Heartburn

The night was cool, the camp quiet. And there she was.

Karlach.

Completely naked, steam curling around her from the lip of Ethel’s old cauldron, arms resting on the rim with casual command. Her eyes had a certain sparkle to them, like I’d just stepped into her private stage.

"There he is," she purred, voice roughened from heat and mischief. "Took you long enough, I was starting to think you'd gone soft."

"Just letting you stew," I replied.

She laughed, low and bright, then slid her fingers beneath the surface with theatrical slowness. Her hand disappeared into the rising mist. "Mmh. Water’s still sizzling."

She shifted slightly, water lapping at her thighs, her body gleaming where the steam clung to her skin. Her abs remained tight, sculpted, yet softened at the edges by her enhanced curves. Her breasts, full and proud, rose just above the waterline, nipples dark and taut. Her arms were still thick with strength, her hips broad and shameless. Every inch of her was ready and waiting.

"You just gonna stand there and gawk, Soldier? Or are you here for the full performance?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You call this a performance now?"

"Every night’s a show with me, and you’ve got front row seats. Don’t act like you’re not enjoying it," she teased, shifting slightly. Her back arched just enough to present a broader expanse of ass and thigh. "But go easier than yesterday, yeah? Not 'cause I didn’t love it—but I hate seeing you hurt, even if Shadowheart does patch you up like clockwork."

I moved closer to the edge. "I’d still do it. Even without the tadpoles. Even if there were no rituals. I’d find a way to touch you—burns or not."

That stopped her.

Her smile softened, not vanishing, but faltering just enough to show the emotion behind it. The blush that rose to her cheeks wasn’t from the heat. She looked away for half a second, then back again, a touch more **** than before.

"You mean that?"

"More than anything in this world."

[Karlach: Approval +5]

She exhaled, shaky in a way that had nothing to do with temperature. "You’re... something else, Soldier."

"You’ve got no idea."

Her grin returned, but this time it was tinged with warmth, not heat. "Alright then. Let’s make it count."

She sank lower in the water, only to rise again slowly—deliberately—arching her back until her breasts glided above the surface, water streaming from their curves.

She started touching herself.

It began with slow, circular motions, subtle and teasing, her fingers gliding rythmically beneath the water. Her breathing deepened. Then, locking eyes with me, she shifted her hips and tilted her pelivs just enough to raise herself out of the water.

Her pussy broke the surface—bare, glistening, pubic mound angled upward in invitation.

[Karlach: Corruption +2]

"Alright, Soldier," she whispered. "Go at it. Just don’t burn your fingers off. I have plans for them in the future"

I crouched by the rim, gloves off, one blast is all she needed. I watched the ripples dance around her thighs, her body shifting ever so slightly—her hips rolled just right, a sudden sheen of water glided across her gorgeous pussy.

I reached forward. Just one finger. Just one second.

Her skin sizzled beneath my bare fingertip, and I had to bite down a scream. The pain was sharp and immediate, but I held steady. In that single, searing second, I funneled the Alluring Blast into her very sex—short and direct.

Karlach shuddered. Her breath caught in her throat as the energy raced across her nerves, and her body rolled with it, spine arching slightly. She didn’t cry out this time—no wail, no howl. Just a long, tremorous moan that melted into the steam.

"Mmmmmmmmfuck," she breathed, voice rough.

Her hips bucked softly, her arms flexing against the rim as her thighs squeezed together involuntarily. Her clit, now barely visible above the waterline, throbbed beneath my fingertip. She didn’t thrash. She embraced it. Slid into it.

[Corruption +2: Karlach]

She collapsed into herself slightly, torso sliding downward, head tilting back with a contented groan. The aftershocks rippled through her, visible in the trembling of her legs and the slight twitch in her fingers.

She looked **** on the pleasure, drunk on it. She never stopped grinning.

"You’re gonna ruin me, Soldier. Godsdamn."

[Corruption +1: Karlach]

Her fingers lazily circled her clit underwater now, playing with the nerves I had just lit up. Her heart-core pulsed brighter for a few seconds before dimming back to a warm orange.

"Thanks, that hit the spot. Literally. Now go get your happy ending" she said in a slightly bittersweet tone.

"One day... I will make sure that the happy ending’s with you." I answered earnestly.

She smirked but said nothing, her eyes locked on me, almost knowingly. She was searching my face, decoding my words. I took a few steps back, feeling the weight of her gaze on me the whole way. Heavy. Serious. I glanced back and dramatically blew her kiss.

She gasped—genuinely startled—then laughed. A real, unfiltered giggle bubbled out of her, and her whole face lit up like she didn’t know where to put the feelings. Her hands reflexively clutched at her chest like I’d shot her through the heart.

[Karlach: Approval +5]

As I turned and started walking, I noticed my cheeks hurt from smiling. My own grin was practically competing with Karlach’s. She really was adorable—adorkable, even. With my heart still fluttering a little from the moment, I headed off to find Shadowheart to... cool off a bit.