Aethel #8: Sleepless (Patreon)

Aethel looks completely shocked by your confidence. She is still blushing hard and can't even look you in the eye.

Aethel: "W-what are you saying, you idiot..."

You gently wipe some water off her squeaky body.

You: "There. Now you aren't so slippery."

She looks totally flustered. When she finally meets your eyes, her voice shakes.

Aethel: "I-I can finish this myself."

Her soft paws push you out into the hallway, and she slams the door shut. You hear the lock click.

Standing outside, you can't stop thinking about how soft and smooth she felt. Her smell was also something you barely can describe: it was something like a sweetened latex, maybe with a hint of raspberry, but you can't tell anymore if it was real or you just imagined it.

It's getting late. You decide to make the guest bed for her while she finishes in the bathroom.

You: "Does she even need to sleep?"

None of this makes sense anymore, but taking care of her just feels right. You step out of the guest room and awkwardly bump into Aethel in the hallway.

You: "You can sleep in there if you want. The bed is ready."

She looks a little guilty for some reason. She walks toward the room, but stops for a second before going in.

Aethel: "Thank you."

Feeling exhausted, you head to your own room and fall asleep.

...

Through the sleep you hear your door opening. Light spilling in from the hallway makes you finally wake up.

Aethel is standing in the doorway, looking around your room.

Full artwork (available until the next episode!): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/twk92lxd1dlor52yu794e/Aethel_ep8.png?rlkey=phldfxkxf6oi4l4534mz8vijp&dl=0

Aethel: "Sorry... I couldn't sleep. Can I stay in here with you?"

She looks very tired.

You: "Sure. Is something wrong?"

Aethel: "I think it's just being in a new place. I'm not used to it."

She carefully sits down on a floor cushion near your bed. You try to keep chatting with her, but your eyes are heavy, and you quickly drift back to sleep.

...

Sometime in the middle of the night, another sound wakes you up: this time it is a squeak right next to your ear.

You open your eyes. Aethel is sound asleep right next to you on the bed. She didn't even get under the blanket, and you can feel the chill radiating from her smooth skin.

What would you do?Voting power:Squeak!! tier = 1 | STRRRRRRETCH!! tier = x2 | POP and above = x3PS:And here is the final episode of the first season with Aethel! How did you like it? I'm curious to hear your opinions and looking forward to contining her story in the next season~