Stroking Yeehyeon’s cheek with his thumb before giving it a gentle pinch, Liu said.
“It’s not just Baek Yuni. Haven’t you ever thought that I worry about you too?”
The sex that had started around dusk yesterday continued until dawn today. Completely drained, they both fell asleep just like that. It was the first time they had fallen asleep without changing the sheets or moving to the bed in the guest room after having sex. Even Liu, who was confident in his stamina, was no match for a rut.
He had woken up just a little while ago, well past noon.
Liu immediately started running a warm bath, and while the water filled, he looked for his phone. A few simple messages had arrived from Yuni.
[What time are you expecting to come in? It’s 11, and you’re not here.]
Since Liu’s work hours weren’t fixed, it was the kind of message she would usually send.
[Mr. Kati is visiting this afternoon. He said he needs new paintings for the resort. You’ll be in by then, right? You know he’s coming to see you, sir. Please come to work. Okay?]
The second message, which arrived a while later, was somewhat threatening. But it was hardly enough to tear Liu away from Yeehyeon, who had just gone through his first heat.
[Yeehyeon isn’t feeling well. Probably can’t come in today]
He sent only that reply before tossing his phone somewhere. He carried a groggy Yeehyeon, who could barely stay awake, and settled him into the bathtub, then quickly changed the sheets in the meantime.
After that, he got into the tub himself to wash up with Yeehyeon.
He wanted to stick by his mate’s side all day. He felt that would put his mind at ease.
But Yeehyeon had other ideas.
“It’s not like something’s going to happen to me if you leave me alone for a bit.”
“Yesterday…”
Yesterday, you were alone and something terrible almost happened. Liu was about to say as much but closed his mouth. It would do no good if the incident became a trauma and frightened Yeehyeon.
Finally, letting out a shallow sigh, Liu declared his surrender.
“I’ll dry your hair and then go.”
“Kun.”
“…Alright. Here. Happy?”
Baek Yuni’s threats hadn’t worked, but he was powerless against Yeehyeon. Liu ended up handing the hair dryer to Yeehyeon. With a reluctant look, he walked away from the mirror and toward the dressing room, shrugging off his robe.
“But get something to eat. Let’s eat and then sleep. Hm?”
“Right now, sleep is more urgent than food. I’m so sleepy.”
Tossing the robe into the laundry basket, Liu looked for a pair of boxers in a drawer. He put on his underwear and pants in order, then grabbed a random shirt that his hand landed on.
“You can’t even eat some cereal?”
“Later.”
“I’ll bring it to you in bed.”
He craned his neck, looking toward the powder room as if expecting an answer. Yeehyeon, who was looking his way, shook his head.
“Sorry. I have no appetite at all.”
“What about a carrot cake from Omia?”
Omia was one of Yeehyeon’s favorite little bakeries in Ubud. It wasn’t far from the gallery and their house.
This time, Yeehyeon seemed to consider it for a moment, but he shook his head again. He then fixed his gaze on Liu, who was walking out of the dressing room toward him.
“I do like that place, but it’s okay.”
Liu was wearing thin, comfortable loungewear pants made of cashmere that didn’t constrict his body. He then pulled the shirt he was holding over his head. The sculpted, muscular torso was instantly hidden, from his shoulders to his chest, then his abdomen. But since both the top and bottoms were comfortable clothes, they couldn’t hide the contours of his sensual physique.
Placing the hair dryer on the shelf in front of him, Yeehyeon’s gaze swept down Liu’s tall frame. Though not directly visible, the way the clothes draped along the lines of his body made it all the more revealing. It seemed anyone could vividly imagine the beautiful, muscular body beneath the clothes. At least, that’s how it looked to Yeehyeon.
Returning to stand behind Yeehyeon, Liu bent down and wrapped his arms around his mate’s shoulders.
“Should I make you pancakes? I can make egg porridge right away, too.”
“I love anything you make, Kun, but after I wake up. I’ll eat when I get up.”
Pancakes, egg porridge. Both were dishes Liu had often made for Yeehyeon since long ago.
Stroking Liu’s arms that were wrapped around his shoulders, Yeehyeon met his eyes in the mirror. Liu rubbed his lips against Yeehyeon’s cheek and said.
“You haven’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday.”
“Neither have you, A Wei.”
“I’m going to eat now.”
“You know sleep comes first after a heat. I’m so sleepy I can’t do anything.”
What Yeehyeon said was true. After finishing a heat, an omega’s need for sleep temporarily intensifies to replenish their stamina. An omega who went through a three-night, four-day heat would sometimes sleep nonstop for a period matching the length of their heat. A ravenous appetite would only kick in after they woke up.
However, a normal heat would never have disappeared overnight like this. That part kept bothering Liu.
“But.”
“Hm?”
Liu, who had been lost in thought, met Yeehyeon’s eyes in the mirror again at the sound of his voice.
“You’re going to the gallery like that?”
“It’s just for a bit. It’s lunchtime, so there won’t be any customers.”
“Isn’t that outfit too… sexy?”
The comment was so unexpected that Liu’s eyes widened without him realizing it. Then, he burst into delighted laughter.
“What was that? I think I misheard you, Mr. Seo Yeehyeon?”
It was the first time he had ever heard Yeehyeon say something like that about his clothes. He had thought Yeehyeon was just pointing out that his attire was too casual for the gallery… His interference and possessiveness, his desire for monopoly, brought Liu immense joy.
Yeehyeon, on the other hand, was belatedly flustered by the emotions he had just revealed. But it was too late to take it back now. He had no intention of taking it back, even if Liu teased him.
He really couldn’t let him go outside the house in this outfit. He knew in his head that it wasn’t something he could permit or forbid, even for a spouse… but still….
“Your figure is completely on display.”
“You’ve never said that before.”
“That shirt is just… It’s too thin.”
“You don’t like people looking at my body? Even when I’m wearing clothes?”
“……”
Yeehyeon pressed his lips together firmly. He stared blankly at Liu’s face, which was beaming in the mirror. Even with a swollen lower lip, his mate was an exceedingly handsome man.
He hesitated whether to tell the truth or not, then decided to be honest.
“I don’t want them to see the Kun who was in a rut with me just a few hours ago.”
In the mirror, Liu’s expression looked like it was about to melt. The arms holding Yeehyeon tightened their embrace. As if he had just heard a romantic confession of love, his face was dreamlike.
“Ah… this is just so blissful.”
Pressing his lips deep into Yeehyeon’s cheek, he kissed him with a soft smack.
“I’ll change.”
Without another word, he turned back to the dressing room, shrugging off his shirt as he went. The back that had held Yeehyeon’s body, lifted him, and thrust his hips without rest all night seemed even more defined than usual. From the deltoids at the edge of his shoulders and the trapezius muscles around his spine to the latissimus dorsi that led to his waist, their shapes seemed more distinct and more swollen today.
Although he felt shy for having revealed his feelings so honestly, Yeehyeon thought he had done the right thing. He also thought that if he could make Liu wear such a happy expression, it wouldn’t be so bad to say things like this more often.
“How’s this? Is it okay?”
Having quickly changed, Liu spread his arms, waiting for permission. He was wearing jeans and a piqué polo shirt. Yeehyeon nodded.
“Take a good look. Don’t you think it’s a little too tight on the shoulders or chest? Hm?”
“Don’t tease me.”
Yeehyeon felt his face grow hot. He picked up the hair dryer and turned his gaze away from Liu. Liu approached with a smile, bent down, and once again hugged Yeehyeon’s shoulders tightly.
“Dry it thoroughly. Just like when I do it for you.”
Kissing the top of his wet hair, Liu grabbed his phone and left the bedroom. It was only some time later that the color returned to Yeehyeon’s flushed face.
■ ■ ■
The sunlight was piercingly intense. Liu had to pause for a moment on the steps in front of the main door.
There, as he waited for his pupils to adjust to the light, he looked at the everyday scenery he faced daily as if seeing it for the first time.
The world was bright, radiant, and ordinary.
The wind created gentle ripples on the surface of the swimming pool, and the leaves of the frangipani tree that Yeehyeon so carefully tended to rustled as they brushed against each other. Cars and motorcycles passed sporadically on the road in front of the gallery, and a group of children chattered happily in Balinese not far away.
He had been nonchalant even after his first time, but now, after going through his first rut with Yeehyeon, the world looked different.
A feeling of having grown even more intimate with Yeehyeon. Even in this moment of being apart from him, it felt as if his touch was still enveloping him.
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