(Warning: Potentially sexual content ahead, proceed with caution. And don't worry it's just for this chapter I'm not converting this story into a romantic sitcom. It's just that I'm not an author who would intentionally co*kblock the protagonist of their story and call it development.)

'Intimacy brings that special addiction to your one love, your true life partner. If you aren't careful it becomes an addiction to the physical act and the fantasy rather than the person. And so, be good to yourself, love yourself by being sure that you've met your life partner before you go become intimate with them, then the relationship becomes all the deeper for both of the partners. That's why humans are bonded for life instead of entering the carousel of pain that has become so normal in this toxic society. Lovers are flames that breathe all the more deeply for being closer together; it is then they shine brighter, both within and upon one another, becoming a source of light and love in the world, showering sparks of positive chaos into the dark. So find yourself someone like that.'

It was something Arnold's dad told him as he was about to enter into adulthood and after his first breakup, he also gave Arnold a lot of other useful advice but sadly he wasn't able to see either her son or his daughter as responsible adults, but right now Arnold couldn't care any less about his dad's advice, all he wanted at that moment was the woman who was standing in front of him, her eyes filled with unadulterated desire for love and attention.

In the room that was shrouded in twilight and shadow, Arnold stood close enough for Nina to breathe in his scent. His arms wrap around her back and in one gentle pull their skin touched, exchanging their body heat with each other. Nina felt his hand in her hair, how he loved the softness, watching it tumble as he releases it. Then his hand moved down to her cheekbones and to her lips, the ones he could never get enough of.

That's when the kissing resumed and they start to move like partners in a dance that was written deep within their cores. With one kiss her ambivalence shifted to enthusiasm. She felt like he was the only man on earth for her, the only one who can breathe fire into her soul even when she was desperate and cold.

Their bodies fit together as if they were made just for this, to fall into one another, to feel this natural rhythm. Nina bit her lips as Arnold, with a laugh lifted her right off her feet, carrying her toward the bed, then letting her fall with a soft bounce on the mattress.

They lock eyes for just a moment, just enough for them to feel safe with one another. From that moment on their clothes were just a hindrance, but Arnold solved the problem in under a minute, kissing her toes and moving upwards, slowly with love, his hands on her legs, always just a little higher than the kisses. Nina felt her back arch in anticipation, knowing where his fingers will soon reach. Her head rocked back against the pillow as he does, the first moan escaping through her lips.

The night was still young and they had all the time they'd ever need to explore each other's bodies.

***

Next Morning, At Nina's home...

Arnold still had his arms warped around Nina as she let her head rest upon his naked chest. All his thoughts that weren't about her stopped as if his heart had taken over his head when they were close.

The next moment he squeezed her body as if he needed to check she was there with him, really there, to see if it was all real and not a dream... and it was, Nina was lying next to him, in body and soul. He doubted anyone else ever felt the way he did keeping her in his arms.

He brushed the blond hair off her face to get a clear look of her, sleeping like a baby in his arms.

"By God, I'm one hell of a lucky man, ain't I?" He mumbled after making sure Nina was asleep, but she wasn't.

"Damn right you are." Nina slowly opened her eyes, revealing his reflection in her deep green eyes, as she leaned in to give him a morning kiss, "Good morning!"

"I wish all of my mornings were this good." Arnold mumbled and kissed her back.

He then stood up, silhouetted against the open doorway, not wearing anything. He gave another look to her delivered a cheesy pick-up line that ended up making her laugh, and pointed towards the shower.

"May I?"

"Are you serious? Why the heck do you even need permission for that after all the things we did last night?" Nina couldn't hold herself back and started laughing as Arnold entered the bathroom to shower.

There was something a little happy inside him, which was clear from the way he moved to how he gazed at his long hair and fine beard through the mirror. He looked at the world in a different light like he had never seen it before while walking to his own beat, literally, like there was music playing in his head. But he knew it wasn't the time to feel good about anything, especially after encountering the humanoid monster. If incidents like this kept happening in the 'safe zone' of West America, things won't remain as they are for long.

"There's a relationship between Devon and the White Family, and it was most likely that they were the ones conducting these experiments as, according to Nathan, they have been secretly hoarding a large amount beast crystals for themselves... I don't even have to place two and two together to know who is behind all this." Arnold mumbled as warm droplets fell on his skull, slowly cleaning him up, "It's that same bast*rd who is always giving me troubles in one way or the other... first he tried to kidnap Nicole, then collaborated with that shitty guild, set up the church of chaos, and now this... I have to get rid of him as soon as I can, or else who knows what will happen next if that man is left to do as he pleased."