“Baby, you look tired. Are you okay?”
When Serena asked softly and opened her arms, Henry curled his large body down and fit snugly into her embrace.
“If I stay like this with you for just one minute, I’ll be fully recharged.”
“Will one minute really be enough?”
“Who knows. Guess we’ll have to test it.”
Standing on the landing, Eden waited for the excessively affectionate display between the two of them to end. Soon, Henry’s phone vibrated. Pulling away from Serena’s arms, he checked the caller and frowned.
“Your timing’s always terrible.”
As if he’d swapped out his vocal cords, his voice turned cold. On his way toward the study while answering the call, he spotted Eden and curled up the corner of his mouth. Eden responded to the wave with a nod and continued down the stairs.
“Eden. Sleep well?”
Serena handed him coffee along with her morning greeting. When he declined, saying he was going out, she took the mug back and casually remarked,
“You’ve been going out a lot lately. Are you finally having a proper vacation?”
Her gentle voice followed after him.
“Before moving here, I checked things out, and there didn’t seem to be any neighbors likely to cause problems. So feel free to move around comfortably. Especially the Quinn family right next door…….”
“Investigating people like that isn’t exactly… normal.”
Eden drew a line at her interference. It was unusual for him to object to the affection and protectiveness that always came together with Henry and Serena’s care. Just as expected, Serena faltered.
If anyone dug even a little into the way they lived, they’d inevitably come close to the deeply buried past they kept hidden. She probably didn’t want to destroy the unspoken secret that had only survived because Eden had chosen to ignore it until now.
“I’m only saying it because I want you to be careful. The world’s more dangerous than it looks.”
“I know you don’t mean any harm. That’s why I’m saying this—if you’re curious about who I’m close to, just ask me. Don’t secretly watch or investigate them.”
Knowing Serena’s personality, she’d probably already thoroughly looked into what kind of person Somerset Quinn was and what his family was like.
“Ah… right.”
Serena smoothed over the situation with a smile, but Henry emerged from the study and stopped Eden.
“Have you ever felt like someone was talking to you or following you?”
The timing was bad. Serena subtly shook her head at him.
“Honey, drink your coffee. It’s getting cold.”
“But…….”
“Henry Reed.”
The moment she used his full name, Henry obediently went to her like a loyal dog. Seeing the two of them standing side by side holding mugs as they sent him off, Eden left the house.
The conversation he’d just had was already far away, and once again his mind was filled entirely with one person.
Somerset.
That was why he immediately sensed Somerset’s gaze through the window. Every one of his nerves was focused on him.
Part of him wanted to run over immediately, but he forced himself not to rush. Still, he couldn’t stop the agitation swelling in his chest as he deliberately adjusted his pace.
This was the first time he’d come to the Quinn house without being invited. Fortunately, the familiar servant Emma welcomed him inside without difficulty.
With every step he climbed toward Somerset’s room, the heat inside him rose further. Would he really be able to act calm in front of him? If only he could manage that much while they talked.
For all the obsessive thinking he’d done about Somerset, he still hadn’t decided what he would actually do once they met.
It was only when he arrived in front of the door that Eden hurriedly came up with a plan.
Even if Somerset tried to run away this time, he couldn’t let him go. Still, don’t corner him. Don’t interrogate him impatiently. Hugging him recklessly isn’t a good idea either. Approach him as calmly as possible.
Of course, the moment he laid eyes on Somerset, all of that became useless.
The desire to touch him surged up, staining his thoughts with the color of lust. Once he became aware of it, there was no end to it.
I want to touch him.
I want to know his warmth, his texture, his pulse. I want to feel all of it. Even if Somerset ends up discovering what I’m feeling.
At some point, the walls around him had collapsed. Even the forgetfulness he’d clung to in order to erase painful memories had broken apart.
Raw emotions writhed inside him. The turbulence echoed through his entire body until he could no longer contain it.
He was lovely.
So unbelievably lovely.
Eden stared at Somerset in a daze as he awkwardly avoided making eye contact. The soft strands of hair falling as he lowered his head swayed gently.
“I didn’t come here just to stare at the top of your head.”
His tone was calm, but inside him, desire had already taken tangible form and was running wild. The moment their eyes met, a sharp current ran from the soles of his feet all the way to the top of his head.
“Did you sleep well? Have you reflected on what you did?”
The thing Somerset should’ve reflected on wasn’t kissing him without permission. It was running away afterward and staying silent until Eden came looking for him.
Back when he’d touched his hair under the excuse of removing a leaf, Somerset had shown up in front of Eden first thing the next day. So why was he trying to hide now?
Was he crazy for being happy about that?
Because there was no turning back anymore, because the feelings between them had deepened, laughter kept threatening to spill out.
When Somerset started to say that yesterday’s kiss had been unavoidable, that it had felt like fate, Eden almost sealed his mouth shut in a rush.
With his own lips.
Barely, Eden resisted the same fate that had overtaken Somerset. But his resistance didn’t last long.
The moment he lost control of his impulse and brushed Somerset’s hair back, Eden came to admire him.
How did you feel this texture and still manage not to kiss me?
If it were me, I would’ve crossed the line the moment I brushed that leaf away.
Eden pressed a kiss to Somerset’s forehead.
Then he descended impatiently and kissed him.
Soft lips.
He tasted fruit ripened to perfect sweetness.
It felt insanely good.
The solid weight of the nape fitting in his hand. Somerset’s strong arms wrapping around his waist, gripping him tightly enough to tear his shirt apart. He shoved Somerset against the wall and hungrily devoured his lips before barely regaining his senses.
Though even that didn’t last long.
He could only hope his eyes didn’t look hazy, as though drugged. He wanted to keep the clear emerald color Somerset loved so much.
As he laid Somerset down on the bed and stripped off his disheveled shirt, Eden thought,
You’re a problem.
For me.
Maybe he’d even said it out loud instead of just thinking it. His swollen lips, ruined from their fierce kissing, might’ve betrayed him.
Realizing his mistake, Eden regained his composure and stopped Somerset from reaching toward his chest.
“Slowly.”
“You’re the one who can’t do that.”
That was exactly right. He was frightened by how close he felt to losing control at any second.
Eden wanted to calm down.
Disappointing Somerset would be the worst possible outcome.
So he asked for confirmation. Whether Somerset was simply getting swept up in the moment. Whether this was truly what he wanted.
Somerset’s affection was obvious enough to see plainly, but whether he fully understood what would happen between them from now on was an entirely different matter.
Fortunately, Somerset didn’t retreat. If anything, he provoked Eden and wanted to go further.
In the end, Eden let him touch his chest.
He placed the pounding heartbeat into Somerset’s hand and kissed him again.
The more desperately Somerset acted, the more Eden felt a sense of kinship with him. Gently caressing him while pretending composure—that was simply the responsibility of being older.
“Open your mouth.”
When Somerset obediently parted his lips, Eden whispered tenderly,
“Yeah. Like that. Breathe.”
“Hah… haa.”
Listening to his rough breathing, Eden thought, The truth is, I struggle to breathe too sometimes.
“You’re doing well.”
“What about you?”
“Me too, of course. Hah… I’m doing well too.”
I’m glad I look experienced in your eyes.
No… maybe that’s not entirely a good thing.
Somerset’s competitive streak flared up, and he flipped their positions, pushing Eden down onto the bed. Climbing on top of him, Somerset said,
“Your heart feels like it’s about to burst.”
You’re only noticing that now?
Suppressing the urge for his eyes to widen, Eden narrowed them slightly and stroked Somerset’s waist. He could feel the firm ridges of muscle beneath his hand.
“If it bursts, call 911 for me.”
“I’ll carry you to the ER myself.”
Declaring it confidently, Somerset leaned down against him. Overflowing with emotion, Eden wrapped his arms around him and whispered into his ear.
“That kiss yesterday—it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t some accident either. I wanted it too.”
This kiss now was something they both wanted as well.
Tilting their heads, they searched for each other’s lips again.
“Hngh. You chewed up all my breath and swallowed it. Guess next is my tongue.”
With those adorable words, Somerset slipped between Eden’s lips. Relaxing his jaw, Eden allowed the soft tongue to invade. He surrendered everything—the roof of his mouth, the insides of his cheeks—while stroking Somerset’s waist.
Their pressed-together bodies felt heavy. The weight of Somerset’s actual body combined with the violent pounding of his heart.
And the sweat slowly beginning to form.
They kissed deeply and clumsily, tangling their tongues together. The sensation of being thoroughly crushed filled his mouth so completely there was room for nothing else.
The saliva spilling out because there was no space left was greedily sucked and licked up by Somerset, leaving the corners of Eden’s lips even wetter instead.
It felt as though his entire lower face was being devoured.
“Puppy………”
“You’re not trying to say I’m like a puppy, hah… are you?”
Somerset bit down on Eden’s lower lip in protest at the comparison he clearly didn’t like.
Pushing himself upright, he boldly rolled up the hem of his T-shirt.
“What kind of puppy is this sexy?”
The moment he tossed the shirt away, a healthy bronze body was revealed. His broad chest muscles and sharply divided abs were impressive enough to deserve showing off.
As if he intended to take off his pants too, Somerset reached for his waistband and asked,
“If I show you everything already, will I seem too easy?”
“You’re worried about something like that?”
Eden shot back with a question as he sat up. Somerset poked him lightly in the chest as if telling him to lie back down again, then draped one arm over Eden’s shoulder to stop him from moving away.
“It’s not exactly worry. I just remembered you saying we were moving too fast.”
His murmuring lips glistened with moisture. Eden licked them, making them wetter before speaking.
“Forget it.”
That pathetic idiot who said nonsense like that doesn’t exist anymore.
“I’m not forgetting. I can’t forget. I’m gonna tease you about it forever.”
Snickering mischievously, Somerset tugged his pants down. Through the white briefs, the outline of his erection jutted upward. Eden felt as though his gaze would be pulled straight into the small slit leaking clear fluid.
“You’re wet.”
Lost in a trance, he muttered the observation. In response, Somerset rubbed the opening of his cock with his fingertip. The obscene gesture sent excitement crashing through Eden.
Just watching felt overwhelmingly stimulating, as though he himself were being touched.
“Can I check? See how wet you are?”
Eden asked bluntly.
If Somerset had turned the question back on him, Eden would’ve dragged Somerset’s hand straight into his own pants. He was wet too, after all.
Thinking about how he’d have no underwear left to wear home made things slightly awkward. Maybe he should take them off now.
But Somerset distracted him too thoroughly for the thought to matter.
“You can touch anywhere that’s wet.”
Granting permission boldly, Somerset grabbed the base of his cock over his underwear and stroked it. The moisture had apparently already run all the way down the shaft. A semi-transparent stain spread across the white fabric.
Without rushing greedily, Eden first traced over the back of Somerset’s hand. His fingertips brushed over the bulging veins before slowly slipping between his fingers and outlining his balls through the fabric. The round flesh felt tight and firm.
“What else is wet?”
As he asked quietly and pressed against Somerset’s perineum, Somerset flinched.
He was usually honest, but he seemed especially weak against stimulation. Every one of his reactions felt unmistakably like Somerset.
“Hngh… there’s probably nowhere that isn’t.”
Listening closely to his low voice, Eden slid his fingers farther back. As he traced upward along the cleft of Somerset’s ass, his wrist suddenly became trapped between Somerset’s thighs.
Somerset flexed his thigh muscles and squeezed.
It was just playful resistance on Somerset’s part, but to Eden it felt like an irresistible temptation. He pressed his fingers more firmly against the fabric, digging into the crease between his cheeks.
“Ah……..”
Drawn in by his trembling lips and dizzying breaths, Eden gently wrapped a hand around Somerset’s nape. When he guided him downward, Somerset kissed him first.
Their tongues rubbed together in a messy, filthy kiss filled with wet, sticky sounds.
