(1st POV)
She started unbuttoning my shirt, slowly while tracing her delicate fingers across my chest, maintaining eye contact with me.
"You have grown strong," she remarked while looking over my cheat.
I had to admit, Toji's physique did its magic on me. I didn't look overly buff like him, but I'd gained a lot of muscle mass, enough to give me a perfectly lean physique.
Toji was just on a whole different level.
…but none of that really mattered right now.
As I looked at the red-haired devil, she simply slipped off her apron, revealing a beautiful one-piece dress that didn't hide her curves in the slightest.
She didn't waste any longer as she moved and got on top of me. My heart started beating faster than ever and my mind went blank, but my body couldn't suppress the excitement for what was about to happen next.
No… I need to resist.
Don't give in just yet!!
I kept reminding myself over and over again that something about this situation wasn't right.
Is this it?
Have I just been playing in her palms all this time?
I thought I was only pretending to be manipulated by her, and when the time comes, I'd make my move.
But it's only been a day… and somehow, she'd already changed my whole perspective of her.
Knowing she loves playing with people, manipulating and then breaking them,
I knew she was dangerous and I should stay the hell away from her.
And yet… I couldn't stop thinking about her.
All the affection she'd given me, all the hugs and kisses, not even Denji got that much.
I realized it now.
Realized how down bad I was becoming for her, and that was probably what she wanted.
I knew that if I had sex with her today, it would be a point of no return.
I would fall for her… and I wouldn't ever be able to go back.
I didn't want that.
I didn't want it to be like this.
I didn't want her to have that much control over my life.
Having enough power to end this world… and yet I still struggled with something like this.
It was so stupid it almost made me laugh.
So I did.
I laughed bitterly over just how pathetic I was being.
Makima who was atop me only tilted her head in confusion, wondering why I was laughing in this situation.
I knew it was my fault for asking her for a reward. And I also knew I'd been contradicting myself too much.
If I wanted to make things better—for myself, and for Reze too—then I had to change my plans now.
Speaking of plans, I felt Makima's gentle hands on my face. Without giving me time to adjust, she cupped my cheeks and made me look at her.
Before I could even process it, she leaned down until her lips were near my ear
"I want you to only think about me, Aleks-kun." She brought her face even closer.
"I want you to feel good. I want you to savor every second of this," she whispered into my ear, and her body pressed down on mine.
I could feel them. Her huge breasts were pushing against my chest like she was trying to drown out every thought I had left.
"Miss Makima…" I started, trying my absolute best to resist her seduction.
"I don't want our first time to be like this…"
Makima didn't reply. Instead, she pulled back and looked at me, her gaze locking onto mine.
And I saw it as clear as day, the possessiveness in her eyes.
She truly wanted me.
And she won't stop at nothing until she devours me whole.
But the scary part wasn't her hunger.
It was that I couldn't see through her anymore.
I couldn't tell what was fake and what was real anymore.
And maybe that was the problem…because I didn't care anymore.
My voice slipped out before I could stop myself.
"I want to go on dates with you…explore new places with you. Laugh at stupid jokes…and even steal kisses from each other…"
I took a breath, then I continued.
"I want you to feel like you're mine too. Not just that I belong to you."
She didn't react, just kept studying me with those beautiful eyes that could see through me.
I had to choose my words carefully now.
"I've seen it happen before. I've been with people who thought they could own me. Women who tried to possess me completely. It always ended the same way." I said my heart, when in reality I was lying right at her face.
"They'd start out so sure, so certain they could control everything. But eventually…they'd lose themselves along the way. They'd then look at me like they didn't even recognize who they were anymore."
Just a little more.
"I don't want that for you."
"I want our bond to be special…not just whatever we have right now."
I finished.
My heart felt like it was running a marathon.
I didn't know what she would say. For all I knew, I'd just poured oil onto the fire.
She didn't speak.
Her golden eyes never left mine.
Then, she leaned closer again, so close that our lips almost touched, so close I could feel her breath warm against my mouth.
"You think I'd ever let myself break?" she whispered, her voice low and calm.
"If you want me to be yours…then make me."
Her hand moved to the side of my face, her thumb brushing my cheek.
"But don't forget—"
Her eyes narrowed, and her gaze turned almost hungry.
"You are mine."
Fuck I knew it.
She was too stubborn.
Smooth talking wasn't going to work on someone like her. Not on the Control Devil.
I cringed at my own stupidity.
I guess I really had no choice huh?
I didn't wait any longer and made my move.
In a swift motion, I flipped our positions. She was beneath me now, with her hair spreading across the sheets. Her golden eyes slightly widened, even if it's just for a second. I could tell this caught her off guard.
But then her smile returned to her face, almost as if she'd expected this all along.
"Taking initiative now, Aleks-kun?" she whispered, her voice soft and dangerous.
I was above her, my weight pressed onto her body, while my hands pressed her wrists down against the mattress. My heart was beating so fast I could barely focus on anything else.
I leaned closer.
"I'm not a toy," I said, my voice low.
"Not anymore."
Her smile didn't fade, but I saw it, the tiniest flicker in her gaze.
It wasn't fear or anger, it was something else.
I could see uncertainty in her eyes. I bet she was surprised to see this side of me.
I took a breath while brushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear.
"I'll play your game, Miss Makima," I continued quietly. "But don't think for a second I have lost."
Then, my fingers gently traced her face.
"When the time comes…"
I leaned in until our foreheads touched.
"…you'll know who truly owns who."
For a moment, there was silence.
She blinked, her expression as unreadable as ever, but then that faint smile of hers curved even wider.
"…Interesting," she muttered while her golden eyes studied me.
"If I am cated to be by your side…" I paused, taking a slow breath, "then I want it to happen when I'm at my strongest. This vessel—" I gestured to myself, "—is still too weak."
I lied again, carefully, while making sure she'd think I was planning something. She already knew the old Aleks was dead, so there was no point pretending otherwise.
So I leaned into it. I played with the idea that I was some powerful entity that had taken over Aleks's body.
And technically speaking? That wasn't even a lie.
I'm only strong because higher entities handed me those powers. I… I didn't earn any of this.
And I want to change that.
"…And what exactly are you asking of me?" she asked softly, though her tone carried that familiar dominance.
"…Give me a month," I said, meeting her stare unflinchingly. "When it's time, I want you to see me at my best, not like this." I finished, letting her know exactly what I wanted.
Currently, it was the second week of April, and if I recall correctly, this was around the time Issei was supposed to become a devil. Meaning… the plot had already begun, or it was about to.
Also, according to the most feared prophecy of Nostradamus, the world was predicted to end in 2012. Which was next year.
I couldn't just rely on tier 2 or 3 characters to always save my ass. I needed to build myself.
Although a month was nowhere near enough to reach my peak, it was the most I could ask her for, any more, and she would have denied my request.
"…Alright then. I'll give it to you. A month. But don't expect yourself to be free from me."
"Regardless of whether you fail or not…I will take you for myself exactly after a month."
"You will always be mine," Makima said, her face dead serious, though her faint smile never left her lips.
She was clearly amused by sudden boldness.
I only smiled.
This had worked exactly as I planned.
This was my little victory.
While I was busy thinking about my small win, I failed to notice a faint glint in her eyes. But of course, she concealed it with her usual smile.
Then she spoke, with her soft and controlled voice.
"You are to spend the night here with me every day, regardless of this month,"
Figured. I knew she would do that. But it wasn't a problem.
For a moment I looked at her.
Then, I shut my thoughts out and let my desire take over me.
Even if I couldn't have sex, that didn't mean I couldn't do anything else with her.
I closed the distance between us and our lips touched. Her lack of resistance made me go further, our tongues intertwined as my grip on her wrists tightened, letting me dominate her for this moment.
Honestly, it felt heavenly.
I pulled back for a second, and we both looked at each other.
I tore off her dress, revealing her beautiful breasts to the world.
I paused, meeting her eyes again.
We didn't communicate. She knew Inwas asking for her permission.
She looked at me, smiling. "Go ahead."
The night was still young. For now, I would enjoy this. She was irresistible as fuck, it was enough for me to forget that she could ruin my life.
Why?
Because if I was a moth, then she was a fire I couldn't resist.
***
(3rd POV)
It was a whole new day, and the world looked wonderful as usual. Aleks walked toward Reze's apartment.
He had spent the night at Makima's place and… well, it was enjoyable to say the least. It had been extremely hard to control himself within the limits he'd set, but he managed to resist nonetheless.
On his way, he'd plucked a flower from a garden.
Soon arriving in front of her apartment, he gently rang the bell.
"Coming~" a woman's voice called out. But strangely it didn't sound like Reze.
Aleks narrowed his eyes. Had he come to the wrong apartment? No, this was definitely the right place.
Had Makima relocated her? Or was this the person Makima had sent to look after Reze?
The door creaked open, revealing a young woman, probably about his age, with blonde hair and sapphire-blue eyes.
Her outfit was strange, which looked like a magician's robe with a hood.
"Who is it? Lavy?" Aleks heard a familiar voice.
It was Reze.
"Oh—um, who are you?" the blonde asked, probably the one named Lavy.
Reze stepped forward beside her. Seeing Aleks, her eyes widened.
"…Aleks-kun?" Her voice caught in her throat. She hadn't expected him to return after hearing Makima had gone to "save" him.
She knew just how possessive Makima can be, so seeing Aleks here was a surprise.
Then, her mind drifted back to…that moment. She recalled his confession and the kiss they had shared.
Just thinking about it made her blush.
Without wasting a second, she lunged at Aleks and hugged him tightly.
She was still unsure of her feelings, but she knew one thing, she liked his company. But hugging him and showing some intimacy was the least she could do for saving her life.
After all, she was taught to use affection as a tool to meet her ends, but Aleks was different.
She thought Aleks might really be the one who could change her.
"You dummy, why are you so late? I thought you wouldn't come," Reze said softly, her tone a mixture of relief and reproach.
Aleks smiled and hugged her back. "I fought a long battle and secured a temporary victory… Look, I brought this for you." He held out the flower he had plucked on his way here.
She took the flower and looked up at him, with her cheeks still flushed.
"Thank you~"
Aleks's heartbeat quickened.
Beautiful. He thought.
Lavy, sensing the tension between the two, quietly excused herself.
Aleks stepped back and asked Reze, "Who is she? Did Makima send her to watch over you?"
Reze sighed softly and replied, "Yes. She was sent here by Miss Makima. I've been on missions with her once or twice. She's incredibly strong."
"What's her real name? Lavy sounds more like a nickname."
"Her name is… Lavinia Reni," Reze said calmly.
Aleks's eyes widened in shock.
What the fuck is she doing here? Working for public safety? Wasn't she part of the Slash Dog team?
He might have only watched three seasons of High School DxD and read up to volume 12 of the light novels, but he knew about the author's prequel series Slash Dog, and Lavinia was a notable waifu from that series.
One thing was clear, this world was far more different than he ever imagined. Makima's presence had changed everything.
He wouldn't even be surprised if it turned out Azazel or even the entirety of the Three Factions were secretly under Makima's control.
***
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