* * *
“L-Leo…”
Chaeyi’s face flushed a deep crimson as he realized what he was feeling.
He hadn’t done anything provocative, so why was Leonard reacting this way?
Leonard, now leaning over Chaeyi, gently flipped him onto his back and hovered above him, bracing himself on either side of Chaeyi’s head.
His voice, low and languid like molten chocolate, was almost a whisper.
“I told you before, didn’t I?”
“Huh?”
“That a beta exposed to the pheromones of an aroused alpha can become an omega.”
“Oh… yeah.”
Chaeyi averted his gaze, suddenly hyper-aware of the raw, almost primal allure emanating from Leonard.
The scent was intoxicating, making his body feel unnaturally warm.
His lips, dry from nervousness, trembled as Leonard’s intense gaze lingered.
“Seems like you want it too,” Leonard murmured, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
“So tonight, I’ll make sure you’re fully exposed to it.”
“W-wait—”
“But just cuddling isn’t enough, right?”
Chaeyi’s eyes wavered again.
Though he’d done some reading on “how to enjoy intimacy between men,” the practical implications were overwhelming.
The sheer size of Leonard’s arousal left Chaeyi questioning his survival.
‘How did it even get that big?’ he thought, a mixture of disbelief and dread flooding his mind.
Chaeyi, who rarely showed much emotion, was visibly shaken, and there was no need to elaborate further on the magnitude of his fear.
If it were a matter of him taking the initiative to embrace Leonard, he thought he might manage, albeit clumsily.
However, the real problem lay in the fact that Leonard didn’t seem to consider that possibility at all.
“Leo…”
Half-hiding his face in embarrassment, Chaeyi hesitated, unable to outright refuse.
Fortunately, Leonard was well aware of the differences between Betas and Omegas and knew that Chaeyi might experience severe pain because of it.
Seeing Chaeyi, who rarely appeared frightened, like this, Leonard had no intention of forcing anything on him either.
Besides, with Leonard’s rut approaching soon, as long as the bonding was successfully completed on that day, they could address the subsequent issues later.
Once bonded, regardless of whether the partner was a Beta or an Omega, their body would naturally become more attuned to the stimuli of a mate.
Internally, they would relax more easily, providing a supportive effect to the process.
This understanding kept Leonard from rushing.
Enough time had passed since they’d confirmed their feelings for each other, and he felt a certain calmness in his heart.
Pressing a soft kiss to the back of Chaeyi’s hand, which was covering his face, Leonard spoke.
“Don’t worry. I won’t touch you, Chaeyi.”
Of course, he had no intention of walking away and suppressing his arousal either.
“Instead, don’t look away from me.”
Chaeyi blinked in confusion, not fully understanding the meaning behind Leonard’s words, when Leonard, who had been leaning on the headboard, suddenly let one of his hands wander downward.
It wasn’t until Chaeyi saw Leonard’s hand moving over his own pants that he grasped the situation, his face turning pale with shock.
This shameless man was… doing that right in front of him!
“W-Wait, what are you…!”
Chaeyi didn’t know where to look.
His face was so hot that even his eyes were starting to water.
He glanced around frantically before covering his face entirely with his hands.
Even so, he thought he should at least pretend not to notice, reasoning that it was Leonard’s private matter.
However, Leonard had other ideas.
“I told you not to look away.”
Leonard’s voice, dampened with arousal, brushed against Chaeyi’s ear, sending a shiver through him.
His pheromones, rough and potent, stirred something deep within Chaeyi, making his heart flutter.
When Chaeyi didn’t respond, Leonard began planting kisses on the back of Chaeyi’s hand, which was still shielding his face.
“Look at me properly, Chaeyi.”
“…”
Unable to withstand the pressure, Chaeyi lowered his hands slightly.
Leonard seized the moment, pressing a kiss to Chaeyi’s eyelids before attempting to nibble at his fingertips.
Reflexively, Chaeyi pulled his hand away, but Leonard took the chance to capture Chaeyi’s lips instead, ensuring he wouldn’t hide his face again.
The sweetness of Leonard’s pheromones seemed to seep into their breathless kiss, making it feel intoxicatingly sweet.
Chaeyi, with no place to rest his wandering hands, ended up draping them over Leonard’s shoulders.
Though it was a familiar gesture between lovers, Chaeyi, who was still unaccustomed to such intimacy, found himself squeezing his eyes shut in embarrassment.
If Leonard hadn’t playfully teased, “Aren’t you going to open your eyes?” after pulling away from the kiss, Chaeyi might have kept them shut until everything was over.
When Chaeyi glared at him with a mix of embarrassment and frustration, Leonard’s eyes curved into crescent moons, a mischievous smile lighting up his face.
But soon, those playful eyes darkened, clouded with pleasure. Leonard’s gaze, narrowing with desire, became dangerously provocative, leaving Chaeyi feeling exposed and unsettled.
“Chaeyi…”
Leonard exhaled a ragged breath, his brow furrowing slightly.
Even though Chaeyi was only watching, a shiver ran down his spine, and he felt a strange heat pooling in his lower body.
Unable to resist, his gaze briefly dropped, and his breath hitched at the sight.
Though Leonard hadn’t undressed, his arousal was evident, even through his loose nightgown.
The size was impossible to ignore.
‘How much bigger is it going to get?’
Curiosity mingled with nervousness as Chaeyi found himself unable to look away, his mind spinning.
Just then, Leonard let out a low, animalistic groan, the sound making Chaeyi’s ears burn.
Glancing up, he was struck by Leonard’s flushed face, his ragged breathing making Chaeyi’s own body heat up uncontrollably.
It was absurd—how could just looking at Leonard’s face affect him like this?
This was the same Leonard he’d practically raised as a child!
Chaeyi felt a mix of shame and bewilderment, realizing for the first time just how susceptible he was to desire.
Leonard, still caught in the moment, leaned down and pressed a kiss to Chaeyi’s forehead.
Then, as if savoring the aftermath, he trailed kisses down the bridge of Chaeyi’s nose to his lips, making soft, contented sounds.
“…I’ll need to wash up and change.”
Leonard, still half-lidded and dazed, reluctantly pulled away.
Having done everything without removing his clothes, he was clearly uncomfortable.
It wasn’t something he could ignore, so he stood up to leave.
Feeling guilty for making him endure this, Chaeyi tugged him back and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
Leonard, accepting the gesture with a faintly delighted expression, asked softly, “Are you okay, Chaeyi?”
Then, glancing meaningfully downward, Leonard’s mischievous smile returned.
Realizing the implication, Chaeyi’s face turned scarlet, and he quickly turned away, curling up his legs in embarrassment.
“I-I need to wash up too! Stop teasing and go clean yourself already!”
“Alright. I’ll be back soon.”
Leonard left with light, almost cheerful steps, leaving Chaeyi to collapse onto the bed with a deep sigh.
He pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to cool the lingering heat in his body.
But no matter how hard he tried, the memory of Leonard’s gaze, heavy with raw emotion, and his unrestrained expression kept resurfacing.
‘What do I do? I can’t stop thinking about it.’
Chaeyi, biting his lower lip in frustration, felt his thoughts spiral.
Everything about Leonard—his voice, his lips, his blue eyes—felt newly electrifying, stirring feelings he couldn’t suppress.
That night, even after washing up and meeting Leonard again, Chaeyi couldn’t shake his awkwardness.
However, Leonard greeted him as usual, his demeanor unchanged, and they carried on with their quiet, shared routine.
As for any signs of Omega manifestation in Chaeyi… unfortunately, there were none.
Despite their mutual efforts, even on the eve of Leonard’s rut, Chaeyi’s body showed no changes.
* * *
