Cursed Soul: Ch.17

“Eric~ Glad to see you came~” Despite what I was expecting, the sight of Leah sitting behind her desk with a happy smile while wearing a pair of oval-shaped purple-rimmed glasses was not what I was expecting when I walked into her small office.

“Thank you for bringing him here, Erica.”

“It was my pleasure, Lieutenant.” I tuned out Leah and Erica's discussion as I looked around the room, impressed at the numerous star constellations drawn on one side as well as the bean bag couch next to the small bookcase.

'Guess I underestimated her a bit.'

“I see you like what you see, eh?” Turning back, I blinked as I realized Erica was gone and she was sitting on her desk with a smirk while slowly taking her glasses off.

The fact that she was wearing a simple white shirt on top of her red bra didn't help and I kept my eyes focused on hers before remembering why that was a bad idea as I saw the amusement dancing in her eyes.

“It looks pretty cozy.”

“Glad you like it. Oh, where are my manners? Please, sit.” She gestured towards the only chair right in front of her and I steeled my nerves as I walked over, keeping eye contact while sitting down.

I knew how ladies like this were and one thing you can't do is take your eyes off them for even a second.

'One second, they're smiling at you. The next, they're sitting on your lap. Do not falter, soldier.'

“So~” I am being honest when I say that I felt a slight shiver up my spine when she purred while leaning forward as every syllable she spoke was dripping with intent.

“I'm sure you know why I've called you here.”

“I've been told that making such assumptions may lead to misunderstandings so I'll say that I don't know.” I answered, glancing at the window behind her and wondering if I could jump through it safely.

“Don't worry, then. I won't make it hard for you…unless, of course, you want me to?”

'Oh, dear gods. Why did I have to have a thing for women with glasses?' I felt my mind going blank at her words and a frustrated groan echoed in my mind as I forced myself to reboot.

With a fluid motion, I watched as she hopped off from the desk and began to slowly prowl around me, the scent of her sweet perfume invading my nostrils and making it hard to think.

“You think I'm here to ask you to do a job for me, don't you?” Her voice was laced with mischief as she placed a hand on my shoulder before slowly dragging her fingers across it, sending jolts of heat throughout my body.

'Okay, every defence is falling! Reinforcement! Call for reinforcement!'

“You're so cute when you try to act like you're not in control, but the thing is, Eric dear…I can see what you're hiding~” She stopped behind me and slowly wrapped her arms around my neck as her lips brushed against my ear.

“Well, since I can't see what you're seeing, tell me what I'm hiding.” Even I knew that sounded like a lie, but she seemed more amused at my attempts as she giggled softly while slowly unwrapping her arms.

Her hands trailed down my arms and my breathing hitched as she stopped and moved to stand in front of me, an amused smile on her face as she leaned forward just enough for our faces to be a breath apart.

“Come now, Eric. You don't have to pretend you don't know what you're talking about. I know how much you adore being in charge of everything in your life and trust me, darling…” She whispered as she raised a hand, a finger brushing my jawline and making my pulse spike as I held her gaze

“I want you to be in control here just as much as you do.”

'O-Okay, keep calm. Just don't look down. Don't lo-Damn my curiosity.' Her eyes flickered down just briefly and I followed them to her chest, forcing myself to look back up, but the damage was done as the hungry smile she gave me told me that she was not playing around anymore.

“You want me, don't you? Want me as much as I want you.” She sounded breathless as she spoke, slowly standing up and taking a step back, her eyes drinking me in as if I was the last meal she'd ever get.

“Why me, though? Why would you pick me of the dozens of other options?” I asked and a cat-like gleam flashed in her eyes as she smile, sinking to her knees and placing her hands on my thighs before I could even react.

“I could answer that…” She trailed off as she lowered her hands back to her shirt and I felt my eyes widen as she undid one button and showed a slimmer of the red bra I had seen earlier.

“Or you choose to sate this hungry kitty. What will it be, Eric?” I kept my eyes on hers as she looked up with a hungry yet pleading smile, wanting to just stand up and walk out.

“Do it.” Yet, there was this dark part of my mind that wanted to keep going, to see just how far we could go.

The room seemed to shrink as she undid another button, leaving the last two as her fingers continued their slow dance up my thighs.

“I want you to know that I can make you feel things you've never felt before, darling, but only if you give in~” She whispered with a seductive smile as her fingers brushed against the waistband of my pants, feeling my breathing hitch against as she slowly trailed her fingers under my shirt and up my abdomen.

“The door is right behind you. You can leave whenever you want…but you don't want to. No, you want to see just how far I'm willing to go, don't you?” Her voice echoed in my head as she moved her hands from under my shirt, standing back up before pushing me back and sitting down on my lap.

She leaned in again, her lips very close to mind and her breath mingling with my own as she spoke softly with an intense look in her eyes.

“What makes you think I want to give in?” Forcing some bass into my voice, I fell victim to the dark voice and finally moved, Leah gasping as I placed my hands on her rear and pulled her closer.

“Because, darling, you want to. You just haven't realized it.” She whispered and before I could move, she pulled away and stood up, amusement and hunger dancing in her eyes.

“I won't push you, but if you want this, I want you to take charge.”

'Take charge, huh?' I thought as I felt the last of my resistance slipping away, standing up to my full height and towering slightly over the woman as her breathing grew heavier and a daring look entered her eyes.

“You want me to take charge?” I asked and her eyes burned with need as her lips curled into that infuriating yet addicting confident smirk.

“Only if you think you can do it.”

“Show her. Do it.” I heard the voice growl once again and I simply responded by grabbing onto her waist before picking her up, to which she squealed as I placed her on her desk.

I could feel the heat radiating from her and her perfume filled my head like a drug as I slowly trailed my hands down and gripped onto her thighs.

“You're playing with fire, Leah.” Despite my fear and hesitance from earlier, my voice was now a bit rougher than I intended to me and I saw the excitement dancing in her eyes while she wrapped her legs around.

“And you're the one who's going to burn, Eric.” I barely had time to hear her speak before her lips crashed against mine and there was no tenderness or gentleness.

It was raw, hungry need as I responded with the same ferocity, a moan escaping her lips as I dominated the kiss while pulling her tightly against me.

Every touch felt like taking a sledgehammer to my will and chipping it down, her fingers sliding up my chest and ripping my shirt open while I did the same to her.

She gasped when I ripped the bra in half, revealing the mouth-watering sight of her heaving chest and pink nipples before giggling as I looked into her eyes.

“There's the Eric I wanted. You've wanted this the whole time.” She murmured as her hand slid to my belt, savouring every second as she slowly unbuckled it.

“Maybe, but you've got one hell of a way of making a man forget himself.” I answered, a rasp and bass to my voice that I myself did not know I have as her smile widened and her eyes gleamed with a hunger.

“Oh, I'm just getting started.” She whispered before giving a gasp and a groan as I lowered my left hand in between her legs, my index finger sinking into her and her eyes widening slightly with a gasp as I slowly pulled it out.

To my surprise, she took my hand before sucking on the finger that was just in her, keeping my gaze with a throaty moan before gasping as I pushed her back and crouched in between her legs.

“Really?” She asked as she raised her head slightly before a moan echoed in the room as I answered by giving her a slow lick to taste.

'Hmm, tangy orange…Alright, time to put the ice cream licking skills to work.'

“Really. Now, lay down and be quiet.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good girl.” I whispered before I went in and soon, the room was filled with groans and squeals.

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“…Holy shit.” I ignored Alex's shocked whisper as I walked into the cafeteria, cracking my neck with a pleased smile before sitting down next to Liam who looked at in awe while Alya just blinked a few times.

“Wait, seriously?” She asked and I simply answered by pointing with my thumb, to which she looked up only to gasp as Leah walked in with a happy smile and her hair still slightly dishevelled.

“…Teach me your ways.”

“Don't you start.” I spoke with a smirk aimed at Liam, who just snorted before Alya spoke up.

“I apologize for not believe you sooner.”

“Forget apologizing. How did you do it? I know guys that have been trying for years to get into her pants.”

“Simple…I called her Mistress.” At least, that was the answer she gave me when I asked, which I didn't mind to be honest.

“That's it?” He asked and I shrugged while taking a piece of bacon from Liam's plate, smirking as he glared at me while protectively hovering over it.

“That's it, yeah.”

“Okay, but the more important question is…what are you now?” Alya asked and I blinked as a large stack of food was placed down in front of me before I could respond.

“Here you go, darling~” Leah spoke with a happy smile as she sat down besides me, the others looking just as bewildered as I looked at the food and back at her.

“Thank you, but you…didn't have to, you know?” I spoke with a thankful smile and she giggled as she shrugged while the others just looked bewildered at the scene in front of them.

“I wanted to and I thought you might be hungry. After all, you were quite the good boy, weren't you?”

“Uh, yeah.” I answered, not really sure how to respond as she giggled before going back to her bowl of fruit salad.

'Bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes and even a bowl of fruit salad…You know, I could get used to this.' I thought with a smile as I picked up a fork and started eating, Leah squealing as I rested my other hand on her thigh.

“You still haven't answered my question.” Alya spoke up and I looked at her before looking at Leah who smiled.

“I guess I'm just very lucky to have her.”

“Just lucky?…That's all?” The disbelief was audible in her voice and I just shrugged before catching sight of Leah's sly grin.

“Well, one could say we are a couple. After all, Eric had this very…unique way with his tongue of persuading me to help him.” She didn't even try to hide the innuendo and I rolled my eyes while Alya squeaked as she heard that.

“W-W-With his tongue?”

“Yeah, it takes you on this calm and soft journey which then becomes chaotic as it's going frantic and before you know it, you're on this high as it dive-!”

“Okay! I don't think we have to tell her everything.”

“She's already going to find out at girls night.” Leah spoke with a shrug and I sighed while nodding.

“Then talk about it when I'm not in the vicinity.”

“Oh, you don't have anything to worry about. You scratched an itch that I never even knew I had.”

“…You're not going to stop, are you?”

“You can make me~” She spoke with a teasing smile, but before we could continue, I was relieved when the door opened and General Sparda walked in.

However, I was not so thankful a moment later when I saw the serious look on his face as he spoke.

“All Scarlet Mantises, report to the briefing hall in five minutes for an important job! I repeat, I want all in the briefing hall in five minutes for details on an important job!”

“…Well, looks like we'll have to cut this interrogation short.” Liam muttered as we watched the General turn around and leave, shaking my head before looking to Leah as she stood up with a slight frown.

“Well, we better not keep the General waiting.”

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The briefing hall was packed to the brim as every member of Scarlet Mantis was gathered here, my eyes focused on the massive holographic screens behind Sparda and Baul who looked serious for once.

“I'm sure you're all wondering why I've decided to gather every Scarlet Mantis member currently in the compound here today. Well, we are about to face a job that may have the potential to cripple our country if we do not succeed.”

“In other words, this is a Gold-Star job.” Baul's words made my eyes widen slightly as the gravity of the situation settled in the room and everyone was now fully paying attention as Sparda cleared his throat.

“As of yesterday, the entirety of the Rune Knight Battalions have been given two weeks to prepare you all to infiltrate the country of Bosco to apprehend Pietro Lilli. He is a former high-ranking officer of the Bellum military and currently in control of Bosco's Military Power thanks to allying himself with a demon from the Book of Zeref that manipulates the royal family of Bosco through hypnosis.”

'Of course. As if it weren't enough to just have the one guy.' I thought with a grimace and the others agreed as Leah frowned while the others looked at each other.

“Now, while we won't be letting everyone infiltrate the country, we do understand that if it comes to blows, we may need all of your strengths and powers to get through this, which is why we came up with this plan. Colonel, explain the plan.”

“Got it. Listen up 'cause I'm only going to explain this once!” Baul exclaimed as the screens behind him changed to maps, military routes and arrows scattered around each map.

“Intel suggests that Pietro Lilli and the demon are holed up in a military facility on the outskirts of Bosco's capital city, which is also heavily fortified by the Boscoan army since Pietro has decided to move the family to said facility to make it not look suspicious. Our first objective is infiltration and getting as much intel about the situation as we can.

The reason we're doing this instead of going in guns blazing is because we do not know how deep Pietro's intelligence and spy networks goes. One wrong move at the wrong time and this could lead to a catastrophic international incident that may put Fiore at war against all the other countries.”

“Understood, sir. How are we going to infiltrate?” Leah asked from my side and Baul nodded while the screen behind him shifted to that of numerous Magi-Vehicles.

“These are the new Invisi-Cars made by our research department that will take us as close to the capital as it can. From there, we split into two teams and proceed on foot. One team will handle infiltration and intel gathering while the other will be on perimeter and support duty.”

“I assume the other Battalions will be there as well?” Danny asked from his position near the front of the group and Baul looked at General Sparda who nodded.

“Indeed they will. This is a joint operation between all of the battalions and that is why we shall only be sending our most skilled members on this mission while the rest of you are on border patrol to make sure the Boscoan Army doesn't try to take the country while we're busy.”

“With that said, remember that we will only choose you if you show that you are capable of doing this during the training period and if you get pissed for not being chosen, make sure you show why it was a mistake during your border duty. Is that understood?!”

“Sir, yes, sir!” We all barked in unison and Baul nodded before turning to the General as he walked forward.

“Good. Then, let's not waste anymore time. Everyone get in gear and Eric?”

“Yes?” I asked before smirking as I saw the smile on his face.

“Enhance the conditions of every training field.”

“With pleasure, sir.”

A/N: And with that, we start off the Bosco-Fiore War arc~!!

Also, ignore that part at the start. Don't know what came over me, but we'll keep that there.

Anyway, Eric and Leah are now dating? Friends with Benefits? Eh, they're something, but do not worry as the original pairing is still going to happen.

I just needed a way to give Eric some…trauma…Hehe~

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!