Zoe Pierce parted her lips, but saw Erin Xavier instantly turn away.

He extended his hand, however, turning his face to the side and gesturing for her to take it.

She instinctively grabbed his hand, and in the blink of an eye, Erin Xavier led her back to the spot where they had first hesitated.

"Zoe, let’s just go back."

Erin Xavier let go of her hand, his voice somewhat deep.

’He was the one who wanted to look, and he was the one who got all worked up from looking.’

’If he stayed with Zoe Pierce any longer, he wouldn’t be able to control what happened next.’

’This was clearly wrong. After all, they were out in the open, and those two from The Empire even had the status of a public couple.’

’But they didn’t have that kind of status.’

’He was just a temporary boyfriend, a fact known only to the five of them.’

’The risk was too great. He didn’t want to cause trouble for her, so it was best to go back for now.’

Just from hearing the restraint in his voice, Zoe Pierce knew what was going on.

She had heard it several times before, on the large bed back at the villa.

Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly. She cleared her throat and hummed in agreement.

When they returned to the banquet hall, both of them had composed expressions.

The only thing was, they couldn’t help but watch for when the couple from The Empire would return. A full quarter of an hour passed before they saw the two walk back in from outside the hall at a leisurely pace.

Their clothes were neat, and there wasn’t even a hint of anything unusual about the Omega’s lips.

It was as if everything the two of them had seen in the garden had been a dream.

Zoe Pierce didn’t know why she and Erin Xavier had developed such a rapport in that moment. They inadvertently met each other’s gaze before silently looking away.

The stimulus of that scene had been a bit much; for a moment, neither could forget it.

Erin Xavier and Zoe Pierce kept their distance from each other until the end of the banquet.

The Hovercar took them back the way they came.

「It was late at night.」 The female Beta had no intention of bothering Zoe Pierce, simply instructing her to leave the changed clothes in the living room. They would send someone to pick them up first thing in the morning.

Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.

The smart doorbell chimed and announced: "You have a visitor. Identity verified: team member Erin Xavier. Grant access?"

’He’s coming over at this hour?’

She glanced at the few people still in the room and said softly, "Open the door."

The door opened, and sure enough, it was Erin Xavier.

He was still in his formal attire. Seeing the others in the room, he smiled good-naturedly. "You don’t mind if I hold you up for ten minutes?"

"I have some business with Zoe Pierce."

The Beta in charge of Zoe Pierce’s image didn’t think anything of it. Instead, she said, "Not at all. We’ve already finished. You two can talk."

She had already gone over everything that needed to be said and was about to leave anyway.

Erin Xavier’s arrival just made them leave a little faster.

The door was shut completely.

Zoe Pierce watched as Erin Xavier took out his Intelligent Brain and set an alarm.

He walked over from the door and grabbed Zoe Pierce’s wrist, just as he had in the garden.

Before she could speak, he said in a husky voice, "Zoe, I have less than ten minutes."

The moment the time was up, he would have to leave the room.

Reaching the sofa, he released Zoe Pierce’s wrist.

He sat down abruptly, his fingers undoing the top button of his formal shirt at the collar.

He tilted his head back, looking up at her with longing. "Zoe."

The entire scene seemed like a copy of the one from the garden, only with the main characters switched.

The clamor in her heart was deafening. Zoe Pierce lifted her dress and half-knelt by his legs. "Erin Xavier..."

His arm tightened sharply, and she fell completely into his lap, her waist pinned by his arm as he pressed a firm kiss to her chin.

"I’ve been holding back all night."

"I’ve been so good, haven’t I?"

Erin Xavier spoke as he reached out to smooth down her skirt. "You’re so beautiful tonight."

"From the moment I first saw you, I’ve wanted to do this to you."

He wasn’t a patient person by nature, but now he had practically become a ninja.

Her perky, full bottom was now pressing against his lap.

His palm caressed her leg as he looked at her like a child waiting for praise. "Zoe, you want this too..."

In the boundless night, he clearly saw her unconsciously lick her suddenly dry lips, and the passion that filled her eyes.

Suddenly, her arms wrapped around his neck, blocking the light from his face.

Warm, soft lips descended upon his.

As their lips and teeth met, his arm pressed down hard on her rear, pulling her even tighter.

The goddess of tonight had finally descended to the mortal realm.

She took pity on the admirer who had suffered all night long.

Both of their chests were heaving violently.

Erin Xavier’s breathing grew heavier as he stared at the color of Zoe Pierce’s lips.

’Less than ten minutes. Not enough time for anything else.’

So Erin Xavier decided not to think about what else they could do, wanting only for her to kiss him nonstop.

"Praise me," he said hoarsely, leaning his head back against the soft sofa cushion. "Am I a good boy?"

It was as if the two of them were engaged in some strange role-play.

Her heart pounded faster and faster, stimulated by both the time limit and Erin Xavier’s words. Zoe Pierce’s fingers traced his lips.

"You’re a good boy."

Her praise was like a medal. The man who had been leaning back immediately surged forward again.

The sofa cushions compressed deeply, then sprang back up. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The sound of their breathing seemed to be amplified by her eardrums.

It wasn’t until the Intelligent Brain, which had been tossed aside, suddenly blared with a piercing alarm that the two, tangled together on the sofa, snapped out of their daze.

Using nearly all his self-control, Erin Xavier managed to stand up.

The front of his shirt was a mess. In addition to the two buttons he had undone himself, another one had been rubbed open.

He fastened the buttons.

The young woman in the silver dress now lay back on the sofa, watching him.

He went from disheveled to orderly, as if he wasn’t the one who had just been so frantic.

She cursed under her breath, "Maniac."

It was unclear if she was cursing herself or Erin Xavier. Perhaps both.

’To crave even just ten short minutes of pleasure.’

Erin Xavier, however, assumed she was talking about him. Her hair, which had been neatly pinned up, was now also a mess.

’He just knew the two of them could never be as natural as that couple in the garden.’

Bracing one hand on the edge of the sofa, he kissed the corner of Zoe Pierce’s lips. "I’m *your* maniac."

"I’m heading back."

He took off his suit jacket, draped it over his arm, and held it in front of himself.

After picking up his Intelligent Brain, he couldn’t resist taking another look at Zoe Pierce.

She was lying on the sofa with the look of someone who had been thoroughly cherished, making it impossible for anyone to want to leave.

In the end, reason prevailed. He knew it wasn’t good to stay in Zoe Pierce’s room for too long this late at night.

He just rubbed the tip of his nose against her delicate one. "Don’t be mad, Zoe. I’ll be sure to satisfy you next time."

’This guy...’

’He’s had his fun, and now he’s playing innocent.’

’Satisfy me, my ass...’

’She didn’t even dare to think about his usual methods.’

The corners of Zoe Pierce’s eyes were flushed as she glared at him resentfully.

’How can she look so beautiful even when she’s glaring?’ Erin Xavier pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. ’Damn, I can never get enough of kissing her.’