Chapter 544: Good morning (R-18)
The guild had survived the chaos and hadn’t collapsed.
Rhodes and Mira stepped away from the hall full of drunken noise to get some fresh air by the door.
The night was clear and calm. A full moon hung high in the sky, its light illuminating the street so gently that there was no need for lamps. It wasn’t dark at all.
As soon as the door opened, a cool breeze swept in, and Mira shivered.
Without a word, Rhodes took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Mira didn’t bother with the sleeves. She simply gripped the lapels with both hands and leaned into his arms.
The two of them strolled down the quiet street, side by side, wrapped in moonlight, speaking in soft voices.
"When are you going to the Council?" Mira asked.
"Tomorrow, I guess. If everything goes smoothly, I can be back the same day."
"Why the rush?"
"Because I’ll miss you if I’m away too long?"
Mira smiled and nudged him gently with her elbow. "Be serious."
"Alright, alright. They only said it’s a test. It’s not guaranteed they’ll grant me a title, so I’d rather go early and return early."
Mira gave a light laugh. "I wonder what Master will do if you get the Saint Ten title. Maybe he’ll just promote you to S-Class without an exam."
"Not necessarily," Rhodes replied. "Look at Gajeel and Juvia. They were basically S-Class in Phantom Lord, but after joining Fairy Tail, they had to go through the exam like everyone else."
Mira tilted her head. "Hmm. Master really is old-fashioned in some ways."
"Which means I’ll probably have to prepare for the exam when I get back."
"Your peers will cry," Mira teased.
She felt a little lucky on Cana’s behalf. If she hadn’t accepted Gildarts as her father by now, the pressure from Rhodes’ sudden rise would’ve been overwhelming.
Rhodes gave her a pout. "As if you didn’t make your peers cry when you took the S-Class Exam."
Mira giggled. "Oh my, I was still young and naïve back then."
"That was only three years ago. Is sixteen really that young?"
"Very young," Mira replied firmly. "I’m still very young now."
Rhodes glanced at her with a meaningful smirk. "I don’t think you’re that little anymore."
Mira followed his gaze downward, then looked back up and pinched his waist through the jacket.
"Ow, ow!" Rhodes yelped, even though it didn’t hurt. He grinned and warned, "Do that again and I’ll fight back."
She gave no reply, so he lunged in to tickle her instead.
Caught off guard, Mira burst into laughter and bolted down the street.
They chased each other through the moonlight, laughing like children, before finally calming down again.
"It’s already December," Mira murmured, her gaze landing on the long, overlapping shadows cast by their bodies.
Rhodes nodded. "Yeah."
They both knew what she meant.
The wedding was getting closer.
"But we still haven’t found a house," Mira pouted.
Rhodes let out a chuckle. "It’s fine."
"Huh?" Mira blinked in surprise. Wasn’t he the one who said they had to find a place first?
Rhodes paused, thinking. "The past is the past," he said slowly. "Actually, I had a nightmare a few days ago. It was about Edolas..."
Mira blinked slowly. She seemed to understand what Rhodes was trying to say.
"The ending in that dream wasn’t good," Rhodes murmured. "Even after I woke up, I couldn’t shake the fear. What if Gajeel hadn’t made it in time? What if your and Elfman’s lacrimas had been shattered by someone else? What if..."
He paused, his voice trembling faintly. "The thought of losing you forever that day still terrifies me. Then I remembered what you said to Cana, and I realized... it applies to us, too. I..."
Rhodes had finally come to terms with it.
The house, the savings, all the planning, none of it really mattered. Mira didn’t care about those things. What mattered was being with her.
Mira caught the meaning behind his silence, but she still wanted to hear the words. That stubborn man always stopped at the most crucial moment.
She scrunched her nose slightly, a playful glint in her eye. "Took you long enough to figure that out."
"Yeah, yeah." Rhodes smiled and pulled her closer in apology.
They walked a little further under the moonlight. Rhodes suddenly remembered the chaos they’d left behind in the guild and sighed. "Tomorrow morning’s going to be a mess."
"Of course," Mira replied with a wry smile. "But I’m used to it. Just leave the cleanup to us. You go handle whatever you need to..."
She trailed off mid-sentence and looked around in surprise. "Wait, how did we end up here?"
Rhodes looked up and blinked. "My place? Must’ve been habit."
They stood in front of his door.
Silence settled over them again.
The alcohol had long since faded, and reason told them they should head back to the guild.
But neither of them moved.
Rhodes found himself rooted in place, words caught in his throat. Mira didn’t speak either. She stood frozen, her gaze lowered, and a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks.
"How about..." Rhodes hesitated, then quietly offered, "Since we’re already here, want to come up for a bit?"
Mira turned her head slightly. "...Okay."
His heart skipped a beat.
They climbed the stairs together, hand in hand, not saying another word.
The door opened. Then closed.
Mira carefully hung his jacket by the door. When she turned back around, she was immediately swept into a warm embrace.
No words were exchanged. There was no need.
Every unspoken thought flowed into a single, lingering kiss.
Their feet shifted. The space around them blurred. But they didn’t notice.
The moment they tumbled onto the bed, Rhodes and Mira became lost in each other. Their breaths mingled, warm and uneven, as their hands roamed with newfound urgency. Rhodes cupped Mira’s face, his thumb brushing her lower lip before claiming her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss. She moaned into him, her fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer as if she couldn’t bear even an inch of separation.
His hands slid down, tracing the delicate curve of her neck before finding the soft swell of her breasts. Mira arched into his touch, her breath hitching as his thumbs circled her nipples through the fabric of her dress. They hardened under his attention, and Rhodes groaned at the sensation, his own body responding fiercely.
"Let me see you," he murmured against her lips, his voice rough with need.
Mira didn’t hesitate. She reached behind herself, fingers working at the ties of her dress until the fabric loosened, then slipped from her shoulders, pooling at her waist. Rhodes’ breath caught at the sight of her bare skin glowing in the moonlight, her breasts full and inviting, her nipples peaked and flushed. He lowered his head, taking one into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the sensitive bud.
"Ah...Rhodes!" Mira gasped, her back arching off the bed as pleasure shot through her. His free hand kneaded her other breast, rolling the nipple between his fingers, teasing until she was squirming beneath him.
But she wasn’t content to just be touched. Her hands slid down his chest, nails scraping lightly over his skin before reaching the waistband of his trousers. Rhodes hissed as her fingers dipped beneath, brushing against the hard length of his cock, already straining against the fabric.
"Fuck," he growled, his hips jerking into her touch.
Mira smirked, her confidence growing as she felt his reaction. She pushed his trousers down, freeing him, her fingers wrapping around his shaft in a slow, exploratory stroke. Rhodes shuddered, his muscles tensing as she explored him, the velvety heat of his skin, the way his cock twitched in her grip, the bead of moisture at the tip that she smeared with her thumb.
"You’re beautiful like this," she whispered, her voice trembling with desire.
Rhodes couldn’t take it anymore. With a growl, he flipped her onto her back, his hands sliding down her body until they reached the last barrier between them, her underwear. He hooked his fingers into the delicate fabric and pulled them down, revealing the glistening heat of her folds.
He dragged a finger through her slickness, circling her entrance before sliding inside. Mira cried out, her hips lifting to meet his touch.
"More," she begged, her nails digging into his shoulders.
Rhodes obliged, adding a second finger, curling them just right until she gasped, her thighs trembling. He watched her face, mesmerized by every flicker of pleasure, the way her lips parted, the flutter of her lashes, the flush spreading down her chest.
When he lowered his mouth to her, licking a slow, torturous stripe up her slit, Mira nearly came off the bed.
"Oh god....Rhodes, please!" Her voice was a desperate whimper as his tongue found her clit, swirling in tight circles. He fucked her with his fingers, matching the rhythm of his mouth, and within moments, she was unraveling, her body tensing, her back arching as pleasure crashed over her in waves.
Rhodes didn’t let up, drawing out her orgasm until she was panting, her legs shaking. Only then did he rise over her, his cock pressing against her entrance.
"Look at me."
Mira’s eyes fluttered open, hazy with pleasure but locked onto his.
He pushed inside in one slow, deep stroke, filling her completely. They both groaned at the sensation, the tight, wet heat of her around him, the way her body stretched to take him.
"You feel... incredible," Rhodes gritted out, his muscles trembling with restraint.
Mira wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper. "Move," she whispered.
He did.
Rhodes set a slow, deep rhythm, each thrust dragging against her sensitive walls. Mira met him stroke for stroke, her nails raking down his back as pleasure coiled tighter inside her.
"Touch yourself," Rhodes growled, his voice wrecked. "Let me see you come again."
Mira didn’t hesitate. Her fingers found her clit, rubbing in frantic circles as Rhodes fucked her harder, deeper. The dual stimulation was overwhelming, every nerve in her body alight, every thought burned away by pleasure.
"I’m...I’m close," she gasped.
Rhodes felt her tightening around him, her breath coming in sharp, desperate pants. He reached between them, his thumb replacing her fingers, pressing down just right.
Mira shattered.
Her cry echoed through the room as her orgasm ripped through her, her body clamping down on Rhodes in rhythmic pulses. The sensation was too much, with a final, ragged groan, Rhodes followed her over the edge, spilling deep inside her as pleasure consumed him.
They collapsed together, limbs tangled, hearts pounding. Rhodes rolled to the side, pulling Mira against him, his lips brushing her forehead as they both struggled to catch their breath.
For a long moment, neither spoke. The only sound was their slowing breaths and the quiet hum of the night.
Then Mira tilted her head up, her lips curving into a satisfied smile.
"Again?" Rhodes whispered.
Mira laughed, low and rough, before flipping him beneath her.
Her fingers trailed down Rhodes’ chest, her nails scraping lightly over the ridges of his abdomen as she shifted lower, her lips following the same path. She kissed the hollow of his hip, her tongue darting out to taste the salt of his skin, her breath hot against the crease of his thigh.
Rhodes groaned, his cock twitching against his stomach, already hard again, glistening at the tip. Mira wrapped her fingers around the base, her grip firm but not tight. She stroked him once, slowly, watching the way his muscles tensed, the way his breath hitched.
"Fuck, Mira," he gritted out, his voice rough.
She smirked, then leaned in, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the head of his cock, swirling her tongue over the slit to taste him. Rhodes’ hips jerked involuntarily, a ragged curse tearing from his lips.
Mira explored him with agonizing slowness, her tongue tracing the thick vein along the underside before taking just the head into her mouth, sucking lightly. Rhodes’ fingers tangled in her hair, not pushing, just holding, his thighs trembling beneath her.
"So good," he rasped, his voice wrecked.
She hummed in response, the vibration making him curse again. Then she sank deeper, her lips stretching around him, her tongue pressing flat against his shaft as she took him as far as she could. Rhodes’ grip tightened in her hair, his breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts.
Mira pulled back, her lips dragging along his length before sinking down again, establishing a slow, relentless rhythm. Every time she took him deep, his hips twitched upward, his body betraying his desperation.
"Mira...fuck." His voice was raw, strained. "I can’t..ah...last if you keep
She pulled off with a wet pop, her hand still working him in slow strokes. "Then don’t," she whispered.
Before he could respond, she took him deep again, her throat relaxing around him, her fingers tightening at the base. Rhodes’ back arched off the bed, a guttural moan tearing from his chest as his control shattered.
"Mira!"
His release hit him hard, his hips jerking as he spilled into her mouth, his fingers clutching desperately at the sheets. Mira swallowed, her tongue working him through every pulse, every shudder, until he was gasping, oversensitive, his body taut with lingering pleasure.
When she finally pulled away, licking her lips with deliberate slowness, Rhodes dragged her up his body, capturing her breasts in a searing kiss.
Rhodes flipped her onto her back, his eyes blazing. "My turn," he growled.
Mira’s breath hitched as Rhodes leaned in, his breath warm against her folds before his tongue dragged a slow, torturous line from her entrance to her clit. Mira’s hips jerked off the bed, but Rhodes held her down, his grip firm.
"Rhodes~~~"
"I’ve barely started," he growled against her skin, his tongue circling her clit in teasing, lazy strokes.
Mira whimpered, her fingers twisting in the sheets as he explored her with maddening patience. Every flick of his tongue, every soft suck sent sparks racing through her nerves, her body tightening with need.
His fingers sliding into her, curling just right as his mouth closed over her clit again.
Mira cried out, her back arching as pleasure coiled deep in her belly. Rhodes didn’t relent, his tongue worked her in slow, relentless circles while his fingers thrust in a steady rhythm, stretching her, filling her just the way she loved.
"You close?" he asked, his voice thick with satisfaction.
She could only nod, her thighs trembling around his shoulders.
Rhodes smirked against her, then doubled down, his tongue flicked faster, his fingers pressing that sweet spot inside her until Mira shattered, her climax crashing over her in waves.
Before she could catch her breath, Rhodes surged up her body, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss, letting her taste herself on his lips.
A soft sound escaped Mira’s lips, and the quiet room filled with sounds that made the moonlight hesitate to shine.
Eventually, Rhodes let out a long breath and buried his face into Mira’s chest, utterly content.
Her cheeks were still flushed, her fingers tracing idle circles on his back. Neither of them spoke right away.
"Let’s sleep," Rhodes murmured, though in truth, he’d considered suggesting one more round. But the sight of Mira, still slightly dazed and flushed, made him think better of it.
Mira let out a soft hum. "I think we should tidy up first."
Rhodes blinked like he’d only just remembered basic hygiene. "You’re right..."
He made a mental note to move, but exhaustion got the better of him.
The next morning, Rhodes learned firsthand what Mira’s sleeping habits were like.
He woke with a start, unable to breathe, buried beneath what felt like a solid weight and trapped in darkness.
Then the "darkness" shifted, and revealed itself as smooth, fair skin.
Mira stirred, groggily sitting up while rubbing her eyes, her silver hair tousled from sleep. A breathtaking sight.
When she fully registered the position they were in, she blushed, but didn’t panic.
Instead, she cleared her throat, then leaned forward with a teasing wink. "Good morning."
If it weren’t for the deep flush still painting her cheeks, Rhodes might have thought she was completely composed.
"Good morning."