#36
Knock knock-.
There was a knock at the door. Pol opened the bedroom door, had a brief conversation with a servant, and then returned to the bedside.
“The Ruben Prince has come to see Your Highness. What shall we do?”
Enrique let out a faint sigh.
Having been sent away for being dirty and smelly, it was expected that he would return after washing up and grooming himself. If anything, he had come later than anticipated.
“Tell him to wait in the reception room.”
With those words, Enrique got out of bed.
After changing clothes and entering the reception room, he saw a tall figure standing by the window. Enrique felt the passage of time as he scanned Anture’s tall stature, broad shoulders, and well-balanced muscular body. The boy who had once been smaller than him had now appeared as a fully-grown man. It felt like time had passed so quickly.
“Enrique.”
Anture turned around and smiled with crescent eyes. In his smile, there was a slight trace of his pretty boyish face from younger days. It somehow felt… emotional? Complicated feelings arose.
As Enrique took his seat, Anture also approached and sat on the sofa. A faint scent of pheromones was emanating from Anture. Like a dog catching the scent of prey, Enrique’s body reacted automatically. A deep part of his body tingled. The lingering sensation of ecstasy he had felt while entangled countless times with Anture began to creep up again. Enrique gripped his teacup tightly to maintain his composure.
“Do you still want to go around boasting that you’re a novice?”
Enrique shot back in a sharp voice. Anture raised one eyebrow as if to say, “What do you mean?”
“You’re exuding pheromones all over the place. Does someone who can’t even control their own pheromones have the right to go around claiming to be an adult?”
His words naturally became sharper as he struggled to endure his body’s reactions.
“Ah.”
Anture made a short sound as if he hadn’t been aware, then closed his eyes for a moment. As he took a deep, long breath, Enrique could feel Anture’s pheromones gradually being reined in.
“Is it better now?”
Anture asked, opening his eyes. It wasn’t perfect, but it was reasonably okay. However, Enrique’s expression, already affected by the pheromones, didn’t completely relax.
“I’m sorry, Enrique. I’ll try to control it perfectly as quickly as possible. But don’t misunderstand. It wasn’t like this originally, but having you in front of me, my body just reacted on its own…”
After saying this, Anture added with a deep, intense gaze that Enrique had never seen before:
“Just the fact that you’re by my side makes it utterly impossible for me to contain myself.”
Though his appearance had changed, his embarrassingly sentimental way of speaking remained the same. When a boy spoke like this, it at least sounded cute, but hearing a grown man say it made Enrique’s arm hair stand on end from the cringe.
“Enough. Stay here for just tonight and return to Ruben early tomorrow morning.”
Enrique said in a cold tone. Instead of immediately objecting, Anture just smiled at Enrique. In his black eyes that steadily gazed at Enrique’s face, deep emotions rippled like waves.
Meeting that gaze, Enrique felt somewhat strange and restless, slightly biting his lip. He wanted to jump up and leave this place immediately, and he also wanted to hit Anture. And… he also wanted to pounce on Anture sitting right next to him, pin him down, and bite his lips.
‘Good heavens.’
Enrique lamented inwardly as he became aware of his unfamiliar desires and emotions. This was… really not good.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
Enrique asked, deliberately glaring with even colder eyes. Anture, unperturbed, sent a profound gaze and slowly opened his mouth.
“Enrique, you… Do you realize that your attitude and way of speaking to me have completely changed since we met again?”
At Anture’s words, Enrique hesitated. Anture gazed steadily at Enrique and continued.
“In the past, even though I was smaller and younger than you, you always used formal speech, calling me ‘Your Highness.’ But now you’re addressing me much more casually than before.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. I’m not saying I dislike it at all. If anything, I’m happy because it feels like we’ve gotten much closer.”
Anture leaned his upper body slightly forward. The distance closed just a little. Even that was enough to make Enrique feel somewhat breathless. He struggled to maintain an expressionless face to avoid showing it.
“Come to think of it, you’re no longer calling me ‘Lord Enrique’ either.”
He had already started speaking informally and even hit the guy. There seemed no need to suddenly revert to formalities now. Enrique decided to continue like this.
“You’re right. I used to always call you ‘Lord Enrique’ in the past. But calling you just ‘Enrique’ definitely feels more intimate and better.”
Anture spoke with a gentle face as if reminiscing about the past, and slowly reached out his hand. Anture’s hand gently covered Enrique’s hand resting on the sofa armrest. Enrique flinched at the sensation of the large, firm palm that completely covered his hand.
It was with those very hands that Anture had bound Enrique’s wrists, pinned him to the floor, and endlessly explored him. And he had constantly whispered with a voice full of joy, pleasure, and desire.
‘Enrique.’
“Enrique.”
Startled by the voice ringing in his ears, Enrique quickly withdrew his hand. The sensation of skin brushing as he pulled away was intensely stimulating.
“Enough. Go back to Ruben. And come again for the wedding.”
Enrique threw out the words like an announcement and abruptly stood up. He no longer wanted to be in the same space as Anture.
Just as he turned around and took a couple of steps—
“Enrique.”
An arm reached out from behind and embraced Enrique. Though the movement was undoubtedly gentle, being trapped in those large arms gave a sense of pressure that made it seem impossible to break free no matter how much he struggled.
“Isn’t it rude to touch someone’s body without permission, even if you are their fiancé?”
“I’m sorry. I know this goes against etiquette, but I simply can’t hold back.”
Anture whispered lowly with his lips against Enrique’s ear. The hot breath and husky voice pouring into his ear made Enrique’s back stiffen. As if asserting ownership, Anture completely trapped Enrique in his arms, tightly wrapping both arms around Enrique’s body.
“Do you know how many days and nights I’ve spent longing for you? I endured countless days imagining holding you in my arms like this someday. Now that I’ve finally passed that time of endurance and can fully hold you in my arms, how can I possibly restrain myself?”
“Anture!”
Enrique shouted warningly. But Anture, as if unable to let go, put even more strength into his encircling arms.
Anture’s strong physique was vividly felt against Enrique’s back. The arms holding him were also long and powerful, seeming impossible to shake off. It felt like being trapped inside a tall, sturdy castle.
Somehow, his mind became hazy. No, it felt like his brain was melting into mush. He felt as if all the defenses he had always maintained like iron walls were being peeled away one by one.
“Anture, you… You’re releasing pheromones again right now…!”
Enrique said, tightly gripping Anture’s arms that were holding him. But Anture paid no heed and was busy deeply inhaling with his nose buried in Enrique’s nape.
“Do you know how good you smell? Sweet… fragrant, alluring… an intoxicatingly erotic scent.”
The husky whisper tickled his ear. Trapped in Anture’s firm embrace and enveloped by his pheromones, the whispers were like a snake’s temptation.
“Stop it.”
Enrique dug his nails into Anture’s arms. Along with his brain, his body also felt like it was turning to mush. His legs felt weak, as if he might collapse right there. But Anture’s firm hold prevented such an unsightly fall.
At this rate, he’ll be swept away.
Enrique thought with his thinning rationality. It was absolutely impossible to shake him off by force. And it didn’t seem like words would get through to Anture, who appeared to be almost losing his reason.
“I said stop, you…”
Enrique lowered his head and then immediately tilted it back, slamming his head backwards.
“You bastard!”
Thwack-!
With the sound of bone being struck, Anture’s arms loosened. Though the back of his head that had hit Anture’s chin felt like it was splitting, Enrique gritted his teeth and broke free from Anture’s embrace. Then he spun around and swung his hand towards the cheek of Anture, who was clutching his chin.
Slap-!
The palm filled with irritation and anger properly struck Anture’s white cheek.
Whether from the headbutt or the slap, a red stream of blood could be seen trickling from one of Anture’s nostrils.
“Anture Ruben! You! Don’t appear before me until the wedding day!”
Enrique shouted angrily, pointing his finger, then strode out of the reception room with his hand pressing against his throbbing head.
