TWD - Zomboid - Chapter 275: Claire's Fantasy (Patreon)

However...

Luke glanced at Claire, a mischievous gleam flashing in his eyes.

Ma'am, you wouldn't want anything to happen to Sherry...

Luke deliberately darkened his expression. "You should know that researching viruses isn't something to take lightly. By hiding this, you've already created a serious security risk for the Commonwealth."

Claire's heart immediately tightened.

"I know... I was only trying to protect Sherry. I never meant to put everyone else in danger. Her condition has always been stable..." She clenched her fists and bit her lip.

She knew what she was saying was selfish and hardly convincing.

Luke was far too good with words.

He could tear her argument apart in minutes, then throw all of them out, including Leon...

"If someone's going to be blamed... then punish me. Leon and Sherry are innocent. Especially Sherry. She's still so young... and she's already lost both her parents..."

"Oh, look at that! You're shedding little pearls!"

Luke grabbed the camera from his drawer and snapped a picture of Claire.

Click!

He perfectly captured the moment she lowered her head with tears in her eyes.

Claire froze.

When she looked up and saw Luke's expression, she realized he'd been messing with her.

Instead of getting angry, however, she immediately became excited. "Then... Sherry..."

"This isn't difficult for me at all."

Luke spread his hands. "I'm not the one doing the experiments. Rebecca is. All I have to do is nod and sign off on it."

"Back then, we risked our lives out there just to obtain one precious sample."

"And you, my friend, are providing a perfect test subject. Aside from hiding it from us, it's really not that serious."

Claire's sorrow instantly turned to joy. "Thank you! Luke! No, sir!"

Claire saluted.

"What about Rebecca?" She was still a little worried.

"That won't be a problem. Rebecca and Luis are complete research fanatics. Give them a perfect test subject and they'll probably wake up laughing from excitement."

Thinking of Rebecca, Luke suddenly realized she hadn't come by to draw his blood today.

Claire's eyes lit up. The weight that had been sitting on her chest for so long finally disappeared.

It worked!

Sherry could be saved!

She excitedly opened her mouth to thank him again.

"But..."

Luke abruptly changed the subject. "I still need to properly train... no, punish you."

Claire's heart tightened again.

She gripped her arm and bit her lip, looking as though she had steeled herself for whatever came next.

Luke might have let the matter go easily, but she couldn't simply pretend nothing had happened. She knew she owed him something.

"I accept. For Sherry's sake, I'll accept any punishment!"

Luke gave her a meaningful look.

"Oh?" A teasing smile appeared on his face. "Any punishment? So you're saying you'd do anything for Sherry?"

Claire's face flushed as she glared at him.

"You... what are you planning? If it's that kind of thing, I... Ugh! You're such a damn pervert!"

"Hey, I hadn't even finished talking. Aren't you jumping to conclusions?"

"Sure, I'm a ladies' man, but I've never forced or blackmailed anyone. Who do you think I am, Negan?"

Luke looked completely innocent.

He'd only thrown out a basic attack, and Claire had already wasted her ultimate.

"Go."

Luke pointed toward the door. "Get me a coffee."

Claire: "..."

Oh.

He just wanted coffee?

That was way too easy.

Still suspicious, she started toward the door.

"Oh, right!"

Luke suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Bring me a pizza too."

Claire hurried out.

Before long, she returned with everything.

Luke took the pizza, opened the box, and immediately frowned.

"Why the hell is this tomato spaghetti pizza? This is fucking heresy!"

Claire blinked.

What was wrong with tomato spaghetti?

Pizza plus tomato spaghetti was an amazing combination!

"I... I thought you'd like it."

Luke pushed the pizza box away. "Claire, you're one of my subordinates, yet you don't even know your commander's tastes. How are you supposed to get ahead like this?"

"Next time, I'll send you to Atlanta to deal with the horde."

"Don't come back until you've cleared out all one million walkers!"

Claire: "..."

I'm not your wife. How the hell am I supposed to know what you like?

Talk about bureaucratic nonsense!

"You deserve punishment!"

Luke propped his feet up on the desk, crossed his legs, and leaned lazily back in his chair.

"Come on. Get over here and massage your commander's legs."

Claire clenched her fists.

She genuinely wanted to punch this bastard so hard she'd drive him straight into the ground.

But still...

He hadn't even said anything harsh about Sherry.

Could he really... be interested in me?

Forget it.

A leg massage was nothing.

Compared to Sherry's life, this barely counted as a sacrifice.

"...Hmph!"

For such a shameless womanizer, he certainly had no problem flirting with even more women.

Did this guy have unlimited stamina or something?

Claire gritted her teeth and walked over. After hesitating for a moment, she raised her hands and started kneading Luke's calves.

"Hey, hey. You're supposed to be massaging my legs. Are you trying to tenderize beef?"

Luke looked thoroughly dissatisfied.

"There's nothing gentle about that. You're nowhere near as good as my sister-in-law!"

"You!"

Claire's fingers curled into fists.

She endured it.

Everything was for Sherry.

"Do you understand the meaning of good service, Claire? With an attitude like yours, you don't have much of a competitive edge. Who's going to dare get close to you in the future? Are you really planning to spend your whole life alone?"

Claire sneered. "That's rich coming from a womanizer surrounded by women. Now you're teaching a respectable woman how to live her life?"

"Talking back to your superior. That's insubordination. Punishment!"

Luke rolled up a sheet of paper and lightly smacked her on the head.

Claire hunched her shoulders and quietly muttered curses under her breath.

Her hands never stopped moving, though.

She also eased up considerably.

"Sir, are you satisfied now?" Claire asked through gritted teeth.

"Average."

"What about now?"

"To be completely honest, if I went to a massage parlor and someone used this much force, I'd beat them up on principle."

"You!"

Claire gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to snap Luke's leg in half.

"Mm. Definitely a little lioness."

Claire looked murderous, but her hands told a different story as her touch gradually became gentler.

The atmosphere in the office slowly relaxed.

Since Luke never told her to stop, Claire could only keep massaging his legs, wondering how long he planned to make her continue.

Then she suddenly heard the soft, steady sound of snoring above her.

She looked up.

At some point, Luke had leaned back in his chair and fallen asleep.

That infuriating face actually looked surprisingly peaceful while he slept.

Looking at him like this...

Luke was actually pretty handsome.

Wait.

What the fuck am I thinking?!

Claire quickly turned her head away.

If the bastard was asleep, then there was no reason for her to keep serving him.

She looked back at his sleeping face, raised her index finger, and traced a couple of motions through the air toward his neck.

Her imagination began to run wild.

She pictured tying this damn pervert up from head to toe, then watching him panic and beg her to let him go.

Maybe he'd even look ridiculously delicate while doing it.

Hehehe!