Champion Of Lust: Gods Conquer's Harem Paradise!

Chapter 343 Soft Start

The TV flickered again, and without either of them saying anything, the cheesy anime gave way to something more... real. The screen now displayed an adult film, the kind with explicit content that was no longer censored, but just... there. The sudden shift was jarring, and Zara's eyes widened for a moment, but Pyris didn't seem to mind, still leaning back casually, as though it was nothing.

Zara shifted awkwardly in her seat, not sure how to react. It felt weird. Too personal, too intense. She didn't even know why they were watching this—probably just mindless distraction, right? But now she was hyper-aware of every inch of Pyris beside her.

She had been trying to ignore it, but his presence was overwhelming. Every movement he made, the way his hand rested on the back of the couch so nonchalantly... His energy filled the room, practically making her feel heat spread across her skin.

Her gaze darted from the screen to his side profile, a faint tension in the air that she couldn't shake. Pyris wasn't even looking at her—he was staring ahead, eyes focused on the screen. But she couldn't help it. Her eyes dropped to his lips again, the shape of them, how his jaw moved when he spoke, the way his lips parted slightly as he exhaled.

Her heart was beating a little faster now. The space between them felt so... charged.

Zara didn't even realize how close her face had come to his until she felt the warmth of his skin, a breath away. Her breath hitched in her throat, and she could feel the space between them shrinking. She didn't know if it was his scent, his presence, or just the way her body was reacting to everything happening around them, but suddenly, she couldn't think straight.

It wasn't until his eyes flickered to hers that the moment snapped into place. Pyris's gaze was deep, intense, and Zara's breath caught. His lips were mere inches away now, and despite the heat she felt in her chest, she didn't pull back.

She didn't know why. Her face heated, her pulse quickened. She broke the spell!

"Uh… the hell?" she muttered, shifting in her seat.

Pyris barely reacted, just leaning back like this was the most normal thing in the world. "Huh. Didn't expect that."

Zara side-eyed him. "Didn't expect it? You're not even gonna try and change the damn thing?"

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He shrugged. "Why? You seem invested."

She scoffed. "Invested? You're out of your damn mind."

But even as she said it, her eyes betrayed her. She wasn't looking at the screen anymore—no, her focus had completely shifted to him. The way he was just sitting there, all casual and unbothered, like the tension in the room wasn't suddenly suffocating.

The glow from the screen cast shadows over his face, sharpening his features, highlighting the curve of his jaw, the shape of his lips. And damn it, why was she even noticing this right now?

Zara swallowed.

Her heart was beating faster, her body heating up in a way she wasn't sure had anything to do with the movie playing in front of them.

She shifted again, but this time, her movement brought her a little closer—just a breath away from Pyris.

She hadn't even realized it.

And then, he turned his head again away from the TV, he didn't tease her this time...

Their eyes met.

Her breath hitched, and suddenly, she was hyper-aware of everything. The warmth of his skin. The way his lips parted slightly, like he was about to say something but never did.

He just watched her, completely still. Like he was waiting.

Her breathing grew shallow.

Her lips parted just slightly.

And then—

"So," Pyris said suddenly, his voice low and smooth, completely unfazed. "You really enjoy that show, huh?"

Zara blinked.

For a second, she just sat there, her mind short-circuiting. Then, she jerked back like she'd just been burned.

"What? No! I—" she stammered, running a hand through her hair like that would help get rid of the heat in her face. "It's just—uh—bad timing. Yeah. Bad timing."

Pyris smirked, stretching out like nothing had happened. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Zara groaned, covering her face. "Fuck off."

He chuckled but didn't push it.

But as she sat there, heart still hammering, Zara realized something.

She had almost kissed him.

And the worst part?

She wasn't even sure she regretted it.

Zara huffed, crossing her arms. "Alright, that's enough."

Pyris barely looked away from the screen. "Enough of what?"

She rolled her eyes. "Enough of this... whatever the hell this is. I swear, if I have to sit through one more overly dramatic love scene, I might actually throw up."

Pyris smirked. "So dramatic. You could just look away, you know."

Zara scoffed. "Or I could just take the remote and change it myself."

Pyris leaned back, holding the remote up just out of her reach. "You could try."

That was all the challenge she needed.

"Oh, come on, Pyris. Just give it to me."

Pyris smirked, stretching his arm farther away. "Not happening. I was watching that."

Zara scoffed. "You mean you were sitting there like some emotionless statue while softcore porn played in the background?"

He shrugged. "And?"

She groaned. "Alright, that's it."

A flicker of light danced at her fingertips as she summoned a tiny burst of magic, attempting to snatch the remote from his grasp.

But Pyris, ever the menace, countered instantly. His own energy surged, dark tendrils wrapping around the remote, pulling it back toward him.

Zara gasped. "Oh, so we're doing this now?"

He grinned. "You started it."

She raised a brow, and without warning, a soft glow surrounded her. The remote slipped from his grasp, floating gracefully toward her hand.

Pyris tsked, flicking his wrist. Shadows coiled around the remote, yanking it right back.

Zara's jaw dropped. "Did you just—"

"Yep," he said smugly.

She narrowed her eyes, gripping the air. The remote jolted in his hand, fighting against his grip.

Pyris yawned, acting completely unbothered while casually holding it in place with his own power.

"Okay, asshole," Zara muttered under her breath. With a snap of her fingers, the lights in the room flickered wildly. The remote jerked free from his hand, darting toward her.

Pyris smirked and raised his fingers. A sudden force knocked the remote sideways mid-air, sending it spiraling across the room.

"Oh, you little—!"

Zara lunged after it, a blur of magic and motion. Pyris moved at the same time.

They both reached for it.

And then—

CRASH.

Zara collided into Pyris with enough force to send them both toppling onto the couch.

The remote clattered uselessly to the floor.

Zara barely had time to register what happened before she found herself straddling him, her hands pressed against his chest, her breath coming fast.