Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 90 Lost In The Moment

Nate felt Alice’s breath against his skin, warm and hurried, her hands tightening around his neck as if anchoring herself. The kiss had come unexpectedly, a sudden, uncontrollable force overtaking her, and for a moment, he had frozen. But as her lips moved against his, as the soft, intoxicating taste of the strange fruit lingered between them, something in him stirred—something unfamiliar yet magnetic.

His hands, powerless against the pull of the moment, lowered onto her waist, his fingers pressing into the curve of her back, feeling the dampness of her skin from her recent bath. Her wet hair clung to her neck, strands tracing delicate lines over her collarbone. She was trembling, but whether from the lingering effects of the fruit or something deeper, Nate couldn’t tell.

His mind screamed at him to stop—this wasn’t her, not completely. Something in that fruit had done this to her. But the way she melted against him, the way she held him so desperately, made it difficult to resist.

Still, he had to.

"Alice," he murmured between their lips, trying to slow her down, trying to make her realize what she was doing. But instead of answering, she pulled him closer, her nails grazing the back of his neck, her breathing uneven.

Her body, pressed so tightly against his, was burning—hotter than usual, almost feverish. He could feel the way her chest rose and fell rapidly against him, how her hands trembled yet clung to him with certainty.

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He had never seen her like this.

Nate took control, gently shifting the pace, his lips moving slower, more deliberate. The rushed desperation in her kiss softened under his lead, turning into something deeper, something more natural. His fingers traced small, soothing circles on her back, trying to ease the tension that had taken hold of her.

Alice followed his rhythm, the urgency fading as a new sensation replaced it—something softer yet undeniably powerful.

She shifted on his lap, sitting more comfortably on his thighs, her hands moving from his neck to rest against his chest. Her lips parted slightly as Nate instinctively deepened the kiss, his tongue meeting hers in a slow, deliberate motion. It was electric, a silent exchange of emotions neither of them had voiced before, but both had felt lurking beneath the surface for so long.

Her fingers clenched the fabric of his shirt, her breath hitching as their connection intensified. Nate responded in kind, his grip on her tightening slightly as he let himself get lost in the moment—just for now.

Then, as Alice pulled back to catch her breath, her face mere inches from his, Nate was left utterly speechless.

Her flushed cheeks, the rise and fall of her breath, the way her lips were slightly swollen from their kiss—he had never seen anything more breathtaking. She was radiant in a way that was almost unreal, a mixture of beauty and vulnerability that made his heart pound against his ribs.

Alice blinked at him, as if just now realizing what had happened, and yet, she didn’t move away. Instead, her arms remained loosely wrapped around his shoulders, her chest still pressed against his.

A slow smirk formed on Nate’s lips before he leaned forward again, this time trailing soft, lingering kisses along the side of her neck.

Alice shuddered, her hands instinctively tightening in his hair as she let out a soft, barely audible gasp. He could feel her heartbeat racing beneath his lips, feel the way her body responded to every touch.

His lips traveled down, pressing against the curve of her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin.

Alice whispered his name, her voice almost shaky, as if unsure whether she wanted him to continue or if she needed to stop.

And that was where Nate paused.

With effort, he pulled back slightly, his forehead resting lightly against hers, his breathing just as uneven as hers.

"Alice," he murmured again, his voice low.

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She didn’t answer right away. Instead, her fingers traced small circles on his shoulder as she tried to steady herself.

She had never felt like this before.

Alice was still in his embrace, her breathing soft and steady against his chest. The warmth of her body, the gentle rise and fall of her breath—it was a rare, fragile moment, one that Nate had never quite experienced before. She was completely vulnerable in his arms, her face still slightly flushed, her lips parted ever so slightly as if she was still lost somewhere between wakefulness and the lingering haze of the fruit’s effect.

Nate exhaled slowly, his grip on her tightening just a little. He knew he needed to help her rest. Whatever had taken over her body, whatever had driven her to act on impulse—she needed to recover from it.

He shifted slightly, adjusting his hold on her, then with a slow, deliberate movement, he traced his fingers along the back of her neck, applying gentle but firm pressure at the base. His touch was careful, controlled. He had seen warriors use this technique before—not to harm, but to soothe, to ease a person into unconsciousness when their mind was overwhelmed.

Alice’s body shivered slightly in response, but then, as if a switch had been flipped, her eyes fluttered shut, and her entire body relaxed against him. Her fingers, which had been curled around his shoulders, slowly uncoiled, falling limp against his chest. Her breathing evened out completely, soft and undisturbed.

She had fallen asleep in his arms, utterly at peace.

Nate tilted his head slightly, watching her, his heart unexpectedly heavy.

To say that he wasn’t tempted would be the greatest lie. Any man would be tempted to be with a girl like her—strong, beautiful, unpredictable. She had a fire in her unlike anyone he had ever met, a fire that both intrigued and frustrated him at the same time. And yet, seeing her like this, so defenseless, something deeper stirred within him—something beyond mere attraction.

He exhaled through his nose, shaking off the thoughts, and shifted again. With slow, careful movements, he adjusted his body and gently laid her down on the bed. The moment her head hit the pillow, she turned slightly, unconsciously nuzzling into the softness. The strands of her white hair fell over her face, cascading across her cheek like silk.

Nate hesitated for a second before reaching out, his fingers brushing the strands aside, tucking them behind her ear. His touch was featherlight, almost hesitant.

Then, before he even realized what he was doing, he leaned down.

His face hovered just above hers, close enough that he could feel the soft warmth of her breath against his lips.

And then, slowly, without thinking, he closed the distance.

His lips pressed gently against hers—just for a moment, just long enough for the sensation to burn itself into his mind.

He didn’t know why he did it. It wasn’t like before, when impulse had driven their actions. This… this came from somewhere deeper.

And as he pulled away, a strange tightness settled in his chest.

Nate sat up, running a hand through his hair as he let out a slow breath. Shaking off the thoughts, he quietly stepped away from the bed and dragged a chair over to the small table across the room. He wasn’t going to leave her alone like this. Not here. Not in this place where he trusted no one.

As he sat down, his eyes flickered to the half-eaten fruit still resting near the edge of the bed.

His brows furrowed slightly as he picked it up, turning it in his hand. The scent was still lingering, sweet and intoxicating, but now that he looked closer, something was off.

Nate’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the center of the fruit. Amidst the soft, fleshy interior, there was a small red substance embedded deep within.

A foreign substance.

His fingers clenched slightly as he carefully examined it. It wasn’t natural. It didn’t blend with the fruit’s structure—it had been placed there.

His fingers tightened around the fruit as his mind raced. That substance hadn’t affected him, but it had affected Alice. Was it meant for him? Was it an accident that Alice had taken a bite instead?

His first thought was Madison—she might have been the one to leave the fruit here. But even though she might have her grudges because of what he did to her the last time, she wouldn’t go this far. This wasn’t just a simple prank. This was something deeper.

Nate’s expression darkened.

Someone had deliberately placed this fruit in his room. Someone had wanted him to eat it.

And now, he needed to find out why.

---

Alice’s eyes fluttered open, her mind slowly emerging from the deep sleep she had fallen into. She blinked a few times, her vision adjusting to the surroundings, and as she turned her head to the right, she saw him.

Nate was sitting in the chair beside the bed, his arms folded together as his chin rested against his chest. Even in sleep, his posture held a certain level of alertness, like a warrior who never truly let his guard down. His breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, but Alice could tell that he wasn’t in a deep sleep—he was resting, yet ready to react at the slightest disturbance.

For a moment, she just watched him.

The sharp angles of his face looked softer in the dim light, his usually intense expression now relaxed. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, a few strands shifting gently with each breath he took. It was rare to see him like this—calm, unburdened, almost peaceful.

But as soon as she sat up, the rustling of the sheets caused his eyes to snap open in an instant.

His gaze locked onto her immediately, sharp and assessing, but the moment he saw that it was just her, the tension in his body eased. His shoulders relaxed slightly as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"You’re awake," he said, his voice slightly rough from sleep. "How do you feel?"

Alice stretched her arms slightly, rolling her shoulders as she took a moment to assess herself. There was no dizziness, no discomfort—whatever strange effect that fruit had on her before seemed to have completely faded. "I’m okay," she answered, her voice quiet. "Just… a little tired."

Nate gave a small nod, his sharp eyes scanning her face as if making sure she was truly alright. Then, just as she was about to speak again, memories suddenly flooded into her mind.

The fruit. The strange heat that had burned inside her.

And then…

Her breath hitched as her eyes widened in realization.

Her hands instinctively went to her lips, her heartbeat quickening as fragmented images pieced themselves together in her head. The way her body had moved on its own, the way she had wrapped her arms around his neck, the way her lips had pressed against his without hesitation.

Oh.

Oh no.

Alice’s face burned as she slowly turned her head toward Nate, her wide eyes locking onto him. He was still looking at her, waiting for her to say something, completely unaware of the chaos that was now erupting inside her mind.

She had kissed him.

Not just a normal kiss—a deep, breathless kiss that had lasted long enough for her to remember every single detail. And it hadn’t stopped there. He had held her, had responded to her, had—

Alice’s entire body tensed as heat rushed to her cheeks, her expression frozen in a mixture of shock and embarrassment.

What the hell did she just do?

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