4 Can I Sleep In Your Bed?

The first night in the hotel was quiet. The empty rooms, the dark halls, and only the faintest odor of dinner lingered. Maiko had prepared us all a delectable feast, although the food didn't last long with so many people. And now as I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, I can't help but feel myself shrinking.

'They want to see these girls dead.' Everything I've ever known about monsters was being challenged. Not only did the embassy seem dubious, but I couldn't imagine their true motives for establishing this hotel. 'If they want human supremacy then why play this pretend game of cooperation between races?'

A rhythmic knock on the door in the middle of the night surprised me. Raising myself on the bed, I glanced at the door.

"C-Can I come in?" Maiko's voice called from the other side.

Wondering if something had gone wrong, I got off the bed and made my way to the door. Opening it swiftly, I was met with the sigh of a mature woman dressed in netted, near-transparent pajamas. Her floral white underwear, however, kept most of her assets hidden.

'Crap…' Looking down at myself, I realized that I wasn't wearing a shirt and only the lower half of my body was covered by my night pants. 

Glancing back up at Maiko, I caught her eyes trailing down my chest before stopping to stare at my lower abs. Much like last time, her breaths grew audibly heavy and I could see warm mist emerging from her lips.

"Did you need something?" I asked.

Maiko blinked a few times as she heard my voice, but the moment she looked up, all words left her quivering lips. Her perky ears turned red and a blush of deep red washed over her fair skin. For a moment she stood there as though admiring my silver gaze. Then out of nowhere, she reached for my face with her hands outstretched.

"What are you–" Before I could finish, the weight of her soft body pressing against me reaped the words out of my mouth. Her lips took note of my shock and seized the moment by locking us two in a warm, yet wet kiss. 

Our tongues toiled for a brief moment before Maiko put herself off of her toes. Her hands still held my face as she stared at me with heaving breaths. Pulling herself further away she broke the bridge of lust connecting both of our lips.

"I-I'm sorry! I don't know what took over me!" She yelped, covering her face with her hands.

"It's…" Her taste still lingering in my mouth, I felt at a loss for words. Even so, wiping my lips with my thumb, I grabbed her by the shoulder to ask the same question. "Did you need something?"

Although a bit hesitant, she peeked at me from between her fingers. Her eyes jittered while looking at me, but then her pupils widened in fear in an instant.

"You're not taken, are you?! I'm sorry if you have a girlfriend!" Her worry confused me even more.

"No, don't worry," I assured, but the regret on her face remained.

"Oh my god! Don't tell me that was your first kiss then! I didn't want to ruin it!" Covering her face once more, she began hitting her head with her palm.

"NO!" As I exclaimed, Maiko was shocked straight.

I was growing tired of her childish act despite her being the eldest. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her close. She let out a surprised yelp, but taken by frustration I couldn't care less.

"For the last time, what do you need?" I asked, staring deep into her eyes with a frowning gaze.

Staring back at me her fear mellowed with time, and after just a few seconds she whispered an answer.

"C-can I sleep with you in your bed?" Her eyes turned pleading the moment she uttered those words. "I feel like I can trust you, but I don't think I can trust that overseer lady or–anyone else."

She was afraid of other humans; it was quite clear. Seeing the disparity between Rin who was aggressive and Maiko who was so clumsy made me realize how just like humans there were all kinds of monsters.

"But why me? Why not go to the other girls?" I asked, just to figure out what was going on in her head.

Her lips pursed themselves for a moment before she reached forward and grabbed my right hand. Heaving a sigh, she answered once more.

"Because you feel, warm," lightly pouting, she stared at me with an expectant gaze.

Obviously, she wasn't talking about bodily heat when talking about warmth, or else the fire slime would've been the better fit. However, what warmth she found in me, I really wasn't sure.

"Come in," Pulling her into the room, I shut the door behind us.

A moment passed and the two of us were already lying in bed. Our eyes stared at the ceiling together while storms brewed inside our heads. It was no surprise that she had reservations about humans just as I had for monsters. But perhaps the warmth she mentioned, I think I felt some of it in her as well. She wasn't going to hurt me, at least not her, I couldn't be sure about the others just yet.

"Say," turning my head towards her, I looked at her. Hearing me speak, she turned her gaze to me as well. "I had no choice but to take this job, but why did you apply to be a servant at this hotel? Why take the risk of being around so many humans, when you would've been far safer in your own realm?"

A hint of melancholy washed over her face. Her eyebrows frowned deeply while her gaze grew distant as if peering back to a distant memory.

"I…I have no one back home," moving closer, she placed her hand over my chest. Feeling my heartbeat on her palm, she began smiling. "There was no reason for me to stay, especially after…"

I could feel it in her weary eyes, the pain of losing someone, someone who meant a lot to her. Placing my hand on hers, I squeezed it lightly to provide some comfort.

"So, you came here because you didn't wanna stay in your homeland," her intentions seemed noble especially when she had nobody to please, and yet she was making this sacrifice.

"I…" Taking a deep breath, she heaved yet another sigh and hugged my arm tight. "I thought I could do some good for my people, by helping build this bridge of trust between us. I'm still unsure if I made the right choice, but I truly hope I can help in some way before dying."

'Trying to leave a mark on the world? I can't blame her for trying.' Turning in her direction, I pulled her into my arms. Gently placing a hand on her blonde hair, I began stroking it to lull her into sleep.

"I'll try my best to help you achieve that," with those words, the two of us drifted to sleep in each other's warmth.