* * *

Even in his dazed state, Remy could clearly feel Ashton’s eyes fixed intently on him.

As if burned by the intensity of that gaze, his entire body grew feverishly hot.

The uncontrollable pounding of his heart seemed to echo in his ears.

“If you stare at me like that… it’s too… too much,” Remy stammered tearfully. Ashton’s gaze felt overwhelming. Though it was just a look, it carried an inexplicable weight.

It felt as though he would be consumed, like he’d surrender everything he had to Ashton without a second thought.

“Ashton!”

But that overwhelming feeling didn’t last long.

Ashton soon dipped his head down again, pressing into him.

This time, the sensations were far more intense, an indescribable wave of feeling that surged through every nerve in his body.

“Ah! It’s… it’s strange! So strange! Ah…! Stop, Ashton!”

Yet it wasn’t entirely an unpleasant feeling.

On the contrary, it leaned far more toward something good.

But even so, it wasn’t something he could surrender himself to without hesitation.

It was as if his body was melting into nothingness, while simultaneously burning as if plunged into molten lava.

Ashton’s touch was impossibly soft, and the part of him surrendered to Ashton seemed to dissolve like mist.

His mind swirled with chaos, on the brink of bursting.

This sensation, this feeling—he had never experienced anything like it.

It was utterly unlike the fleeting desires he had indulged in alone.

This—this with another person—was utterly new.

“Ah…! Hnnngh…!”

Remy’s back arched sharply, like a drawn bow.

A wave of ecstasy swept through him, as if the Milky Way itself spilled into the night sky.

In that moment, any thought of embarrassment or shame dissolved.

His mind, steeped in pleasure, was wholly consumed by the overpowering sensations gripping him.

It was so dizzying, so blissful, that Remy didn’t know what to do.

The burning ache and the ticklish sensations deep within his stomach seemed to vanish, replaced by this overwhelming pleasure.

It was just… too good.

“Ashton…”

Ashton raised his head, wiping the sullied lips of the man before him.

He placed a soft kiss on Remy’s flushed cheek and lips, then gazed down at him.

“Remy.”

“Mmm…”

“Thank you. For giving yourself to me.”

In his hazy state, Remy couldn’t immediately comprehend what was happening.

No, it was only natural that he couldn’t—his body was entirely at the mercy of instinct.

“Thank you. Truly.”

Ashton reached down, his hand trailing toward the source of his desires, now laid bare.

He grasped Remy’s slender leg, placing it over his shoulder.

With deliberate care, he began to move once again.

---

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

The loud cries of birds heralded the morning.

Rays of sunlight filtered through the small window of the tent, twitching Remy’s eyelids.

Still half-asleep, Remy felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulder.

Warmth spread across his back, as if he were nestled against a giant teddy bear.

“Mmm… So soft… Feels nice…”

A gentle, indescribable sensation brushed against his back, soft to the point of melting him.

It was as if he were kneading a cloud with his hands—a ticklish feeling that made his body relax.

To savor the softness, Remy pressed closer to it, wriggling like a spoiled child seeking comfort.

“Huh…?”

Suddenly, the heavy sensation on his back made him freeze.

Why is this here…?

It’s so thick and long… And the texture… slimy, sticky…

Almost like a giant snake…

‘Wait. Snake?!’

Remy’s eyes snapped open.

His hand shot back to grab the thing pressed against his backside.

The moment his hand closed around what he suspected to be a snake, the hazy fog in his mind lifted as if blown away by a strong gust.

The clarity brought a flood of memories—vivid images of the intense hours spent on the cramped cot the previous night.

Hot, humid, sticky.

Moments of suffocating ecstasy that had stolen his breath away.

“You had so much fun last night, but it still isn’t enough?”

The voice jolted Remy, making him bolt upright.

Could it be…?

Was he confusing dream and reality?

Nervously, he glanced to his side, and there he saw Ashton, lying peacefully with his eyes closed.

And completely naked.

Covered in the unmistakable marks of last night.

“Are you kidding me?!”

With a yell, Remy flung the thing he was holding and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The sheer absurdity of waking up in bed with a naked man—Ashton, of all people—made his vision blur with disbelief.

“Ah!”

Before he could recover, a hand snatched his wrist from below, pulling him back onto the bed.

Thump-thump-thump.

His heartbeat thundered in his ears as Ashton’s deep voice resonated beside him.

“Go back to sleep. You barely rested last night.”

The honeyed voice tickled Remy’s ears, sending shivers through his shoulders.

Sweet as if drenched in honey, the sound prickled every inch of his skin.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just his skin that reacted.

‘Seriously? In this situation?!’

“W-What are you saying?!”

Cursing his treacherous body, Remy pushed Ashton’s hand away, only for Ashton to tighten his embrace and bury his face in the back of Remy’s neck.

Warm breath slipped through his hair, teasing him.

The friction of their bare skin against each other sent another wave of pleasure rippling through him.

Grinding his teeth, Remy growled, “Let go. I’m getting up.”

His words carried all the threat of a puppy barking at a lion.

Ashton chuckled, his laughter soft but persistent.

Remy’s irritation barely had time to flare before the movement of Ashton’s chest against his back created a slick, tantalizing friction.

His entire body stiffened, and the tips of his ears burned crimson, as did the rest of him.

“Let go, I said…”

His voice shrank to a whisper as he scrambled to cover himself, his hands searching for a blanket that seemed to have vanished.

“Why?” Ashton teased.

“It’s a nice view.”

The words made Remy’s face flush even deeper.

“W-What are you saying? Are you crazy?!”

“Crazy? How? I’m just stating the truth.”

Remy wanted to scream.

This wasn’t how last night was supposed to go.

He’d sneaked into Ashton’s tent to poison him, not… ‘this.’

‘How did it come to this?’

He racked his brain but couldn’t piece together the sequence of events that had led to this irreversible mess.

He’d crossed a line he could never uncross.

“This is insane…” he muttered, defeated.

As if sensing his despair, Ashton wrapped his arms around him again, whispering, “What’s so insane? Is it not enough?

Want me to help you out again?”

“You’re insane! Who said anything about needing more?!”

“Well, you were touching me this morning. I thought you wanted more.”

“Th-That’s not—!”

“Just say the word. You know I’m always ready for you.”

“What does that even mean?!”

“What do you think?” Ashton smirked, pressing closer.

Remy could feel the heat radiating from him, something undeniable pressing against his lower back.

It had gotten… bigger.

“You’re seriously insane!!” Remy shouted, his voice echoing in the small tent.

Laughing softly, Ashton pulled him closer, their bodies flush.

His hands roamed over Remy’s bare skin as he whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t push you unless you want it. For now, let’s just stay like this. You’re so soft… It feels amazing.”

Remy couldn’t move.

He should pull away, think about the implications, figure out a way to fix this disaster.

But he couldn’t.

Something inside him whispered: ‘It doesn’t feel bad. No… it feels… good.’

“Ashton…”

A cool late-summer breeze rustled the tent, carrying the scent of flowers.

The fragrant air wrapped around them, and Remy’s heart raced wildly.

“Thank you,” Ashton murmured.

The sincerity in his voice made Remy’s chest tighten.

“Really… thank you.”

Without a word, Remy shut his eyes.

For now, he didn’t want to think about anything—not the tangled mess of reality, not the uncertain future.

Nothing.

“I like you, Remy.”

And when Ashton’s lips met his, Remy didn’t resist.

* * *