SWY Side Story 1

Lestel flinched awake and quickly checked on Sharhan, who was nestled in his arms. Only after confirming that Sharhan was still sound asleep, his lips slightly parted like a child’s, did the frantic pounding of Lestel’s heart begin to settle.

‘Damn dream.’

Relieved, Lestel pressed his forehead against Sharhan’s and gently rubbed it. He had never told Sharhan, but he often dreamed of being unable to earn forgiveness and watching Sharhan leave him for good after being hurt by the Marquis of Ailun. In the dream, he wandered the empire alone, filled with moving corpses, searching endlessly for Sharhan until he finally died a lonely death.

It must be because he had spent so long tormented by a secret he couldn’t bring himself to reveal. Sometimes he feared that this reality. Being lovers with Sharhan, was just a dream, and that the nightmare of being alone was the real world. Whenever that fear crept in, Lestel would hold Sharhan tightly, desperate to confirm that this was real. Sharhan, though confused, would always pat Lestel’s back like a child comforting a frightened stray.

Lestel couldn’t express how grateful he was that Sharhan had forgiven him and accepted him despite the lies. He couldn’t even imagine the pain he would’ve felt if Sharhan had abandoned him. It would’ve been far more unbearable than the recurring nightmare. After all, without Sharhan, Lestel had no reason to exist.

‘You’re the reason I exist.’

His feelings for Sharhan ran so deep and intense that simply saying “I love you” felt inadequate. And yet, it was the only phrase he had.

“I love you.”

Lestel whispered, brushing a kiss over Sharhan’s sharp nose before carefully rising from bed.

“Mmm.”

Sharhan’s brows furrowed in protest at the loss of warmth, but he didn’t wake. He usually stirred the moment Lestel moved, but last night had been a little too much, and he seemed exhausted.

“You bastard, are you trying to kill me?!”

At first, Sharhan had responded enthusiastically, but as it dragged on, he burst out cursing in frustration. Eventually, with tears in his eyes, he had begged, “Please, no more.” The sight of him flushed, wet-eyed, and pleading had been unbearably erotic.

“Hmph…”

Recalling the events of the early morning, Lestel let out a soft breath and lifted the blanket. As expected, marks from their passionate night still stained Sharhan’s pale skin. Just remembering how he had released himself over and over a few hours ago was enough to make him stir below again.

Lestel licked his lower lip and reached out to touch Sharhan’s skin. Taut and smooth, it felt almost oiled, likely thanks to the generous use of scented oil. The faint floral fragrance still clung to his skin, perhaps absorbed too deeply for a simple wash to remove. Even though he had bathed Sharhan before he passed out, the scent lingered.

“Shan.”

Lestel murmured Sharhan’s name and slowly slid his hand down past his waist, fingertips stealthily approaching between his cheeks like a thief creeping in under the cover of darkness.

“That’s enough.”

Before he could reach, Sharhan’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, eyes still closed.

“You’re awake?”

Lestel flinched but asked smoothly.

“Lestel, where did you throw your conscience?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Did you already forget what you said before the last round at dawn?”

Sharhan’s voice was grumbling with irritation, though his eyes remained shut. Lestel looked down at his long lashes and asked,

“What did I say?”

“You said if I let you go one last time, you wouldn’t touch me for at least two days.”

Lestel clicked his tongue silently. He had said that. Sharhan’s desperate pleading had been so arousing that he wanted to keep going, but feared pushing too far would lead to real anger, so he’d made that promise.

‘If I tell him it was a lie, he’ll get sulky.’

And when Sharhan got sulky, coaxing him out of it was no small feat. Two days could turn into a week. And to Lestel, a whole week without touching Sharhan’s body. Something that never felt like enough even when they were together every day, would be torture. His face darkened at the memory of all the days he had been forced to abstain because the world had gone to hell and they couldn’t be together.

“You were having a hard time yesterday, taking me. I thought you might be swollen, so I just wanted to check.”

He hastily withdrew his hand and offered an excuse.

“Lestel.”

“Yeah?”

“Cut the nonsense and back off. You think I don’t know you? That’s such a lie.”

Sharhan mumbled and wrapped himself in the blanket like a cocoon. That was the problem with growing up together, there was no hiding or lying.

“Shan, if you know me that well, how could you not know my heart?”

Feigning hurt, Lestel spoke with playful intent, making Sharhan flinch.

“Th, that’s…”

“That’s?”

When Sharhan finally cracked his tightly shut eyes and turned around, all he saw was Lestel’s mischievous grin. Realizing he’d been teased, Sharhan glared, then broke into a soft chuckle.

“That’s because you hid it so thoroughly.”

“At least you’re not blaming your own obliviousness.”

“Of course not. I’m not oblivious. You’re the one who went out of your way to hide it. Anyway, I was going to sleep more, but you woke me, so come here and give me a morning kiss.”

Sharhan spread his arms like a haughty monarch and tilted his chin.

“Is that an order?”

“Yes.”

“Then I shall gladly obey.”

Lestel pulled the blanket-wrapped Sharhan into his arms and kissed him. It was a light kiss. Lestel resisted the urge to push in his tongue and instead gently sucked on Sharhan’s lower lip before pulling away. It left him wanting more, but he knew if he let his tongue slip in, he’d want to touch skin, and if he touched skin, he’d end up inside again, so he held back.

Sharhan, knowing exactly what Lestel was holding back, didn’t tease him this time. Ever since arriving at the Ice Cave, Lestel had been like a mana explosive on the verge of exploding, any small touch and he’d ignite.

Sharhan didn’t dislike sex with Lestel. After confirming their feelings, they’d gone through a lot and had little opportunity for intimacy, so lately, he’d indulged him. But the issue was that Lestel had zero self-restraint.

It was now the fourth day since they arrived at the Ice Cave, and they’d spent every day having sex. Especially yesterday, Sharhan didn’t know what had gotten into Lestel, but he had pushed until Sharhan broke down, crying and pleading. Sharhan, who had always taken pride in never losing stamina, had to swallow his pride.

‘Who knew Lestel was such a beast in bed?’

Even after more than twenty years together, he’d had no idea. If Lestel had loved someone else and rolled around with them this passionately…

‘Ugh, just imagining it gives me a headache.’

Fuming over an impossible scenario, Sharhan caught sight of Lestel’s naked body. He narrowed his eyes and took him in, broad shoulders, firm chest, sharply defined abs, and a lean waist. He’d seen it countless times, but it still made his heart flutter.

Just then, as his chest tickled and his mouth went dry, he unconsciously stuck out his tongue.

“Honey, why’re you looking at me with those horny eyes? You’re making my thighs ache.”

Lestel, who had long since tossed away any sense of shame, showed off his bare body without hesitation. Not only was he unashamed, he was even smug about it. Sharhan glanced down and saw that Lestel was indeed starting to get hard again. He turned his head away, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Even Sharhan’s body was showing signs of responding.

‘If I didn’t react to my lover’s naked body, that would be the problem.’

They were lovers who ignited just by looking at each other, bound by life-and-death bonds.

Still, now was not the time. The spot that had been relentlessly pounded until dawn throbbed like it had been torn. He really needed a day or two to rest. That was why he’d gotten Lestel’s promise last night.

Besides, they had errands today. They had to pick up Derry from the tax storehouse. Now that Derry was recovering, they were worried he might leave the Ailun estate to find them and end up missing each other on the road.

“Put something on. Aren’t you cold?”

Sharhan glanced around and found the clothes he had thrown off the night before. Still bundled in his blanket, he crawled toward them like a moving log. Yet Lestel, eyes narrowed, imagined the smooth skin under that thick blanket.

“Not really. We’ve got heatstones. But honey, even wrapped in a blanket, you’re sexy.”

Coming over to Sharhan, Lestel traced a finger down the exposed nape of his neck and grinned.

“You think I’m sexy even when I just breathe, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

Shaking his head in exasperation, Sharhan threw off the blanket. A chill immediately hit him, and his body shivered as he quickly picked up and dressed.