Demonic Po*nstar System

Chapter 1048: Well-Dressed Man

In his room along the guest corridor, Kaiden stood before a mirror while Bastet adjusted the collar of his shirt. Calypso sat on the end of his bed, watching him attempt to leave the buttons alone.

”Darling, you already fastened that one.”

”I know.”

”Were you hoping it would improve if you did it again?”

Kaiden dropped his hand, earning a warm laugh from her.

Bastet smoothed the shirt over his shoulders.

”You look very handsome, Master.”

”Thank you.”

Calypso giggled from the bed.

”You should have seen Choco Kitty inspecting her dress, darling. I’m surprised she let me bring her here.”

”She’s going to be gorgeous, huh?”

”No spoilers,” the demoness purred. ”But yeah. Fucking ravishing.”

”That’s spoilers,” Bastet mused. ”When will you learn the correct terms?”

”Shush.”

Kaiden smiled at them and let Bastet finish with his collar.

”When you see her, you could let her catch you staring,” Calypso suggested.

”True,” the tanned felinid nodded. ”She’s dressing up for you. I’d be terribly upset if you spent all that time admiring the scenery.”

”I don’t think she’s in any danger of that.”

Calypso stood and came to his side, brushing a stray strand of hair away from his forehead.

”I know. You’ve been very good at making us feel wanted.”

Kaiden caught her hand and kissed her knuckles, then drew Bastet close with his other arm.

”I’m truly lucky to have you two.”

Bastet kissed his cheek.

”We know~”

A knock reached them before Calypso could answer. Kaiden released them gently and went to open the door.

Yunohana stood in the corridor with her hair loose over the pale blue dress. Aria had one hand at her back, while Luna peered around Nyx behind them. Alexandra held the little bag Yunohana had apparently forgotten to take from her.

Kaiden’s gaze followed the dark hair down to her bare neck, then farther, to where the neckline curved over her full breasts. The dress drew close at her waist before falling over her hips, and he found himself staring at a figure her loose robes had been far too good at hiding.

’Holy shit...’

She had looked wonderful in those, too. How the hell was he supposed to spend an entire day sitting across from her in this?

The shrine maiden looked up at him.

”Good morning, Kaiden. I hope you...”

She stopped as her gaze traveled over his shirt, then returned to his face.

Kaiden looked back up at her face. He wanted to take her hand and draw her close, feel that soft hair against his cheek again, but all her careful preparation made him hesitate to touch her.

”You look beautiful.”

Yunohana’s smile widened. She glanced down at the dress, smoothing a hand over the waist before meeting his eyes again.

”I’m glad you think so. We took considerable trouble.”

”I can see that. I’m trying very hard to remember to look at your face.”

A delighted giggle escaped her. She stepped closer and straightened a fold beside his collar, taking the opportunity to examine him properly herself.

”You look very handsome yourself. I hope Miss Bastet will forgive me for tampering with her work.”

”At least he has stopped doing it himself,” Bastet replied from behind him.

Yunohana smirked at that, then let her hand slip from his shirt into the one he offered her. Kaiden closed his fingers around hers, delighted by how readily she stepped to his side.

Behind her, Luna gave Calypso a double thumbs-up.

”Your bag, Yunohana,” Alexandra reminded her gently.

”Oh. Thank you.”

Kaiden accepted it before Yunohana could let go of his hand. Aria followed them as far as the entrance, where she kissed his cheek and whispered something to Yunohana that made the shrine maiden laugh nervously.

”Was that another threat?” he asked once they were in the car.

”Advice.”

”About what?”

Yunohana looked out of the window with a smile she made very little effort to conceal.

”A private matter between ladies.”

...

By late morning, Kaiden was following Yunohana down a private boarding ramp toward a white pleasure yacht.

An attendant waited at the bottom with a hand extended. Yunohana thanked him, but took Kaiden’s offered arm as she stepped aboard. Her skirt brushed his leg, and she remained close while the captain welcomed them.

”Everything is ready, Lady Tsukikage. We can depart whenever you wish.”

”Thank you. Shall we, Kaiden?”

He looked up at the shaded deck above them, where a table had been laid beside a long cushioned seat. Beyond it, sunlight glittered across the water.

”I think I could be persuaded.”

”How fortunate. I have already arranged lunch.”

”Then you have me.”

She tightened her arm around his, pleased enough that he caught her smiling before she looked toward the stairs.

The captain stayed below to oversee their departure. Shogunate Circle protectors were aboard with the crew as the yacht pulled away. Yunohana had arranged a private vessel with controlled access, keeping her guests well away from anyone who might wander over to introduce himself.

Kaiden was happy to cooperate. His ribs had recovered considerably better than his opinion of unexpected visitors after what just happened with the vampires.

Upstairs, an attendant drew out Yunohana’s chair. Kaiden waited until she had gathered her skirt, then sat beside her with the little bag resting between their seats.

An entire yacht, servants setting down cool drinks, and a gorgeous woman who had dressed up specifically to spend the day with him.

He was doing rather well for himself.

”Does this belong to you?” he asked.

”To the lineage. I am borrowing it for a very important engagement.”

”Should I have brought a gift?”

”You arrived on time and properly dressed. I am already quite impressed.”

”I don’t think these two things are proportionate.”

”Who is to decide what’s proportionate? Perhaps seeing my date take me seriously and show considerable respect for my person is worth more to me than any worldly possession.” Yunohana smiled and lifted her glass.

A little condensation slipped toward her wrist, and Kaiden passed her the napkin before she could reach across the table for one.

”Thank you.”

She dried her fingers, watching the docks recede beyond his shoulder. The yacht moved smoothly beneath them, carrying them past moored vessels and out toward the wider water.

Kaiden leaned back to enjoy the view. Yunohana’s loose hair lay dark against her pale blue dress, and every time she turned toward him, her earrings caught the light.

He was enjoying that view too.

”You have missed the bridge,” she observed.

”There was a bridge?”

”A rather large one.”

”I’ll catch it on the way back.”

Yunohana set her glass down. He was still watching her, and she turned toward him with a smile that encouraged him to continue.

”Well, then. Since I seem to have your full attention...”

She smoothed her skirt over her knees, quite happy to let his gaze follow her hand.

”Let’s hear it. What is it that you find so difficult to look away from? Indulge me.”

Kaiden took the invitation seriously. His gaze traveled from her loose hair to the bare curve of her neck, lingered over the neckline of her dress, then followed the blue fabric down to her waist.

Yunohana waited, enjoying his attention more with every moment he spent considering her.

When he returned to her face, she raised her eyebrows expectantly.

He remained silent.

Her smile grew curious. She had expected him to take advantage of the invitation immediately, but he was studying her with enough concentration that she began wondering what answer required so much thought.

”...Everything.”

Kaiden met her eyes with complete seriousness, and Yunohana found herself unable to say anything at all.

For a while, they simply looked at each other.

Then she broke into happy laughter, lifting a hand to her mouth as he finally smiled with her.

”I see... You have given me very little detail, yet I am having difficulty imagining a better answer.”

Warmth filled her chest as she reached for his hand, delighted by how earnestly he had answered her little invitation.

”Everything...” she repeated, smiling softly to herself.

She kept his hand until the attendants arrived with lunch.

Yunohana released him to make room for the plates and began explaining the dishes until he picked up the serving spoon beside her hand.

”Which would you like first?”

”Oh, I can-”