Given that even a cut-throat lottery boss like him was willing to offer such an unbelievable deal… well, Looktan figured he had already slept with the guy before, so giving up his body a little more wasn't exactly the end of the world especially if it meant living in peace without being chased about the debt all the time.
And honestly, if this man got bored quickly, Looktan might even get his freedom sooner.
Just hang in there, Looktan!
"Hey what are you doing!?"
Tod suddenly scooped the smaller body out of the passenger seat, practically tossing him onto the car's hood before climbing up right after him.
His strong arms planted against the windshield, caging Looktan beneath him as their bodies hovered under the moonlit sky.
"What on earth are you trying to do?" Looktan stared up at the wild man in utter confusion.
You said we'd… don't tell me he's actually…
Small hands immediately pressed against Tod's firm chest when the lottery boss leaned down, clearly planning to steal a hungry kiss from his lips.
"I just want to do it on the car hood. Why do you look so shocked? You're the one who suggested the idea in the first place."
"That's not what I meant at all! Doing this right in front of the car aren't you afraid the guardian spirit of the car is gonna snap our necks!?"
"You're still young and you believe stuff like that? Stop stalling and take your pants off already. Can't you see how worked up I am? Or do you want me to put it somewhere else, hm? Teacher."
"You're trying to make me do weird stuff again! Can't we go home? If someone walks by to look for frogs or whatever and sees us moving like this on the hood, they'll think we're possessed!"
"Let them think whatever they want."
Why did he have to be the kind of man who refused to ever back down? How was Looktan supposed to even feel the mood like this? They were on the roadside, in the middle of a rice field, with nothing but cricket chirps and a swarm of mosquitoes for company. Who knew if someone would come frog-hunting at dawn?
And if the car spirit really did exist then what?!
This man had absolutely no sense of propriety!
Both of them were panting, trying to catch their breath, and before Looktan could even gather his strength, Tod simply lifted him up just like that and settled him back onto his lap in the driver's seat everything between them still deliciously unresolved.
Tod drove all the way home in that state, refusing to let go even for a moment, because dawn would break soon and the monks would be out collecting alms. So of course, he brought his brilliant little teacher back to his place to sleep.
Their night didn't end there their bodies tangled again and again, twice more until the first light crept in. By the time morning arrived, Tod's bedroom had turned into a battleground of desire, messy in exactly the same way it always became whenever the two of them touched.
The previous day passed with bodily satisfaction and a twinge of embarrassment.
The agreement, free of emotional attachment, was clear: no special feelings, no overstepping boundaries… not forbidden by law, but a rule of self-control, because the lottery dealer was notoriously ruthless. Only an equal exchange was always certain.
But who could have known that liking something or someone so much that it couldn't be let go wasn't exactly a normal feeling for someone usually cold-hearted?
The lingering scent, the constant craving for touch, and the act of pretending indifference slowly changed a life that had always been free.
Day 30
Tod: Today, come record the lottery numbers at the house.
Luktan: Why there too? Take a picture for me.
Tod: I said come.
Luktan: Fine.
The previous lottery draw had become a routine for the kindergarten teacher, a careful balancing act to sneak past the child and help the father record the numbers. Luktan's life as a teacher wasn't easy. By day, marking the lottery; by night, dodging the notorious dealer's mischief.
The small frame shifted on the strong lap, the large arms wrapping around the thin waist, stroking possessively.
"If I make a mistake I'm not taking responsibility" Luktan muttered continuously while marking lines full of numbers on the paper. It wouldn't have been strange if not for having to sit on the dealer's lap, almost fused to one chair.
Tod didn't move, chin propped, watching the tiny debtor work diligently while doing nothing but teasing and lingering.
Ever since the agreement, Tod had changed. Every meeting led to intimacy. Sometimes, instead of sending Luktan back to the teacher's residence, Tod insisted on sleeping over at the villa. Truly, the most comfortable lottery dealer around.
The small figure in the khaki teacher uniform sat between the legs of the lottery dealer, who also held the role of creditor. Lately, Tod had been clingy and frequently calling for services, giving much more money than the actual debt.
The usual sharp, commanding tone had softened, probably because Aunt Si's condition had improved. A smile or a laugh now brought a new warmth, a side that seemed unexpectedly pleasant. Tod gave everything freely, just as had been promised earlier.
Three months had passed in this hidden, physical closeness, and it had stirred desires in the heart without either realizing it.