"Would you like me to call Janos and inquire?" Emma Frost offered. "He's desired me for quite some time. If I were to ask, he'd likely withhold nothing."
By now, she had fully embraced her role as Richard's subordinate.
More precisely, until she discovered the alteration to her subconscious, she would regard Richard as her master without question.
"Unnecessary. Shaw and Janos are together currently. If you call, Shaw will immediately recognize something's amiss," Richard replied.
"Since he's indicated they'll return this evening, we'll simply await them here."
With that, Richard settled onto a nearby sofa, donning his sunglasses before reclining casually to enjoy the ocean breeze and sunshine.
Observing his relaxed posture, Emma Frost spoke softly:
"I'll return to my quarters momentarily."
"Go ahead," Richard nodded.
Though uncertain of her intentions, he attached little importance to her departure.
Shortly thereafter, Emma Frost reappeared on the sun deck, approaching Richard directly.
This...
Beholding Emma Frost standing before him, Richard swallowed involuntarily.
She remained clothed in white, but had exchanged her previous miniskirt for a white bikini composed of minimal fabric.
Beyond the essential areas concealed by the swimwear, Emma Frost's graceful figure presented itself unreservedly to Richard's gaze.
Standing 178 centimeters tall, her model-like height blessed her with an impressive pair of long legs.
Not merely long, they exhibited perfect roundness and elegant contours that commanded attention.
Though Richard didn't consider himself particularly fixated on legs, Emma Frost's statuesque limbs nonetheless disrupted his concentration.
Legs for days! The phrase flashed unbidden through his mind.
Complementing those proud legs were a slender waist, prominently sculpted décolletage reminiscent of snow-capped mountains, and sensuous curves.
Breathtaking.
A beauty capable of awakening primal desires in men.
Women only affect the speed with which I draw my sword!
Richard had frequently employed this mantra as self-reminder.
Now, however, he reconsidered the merits of occasionally spending time with women—engaging beautiful members of the opposite sex in profound discussions about life's origins and universal mysteries.
Despite Richard's sunglasses, Emma Frost's feminine intuition accurately discerned his undisguised appraisal of her form.
Upon this realization, a satisfied smile graced her features.
In the Caesars Palace business suite, when Richard had teleported several meters away from her advances, she'd questioned her allure.
Much like Mystique during her initial encounter with Richard, Emma Frost had momentarily wondered about his sexual preferences.
Now, however, she confirmed his orientation with certainty.
He simply exercised greater restraint than most men.
After savoring Richard's appreciative gaze, Emma Frost approached the opposite sofa, donned her sunglasses, and reclined in an undeniably provocative pose.
Though silent, her intentions registered clearly with Richard.
"Apply some sunscreen to me," Emma Frost requested suddenly.
Richard rose and approached her, smiling as he replied, "Sunscreen seems unnecessary."
With that, he lifted her into his arms and continued, "Which room is yours?"
"The starboard guest cabin," Emma Frost answered softly, cooperating by encircling his neck.
Upon receiving this information, Richard immediately teleported from the sun deck directly to the starboard guest bedroom—more precisely, to the bed within.
Soon, alluring sounds inappropriate for young ears—yet representing life's most fundamental origins—emanated from the guest quarters.
[10.000 words adult scene]
Night
The yacht's dining area
Richard sampled the dinner prepared by Emma Frost.
Though not a masterful chef—having prepared only standard fare—he harbored no complaints.
In the starboard guest bedroom, Emma Frost had demonstrated through practical application that even if considered merely decorative, she constituted an ornament one couldn't readily discard—worthy of repeated appreciation and a designated place within one's collection.
While enjoying her culinary efforts, Richard's thoughts drifted inevitably to Clarice.
Her Chinese cuisine truly aligns better with my preferences!
I wonder how she's faring at the mutant academy?
Time advanced steadily.
As they neared the conclusion of their meal, Richard abruptly paused and addressed Emma Frost seated across from him:
"They've returned, accompanied by several guests."
Upon hearing this, Emma Frost deployed her own telepathy.
With minimal effort, she detected Sebastian Shaw, Riptide, and others.
Despite sensing their presence, neither Richard nor Emma Frost attempted telepathic intrusion.
Unlike his cinematic counterpart, this universe's Sebastian Shaw exhibited considerably greater caution.
According to Emma Frost, Shaw habitually wore his mind-isolating helmet nearly constantly—whether traveling abroad, aboard the yacht, or within the Hellfire Club's secret facilities.
Richard found Shaw's heightened vigilance unsurprising.
This universe contained significantly more telepaths than the films depicted.
The movies featured only two individuals with psychic capabilities: Emma Frost and Professor X.
With telepaths so rare, and one being his own ally, the cinematic Shaw saw little reason to consistently utilize mental protection.
By contrast, even Richard—having traversed this world for merely three months—had already encountered, or more precisely, eliminated several psychics.
Though not all possessed complete telepathic abilities, their existence sufficed to justify Shaw's perpetual use of protective measures.
As the Hellfire Club's leader and a mutant harboring grand ambitions, lacking such basic precaution would constitute inexcusable negligence.
Professor X's mere existence provided sufficient incentive for constant mental shielding.
This applied equally to Magneto.
Beyond Shaw's helmet-wearing habit, Emma Frost had revealed another critical detail—mind-isolating helmets existed in considerable numbers throughout this world.
Though not universally available, many senior United States government officials possessed similarly functioning headgear.
This pattern extended beyond America to numerous nations.
Moreover, developing countermeasures against psychic invasion represented a research priority for every major global power.
Though Professor X didn't share Magneto's extremism, governments worldwide regarded him with greater apprehension.
If Magneto's abilities equated to an openly displayed nuclear weapon, Professor X's powers paralleled a time bomb potentially materializing beside anyone at any moment.
Had the American government fully understood Professor X's capabilities and confidently assessed their ability to neutralize him and the X-Men, they would have moved against them long ago.
Shortly thereafter, Sebastian Shaw, Riptide, and their companions entered the restaurant, discovering Richard and Emma Frost dining together.
Upon witnessing this tableau, Shaw and Riptide frowned simultaneously.
Though uncertain why Richard occupied their vessel, they immediately sensed something amiss.
Their surprise mirrored Richard's own, though his attention fixed primarily on a middle-aged man accompanying them.
Magneto!
Or more precisely—a middle-aged clone of Magneto!
...
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