Chapter 66 - ◆Washing Each Other
It's truly very mildly erotic.
After spending a peaceful afternoon in the flower field, we decided to head home before evening.
If we stayed here any longer, it would affect dinner. I wondered if the sleeping children would be alright if they didn't go home soon. Didn't they have dinner preparations and housework to do?
When I got worried and woke them up, as expected, it seemed each of the children had work they needed to do, and they ended up running at full speed toward their baskets, even more seriously than during our chase game.
After seeing off those hurried yet adorable children, we returned home holding hands, just like on the way there.
Once we got home, we each immediately began our preparations.
Flora started drying the flower petals she'd collected, bottling some, and beginning dinner preparations.
I finished checking the fields and harvested some radishes. Then I thoroughly cleaned the bath so we could get in.
Honestly, I wanted to use the Magic Tool to fill the tub with hot water and soak right away, but we decided to finish dinner first.
Even at night, moonlight streams through the window into the bath, providing plenty of light, and the brightness of a single candle is enough. Conversely, if we prepared dinner at night, we'd need several candles in the kitchen and living room, which would be quite a consumption.
It's not that we don't have money to buy plenty of candles, but neither Flora nor I like such wasteful luxury, so we don't do it. We finish what we can during daylight hours without waste.
But, it's okay to place a few extra candles in the bedroom tonight, right? I don't think this is wasteful consumption, so I don't want to skimp here. After all, sufficient light is absolutely necessary to see Flora's beautiful body and cute expressions.
And so, having finished dinner before it got dark, Flora and I decided to take a bath together again this time.
"Flora, the hot water's ready!"
"Okay!"
When I told her I'd filled the tub with hot water using the Magic Tool, Flora came from the bedroom carrying a change of clothes. Judging by the clothes in her hands, it seemed she'd prepared a change for me as well.
Seeing me preparing the hot water, she must have gotten ready.
"Here, this is your change of clothes, Aldo-san."
"Thanks."
By the way, when I tried to bring Flora's change of clothes for her, just like she did for me, I got scolded. She gave me a thorough lecture about how it was embarrassing to have someone touch the drawer with her underwear, and how she enjoyed choosing clothes based on her mood that day.
Even if we were to become husband and wife, touching the drawer with a woman's underwear was indeed lacking in delicacy. Flora is more shy than an average woman, and we'd just started living together, so I reflected that I needed to be careful about such things.
Understanding a woman's heart is still difficult.
I entered the changing room with Flora and took off my clothes.
When I turned my gaze to catch a glimpse of Flora undressing today, our eyes met.
"...A-Aldo-san, your gaze is lewd, you know?"
That phrasing was incredibly cute. I thought so, but I think that applies to Flora too.
"The moment our eyes met, your gaze is lewd too, Flora."
"N-No! I-I just turned around because I felt your gaze, Aldo-san. I wasn't trying to see you naked or anything!"
"...I never said anything about being naked, you know?"
"...Ah."
When I said that, Flora let out a short gasp and her eyes flew wide open. It was as if the word "Busted!" was written on her face.
When I gave a wry smile at that sight, Flora pursed her lips and let out a "hmph."
"...Aldo-san, you get a little mean at times like this."
Flora's pouty, red-faced sulk was so cute that I laughed, and then Flora, perhaps angry, quickly stripped off her clothes and went into the bath.
"Ahh! What a waste!"
There goes my pre-bath enjoyment! I wanted to see Flora slowly taking off her clothes with shyness!
My enjoyment was snatched away early, and I collapsed from the shock of despair.
After about ten seconds, I realized that if I stayed dazed forever, Flora would finish her bath, so I hurriedly took off my clothes.
Then, as I rushed into the bath, the scent of flowers was even more refreshing than usual.
When I involuntarily took a deep breath, the fragrant air, mixed with the humid atmosphere, tickled my nostrils.
It was different from the usual soap. To compare it, it was like the place we were at earlier—
"...It smells like being in a flower field."
"Ah, you noticed? Actually, I'm floating some fragrant flowers in the tub!"
When I let those words slip, Flora, completely naked in the bath, said with an innocent smile. In her hands, she held a small bottle containing flowers. She must have gone in first to float them.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, look!"
"............"
"............Um, I'm not the bathtub, you know?"
"Sorry, sorry."
Because Flora said "look" while completely naked, I ended up staring at her body.
Her smooth skin, her full breasts, her tightly cinched waist, and her rounded hips. It required immense mental fortitude to tear my eyes away from Flora's body, which seemed to embody feminine beauty, but I somehow managed to look away.
When I turned my gaze to the bathtub, there were many flowers blooming on the water's surface.
When I involuntarily scooped up one yellow flower with my hand, ripples spread across the water's surface, making the floating flowers sway.
"This flower smells really nice."
"Yes, it's called Carne. It has a calming scent, and it's also very good for the skin."
I see. Not only does it smell good, but it's also good for the skin — a flower that women would love.
Since we're floating so many flowers on the bath this time, it's probably quite a luxurious use. I think it would be difficult for an average household.
"No wonder I thought you were picking a lot of flowers while gathering the petals."
"Since we can take a bath almost every day now, I wanted to try it."
Flora said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
The contrast between that childlike smile and her adult woman's physique stirred my heart.
But when I took a slow deep breath, the refreshing scent of Carne filled my nostrils and calmed my mind.
Could it be that she floated the flowers so I wouldn't get aroused here? No, that's probably overthinking it.
"Well then, let's rinse off the sweat."
"Then, I'll pour the hot water for you."
When I said that, Flora scooped up hot water with a bucket. Seeing Flora's attentive manner, I obediently sat down on the bath stool.
"Pouring the water~"
"Okay~"
I replied to Flora's voice from behind, and hot water slowly flowed down from my shoulders.
"...Fwah."
The sweat clinging to my skin washed away, and it felt wonderful. Even just pouring hot water made me feel much fresher.
I must have been sweating more than I thought. The hot water with Carne flowers floating in it was more fragrant than usual, and it felt like it was soaking into my skin. It seemed good for the skin somehow.
While I was thinking such things, Flora continued to carefully pour hot water over my body.
Being treated this carefully made me feel like a child, which was embarrassing, but Flora seemed to enjoy doing this. Probably the main reason was that she could touch the muscles on my body while rinsing me.
For my part, being touched by Flora's smooth hands was pleasant, and occasionally her soft breasts would brush against me, which made me happy, so I had no reason to refuse.
"Next, I'll rinse your head~"
"Okay~"
I replied to Flora's voice and closed my eyes, then hot water was slowly poured over my head.
The sweat on my head and face washing away felt really good. As the hot water flowed over my face, I rubbed my face and hair lightly with my hands.
The feeling of the oil on my scalp washing away was exceptional.
"Hehe, a flower has bloomed on Aldo-san's head."
Flora chuckled, poking at the Carne flower on my head.
Well, since I'd floated flowers in the hot water, scooping it up and pouring it would naturally do that.
"Maybe it would have been better to add the Carne flowers after washing our bodies."
"No, they're good for the hair and scalp too, so it's better to add them first. Besides, don't you want to be enveloped in this scent while washing your body too?"
I see. It's a bit luxurious, but she has a point.
I nodded at Flora's words and returned the Carne flowers that had landed on my head and thighs to the bathtub. The ones on the floor, I left alone since they'd mix with the drained water and release a nice scent.
After having my hair thoroughly rinsed with hot water, I pushed back my wet bangs with a sweep.
"When you push back your hair like that, you look more mature and cool than usual."
"Really? Which do you prefer, usual or this?"
"Hmm, I think I like your usual hairstyle better. It feels more like you, Aldo-san."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"But, when you do it occasionally, it might make my heart skip a beat."
"Then I'll try it sometime."
Unlike women, men don't change their hairstyles often, but maybe changing it occasionally would feel fresh for Flora too. A slicked-back hairstyle like that would require oil-based hair products, but since we take a bath every day, it might be okay to use them occasionally.
Thinking such things, I washed my hair and scrubbed my body vigorously with a soapy towel.
After that, it was my turn to wash Flora.
Since I got to wash Flora's body, my spirits were high.
"Okay, now you sit, Flora."
"You're not allowed to touch any weird places, okay?"
"Okay~"
Flora noticed my high spirits and warned me, but I didn't really intend to keep that promise.
Besides, Flora had been touching my shoulders and upper arms suspiciously earlier, so I think it's somewhat permissible.
"Alright, pouring the water~"
"Okay~"
When I called out to her just like she did to me, Flora replied in a drawn-out voice, as if imitating my response.
I slowly tilted the bucket and poured hot water from Flora's shoulders.
The clear hot water flowed down Flora's smooth white back.
"...Ah, haaahhh... It feels good..."
Flora's heated breath was terribly alluring. It felt like I was doing something forbidden.
Thinking such things, I continued pouring hot water over Flora's body.
The water flowing from her shoulders slipped between her large breasts and flowed down to her thighs and buttocks. It clearly traced the curves and contours of Flora's body. Her fine, supple skin repelled the flowing water.
Since Flora's back was beautiful, I pretended to be washing away the sweat on her skin and stroked it.
"Kyaahn!?"
Then Flora straightened her back with a start and let out a voice mixed with surprise and a little pleasure.
It seemed she was unexpectedly sensitive to having her back stroked.
When I raised my index finger and slowly traced it down her back, Flora let out a "Mmnnh!"
Taking advantage of the fact that Flora didn't complain, I continued to stroke her shapely shoulder blades and the clearly defined lines of her back with my hand.
Since there was no excess fat on Flora's back at all, I could stroke it smoothly.
It felt like she might break if I hugged her. That fragile, slender back exuded an intense femininity.
Completely different from my rugged body.
"H-Hey, Aldo-san, you're touching my back too much!"
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. It just felt so nice to the touch."
And after touching her for a while, I finally got scolded by Flora, so I let go.
"That's unfair. I wasn't touching you that blatantly. Switch! Now I'm going to stroke Aldo-san's back all over!"
"Next, I'm rinsing your head~"
"Eh, wait a moment! Wapuh!"
I was terrified by the way Flora's eyes were gleaming, so I called out and poured hot water over Flora's head.
Then, Flora seemed to have been too slow to close her mouth, letting out a cute sound.
"Some got in my mouth."
"Ahaha, here comes another one~"
"...Okay."
Not wanting to have the roles swapped, I immediately called out to Flora.
Understanding that if she didn't close her eyes and mouth, more water would get in, Flora obediently let me do as I pleased. But from the pause before her reply and her tone, there was a hint of dissatisfaction.
Thinking I'd let her touch me freely once we got in the tub, I continued pouring hot water over Flora's head.
Flora's hair absorbed the moisture, looking glossier than usual.
The moonlight streaming in through the window illuminated Flora's hair, making it sparkle.
When I stroked Flora's hair, my fingers passed through smoothly.
"...Flora, your hair is beautiful."
When I spoke my honest feelings, Flora's expression softened, and she said,
"Hair is a woman's life, after all. I take good care of it."
Relieved that Flora seemed a bit happier, I washed her hair.
And when Flora finished washing her hair, she pushed back her bangs and swept them to the side, just like I had.
"How is it?"
Flora turned around and asked with a smile. With her bangs pushed back, Flora looked far more mature and alluring than usual. Even her smile seemed somehow bewitching.
"As expected, changing your hairstyle really changes the whole atmosphere. You look so mature, I was surprised."
"Which do you prefer, my usual hairstyle or this one?"
"Your usual hairstyle feels more like you, Flora."
"I'm asking seriously."
Since it was a similar conversation to before, I answered by imitating Flora, and she got angry.
It seemed it was an important question that struck at a woman's heart.
"...Well, I like your usual hairstyle the best, it suits you, but I'd also like to see various hairstyles. I can see different sides of you."
"I understand. From now on, I'll change my hairstyle frequently."
When I answered like that, Flora smiled happily, as if satisfied.
Then, looking pleased, she started lathering up a towel with soap.
Right now, various hairstyles were probably floating through Flora's mind. Knowing it was all to show me, I couldn't help but let my expression soften.
Whether to do it in the bath or the bedroom. I'm really torn.