Devilish secretary-Chapter 333 Hot spring

His lips curved upward slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a soft, rare smile that made him look younger and warmer. His eyes flicked over the neat handwriting inside the card, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything. He just stood there, reading it again.

"To my grumpy human doll..

You pretend you don’t like people, but I know better.

You care quietly, think deeply, and feel more than you show.

Thank you for letting me see the real you.

Happy birthday, Gray.

I hope this year, your heart feels lighter.

– Lilith."

He let out a low breath, the kind that escapes when someone tries not to feel too much, but still does.

"You’re really... something, Lili," he said under his breath, almost in disbelief.

When he looked up at her again, the sunlight caught the emotion in his eyes, and he stepped forward.

"Come here," he murmured.

Lilith tilted her head but walked closer, her smile still lingering.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, tugging her gently into his chest, bouquet still in his other hand. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder.

"Thank you for seeing me," he whispered.

The warmth between them was soft and quiet, but powerful as if no words could truly describe what her presence meant to him in that moment.

*

Gray stared at the bouquet for a moment longer, then slowly stepped to the side table and placed it down with care as if it were something precious. The moment he set it down, he turned back to Lilith.

Without a word, he reached for her hand and gently pulled her closer. His eyes lingered on her lips for a second too long before he leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers.

The kiss wasn’t rushed. It was gentle... but deep and lingering like he’d been holding it in for a long time. His hand cradled the side of her face, thumb brushing her cheek softly, while the other stayed on her waist, anchoring her to him.

Lilith felt the world blur for a moment, her heart skipping just a beat too fast. The kind of kiss that made breathing feel optional.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes fluttered open. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her voice light but teasing.

"Let’s go to the hot spring," she whispered, stepping back with a soft smile, her fingers still tangled in his.

Gray blinked as if waking from a dream, lips parted slightly, and then he let out a breath of a smile.

"Lead the way, birthday planner."

***

Lilith watched Gray walk toward the other room with the robe draped over his arm, his back tall and calm. Once he was out of sight, she turned away and slowly began unbuttoning her clothes. One by one, each layer slipped off and folded neatly onto the chair nearby. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the water bubbling outside, steam curling up into the cold afternoon air. The robe was warm and soft against her skin as she wrapped it around herself, tying it carefully at her waist. A few strands of her hair had come loose, brushing against her cheek.

She stepped out into the private hot spring area. The wooden floor was warm under her bare feet, and a light breeze rustled the trees around. Mist swirled gently above the water’s surface, giving the whole place a magical, dreamlike glow.

Lilith inhaled deeply, letting the calmness settle inside her.

Taking a breath, Lilith loosened the knot of her robe and let it slide down her shoulders. The fabric whispered against her skin as it pooled at her feet. A light steam curled around her bare form as she stepped into the hot spring, the warmth of the water hugging her instantly.

She moved slowly, letting the water rise past her thighs, then waist, until she sat on the smooth rock beneath the surface. Her hair was pinned up loosely, neck and shoulders bare, glistening softly under the afternoon light.

She didn’t turn when she heard the door behind her slide open.

Footsteps.

Slow... steady... deliberate.

There was the gentle sound of a robe being shrugged off... and the quiet rustle of cloth being placed aside.

Her heart began to beat a little faster.

Gray stepped in.

The surface of the water rippled with his movements, and she could feel him settling near, not too close...just close enough that she could feel the shift in the water, the warmth of his body nearby.

Still, neither of them spoke.

Lilith’s fingers gently traced the water’s surface. The fog rose between them like a veil.

Then she finally turned her head, just slightly.

He was watching her.

His dark hair was damp, sticking to his temples, and his dark eyes weren’t calm like usual. They were intense, flickering like a storm held behind glass. His jaw was tense, his breathing slow, as if he was holding himself back.

"Comfortable?" she asked softly.

Gray’s voice was quiet, almost husky, "I was just thinking... how dangerous you look when you’re not even trying."

Lilith smiled faintly. "I could say the same about you."

He moved closer just an inch.

The tension between them shimmered like heat in the air.

She didn’t move away.

And neither did he.

When Gray moved closer, the space between them disappeared in an instant. The warm water around them suddenly felt hotter, almost unbearable, as if it was reacting to the tension building in the air. Lilith felt her breath catch, not out of fear, but because every nerve in her body suddenly seemed to awaken.

Her body shivered under the surface, not from cold, but from the way his presence wrapped around her. Silent, unrelenting.

Gray didn’t say anything. He simply reached forward and gently pulled her body closer to his, his hand firm on her waist beneath the water. She let him. Her back touched his chest, and the feeling of his skin against her damp warmth sent tingles down her spine.

Though she wasn’t completely naked...her soft, red innerwear still clung to her body beneath the water, somehow that made it feel even more intimate. The fabric clung tightly to her, translucent under the steam, and she could feel his heartbeat pressing against her from behind.