moment to mull it over. That was something that had never occurred to me. However, I wasn’t against the idea. In fact, the thought of my wives seeking pleasure with one another stirred my demonic nature. Maybe I was a degenerate, as people kept calling me. Then again, I was a demon of hunger and desire. It was in my nature.

“Huh.” I said. “I’m not sure. Are you interested in women?”

Willow looked thoughtful.

“I don’t think so.” She said. “The idea never occurred to me before. However, I wouldn’t mind testing it out with Big Sis Ellen.”

The image of Ellen and Willow sleeping together popped into my head. My body surged with arousal, which Willow noticed.

“Someone likes that idea.” She said, her tone laced with amusement.

However, jealousy and possessiveness accompanied my arousal.

“I’m not against it,” I said, looking her straight in the eyes, “As long as you remember that you are mine.”

Willow stared back into my eyes, her gaze steady.

“I will,” She said in a solemn voice, “As long as you keep to your own rules and don’t cheat on us. No sleeping with anyone that doesn’t meet our approval.”

I snorted.

“Of course.” I said. “I may be greedy and selfish, but I’m not stupid. Why would I risk losing you or Ellen?”

Though, now that I thought about it, Ellen might forgive me if I broke my own rules. However, I didn’t want to take her for granted. Not only that, but I knew that Willow wouldn’t.

“Even if it meant giving up Cultivator Harlow and Cultivator Clarissa?” Willow asked.

I stilled at that.

“You wouldn’t stop me from being with them, would you?” I asked in a plaintive tone.

Willow glared at me for several seconds, before she burst out into laughter.

“By the ancestors,” she said. “You should have seen your face. I can’t believe how panicked you looked at the idea of giving up on Cultivator Harlow and Cultivator Clarissa.” She pinched my cheek. “You’re adorable.”

Embarrassed that I fell for her trick, I swatted her hand away.

“Don’t worry,” Willow said, “If they really mean that much to you, I won’t withhold my approval.” She paused. “I might make Cultivator Harlow work for it, but I won’t stand in the way if the two of you truly want to be together.”

“Thank you.” I said, feeling more than a little relieved. “And… I’m sorry.”

Willow snorted, before pulling me into an embrace.

“Don’t apologize.” She said. “I knew what I was getting into when I decided to be with you.”

The two of us remained like that for several minutes, before Willow started caressing my body.

“You know,” she said in a sultry voice, “We could continue what we started last night. As far as I know, neither of us have anything urgent to do. Why not spend the day in bed?”

I chuckled at that.

“I thought I was supposed to be the demon of hunger and desire here.” I said.

Willow grinned.

“It appears that you corrupted me,” she said, “Because right now, the only thing I desire is you.”

I thought about it for a moment. Why not spend one more day together? We were going to be busy preparing to enter the Violet Desert hidden realm over the next several weeks. Why not enjoy ourselves while we could?

“Very well.” I said.

I kissed her, or tried to at least. However, before I could, Willow pushed me onto my back and straddled me. She loomed over me, caging me with her body.

“Oh no.” Willow said. “This time, I’m in charge.”

With that, Willow proceeded to have her way with me for the rest of the day.