[17]

I slowly opened my eyes, the faint light filtering through the curtains casting a soft glow in the room. As my vision adjusted to the morning light, I became acutely aware of the dampness beneath me. Glancing down, I realized with a jolt that the bed was still soaked from last night's escapades.

Despite the dampness, a sense of contentment washed over me, more profound than usual. It was as if every fiber of my being was suffused with a lingering euphoria, a pleasant afterglow from the events of the previous night.

It didn't take long for me to connect the dots. The lingering effects I felt were likely due to the pill I had ingested yesterday—the Unity Capsule. The description promised heightened sensuality and an exquisite unity of experience, and it seemed to have delivered exactly that.

With a satisfied smile, I stretched lazily, reveling in the sensation of my muscles awakening after a night of passionate exertion. Despite the mess around me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the unexpected pleasure the Unity Capsule had brought me.

I felt a shift in the bed beside me, and as I turned my head, my gaze fell upon the waking form of Laurie. She lay beside me, completely bare of clothing, her blonde hair tousled from sleep. The sight of her naked body sent a jolt of desire coursing through me, and for a moment, my eyes lingered on her petite frame, unable to tear myself away.

But then, my attention returned to her face, and I was met with her gaze—filled with an even more noticeable glint of infatuation and subservience than ever before. It was as if her devotion had reached its zenith, or at least come close to it. Just from the way she looked at me, I could tell that she would do anything I wanted, no questions asked.

"Laurie," I said softly, my voice thick with desire. "Good morning."

Her lips curved into a sweet smile, her eyes shining with adoration. "Good morning, Dante," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

As I looked into her eyes, I felt a surge of power wash over me. It was intoxicating, the knowledge that I held such sway over her, that she would do anything to please me. And in that moment, I realized that I could easily tell her to do anything I wanted, and she would follow through without hesitation. And that was without the oppressive influence of the brand.

It was a heady realization, one that filled me with a sense of exhilaration and possibility. But even as I reveled in my newfound power, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered a reminder to me that I had more important things to do for the moment, or make plans for was more like it.

I felt Laurie shift closer to me, her warmth radiating against my skin as she wrapped her arms around me. Her body pressed against mine, fitting perfectly against the curve of my chest, and for a moment, I savored the intimacy of the embrace.

But then, to my surprise, Laurie spoke up, her voice soft and filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Dante," she said, her words catching me off guard.

I chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in my voice. "There's no need to thank me for... well, you know," I replied, my tone playful. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

Laurie's expression softened, a fond smile playing at her lips. "That's not what I meant," she said, her voice earnest. "I mean, yes, thank you for last night, but... I meant thank you for everything. For being there for me, for understanding me, for... just being you."

Her words took me by surprise, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words. I hadn't expected such a heartfelt expression of gratitude from her, especially not in the aftermath of just fucking her senseless.

As I looked into her eyes, I could see the sincerity in her gaze, the genuine appreciation she felt for me. But at the same time, my demeanor became slightly more serious. Wrapping an arm around her naked back, I spoke up, my voice tinged with a hint of solemnity.

"Laurie," I began, my voice quiet but firm, "you don't truly know me. I'm not nearly as heroic as you seem to think I am. There are parts of me that you don't see, parts that... well, you wouldn't admire."

But to my surprise, the blonde simply smiled up at me, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "It doesn't matter," she said softly, her voice filled with conviction. "Even if you turn out to be a bad person... it doesn't change anything."

I felt a lump form in my throat as her words washed over me, the weight of her unconditional love and acceptance almost overwhelming. "But... why?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Laurie shook her head gently, her smile never faltering. "Because you saved me," she replied, her voice unwavering. "And that's all the proof I need that you'll always be my savior. I'll stay with you, Dante, no matter what."

After that, I didn't say a word. She didn't either, and instead just tucked her face into the crook of my neck, eventually falling back asleep. I had turned to look up at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling as I contemplated my new life in wonder.

----------

A couple days later...

I stood outside Armena's home, Laurie by my side, both of us dressed comfortably for the visit. I glanced down at the watch on my left wrist, noting the time as we waited to be let in. Armena had mentioned on a call during our journey to reach this place that her husband would be away for a few hours, which I made a mental note of for later.

Eventually, the door swung open, revealing Armena in more casual attire that accentuated her mature physique. She wore form-fitting yoga pants and a loose sweater with a wide V-neck, along with house slippers. She greeted me warmly this time around, while her eyes lit up in delight at the unexpected sight of Laurie. After exchanging greetings, she invited us inside.

As Armena turned towards me, her gaze inadvertently lingered on me for a moment. I felt a subtle shift in her demeanor, which I quickly surmised was due to a special effect that my recently-acquired ability had on those who held even an inkling of pre-existing attraction towards me, as it simply enhanced it even further to a degree. I smirked inwardly, noting her reaction, as did Laurie, but neither of us ended up commenting on it.

Armena led us towards the living room, a hint of nervousness mixed into her movements now as she seemed to be avoiding the chances of meeting my gaze directly.

I wasn't all that bothered by it, however, considering something like that was inevitable in this kind of situation. Either way, I felt more confident than ever, that given the opportunity, there was quite a bit of potential for me to accelerate the process and skip at least a few meetings with Armena in the future if I played my cards right this time around. After having ingested the Unity Capsule, that had replaced my original plan with getting into the woman's pants.

Speaking of things that were form-fitting...

The yoga pants she wore accentuated her curves in all the right places, drawing my gaze to her shapely legs and toned ass. The loose sweater, with its wide V-neck, offered a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage, leaving just enough to the imagination.

As we settled into the living room, I couldn't help but notice the way the fabric clung to her body, emphasizing her mature physique. Laurie seemed to sense the tension between us, her eyes flicking between Armena and me with a knowing glint. All I did was shoot her a subtle smirk in response.

The woman eventually poured us some drinks, and then we slowly got into the groove of things.

This meeting, however, had a much more personal touch. Armena knew that as well, and I could tell she was slightly confused by the presence of Laurie, but I wouldn't point it out unless she decided to bring the subject up, which I doubted would happen.

If anything, it would have a positive effect on the meeting as a whole, mostly due to the fact that she wasn't really sure what she was getting into with me. That was something Laurie and I had planned together, though, before we even left the apartment.

----------

As the lighthearted laughter filled the room, the atmosphere between us—Laurie, Armena, and me—remained relaxed and jovial. We had been engrossed in conversation for about an hour and a half, sharing stories and anecdotes that brought smiles to our faces.

Amidst our chatter, Laurie and I shared a quick, subtle glance, a silent communication passing between us. Laurie then casually got up from her chair, stretching her arms before asking for the directions to the bathroom.

"Of course, dear. Follow me," Armena replied, rising from her seat with a smile. She gestured for Laurie to follow as they made their way out of the living room and towards the bathroom.

Once they were out of sight, I rose from my seat, a quiet chuckle escaping my lips. Throughout our conversation, my gaze had occasionally drifted over Armena's form, my interest evident but restrained. Armena had noticed, though she remained composed, not commenting on my subtle glances.

However, as the conversation progressed and the effects of the Unity Capsule took hold, my lingering stares began to have an unintentional effect on Armena. Her composure wavered, a subtle flush rising to her cheeks as she felt a stirring of arousal.

By the time Armena guided Laurie towards the bathroom, it was evident that even with her impressive self-restraint, she wouldn't have put up much resistance if I were to make a move. However, Laurie's request for the bathroom had been part of our plan. She intended to use the brief moment alone with Armena to speak positively about me, further influencing the woman's perception of me.

As Laurie and Armena were occupied, I discreetly retrieved a few small devices from my inventory. They were designed to listen in on conversations within the household, similar to the tracker I had placed on Armena previously. These devices were compact enough to fit within the palm of my hand, with microphones to pick up sound but unfortunately lacking in quality when it came to cameras.

Casually, I strolled around the living room, scanning the surroundings for suitable hiding spots. I glanced at the pictures on the walls and framed images on tables, finding inconspicuous locations to place each device. With practiced ease, I ensured they were securely hidden but positioned to capture optimal audio.

Just as I finished setting up, Armena returned with a refill for our drinks. The sound of her footsteps drew my attention, and I turned to greet her with a friendly smile. Our eyes met for a moment, a silent exchange passing between us as she approached.

"Here you go, Dante," Armena said, offering me the refilled glass as we stood next to a framed picture of her family. Her husband, a detective, and their two young children— a daughter and a son— smiled back at us from the photograph.

"Thank you, Armena," I replied, accepting the glass. But as she moved to refill it, our eyes briefly locked, causing her to accidentally spill some of the liquid onto my shirt.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Armena exclaimed, a look of dismay crossing her face as she began to apologize profusely.

"It's alright, really," I reassured her, attempting to placate the situation. However, she seemed too flustered to fully comprehend my words.

Instead, Armena set down the items she was carrying before taking my hand and guiding me towards her bedroom. Her actions took me by surprise, but I followed along, curious about her sudden change in demeanor.

Once inside her bedroom, Armena instructed me to undress, oblivious to the implications of her words. I complied, removing my shirt and pants until I was left standing in only my boxers.

When Armena emerged from her personal bathroom with a towel, her gaze momentarily froze upon seeing me nearly naked. She swallowed nervously, averting her eyes as she gestured for me to sit on the bed.

As she walked over to a dresser, her yoga pants stretched slightly, revealing a glimpse of her ass as she bent over. I couldn't help but notice, the fabric becoming somewhat see-through when stretched to its limits, providing me with a tantalizing view.

I remained seated on the bed, observing Armena's movements with a mixture of intrigue and amusement, realizing that the unexpected turn of events had presented me with an opportunity I hadn't anticipated.

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Well, it looks like they're gonna be doing the nasty a lot sooner than expected...