Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 12

He repeated the uncharacteristic, rough word to himself. The sound of music slowly began to be heard. For a moment, he couldn’t think of anything. Dismay, embarrassment, self-reproach, a feeling of something being out of control—only emotions mingled and swirled in his chest. Unconsciously, he raised a hand to touch his forehead. Karlyle, who had rubbed the spot where Ash’s lips had touched, then lowered his hand.

And then he turned in the opposite direction from where Ash had left.

Ash suggested four in the afternoon. It was an ambiguous time. Neither lunch nor dinner. A time too vague for afternoon tea, a time Karlyle found difficult to understand.

Since Karlyle was indebted to Ash in their relationship, he had no intention of burdening Ash with the choice of location.

At any rate, the location had to be indoors—if what Karlyle was thinking was correct—and Karlyle chose the hotel over his own residence. He had never allowed anyone other than his staff and himself into the mansion, which was empty for more than half the year.

Karlyle, having reserved one of the top-floor apartment-style suites owned by his mother, handled some work and arrived at the Connaught on time for their appointment.

Ash was already there, as he had been last time. He looked natural and elegant in a thin suit shirt and black trousers. People’s gazes were drawn to the tall, handsome man standing in the lobby. Given the location, no one approached Ash like last time, but he noticed the reception staff kept looking at Ash.

That fact subtly brought about a feeling of displeasure. Karlyle walked five steps with an identical stride and stood before Ash. Ash, who had been reading a magazine, turned his eyes to him.

“Hello.”

Ash smiled with crinkling eyes. The curve of his lips, habitually turned up, deepened.

“Was your journey here comfortable?”

“Of course.”

Ash said that and closed the magazine. Karlyle briefly glanced at the magazine cover, then closed his mouth. He felt his mouth dry from an inexplicable tension.

Ash, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up and placed a hand on Karlyle’s waist. His arm naturally wrapped around and touched Karlyle’s back. The corners of his eyes crinkled playfully, and then his lips touched Karlyle’s ear.

“Shall we go, then?”

Karlyle parted his lips and subtly nodded. A tension similar to that before an important contract, and a strange churning sensation, scraped at his insides. Karlyle walked towards the elevator with an expressionless face. A brief silence fell, and just as Ash was about to speak again, the elevator doors opened.

But coincidentally, a familiar face was beyond the doors. It was Aiden Haywood. Since Aiden was in charge of Haywood’s hotel business, seeing him here wasn’t unusual.

It was just, did it have to be today?

“Karlyle?”

Aiden frowned slightly and looked at Karlyle. He felt Aiden’s gaze naturally fall on Ash. The air stiffened. It was the kind of silence that often settled when Alphas gathered in one place.

“…Aiden.”

“You skipped today’s gathering, what are you doing here?”

At his words, Ash briefly looked at Karlyle. Karlyle replied bleakly, without a change in expression,

“It’s personal business.”

At that, Ash chuckled softly. Then he extended his hand to Aiden.

“Hello. I’m Ash Jones.”

Aiden, reluctantly shaking his hand, introduced himself. Their hands touched briefly and then separated.

“Aiden Haywood.”

Aiden, who usually had a smiling face, though not as much as Ash, looked at Ash with undisguised bewilderment.

“If your business is concluded, why don’t you move aside?”

“Personal business with an Alpha? You?”

Aiden knew Karlyle unnecessarily well, knowing he didn’t socialize with anyone privately outside of work. Given the Alpha trait of not particularly liking other Alphas, both Karlyle and Aiden generally kept Omegas or Betas by their side. Karlyle, from the start, avoided meeting anyone outside of work.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t displease me any further.”

At the warning, spoken without a change in expression, Aiden looked at Ash once more. Then he shrugged.

“How finicky.”

“It’s not a significant relationship, nor is it your concern. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

Karlyle turned and walked away from Aiden, who still occupied the elevator. Aiden stopped Karlyle, who was about to press the button for another elevator.

“Alright, alright. I’ll move.”

Karlyle did not reply. Aiden, casting one last gaze at Ash, smiled coldly and greeted him.

“Well then, goodbye.”

“Alright.”

Ash received Aiden’s greeting with an inexplicable smile. The elevator, quiet after the unintended commotion, became silent. As the doors closed, Ash spoke.

“Are you close?”

“We’ve known each other for a long time.”

Which also meant they weren’t close. Ash, who had been rubbing his lower back, looked forward and said,

“Next time, shall we meet at my place or Karlyle’s?”

“…May I ask why?”

“I don’t mind, but…”

Karlyle looked at Ash. Ash wasn’t looking at him.

“I thought Karlyle might be troubled if unnecessary misunderstandings arose.”

…He was right. Karlyle pondered. London was both vast and small, with many watchful eyes. He didn’t usually care about such things, but… His thoughts scattered and wouldn’t organize. At any rate, it was better to prevent unnecessary talk.

“Understood.”

The door opened. Ash pressed the open button. Karlyle felt his gaze. This time, Karlyle averted his eyes.

“Karlyle, you go first.”

After briefly looking at the hand that politely held the door open, Karlyle stepped out.

The spacious apartment-style suite had a total of eight rooms, including bathrooms. This room, costing thousands of pounds for a single night, was also a place his mother, Alice, occasionally opened for events.

Ash showed no particular reaction to the enormous size, which ordinary people would never use in their lifetime. He even seemed somewhat accustomed to it.

Ash’s impression was a single sentence.

“The soundproofing must be good.”

Karlyle flinched. His comment on the space was a little out of context. Karlyle, remembering that Ash’s profession was a designer, had expected him to talk about the furniture, layout, or interior design.

“…Is that so?”

Then Ash turned around and looked at Karlyle. After observing Karlyle for a moment, as if gauging him, Ash chuckled softly.

“Yes, so you don’t have to hold back, Karlyle.”

Karlyle’s expression became even more bewildered. This time, it showed on his face without him realizing it. Ash smiled refreshingly at his slightly raised eyebrows.

“I prefer it when moans are loud.”

With those words, Ash approached. Karlyle was momentarily speechless at the distinctly changed look in Ash’s eyes compared to before they entered. It was a lingering, deeply penetrating gaze.

“I don’t know what Karlyle was like originally, but…”

The hand gripping his waist pulled Karlyle tightly. Beyond their pressed bodies, their two breaths mingled. Slowly exhaled breaths were swallowed, unable to escape Karlyle’s mouth. The word “moan” sent his mind into a whirl.

The man truly thought of Karlyle in that way.

An Alpha, with an Alpha.

“Everyone can’t hold back.”

With those words, Ash’s lips bit Karlyle’s. His held breath burst out raggedly. Ash, slightly leaning down, pulled Karlyle tightly into his embrace. Their stomachs pressed together. Lips were gently bitten, then a tongue skillfully plunged into the parted gap. This time, the sensation was different again. Ash’s kisses always varied. Today, it truly felt like being swept away by a wave.

Hmph, ugh, with a sound, Karlyle was pushed against the wall. Ash pressed against his body, which had bumped with a slight pain. He unconsciously gripped Ash’s shoulders tightly and tried to push him away, but it was futile. Karlyle wasn’t truly pushing him away, and Ash didn’t seem to intend to be pushed.

The tongue, which had plunged in somewhat roughly, as if to lick his throat, adjusted its tempo. It retreated, then wetly licked the roof of his mouth. As the raised tip of his tongue gently tickled the inside, goosebumps rose. His pointed black shoes urgently tapped the floor.

He barely managed to intertwine his tongue with Ash’s. While the wet, squelching sound repeated inside his mouth, Ash’s hand naturally slipped into his stomach. While he was frantically trying to process the kiss, the hand that had slipped in pulled out his shirt and unbuttoned it.

Karlyle flinched at the warm sensation on his skin. Something seemed to drop with a thud, and then a sound echoed from below. It was the sound of his suit pants belt being pulled.

At that sound, he snapped to attention. Karlyle, frowning, gripped Ash’s hand. He had no idea when Ash’s hand had moved downwards. Barely swallowing the saliva that was about to overflow, Karlyle twisted his head. Ash chuckled softly and released his lips. As if he was letting him off.

“Ash, just, a moment…”

“Yes, speak.”

Contrary to his gentle voice, Ash’s hand kept moving. In the blink of an eye, the hand that had unbuckled his belt lowered his zipper. Karlyle looked down at the shocking scene, aghast.

Before the white, large hand naturally touched Karlyle’s boxers, Karlyle gripped Ash’s wrist tightly. A tingling sensation ran down his neck, and arousal traveled down his spine.

“I don’t think this is appropriate here.”

“Why? It’s not outside like last time, and it’s just you and me.”

Veins stood out on the back of the hand that gripped Ash’s wrist tightly. It didn’t matter whether Ash’s words were right or wrong. Doing such a thing in the hallway was simply unacceptable. It would be more accurate to say it was difficult to handle, but Karlyle didn’t use that expression. It just wasn’t right.

“Ash.”

When he called his name firmly, Ash lowered his gaze. The finger that had been inside the elastic band of his boxers slowly released it. Karlyle gritted his teeth at the sensation of the clinging underwear rubbing against his flat lower abdomen. His insides felt numb.

“Shall we?”

Even though the finger had been withdrawn, Karlyle was still gripping Ash’s wrist so hard it must have hurt. Despite the considerable force he was exerting, Ash, without any protest, stroked Karlyle’s cheek with his other hand.

“You’re cute.”

“I am not.”

“If you’re like this even just in the hallway, I guess I’ll have to see about other things later.”

He didn’t have time to figure out what “other things” meant. Hmph, Karlyle exhaled slowly and gradually released his hand. Ash chuckled softly again, then raised both hands. Then he asked Karlyle,

“Shall we have a drink first?”

Instead of saying it was still four in the afternoon, Karlyle turned around first. As Ash said, he needed a drink.