Silence filled every corner of the room. Not the kind that makes people think, not even a fleeting pause. Just pure, unfiltered emptiness. The darkness almost echoed as Ash, still gasping for air, sat on the couch, keeping a respectable distance from Lucian.
He thought it might help somehow, though he hadn't quite figured out how. The silence was beginning to feel oppressive — simply awkward.
"Want something to drink?" Ash asked, stealing a cautious glance in the man's direction, mustering what little energy he had left to make sure he didn't seem afraid. Of what, he wasn't even sure himself.
"Sure. What do you have?" Lucian stretched as he stood from his spot and made his way toward the kitchen.
Maybe situations like this weren't new to him, Ash thought. It was obvious this must have happened before — otherwise, he wouldn't be handling it with such calmness. Lucian's movements were effortless, as if nothing had happened. Maybe, for him, nothing really had. That scared Ash even more.
Lucian disappeared behind the kitchen door for a moment, and Ash realized he had been holding his breath. He wanted to forget what had happened before. That was not like him at all. Usually, he liked to keep everything under control. He was a careful, strategic player. That's why he didn't understand why he had reacted so strangely. Why had he kissed that man? His mind had stopped working completely, frozen in confusion.
His train of thought was broken as Lucian returned from the kitchen, holding a glass of water and some alcohol in his hands.
"Here, you need this," Lucian said, handing him the water before taking a sip of the alcohol.
Ash hesitated for a moment, still lost in his mind, before taking the water from him. Their fingers brushed briefly, and a strange shiver ran through him.
"I'm not that drunk," Ash replied softly, his gaze fixed on the floor. If he wasn't drunk, that was one more reason to worry. Maybe he really did like him.
Lucian noticed something was off and let out a light chuckle.
"I know, but I thought this might help." He flashed a playful smile. His expression was warm, but there was something in the way he looked at Ash that made his heart race. It almost skipped a beat. "Don't worry, I'm not that scary," he added.
Ash felt his pulse quicken. For a split second, he wondered if he could even hear it.
"Look, I didn't want it to end up like this. It's not like me," Ash blurted out quickly, then took a big gulp of the water. It was cold and refreshing, but it did little to calm the heat rising in his chest. He didn't want to hurt the man sitting beside him. But the truth was, he couldn't stand the closeness anymore. The space between them felt like it was burning. Every inch that separated them was filled with unspoken words, and Ash wasn't sure how much longer he could bear it.
He could still feel the kiss on his lips, lingering with every movement. All he could think about was the overwhelming warmth it had stirred inside him, and the desperate desire for more. He wanted to inhale Lucian's scent — a mix of sweetness and spice — to feel his presence so close, just once more. It was as if every part of his body silently begged for something he wasn't ready to admit.
"Oh, the previous moment didn't quite suggest that," Lucian teased, leaning forward and casually wrapping his arms around Ash. "You were pretty intense, don't you think?"
Ash felt a wave of heat wash over him, his breath catching as the scent hit him again. He knew if things kept going this way, he wouldn't be able to control himself any longer. He quickly pulled away, desperate to put some space between them. Not like this, he thought. Not now.
"Just a moment of weakness. Don't take it seriously," he said, brushing Lucian's arm off and shifting further down the couch.
Lucian let out a soft laugh. His laugh was the kind that could make anyone think it was irresistibly sexy — rich and raspy, as if it came from somewhere deeper than just surface charm.
"Really?" he said, keeping his voice low.
Before Ash could react, Lucian leaned in closer. His eyes were deep, dark, filled with lust. Anyone who looked into them couldn't look away.
Without another word, Lucian didn't give Ash a chance to speak. He made sure Ash couldn't say anything as his lips attached to his. The kiss was slow at first, almost teasingly slow, as if he wanted to taste every part of Ash's mouth. His hands gently lay on the back of Ash's neck, drawing him even closer. Then, just as quickly, the kiss broke. Lucian pulled away slightly, his forehead resting against Ash's, both of them breathing heavily.
"I told you," he whispered. "I'm not that scary."
Again, Lucian didn't let Ash have time to process things. He was already moving toward the door. Ash just stared blankly ahead.
"Yeah, whatever," Ash replied so quietly it almost missed Lucian's ear.
As he reached the door, Lucian turned with a smirk, his eyes locking onto Ash's.
"This is going to be much more interesting than I imagined," he said, his voice carrying a subtle edge, a hint of threat — at least, that's how Ash felt.
Then he stepped out, leaving Ash alone — this time with more questions and a feeling of excitement.