Rose bud

-Snore~

It was late in the evening in rose snored lightly curled up in Enki's embrace, and slowly held tighter her eyes moved beneath her lids as she remembered who she was sleeping on.

"Enki?" she softly groaned, feeling a dull pounding in the back of her mind.

Feeling Enki's grip loosen, he spoke, "morning or evening actually," he kissed her forehead.

Coming to her senses, she opened her eyes, surprised to be looking at Enki. A moment later she groaned, "uh, please don't tell me that was real."

She heard him laugh. "Oh, it was, and it was great. Do you know you talk in your sleep when you're drunk? I learned a lot from you."

Her ears perked up, and she looked at him with demanding eyes. Seeing his grin, she sunk her face into his chest, "nooo..." groaning, "what did I say?"

Smiling Enki shrugged.

"Nothing much besides you love me rubbing your ears, how you wish we do it every day since you were so hot for me, you love me and how much you want me to spank you again."

"Oh, god fuck me," she groaned, trying to dig her face deeper into his chest.

Enki chuckled, "I will if you keep asking, you were constantly blushing and hiccuping oh and you said no sex and, as a gentleman, I have to oblige unless you say otherwise."

She pinched him on his side, making him jerk slightly. "shut up, it's your fault I was like that," she mumbled, finally staring him in the eyes.

Enki sighed and cupped her warm cheeks, pulling her in for a kiss. She moaned as their tongues mixed. The sweet and bitter taste of the wine played a part in their exchange.

The kiss was as intoxicating as it was calming. They separated and Rose swallowed her saliva, her mouth slightly opened wanting more.

"Forgive me?" He asked.

"Not even close," she said and attacked him with kisses and pecks. It tickled as she frantically latched onto him.

She stood up, sitting firmly on his lap. Her eyes carried a faint glint inside them as she stared at him.

"So? I was thinking we'd grab some dinner once you woke up. I went down, cleaned the place up and made some dinner," he said, grabbing hold of her waist, "or we can skip dinner and just stay here."

She paused a moment, the glint in her eye shrinking and being replaced by hunger. She held her nose up slightly and sniffed the air.

"Pizza!" She finished before him jumping in place, her tail swishing repeatedly, and she got out of bed pulling him with her, "dinner first, then we can talk."

"Aren't you gonna shower before?" Enki asked.

As she went down the staircase, he hear a small nope, before chuckling, "don't start without me!"

...

"Hmm~" Rose hummed pleased, "so good," she said, swallowing her meal.

"I feel you like my cooking more than me right now," Enki said, smiling at her lovely face.

Rose wiped the corner of her mouth.

"Well..." her ears twitched. "maybe? I mean, it's great. I love you, but this," she held up a slice, "is so delicious it's criminal."

She paused, seeing Enki's smirk and blushed, "ahem, so yeah, it's great and I wouldn't trade you for anything... maybe a lifetime supply of this but other than that, no."

"Wow," Enki said in a daze, 'pizza might replace me.'

Rose's ears perked up. "What? I'm honest," she said.

"Huh? Oh sorry, I was looking at your ears," he smiled.

Her face flushed some more. "Maybe after this, you'll get to touch them."

Her voice was low, but he heard it, "sigh, anyway, I came to ask something big of you. Well, two things actually and they're both difficult asks." He said, his calm voice layered with an undertone of seriousness.

Rose thought for a moment before smirking, "Alright then, depending on what favours are, I'd like to be compensated. Let's hear it."

"Okay, the first one is easy to say, after coming back from our quest we've gained an extra person in our church now we don't have enough rooms so I plan to add a new floor to the church and wanted to ask if you want to move in?" Enki finished.

Rose's eyes widened. "Oh, I see. Do I get a room, or are we sharing one?"

"Yes, and I know this is a big ask because." Enki motioned to the room.

Rose's understanding continued, "I have my home and yes, amongst other reasons, I am attached to this place."

"Exactly."

She nodded, remaining quiet for some time. Enki watched for any reaction on her face, but it was all neutral except for her fluffy ears and tail twitching now and then.

"Hah, I would love to if you're familia would have me," she looked to the room with a sombre smile, "every day I enter here and it feels larger than when I left, always lonely in my home," she then smiled facing him, "but every time you come over it feels a little less spacious and I love it that way. I'd be more than happy to share the same room." She winked, leaning on her arm.

"That's great," Enki said, over-excited. "we can move in whenever you're ready. Building a second floor will take only an hour, probably less."

Rose nodded. "Right, you're an alchemist. Did you know they built the walls around Orario?"

"Really?"

She shook her head. "It was a legend that an alchemist built the walls to keep the monsters from spreading so they could push them back into the dungeon. And then the gods built the tower atop it."

"That's probably not a legend, but it is a red flag," Enki said.

"Red flag?"

"It means a warning, I might have to check the walls in the future, anyway the second favour has to do with Ottar," he said as Rose's calm demeanour fell, "but am I right in guessing the guild keeps tabs on all adventurer's progressions?"

The mention of Ottar made her question Enki's intention.

"Yes, we do. We even have yours. Every time I ask you to bring a sheet of your status its updates your progress in our records like this we check for any odd growth or fluctuations of skill.

This only matters when a god uses their divinity to raise the power of an adventurer as it's against the rules. Also, if they had gained a magic skill without the right qualifications or background, like this we can figure out if they stole it when they've been complaints to the guilds, But I'm guessing you want the records of Ottar's growth."

"Exactly, I'll hand you my status sheet tomorrow but I've hit level 3 during the quest and with my magic my capabilities are high, I'm not enough to face him right now maybe holding my own for a while but overpowering him I can't yet. I just need to know how much further I need to go."

"Enki," Rose said worriedly.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"I know, but eventually we'll fight. I doubt Freya will let me live in peace and I don't want to kill Ottar. Just crushing him will do, maybe tearing his other arm off so they'll know I'm not to be messed with and stay away.

That way the power shift can still stay relatively the same in Ontario to keep from any form of invasions and whatnot, As for Freya..."

'How can he have such a goofy smile when talking about crushing Ottar?' Rose stifled a laugh leaning into her palm, "I can understand your confidence but Ottar's level 7 I get your magic increases your abilities but," she saw the growing grin on his face.

"No," a small realisation struck her, as Enki nodded, "your magic grew because you levelled up, but by how much?"

"80% It can increase along with my mage ability, which is why I'm going to get tutored by Riveria, so shortly it will double my overall abilities," Enki answered.

'Always looking to improve.' Rose's cheek flushed and got up, taking the empty plates.

Enki followed and helped her with the rest of the table. "So your power is increasing and soon so will the collection of women around you. I'm guessing you're going to ask Ryuu to move in as well?"

They had moved to the kitchen and worked together to clean, "I am planning to ask but I'm not sure if she'd want to, she loves it and it is her home, I'm just worried if she says yes then Syr will want to come inside as well."

Rose nodded, her ears moving back and forth with her thoughtful face. 'So cute, I have to pet them,' Enki thought.

"Right, because she is also Freya in disguise, which still makes me wonder why a goddess like her wouldn't just stroll about, then again even her standing. I think I can understand?" Rose said.

They were just about finishing with the dishes and once they were done Enki turned to the red-headed wolf girl who yelped as he bent down and lifted her like a bride.

He whispered into her ear, "finally nothing's stopping us, Rose bud~"

"W-we have all night to ourselves. There's no need to rush," Rose said, feigning a pout, but her animal traits betrayed her.

She noticed the little nickname he had for her seeing her stunned expression he laughed with her in his arms.

"Really? Something tells me you want me to have it right here, pressed against the window on the sink or even the floor since I cleaned it," Enki said shifting his grasp slightly to brush her wagging tail.

"Damn tail, alright what do you wanna do first?" She asked, her face flushing a bit more.

Enki leaned into the crook of her neck and planted a kiss before answering, "your ears," he said.

"Eh?" Rose wasn't expecting that answer.