< Ding! >
[Family Bond Reward has been prepared.]
Dan’s tired expression immediately brightened. The heaviness that had been weighing on him seemed to ease slightly as a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Now we’re talking."
The system’s rewards were finally starting to feel useful.
[You’ve obtained: Temporary Disease Immunity Card.]
Dan’s smile faded into mild confusion.
"A Temporary Disease Immunity Card?"
He had never heard of anything like that before.
The system immediately provided an explanation.
[Temporary Disease Immunity Card: A special consumable item that can be used on a healthy or sick individual.]
[Upon activation, the target will gain complete immunity to all diseases and poisons for 48 hours.]
[If the target is already suffering from a disease or has been poisoned before the card is activated, the immunity will also suppress the condition for the duration of the effect.]
[This will provide additional time to locate or develop an appropriate cure.]
Dan stared at the description for several seconds before his expression softened.
"That’s... actually really thoughtful of you, System."
For once, there was no teasing in his voice.
With an item like this, he wouldn’t have to worry about Sophie or Lily suddenly falling ill while he was still trying to prepare for the apocalypse. Even if something happened, he would at least have forty-eight hours to find a way to deal with it.
"At least with this, I can guarantee Sophie’s and Lily’s safety for now."
Dan nodded to himself, feeling a little more at ease.
It wasn’t a permanent solution, but considering everything that was coming, having even a temporary safeguard like this was invaluable.
He shook his head lightly, pushing those thoughts aside for the moment.
"Anyway..."
Dan turned toward the entrance of his house.
There was still plenty to do.
The apocalypse was coming, his family was growing, and he had a long list of preparations to make before society descended into chaos.
With that in mind, Dan stepped inside.
The lamp by the wall threw a low gold wash across the room.
Sophie sat in the chair in a thin nightgown, the kind that didn’t hide much once the light found it, soft fabric clinging to all the right places, falling loose at the shoulders, the shadowed line of her body visible through it.
She’d been waiting. He could see it in the way she sat still, watching the door as if she’d been listening for his step for a long time.
He stopped just past the threshold, not forgetting to lock the door behind him,
"Sophie. You were waiting for me."
She shook her head a little. The nightgown shifted with the movement, sliding over the rise of her breasts, revealing more of the cleavage of her big breast that made Dan gulp a little...
"It’s nothing. You said you’d sleep here tonight, and even though you were only outside for a short while, I still couldn’t help worrying about you. So tell me, Dan... what’s bothering you?
"If it’s about that night, I really don’t mind. I’ve moved past it."
She stood as she said it.
The gown hung loose on her shoulders and followed her when she rose, down the narrow waist, over the full curve of her hips, the hem brushing her thighs. Warm fresh skin showed at the open neckline. He could see the faint press of her nipples against the fabric.
"No," he said. "Sophie, it’s nothing like that."
He set both palms on her shoulders. The heat of her came up through the thin cloth at once. His thumbs found the hollows at the base of her neck.
"The past bothers me. I won’t pretend it doesn’t. But I won’t let it decide what comes next. What I keep thinking about are the things that will actually affect us... as a family."
By the time he finished, her eyes had settled on his lips.
From the way she was staring, she seemed almost entranced. Dan shook his head and let out a quiet laugh.
"Looking at my lips like that, were you even listening, you naughty girl?"
Sophie smiled at the tease. It was a slow, knowing smile, the kind that made it seem as though she already knew exactly where the night was headed.
"Whatever you’re thinking about, we can always talk about it," she said softly. "As a family."
He wanted to answer, but when he saw her eagerly lean in for a kiss, the words caught in his throat.
He didn’t pull away. Instead, he tilted his head and met her lips.
The first contact was gentle, almost tentative. His lips closed softly around her lower lip, warm and full, drawing it into a slow kiss that made her breath catch.
Then he shifted to her upper lip and did the same, tasting her slowly and without hurry.
Sophie answered in kind, matching his pace. Her lips parted when his did, and the kiss grew softer, deeper. Their breaths mingled between them, each lingering touch drawing them closer.
The kiss deepened without urgency. Her warm breath brushed against his lips as she leaned into him.
Their tongues rolled against each other and he felt her body press closer, the thin nightgown doing little to keep the warmth between them apart.
Her breast pressed tentatively against his chest as she leaned in wanting the kiss to get even deeper, and his hands slipped from her shoulders and traced slowly down the curve of her back.
His hands found her waist beneath the gown, narrow and warm, the gentle dip of her hourglass figure before the fuller curve of her hips. He held her there for a moment, his thumbs moving softly over the fabric as he felt the warmth of her body beneath it.
Then one hand slid farther, settling over the curve of her backside. He stayed there for a moment, his palm resting against her through the thin fabric, fingers pressing gently enough to feel how soft she was beneath the thin cloth...
Sophie made a soft sound against his lips, half sigh, half something hungrier.
When they finally broke apart, she was slightly breathless, her face still close to his. Her lips were flushed, and her eyes had darkened with unmistakable desire.
"Come on," she said softly. "Let’s sleep together. It’s been so hard sleeping without you all these years."
She took his wrist, her fingers warm against his skin, and gently drew him along with her. The smile on her face was quiet and unguarded, as though she still couldn’t quite believe this was the life she had finally woken up to.
They reached the bed.
She lay down first, the nightgown riding slightly up her thighs as she settled against the sheets. Dan lay behind her, fitting himself along the length of her back, his chest against her spine and his hips to the generous curve of her ass, one arm wrapping gently around her waist.
Sophie released a quiet, satisfied breath the moment his chest met her back, as though some part of her had been waiting for that familiar warmth and weight.
She found the hand resting on her waist, covered it with her own, and gently guided it beneath the loose fabric of her nightgown.
His palm settled against her breast.
It was full, warm and heavy in his hand. The nipple tightened against his skin the instant he held her. She shivered softly at the contact, but neither of them hurried. He simply held her, his thumb resting gently at the soft underside of her breast as he felt the slow rise and fall of her breathing.
For a while, neither of them moved.
They simply stayed there, wrapped in each other’s warmth.
He held her close. She kept his hand where she had placed it, her fingers laced over his as though she intended to keep him there all night.
Before long, her breathing evened out against the pillow, slow and contented. Dan stayed beside her, holding her gently, until the warmth of her body and the steady rhythm of her breathing lulled him into sleep as well, his hand still feeling the heavenly softness of her breast.