To his surprise, Gu Yun understood the other’s meaning almost instantly.
His ears burned red and his heart raced, pounding loudly in his chest. He pressed a hand against it, afraid the other man might notice. He edged backwards, glanced at the distance between them, and continued retreating until a heap of rumpled bedding blocked his path, forcing him to stop.
“I…” He licked his lips for the third time. Though all three instances stemmed from nervousness, this time his state of mind was completely different from the previous two.
Chao Yan said, “You don’t want to?” As he spoke, he quietly raised his head and looked over, his gaze fixed on Gu Yun’s moist, rosy lips. “I believe those storybooks are still in the study.”
Gu Yun: “…”
Gu Yun had not yet finished studying them, so naturally they were still in the study. That day, when he had thought about destroying them, it had merely been a moment of irritation. No matter what, he intended to accomplish his purpose.
Even so, he had never imagined it would be now. The escalation in their relationship was far too drastic. How could they jump straight from kissing to sleeping together?
He could not accept it. In his view, things between them ought to progress gradually.
More importantly, he realised he was not mentally prepared to sleep with a man.
When he had seen the various explicit illustrations in those storybooks, all his beautiful imaginings had been shattered in an instant. It was more than simple discomfort. Had he not been so very, very reluctant to part with Chao Yan, he might even have wanted to break up immediately.
A purely platonic relationship was something he knew Chao Yan would never accept.
In truth, the erotic dreams he had experienced before had all been vague and indistinct. The only scene he remembered clearly was Chao Yan pleasuring himself while leaning against his shoulder and breathing heavily into his ear.
Gu Yun felt he needed some time to adjust his mindset.
Wrapping himself tightly in the quilt, he avoided the gaze directed at him. “Let’s talk about it later. And how dare you go through things in my study without permission? Don’t deny it. I hid those storybooks in a very secluded corner. Even the palace maids who clean every day never found them.”
His voice was already quiet, and muffled further by the blanket. Naturally, Chao Yan did not hear him. All that greeted him was silence.
After staring at the lump beneath the quilt for several moments, he bent down and reached out a hand.
Gu Yun felt a chill on his arm before someone grabbed hold of it and pulled him out of the warm bedding. The room was heated by the floor channels, so it was not cold, but it was nowhere near as warm as beneath the quilt. The noticeable difference in temperature made him somewhat uncomfortable.
Chao Yan pulled the quilt over and wrapped him up again from head to toe.
Gu Yun asked sullenly, “What are you trying to do?”
Chao Yan replied, “I want an answer.”
Gu Yun had intended to repeat what he had just said, but somehow he could not bring himself to say those words to Chao Yan’s face. They were too hurtful. After remaining silent for a while, he took the towel from Chao Yan’s hand, raised his arms, and began drying his hair.
“Gu Yun?” Chao Yan prompted.
Gu Yun hummed in acknowledgement. Then, with painstaking care, even changing to two fresh towels, he finally managed to dry the young man’s long hair until it was half dry.
He ran a hand over the result of his efforts. It felt excellent, every strand distinct, smooth, supple, and cool.
Setting the towel aside, he slowly shifted forward until he eventually settled himself in the young man’s embrace. The young man’s frame was sharply defined. Wrapping his arms around Chao Yan’s neck, Gu Yun studied him for a moment before placing a light kiss there.
“Get some rest early.”
It was a tactful refusal.
Chao Yan said nothing. Through the thin inner robe, Gu Yun could feel how tense his body had become, every muscle hard against him. He felt he ought to explain himself, but he did not know how to begin.
Their eyes met.
Chao Yan asked, “Do you dislike me?”
Gu Yun denied it immediately. “No.”
“Then tomorrow?”
“No.”
“The day after tomorrow?”
“No.”
“I don’t have many days of New Year leave.”
He was forcing him either to change his mind or provide a reasonable explanation.
Not wanting to quarrel with Chao Yan, Gu Yun closed his eyes and, as though mounting an execution platform, blurted out everything that was truly on his mind in one breath.
Chao Yan laughed softly after hearing it. His chest rose and fell noticeably. Lifting his lover’s chin, he lightly pecked his lips.
“I understand.”
Such understanding only made Gu Yun like him even more. His heart softened, and he could not resist rubbing his nose against Chao Yan’s. Curling his fingers, he threaded them into the thick hair, tapping lightly against his back as though dancing.
“Chao Yan.”
“Mm.”
“Chao Ziyu!”
“Mm.”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Mm?” Chao Yan laughed, his tone full of indulgence and affection. “What are you trying to do?”
Gu Yun leaned closer. After glancing to either side, he kissed both of Chao Yan’s cheeks and whispered, “I just want to call your name. Am I not allowed?”
Chao Yan reached out and pinched the pale earlobe beneath those reddened eyes. It was soft and slightly thin, burning hot, as though it might bleed from the heat.
He rubbed it twice before sliding upward along the edge of the ear. The movement was light, yet it sent a shiver across Gu Yun’s delicate skin.
Just as Gu Yun was about to stop this irritating behaviour, Chao Yan withdrew his hand and breathed warmly against his ear.
Pressing close to it, he murmured, “Can I touch you?”
Beneath his thin eyelids, Gu Yun’s eyes trembled slightly.
Chao Yan slipped a hand beneath the quilt and rested it against his waist.
“We’ve kissed so many times. Taking one more step is perfectly normal, isn’t it? Isn’t this gradual progress? It’s within what you can handle, darling.”
His fingers tightened, kneading through the fabric.
Gu Yun could not dodge. His entire body felt unbearably hot and ticklish. Looking into Chao Yan’s darkened eyes, he tightened his own grip.
After a long pause, he nodded slowly.
Rejecting him again and again did not seem right. Besides, after thinking carefully about it, he felt this request was still within his limits.
Chao Yan’s gaze deepened.
Pulling Gu Yun slightly higher onto his lap, he reached the hem of his upper robe, where several folds had already gathered together. He lifted the fabric and slid his hand inside.
The abdomen beneath was flat, the skin firm, warm, and smooth, like the finest white jade. The sensation was astonishingly pleasant.
Chao Yan’s palm traced carefully along the line of his waist.
Gu Yun grew increasingly hot and ticklish. His body trembled uncontrollably. Biting his lower lip, he endured it for several moments before laughing until tears formed in his eyes, twisting away in an attempt to escape.
Chao Yan wrapped an arm firmly around him.
“I’ll choose somewhere else.”
His voice was hoarse, carrying the deep resonance characteristic of a young man.
Yet Gu Yun did not notice anything unusual. His attention was elsewhere. Holding tightly to Chao Yan’s neck, he buried his face against his own arm and hurriedly agreed. Other parts of his body were not nearly as sensitive as his waist. A touch there alone was enough to overwhelm him.
As he answered, he secretly wiped away the tears of laughter with his sleeve.
Chao Yan’s hand quietly moved to his back, pressing along his spine as it travelled downward. The next moment, Gu Yun realised very clearly that Chao Yan’s behaviour was becoming somewhat excessive. Rough fingertips brushed against his tailbone several times and continued moving lower.
Startled, Gu Yun nearly bit the dog scoundrel. He grabbed his dog hand at once, lifted his head sharply, and glared through gritted teeth. “Do you have no sense of limits?” At the same time, the illustrations from the storybooks flashed through his mind, making him shudder. “Were you lying to me? You said touching, but now you want enter?”
Chao Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
Lowering his head, he kissed the side of Gu Yun’s neck. One burning mark after another was pressed against his skin, damp and lingering.
Gu Yun heard him say, “No. A promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.”
Gu Yun still was not entirely reassured and refused to let go.
Chao Yan continued kissing his neck all over without attempting to free his hand. Only then did Gu Yun relax. Releasing his grip, he let out a soft sound from his throat. “I’m the one on top. Even in future, you can’t… go in.”
Chao Yan froze and looked up at him.
Meeting his gaze, Gu Yun noticed the sheen of moisture on his lips. Leaning forward, he kissed him once and added, “And you can’t just touch there whenever you like. It’s strange.”
Chao Yan asked, “Do you know what you look like right now?”
The change of subject was so abrupt that Gu Yun was caught off guard. “What?”
Chao Yan lifted him out of the quilt.
Gu Yun shrank back instinctively before burrowing into his embrace. Familiar with the motion, he wrapped both legs around Chao Yan’s waist.
Carrying him to the dressing table, Chao Yan positioned the brightly polished bronze mirror before him. “Look for yourself.”
Gu Yun turned to look.
The mirror reflected the brightly lit room, and at its centre was his own image.
His face was completely flushed, redder than peach blossoms. His eyes were moist and tender. Hanging entirely from the young man’s body, he looked like a boneless cat waiting to be looked after.
Gu Yun gestured at his reflection and felt that he possessed not the slightest trace of masculine bearing. Instead, there was even a hint of delicate charm about him.
He became instantly furious.
Straightening up, he stared directly at Chao Yan. “I know what you mean. You think I’m like a girl and therefore unsuitable for being on top.”
Chao Yan smiled. “I don’t think that. I simply think you’re better suited to being protected at all times and living an easy life.”
Gu Yun looked at him suspiciously and stressed, “Overall, I’m not inferior to you.”
“I know,” Chao Yan replied. “Being on top is tiring. If you still want it, that’s not impossible. I don’t particularly care about positions. I simply think we should discuss it first and avoid disagreements later. Don’t you agree?”
Hearing that, all of Gu Yun’s anger disappeared. His attitude softened and he finally felt inclined to explain.
“I see how busy you are every day. You’re exhausted all the time, so I thought being on top would help take care of you. I’m not inferior to you. Since we’re together, I can’t just enjoy all the benefits. I should also make compromises when appropriate.”
Chao Yan rarely found himself speechless. Though only for a moment.
Soon he recovered, his expression completely relaxing. His joy was impossible to conceal as he murmured softly, “How can A-Yun be this good?”
Embarrassed by the praise, Gu Yun was just about to return the compliment when Chao Yan pressed forward and kissed him.
It was an exceptionally intense kiss. Gu Yun could scarcely catch his breath. As the kiss deepened, Chao Yan, overcome with emotion, settled him against the dressing table and ran a hand from his ankle up to his thigh.
“Darling, you’re so beautiful. May I rub against you?”
.…..
