Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 723 – Jealousy isn’t in My Dictionary

Lux came out of the portal and he was already in his mansion again. His room to be exact.

The air here felt different. Warm. Dense. Safe.

Not like the Celestial realm.

Up there everything had smelled like polished marble and old divinity. Ozone. Holy incense. The faint metallic tang of judgment. Every word weighed. Every pause recorded. Every breath monitored.

He exhaled slowly.

Based on the clock glowing on the far wall, it was past dinner already. Way past. Almost midnight.

Hell.

When he came back from the Celestial realm, it was already late evening. Dinner had passed. He should have messaged. Called. Something.

Except.

He didn’t bring his phone.

Because mortal phones did not function in the Celestial realm. Signal interference from divine architecture. He had assumed the meeting would be quick. A controlled appearance. A statement. A power play.

Instead, he got interrogated.

Not violently.

Okay, half violently.

But mostly politically.

Which was worse.

He loosened his collar as he stepped forward into his room.

He thought maybe he would grab some snacks later. Something light. A small dinner. Maybe ask the kitchen to prepare something neutral.

But first.

Shower.

He didn’t want to think.

Not about the royal trace flare. ℴℴ𝘮

Not about the way Celestaria’s breathing shifted when he mentioned sovereign override.

Blank.

He needed blank.

He stripped efficiently and stepped under the hot water. Steam rose immediately, filling the marble shower chamber. The sound of water hitting stone echoed softly. He leaned one hand against the wall and closed his eyes.

Just heat.

Just pressure.

Just water running down his back.

He forced his mind to shut up.

No calculations.

No projections.

No contingency charts.

Just skin. Heat. Breath.

Ten minutes later he stepped out with a towel slung low around his hips. His hair was still damp, dark strands clinging to his forehead and neck. Water traced down his collarbone, over defined abs, disappearing beneath white fabric.

He moved toward the wardrobe.

And then a voice came from the dim corner of the room.

”You are home, Lux.”

He froze for half a second.

Rare.

He was usually hyper aware of his surroundings.

”Naomi,” he said, turning. ”You startled me.”

She was sitting on the edge of the armchair near the window. Barefoot. Soft dress that barely reached mid thigh. Her hair loose over her shoulders.

She stood slowly.

”Something happened. Right?”

She walked toward him without hesitation.

He watched her approach.

Her steps were soft against the polished wood floor. The faint scent of her shampoo reached him before she touched him.

”You said you went to the Celestial realm,” she continued. ”But you disappeared all day long. Sira told us about the conference up there. She said you would be fine.”

Her fingers lightly touched his arm.

”But you didn’t even come home for dinner. Now it’s almost midnight.”

She stepped closer.

He could feel the warmth of her body against his still damp skin.

She examined him.

Her gaze slid over his shoulders. His chest. His neck.

”And you don’t look like you’ve been sleeping around either,” she added softly. ”No marks. No scratches.”

She leaned closer.

”But I smell perfume on your clothes.”

Lux’s eyes flickered briefly.

”You are sharp.”

”I am not kidding,” she said firmly. ”Is everything okay?”

He hesitated.

Just a second.

”Yeah,” he said.

It wasn’t a lie.

But it wasn’t the whole truth either.

He turned to the wardrobe and pulled out loose sleep pants. Black. Soft. Comfortable.

Behind him, Naomi’s voice lowered.

”Why do I feel like that’s not true?”

He slipped the pants on, towel dropping to the floor. He didn’t rush. Didn’t hide. He was used to her gaze.

He turned to face her fully.

”What do you think happened?” he asked casually.

She crossed her arms.

”You don’t disappear for twelve hours unless something big happened.”

He stepped closer.

”Big is relative.”

”Lux.”

She reached up and pressed her palm flat against his chest.

Her skin was warm.

His heart was steady.

”Your pulse is calm,” she murmured.

”I regulate it.”

”That’s not what I asked.”

He smiled faintly.

Lobbying mode.

He shifted slightly, closing the remaining distance so that her hand was trapped between their bodies. Not forceful. Just intimate.

”You’re worried,” he said softly.

”Of course I am.”

”About my safety?”

”Yes.”

”Or about who I was with?”

She blinked.

”That’s not fair.”

”Answer me.”

She hesitated.

”...Both.”

He smiled gently.

Honesty.

Good.

He lifted one hand and brushed a damp strand of hair away from her face.

”I had a meeting,” he said. ”It turned into an interrogation.”

”Interrogation?”

”Political,” he clarified. ”Not physical. Okay, half... physical. ”

Her eyes widened slightly.

”They questioned authority traces. Jurisdiction boundaries. Sovereign signatures.”

Her fingers tightened slightly against his chest.

”That sounds dangerous.”

”It was inconvenient.”

She stared at him.

”You almost died before,” she said quietly.

His gaze softened for a second.

”I know.”

”And you went alone.”

”I always go alone.”

She shook her head slightly.

”You don’t have to.”

He studied her face.

The vulnerability in her eyes.

The way she was trying to stay composed.

He leaned down slightly, lowering his voice.

”You think I’m fragile?”

”No.”

”You think I can’t handle it?”

”That’s not what I said.”

He brushed his thumb lightly along her jaw.

”You think I’m reckless.”

She swallowed.

”...Sometimes.”

He chuckled softly.

”I’m calculated.”

Naomi didn’t smile this time.

Her fingers were still resting on his shoulders, but her expression shifted. Softer. Heavier.

”But this doesn’t feel calculated,” she said quietly.

Lux paused.

The playful edge faded just a little.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Naomi held his gaze.

”I know Celestaria,” she continued. ”Selena. Solara. I know the way they look at you.”

He tilted his head slightly.

”They don’t say anything,” she went on, ”but I’m a woman. I know.”

He studied her carefully.

”You jealous?”

She shook her head slowly.

”No. You have several women here already. I know exactly who I’m dating.” She gave him a small, almost tired smile. ”An Incubus CFO. Jealousy isn’t in my dictionary.”