Chapter 49: Unspoken Understanding

As Aiko emerged from the bathroom, clad only in Ryo's shirt, a rush of vulnerability washed over her. The oversized shirt hung loosely around her slender frame, the hem grazing the tops of her thighs, leaving her feeling exposed and tantalizingly vulnerable. She glanced nervously at Ryo, his eyes fixed on her with a mixture of curiosity, concern, and something more.

In the prolonged silence that followed, Aiko shifted under the intensity of his scrutiny, her cheeks flushing with a combination of embarrassment. Her eyes remained locked on his, unable to look away as she stood before him, almost bare.

Ryo's gaze roamed appreciatively over her form, taking in the delicate curve of her neck, graceful as a swan's, and the way the shirt slid off one shoulder, exposing a hint of smooth, creamy skin. His eyes lingered on the gentle swell of her breasts, imagining the soft weight of them, the peaks tightening into taut buds beneath the fabric.