Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 10

This party, held later than the evening party, was attended by advertising models, racing drivers, and other related individuals. Many sought to spend a private night. The purpose was to expand their network and find sponsors.

Therefore, the party’s atmosphere was also different. The lighting was purple, and the music was louder. Kisses were exchanged casually. And Karlyle was currently attending such a party.

“Why don’t you stop wasting time and return to your seat?”

“Why are you in such a bad mood?”

Having spent significantly more time with Karlyle than with his younger brother Kyle, Aiden had a knack for discerning Karlyle’s emotional state from his tone of voice. He saw someone who appeared to be Aiden’s partner looking at him from behind Aiden. It was an Omega with sharp eyes. Considering Aiden’s tendency to frequently change partners, he probably wouldn’t see him again.

“Aiden.”

At the low call of his name, Aiden raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘Alright, alright,’ he seemed to say. Aiden clicked his tongue and backed away. Karlyle swallowed a sigh and looked around with a cool expression. He held a martini glass and observed the people for a moment. The scent of Omegas and Alphas mingled, filling the space chaotically. He felt no particular emotion.

However, when he smelled Jones’s scent, it felt a little different.

After the shameless kiss in a public place, Karlyle felt a sense of alarm. He didn’t feel it was right to continue meeting Ash. The next day, he went to see Luther. Embarrassingly, he had been aroused while kissing Ash. He was also caught by a strange impulse. So, he thought perhaps his condition might have improved.

But Luther, after asking about his progress, chuckled inexplicably and firmly replied that it hadn’t. Karlyle couldn’t show a refusal to accept the doctor’s words, so he had no choice but to agree with him.

The next thing Karlyle did was postpone his Saturday meeting with Ash until the following week. Ash replied with an “okay” and a “have a good weekend” without any questions. Karlyle, who had unconsciously been touching his lips, realized it and lowered his hand.

Was the kiss the problem?

If sexual activity without sufficient foreplay caused him to experience such phenomena, then perhaps only satisfying that part would make him fine again. If his condition improved, it would be better to conclude his meetings with Ash. It would also be good for Ash Jones. Having sex with someone you don’t care about probably isn’t very enjoyable for the other person either.

‘Among the things I’ve done recently, this is the most fun.’

Then Ash’s words suddenly came to mind. He had met his eyes, traced his own lips, and said that. His mind became complicated. Perhaps it wasn’t entirely unenjoyable? It was possible.

Unlike Karlyle, the other person seemed unhesitant in such actions—holding hands, pressing bodies together, kissing. Perhaps for Ash Jones, it was just entertainment.

The more he thought about it, the more his mind became cluttered instead of finding an answer. Karlyle tried to shake off thoughts of Ash and stepped into the center of the grand party hall. His black shoes, reflecting the lights, made regular sounds. Then, he lightly bumped into someone. It was a brown-haired man, much smaller than Karlyle.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

An Omega. Karlyle instinctively supported the stumbling man. As he lightly supported the man’s back, the man raised a hand and placed it on Karlyle’s chest. He saw brown eyes looking up. The man’s face, which had been blinking, soon flushed. There was a faint smell of alcohol.

“Did I make you spill your drink?”

The man asked, looking at the martini glass in Karlyle’s hand. Karlyle gazed at the man with an expressionless face. The features on his slender, small face looked like a delicate deer. Karlyle, looking at his prominent white neck, opened his mouth.

“No.”

Karlyle didn’t bother to remove his hand from the man’s back. The man also didn’t move away from Karlyle. The Omega’s pheromones intensified slightly. It was a clear sign of interest. Karlyle, assessing the other person with cool eyes, opened his mouth.

“If you don’t mind, may I offer my apologies for bumping into you?”

At the formal tone, with prominent consonants, the man blinked and then smiled softly. A friendly voice replied,

“Yes, I’d like that.”

The hand supporting his back moved up to his shoulder. As Karlyle lightly gripped his shoulder and turned towards the bartender, the man pressed his body against Karlyle and followed his lead.

Trivial conversation ensued. Karlyle twisted the corner of his lips into a faint smile and listened to the other person’s story. The man, perched on a stool, touched Karlyle’s knee. Karlyle, standing and looking down at the other person, soon grew tired of the situation.

It wasn’t very interesting.

It was nothing special. Throughout Karlyle’s life, his interactions with Omegas had always been similar to this. No matter how well they spoke or how entertaining they were, it shouldn’t go beyond mere interest. Controlling his emotions was difficult for him, but it gradually became easier as he got older. If he erased his expression, his emotions also disappeared.

When he was too shaken to even do that, he would think of other things. Like his parents trying to hide their agitation immediately after his brother’s kidnapping, or the dark hallway where muffled sobs leaked out, or the ten days when he thought his brother might be dead. Thinking of such things calmed his mind.

Karlyle had a duty. For his brother to live the life he wanted, Karlyle had to properly fulfill his given role. The person leading the company and the family should have no weaknesses. He also didn’t want to incur his grandfather’s wrath and put his mother in a difficult position…

Recalling his continuing duties, his heart grew cold. Sometimes, he felt doubts. What if, when the time came for him to be allowed to give his heart to someone, he wouldn’t feel anything at all?

“Mr. Frost, did you say you’re affiliated with this place?”

The other person spoke to Karlyle, who had been silent for a moment. It was a question with clear expectations.

“That’s right.”

“That’s amazing. So you must attend parties like this often?”

Karlyle lowered his gaze.

“I do. You seem to enjoy parties.”

“Yes. This is my first time at one, and it’s really fun. And thanks to it, I get to meet someone like you, Mr. Frost.”

With a smile that emphasized his dimples, the other person’s hand touched Karlyle’s arm. With a few more words here, it wouldn’t be difficult to spend the night with this person.

If that happened, it would be Karlyle’s first one-night stand. For him, who had only met people through work or during rut periods…

It was at that moment.

“What are you doing here?”

A hand reached out from behind and touched his stomach. A firm arm wrapped around his waist. At the same time, a refreshing scent enveloped him. Someone was hugging him. Karlyle’s eyes widened. It was a voice he hadn’t expected to hear here.

‘…?’

With a questioning look, he tilted his head slightly, and lips touched his ear.

Ash couldn’t possibly be here…

“I wondered what your busy schedule was, and this was it?”

But unbelievably, it was Ash. Meeting him at a party he had never imagined Ash would be at, a party he thought had nothing to do with Ash, filled him with dismay.

“…Mr. Jones?”

“Did I interrupt?”

Contrary to his words, Ash’s hand tightened. As he felt the palm pressing firmly against his stomach, he had the illusion that the area was gradually heating up. His earlobe was lightly bitten. Karlyle flinched and opened his lips.

“What are you… doing here?”

“Will you answer my question first, Karlyle?”

The voice whispering in his ear deepened. Ash’s lips touched the side of his jaw, then moved to Karlyle’s neck.

“…You didn’t interrupt.”

“Really? From afar, it looked like you were about to head to a hotel.”

‘Was I mistaken?’ Ash said gently. His insides trembled. The term “lover” and the somewhat displeased tone kept bothering him.

“And Mr. Jones, why… did you say ‘lover’?”

The question immediately escaped his lips. Ash chuckled softly.

“It’s faster to get rid of intruders that way, isn’t it? I’m sorry I lied.”

Karlyle was speechless at the word “intruder.” His mind was complexly tangled. This was, as if…

“I don’t mind if you have multiple sex partners, Karlyle.”

As soon as the whisper ended, he felt a very faint tingling sensation on his neck. Karlyle clenched his fist at the sensation of lips sucking on his firm neck. On his neck, now…

“But it’s not pleasant to witness it directly.”

“We just… met.”

A strange sensation ran down his neck. It felt like he was being bitten. His eyes flushed red at the act of kissing his neck as if caressing it. Karlyle struggled to swallow his heated breaths.

“My studio was invited because we’re handling McLaren’s advertising work, but I didn’t expect to see Karlyle here.”

Karlyle pointed out the contradiction in Ash’s words.

“Did you say you weren’t feeling good?”

“Yes, Karlyle.”

Lips sucked his neck again. A pointed tongue licked down his neck, and a gasp escaped. Karlyle reached back and pushed Ash away. Ash readily moved back. Karlyle, catching his breath, hardened his expression and said,

“And Mr. Jones, aren’t you here for another purpose?”

As if surprised by the unexpected observation, Ash blinked for a moment. Then he drew a charming smile on his face.

“Do you think so?”

“Otherwise…”

“I wasn’t even planning to come. I cleared my schedule to meet Karlyle, you see.”

Karlyle closed his mouth at the mention of his own action of postponing their meeting.

“I was just going to show my face briefly and leave because I was called so much, but Karlyle…”

Ash tilted his head.

“Seeing you with another Omega, I had this thought.”

A hand reached out and lightly gripped his wrist. Ash, who had been gently caressing the soft inner part of his wrist, tightened his grip. Then he pulled Karlyle closer.

Karlyle, now in a full embrace, met Ash’s eyes. The corners of Ash’s lips were turned up, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

“I was too lenient, Karlyle.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ash moved.

His lips were gently bitten. Ash lightly bit and then released the tender flesh that his moist mucous membrane had sucked. A gasp escaped, and his tongue immediately plunged into the parted lips.

This was a completely different experience from the kiss two days ago. Ash, who had invaded his tender flesh, intertwined their tongues without giving him a chance to breathe. Their bodies pressed tightly together. Ash, releasing his wrist, placed a hand on Karlyle’s neck. Hot body heat melted beneath his skin. The melted warmth soon heated his body. Excitement flowed through his blood as if he had entered rut.

He felt like he was being devoured.

Ash’s tongue ensnared his tongue, which tried to escape. Saliva mixed wetly, and a lewd friction sound echoed.

‘I can’t… I can’t breathe…’

Forgetting to exhale through his nose, Karlyle reached out and gripped Ash’s clothes tightly. Legs intertwined between their thighs. Firm thighs pressed against his lower body, lightly rubbing his center.