SWY Side Story 4

Before sunset, Sharhan and Lestel stepped into an abandoned house.

“Pretty clean… What are you staring at?”

Only after thoroughly checking the corners for hidden survivors or corpses did Sharhan feel fully at ease, then he noticed Lestel gazing blankly at something. Curious, Sharhan approached, and Lestel motioned with his chin. Following his gaze, Sharhan’s expression sharpened.

“Honey, this house has a bathtub.”

What had caught Lestel’s interest was the bathtub.

“So?”

“No wonder this place is bigger than the other houses. The people who lived here must’ve been pretty wealthy.”

“Seems like it.”

“It’s big enough for both of us to fit, too.”

“Barely. Even for one person, it looks cramped. Think about our builds, Lestel.”

The tub was standard-sized. Just one of them inside would already be tight.

“If we sit really close, we’ll manage.”

“…”

“We’re all dusty and gross, and there’s dried blood from those corpses on us. Don’t you think we should wash?”

“I’m fine. You can go ahead and clean up.”

“Honey, personal hygiene is important.”

“Must be the mercenary in me. I can deal with being a little dirty.”

“But I want you to smell nice. It’s more pleasant to cuddle when you’re fresh.”

“If you don’t like how I smell, then sleep away from me tonight. I’d like a night of peace to myself too.”

Sharhan gave him a look that said nice try. Lestel had promised not to touch him for two days, so he wasn’t bold enough to come right out and ask, but was clearly using cleanliness as an excuse. It was both ridiculous and a little cute.

‘Lestel seems cute to me now? I must really be gone.’

Sharhan forced himself to look more serious, afraid a smile might slip out.

But Lestel wasn’t giving up.

“You’re really going to throw away such an excellent blanket like me? On a cold night like this?”

“Even without your body heat, I’ve heatstones.”

“Which we’re supposed to conserve, remember? And besides, you’re addicted to my warmth now. You can’t sleep alone.”

Sharhan opened his mouth to retort, then closed it again. The smug expression on Lestel’s face made him want to wipe that grin off, but he couldn’t deny the truth. Since they reunited, they had slept together every night, and now he had trouble sleeping without Lestel’s warmth. Instead of lying, he stayed quiet and sulky.

“Sleep is important, you know.”

“…”

Lestel wrapped an arm around Sharhan’s shoulders and leaned in, whispering in his ear.

“We’ve got a bathtub, and we even have water and thermal stones. Wouldn’t it be nice to sleep fresh and clean? Why go to bed feeling dirty when we could wash up first?”

His lips nearly brushed Sharhan’s ear as he spoke, and every breath made Sharhan’s eardrum tingle. He flinched and shoved Lestel back with an elbow.

“Lestel.”

“Yeah?”

“You picked this house on purpose, didn’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You shot down the first house I suggested, saying it wasn’t good enough, and dragged us all the way here. Did you think this one would have a bathtub because it’s bigger?”

Sharhan hadn’t cared where they stayed, since it was just one night. He pointed to a nearby small house and suggested they rest there, but Lestel had rejected it.

“Bigger houses are more likely to have bathtubs, aren’t they?”

Lestel didn’t bother denying it. He reached over and tucked Sharhan’s hair behind his ear.

“Bathtubs make it easier to have sex, too.”

“…”

Lestel didn’t hide his intentions. His smiling face was thick with lust. Come to think of it, the thing he liked most about the Ice Cave ruins wasn’t the food, weapons, or even the magic stones. It was the bathtubs in every house. Thanks to the tubs and water stones, the group had stayed relatively clean, and it had certainly helped Sharhan and Lestel’s sex life.

“You promised you wouldn’t touch me for two days.”

Sharhan flicked Lestel’s chin with a finger, reminding him.

“Honey, what are you thinking? I only said we should wash. I never said anything about having sex. Hm? But if you want to roll around a little, I guess I could oblige. I’d hate for you to suffer from frustration.”

“Frustration? If anyone’s tired of sex, it’s me. You keep clinging to me every night.”

Lestel narrowed his eyes.

“Then why won’t you just take a bath with me? Don’t tell me you actually like going to bed dirty. Doesn’t the blood bother you?”

Lestel pointed at the dried gore clinging to Sharhan’s skin. Sharhan looked down at himself.

They had come across quite a few corpses along the way. Some areas had dozens grouped together, no idea where they came from, and clearing them out took time. If there had been no delays, they could’ve reached the outskirts of the Ailun estate by now.

“Honestly, it doesn’t feel great.”

“Exactly. So come on, let’s wash up and sleep well tonight.”

“Are you sure you can keep your hands to yourself?”

“Honey, don’t you trust me?”

“If you were me, would you trust you?”

“…Well, I know I might not be the most trustworthy when it comes to sex, but tonight’s different. I won’t touch you. Just don’t get tempted by my naked body.”

“Did you already forget I said I’m tired of it? Your naked body? I’m over it.”

Sharhan scoffed. Lestel’s eyes darkened.

Sharhan knew provoking Lestel would only backfire, but his pride wouldn’t let him stop.

“So you don’t mind bathing together, then. Why haven’t you stripped?”

Lestel undressed without hesitation and tossed both a water stone and a heatstone into the tub.

The tub was too small for them to sit facing each other. Sharhan had no choice but to sit between Lestel’s spread legs, leaning back against his chest. Through the contact, he could feel Lestel’s heart pounding fast and hard. His erection was fully stiff, prodding insistently against Sharhan’s lower back. Hot breaths fell against the nape of Sharhan’s neck like steam.

Sharhan wasn’t faring much better. His heart raced, his breathing was heavy, and his skin felt feverish. Between his thighs, his erection throbbed.

A bead of sweat rolled from Sharhan’s forehead down his cheek and neck. Steam hung thick above the water like a cloud, whether from the thermal stone or the heat pouring from their bodies, it was hard to tell.

“Honey, are you having a hard time? Your breathing’s pretty rough.”

“It’s just… the water’s hot.”

It wasn’t. The water was only warm. Their bodies were what burned.

“Hm… This feels lukewarm to me. You sure you’re not just imagining it?”

“My skin’s sensitive.”

“If you really can’t take it, just say so. We did agree on two days, but if it’s too much…”

Sharhan cut him off.

“I’m fine. You’re the one who seems to be struggling. Your dick’s been poking my ass for a while now.”

“Just ignore it.”

“Hard not to.”

“I’m hard because I’m touching you. But I’m not planning on breaking our deal… I’m not going to do anything.”

Lestel tried to sound calm, but his voice trembled slightly. Probably from straining to suppress the heat threatening to explode.

Sharhan glanced at Lestel’s hands gripping the rim of the tub. The veins bulging across his hands looked sensual enough to make Sharhan’s knees weak.

Sharhan swallowed hard. His eyes stayed fixed on those hands. He wanted them to touch his skin. He wanted the erection pressing into his lower back to thrust deeper. The entrance, now too used to penetration, throbbed with need, leaving him restless.

They were both so worked up that a single touch would push them over the edge. But neither made a move. Why? Pride. A silent battle of wills.

‘Damn it, this bastard never has any self-control when it comes to sex. Why is he so good at holding back today? Does he think I’ll break first and give him an excuse to go back on his word?’

Sharhan had also bragged earlier that he was tired of Lestel’s body. It would be humiliating to turn around and beg now. Besides, if they had sex tonight, it could wear him out for tomorrow’s journey.

‘I should’ve never let myself fall for his tricks.’

He knew better, and still let himself get pulled in. Now it was too late for regrets. As Sharhan let out a ragged breath and silently berated himself, Lestel’s hand, which had been clinging to the tub like a lifeline, brushed lightly over Sharhan’s nipple.