The bath chamber in Hua Cheng's crimson mansion was bathed in a warm, golden glow. Red lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. The sound of the water trickling from a delicate fountain echoed softly, but the thick steam filled the room, wrapping everything in an intimate haze.
Xie Lian stood at the edge of the bath, fingers still clutching at the sash around his waist. His heart pounded in his chest, and he tried not to look at Hua Cheng, who was standing near the water, his dark hair glistening with droplets.
With a calm, fluid motion, Hua Cheng shrugged off his robe, letting it fall to the ground before he gracefully stepped into the water. He watched Xie Lian the entire time, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Gege…" Hua Cheng's voice was low and smooth, like honey. "Are you planning to stand there all night?"
Xie Lian flushed a deep red but didn't answer, his gaze shifting nervously to the bath's stone rim. He didn't dare look at Hua Cheng, though he could feel the weight of his stare, that gaze heavy with expectation.
Hua Cheng's eyes never left him, amused and daring. Slowly, he leaned back against the stone, his bare skin gleaming in the dim light as he stretched lazily. "You know, there's no need to be shy with me, gege. We're husbands, after all. No need to hide."
The teasing was unmistakable, but there was something else—something softer and more intent—beneath the playful tone.
Xie Lian let out a quiet sigh, still avoiding his gaze as he untied the sash at his waist. He pulled off his outer robe, the fabric sliding off his shoulders and pooling around his feet. The motion felt slow and deliberate, as if it could somehow give him a little more control over the tension building in the air. But it didn't.
He carefully removed the rest of his layers, his hands trembling slightly, and stepped into the water with a quiet splash. The warmth enveloped him instantly, but it did nothing to cool the heat in his chest. Hua Cheng was watching him closely, his gaze unrelenting.
Xie Lian sank into the water, trying to keep a modest distance, though it felt impossible. Hua Cheng didn't let him. With a single, fluid motion, he moved closer, until their knees brushed beneath the surface.
Xie Lian froze, his pulse racing. "San Lang…"
"I told you," Hua Cheng murmured, his voice smooth and full of intent. "You don't have to act like this isn't happening. Not with me. Not now."
His hand, warm and sure, reached out from the water to brush against Xie Lian's shoulder, the contact sending a jolt of heat through his body. Xie Lian's breath hitched in his throat, and he shifted, trying to ignore the rush of blood to his cheeks.
Hua Cheng didn't pull back. His fingers slid down Xie Lian's arm, tracing the line of his skin slowly, intimately, until they curled around his wrist. With a single tug, he pulled Xie Lian closer. "I think you've been avoiding me long enough. Haven't you?"
"I'm not—" Xie Lian began, but his voice faltered as Hua Cheng's touch shifted, a thumb brushing across his wrist with a softness that didn't match the fire in his eyes.
"You're nervous." Hua Cheng's smile was predatory now, a mix of amusement and something far darker. "You can't hide it. I can feel your pulse racing."
Xie Lian swallowed. "I'm just… not used to doing this kind of thing…to being…'naughty'."
"Naughty?" Hua Cheng's face shifted, teasing becoming something more intimate, more knowing. "I think that's exactly what you need."
Hua Cheng leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing against Xie Lian's ear. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down Xie Lian's spine. "Don't be shy, gege. You can give yourself to me whenever you're ready. I'm not going anywhere. But when you do… you'll find I'm everything you've been craving."
Xie Lian's breath caught, his whole body tense. "San Lang, this is…"
"I know," Hua Cheng murmured. He reached forward, his fingers trailing up Xie Lian's chest, grazing the sensitive skin of his neck before resting against his cheek. "It's a lot. But you don't have to be afraid. I'll take care of you. Every step of the way."
Xie Lian's face was flushed, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "You make it so hard to think."
"That's the point, gege," Hua Cheng whispered, his lips brushing the side of Xie Lian's face as he leaned in, close enough to feel his breath. "For you to stop thinking. Let me show you how good it can be."
Xie Lian sank a little deeper into the water, covering his face with one hand, though his heart was racing in his chest. "This is going to be a very long two months."
Hua Cheng laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Good. I'm going to savor every moment, gege."
To be continued.