* * *
At Ben’s sudden declaration, Haimar’s eyebrows curved gently in a subtle arch.
From experience, Ben could tell Haimar was taking his time, trying to piece together his intention.
A moment later, Haimar let go of Ben’s left arm and perched casually on the edge of the bed, letting out a quiet chuckle.
“I’ll say this now—if this is just because of today’s situation, or because it feels urgent, then I’m not interested.”
Contrary to expectations, what came out of his mouth was a gentle refusal.
Ben had never imagined being turned down and was so stunned he forgot how to respond, standing up from the bed and staring at him.
He had known Haimar had been waiting for him—but now that he’d heard it in words, it felt strangely unfamiliar, and a little fluttering sensation tickled his chest.
He almost felt touched—almost—but there was also a faint hint of being treated like a childish joke, so Ben tugged slightly on a loose strip of his bandage and replied.
“Why are you acting so confident? I’m not thinking like that, so don’t worry.”
“I seem confident? Me?”
Haima’s reply came heavy, layered over Ben’s grumbling.
With a sigh, he raked his platinum hair back and tugged at the knit fabric wrapped around his neck, as if parched.
When he let go, the fierce beast from before had vanished, replaced by something feline and languid, soaking in lethargy.
Indeed, he didn’t seem relaxed at all.
Then how should Ben put it?
As he mulled over it, he spotted the control device case lying off to the side, tossed across the room.
“It hurts my pride more to see you wearing that thing yourself.”
Haima followed Ben’s fingertip naturally and broke into a smile—not the usual mask-like one, but a real, rare smile.
Even someone who didn’t know Haimar well could tell he was intrigued by Ben’s words.
He looked genuinely pleased.
Still, despite that, Ben couldn’t shake the ominous sensation—his instincts warning him he may have poked the wrong nerve.
“Hm… Do you really think you can? Weren’t you so scared before?”
Even so, Ben decided not to care and answered bluntly.
“When was I ever scared?!”
“So, you’re saying you’re willingly letting yourself be devoured by me now?”
Of all the expressions to use—why that one?
This time, Haimar’s cool fingers touched the back of Ben’s neck.
Ben flinched slightly at the contact, but his gaze remained steady, eyes darkened by the low lighting, carrying a calm intensity.
Those eyes looked like a lake reflecting a quiet night sky—Ben stared, dazed, and blinked slowly before answering, a bit awkwardly.
“Um, I guess… Yeah. Sure.”
“Ben—”
“Yes?”
“You do know that’s not what I want, right?”
Ben always felt the same whenever Haimar played dumb like that, even though he clearly knew better.
But a man shouldn’t go back on his word.
If Haimar Eilec wanted a firm answer—then by God, Ben would deliver.
“Ah, fine! Yes, I’m saying I want to have sex with you! Right now—urk!”
Before he could finish, Ben’s neck was pulled forward, and lips touched the earlier bite mark.
Haimar’s tongue slowly licked over the scabbed spot, letting his heat sink in.
Ben shivered, pushing at Haimar’s chest with his uninjured arm.
“Wait, at least let me shower first!”
“I can’t wait that long.”
If decisiveness were a vegetable, Haimar would be a pumpkin—firm, unyielding.
Ben had been the one to initiate this, but he didn’t expect it to escalate so fast.
Even as he tried to argue, Haimar’s lips climbed his neck and found his ear, gently nibbling at the soft curve of his earlobe.
The cool scent of Haimar, mixed with his breath, poured into Ben’s ear like drops of honey—sweet and unbearable.
If this kept up, Ben would be swept along with Haimar’s pace without a chance.
Desperate for a delay, Ben blurted out the first excuse that came to mind.
“W-wait! I’m still dressed!”
Rip—!
What the hell.
Instead of a reply, Ben found himself holding the shredded remains of his shirt collar.
Haimar, apparently too busy using one hand to cradle the back of Ben’s head, had opted not to unbutton the shirt but simply torn it open in one go.
Ben had known Haimar was strong, but tearing fabric like it was tissue paper?
That was a first.
And his embarrassment didn’t stop there.
“Hold on! I can do it myself!”
But Haimar’s hands had already gone straight for his pants.
With practiced ease, he unfastened the buckle and started lowering the zipper, sending Ben into full panic mode.
He tried to block him, but with only one arm functioning properly, Ben was at a clear disadvantage.
I’m… I’m doomed…!
In the end, his pants—and underwear—were dragged down in one smooth motion.
Ben flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The cold sheet against his bare skin and the sheer exposure below left him entirely and utterly humiliated.
Though his shirt still clung to his shoulders, ripped open, it did nothing to hide his shame.
What made Ben’s embarrassment even worse was the way Haimar was slowly eyeing him from head to toe, his legs tightly pressed together.
To Ben, Haimar looked like a predator sizing up its prey.
That relaxed, almost amused expression only heightened the feeling.
“You should undress too! It’s unfair if I’m the only one completely naked!”
With his face flushed red, Ben pointed accusingly at Haimar, who hadn’t even taken off his coat.
In response, Haimar gave a dazzling smile that could put angels to shame and licked his lips before replying.
“Gladly.”
Without hesitation, the camel coat slid off his shoulders and dropped to the floor under the bed.
Then, Haimar pulled his white turtleneck sweater up from the hem, revealing his firm torso.
Ben couldn’t help but hold his breath.
He’d seen that body in the bathroom before, but no matter how many times he looked, he couldn’t get used to it.
Broad, straight shoulders and flawlessly sculpted muscles formed a breathtaking harmony, and even the curve of his arms as he stripped was perfectly defined.
Ben had a reasonably built physique himself, but not like that—not with that kind of impossible, statuesque perfection.
No one could match the natural aura of sensuality that man carried.
While Ben found himself briefly distracted by the view, Haimar unbuckled his belt and glanced at the broken dresser.
Then, with a casual flick of the hand, he summoned something from the collapsed drawer—a small round tube that landed with a thud in his palm.
“…Why is something like that even in here?”
“Well, this is the residence of a Guide and an Esper. You’d be surprised what’s stocked by default.”
Peeling off the outer packaging, it was obvious at a glance that it was a tube of love gel.
Even if he blinked or looked away and back, it unmistakably remained just that—love gel.
Ben certainly didn’t remember buying it himself, and from the sound of it, Haimar hadn’t brought it either.
Which meant it had been there all along…
So that must mean there were condoms too?
“Then… are there condoms as well?”
“Who knows? Anyway, how long are you planning to keep those legs shut?”
With a click, Haimar opened the pink-tinted cap of the love gel and turned to Ben, who was still defensively curled up.
Ever since his clothes were taken off, Ben had instinctively been covering himself, and his face now wore a deep frown.
“Was that just talk?”
“Who said I was bluffing? I… I can do it!”
Haima surely understood how mortified Ben felt, and yet he kept pushing, testing his resolve.
Ben, his face tight with frustration, finally moved his hands away and, hiding his face with one of them, slowly parted his knees.
He wanted nothing more than to find a mouse hole to crawl into.
He could feel Haimar settle between his spread legs.
When Haimar gently pushed one of his ankles up and outward, Ben’s most intimate area was completely exposed.
Unable to bear looking down, Ben turned his head—only for Haimar to generously pour the love gel directly onto his cock.
Cold!
The cool, sticky substance hit his warm skin and made his body flinch.
A strong peach scent immediately filled his nose.
The slick, clear liquid drenched his shaft and trailed down with gravity, dripping over his perineum, wetting his buttocks and the bedsheet.
“Ugh…”
Having emptied nearly the entire tube, Haimar tossed the container aside and wrapped one hand firmly around Ben’s gel-covered shaft.
Though Haimar had taken control just the night before, this time, Ben bit down on his lip, doing his best to remain composed.
Accepting Haimar’s touch without resistance, the corner of Haimar’s mouth lifted slightly at Ben’s subdued compliance.
He teasingly ran his hand up the slick shaft.
“Hh…”
The cold gel quickly warmed to Ben’s body temperature.
Haimar’s fingers glided over it easily, absorbing the heat as he stroked him.
His hand moved powerfully along the shaft, gently cupping his balls, and as he pressed and rubbed his thumb over the tip, Ben’s face flushed all the way to the tips of his ears.
The stiffening cock, slick with gel, responded eagerly as Ben buried his face into the sheets, flushed and trembling.
* * *
