Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 16

“Don’t you think they’re common?”

“The romantic image that red roses themselves produce isn’t special anymore, but…”

Ash tilted his head, looking at Karlyle. As if to capture Karlyle in his gently curved eyes.

“That’s why I also think they’re the flower that symbolizes love the most.”

At the word “love,” Karlyle fell silent. It was a story far removed from him.

“It seems you like romantic stories.”

“Yes, I do.”

Ash affirmed. Then he reached out. His hand naturally touched Karlyle’s waist. It was an action that felt familiar after only a few meetings. Ash pulled Karlyle closer and lowered his eyelashes.

“Is that too ridiculous a story for Karlyle?”

“I…”

He was speechless. Honestly, it was.

“You can be honest. People often tease me, saying it’s naive thinking.”

“Everyone has different values.”

“Don’t you think there should be at least one person like me to balance things out?”

Saying that, they walked again. Karlyle showed him the kitchen and living room, then went upstairs to briefly explain the entire house. Ash showed great interest in the study and the screening room. This was different from how he had reacted to the opulent interior of the hotel, where he said nothing. When they passed the billiard table, Ash asked if he had ever used it for other purposes, but Karlyle, not understanding what “other purposes” meant, simply replied no. Ash smiled meaningfully.

After touring the entire house, Ash returned to the living room and stopped in front of the piano.

“Does Karlyle play?”

It was a piano that had always been in the same spot but hadn’t been sat at for a long time. Karlyle also looked at it.

“I used to play it sometimes.”

“Does that mean not anymore?”

“There’s no one to play for.”

Karlyle wasn’t a pianist, and he didn’t have time to play the piano alone just to listen to music. Every minute and second of his life was always allocated to something. Even this moment, talking casually with Ash, was allotted in his schedule under the guise of therapy. Though there had been a few exceptions.

“There’s someone right here.”

Ash pointed at himself and smiled gently. Karlyle closed his mouth. Ash pulled him closer. With the rose between them, Karlyle was embraced by Ash. Ash’s subtle yet deep scent mingled with the scent of the rose. It was somehow intoxicating. His calm pulse gradually began to quicken.

“Will you play for me, Karlyle?”

Ash pleaded in a soft whisper. Yes, it was a truly pleading, lovely tone.

“I want to hear it.”

The faint awkwardness vanished without a trace at the words “I want to hear it.” Karlyle, who had been silent, swallowed his breath.

“Alright.”

“Really?”

Ash smiled, his face looking immensely pleased.

What on earth was so special about this?

The man had been pleased by nothing since their last meeting. It kept unsettling Karlyle. As if to avoid the surging emotions, Karlyle pulled out the grand piano chair. It was regularly maintained regardless of use, so it should be in tune.

Karlyle said to the smiling Ash,

“My skill is lacking, but I hope you enjoy it.”

At his polite words, Ash bowed his head slightly. His lips touched Karlyle’s cheek.

“Thank you, Karlyle.”

At the unexpected light kiss, Karlyle lowered his eyes. His heart pounded painfully, as if spitting blood. The burning sensation on his cheek was probably due to that.

Karlyle’s sole advantage, not far behind a dominant Alpha, was his memory. Karlyle remembered many things. Not just the sheet music for the piece he was about to play, but also the scent of the oranges he ate on the morning his brother was kidnapped, the expression on his grandfather’s face the night he debuted in society in his brother’s place, and even the color of the shirt Ash was wearing the first time they kissed.

Some things he wanted to forget but couldn’t, and some he chose not to forget.

However, his continued memory of his first meeting with Ash fell into a category Karlyle couldn’t clearly define. Was it because he wanted to remember it, or because it was unforgettable?

Karlyle thought about this as he selected a piece in his mind. Ash quietly sat beside him, watching Karlyle. Their breaths gently filled the room. Karlyle finally chose one.

It wasn’t a technically brilliant piece, but if he had to choose, it was the one he felt most comfortable with. No, in fact, it was because he thought Ash Jones might like it.

Karlyle consciously tried to erase the thought that had unconsciously surfaced. Instead, he moved his hands. His hands must have stiffened from not playing for quite some time. A faint tension gathered at his fingertips. His fingers, which had paused for a moment, slowly began to move.

His fingers, pressing the white keys, were long and pale. Neither thick nor thin, perfectly average fingers gradually sped up. The elegantly flowing, calm melody gradually increased in tempo.

Little by little.

Just, a little more.

Then, steeply.

Something fluttered inside him. It also felt like churning. As the piece sped up, he felt swept away by something. He had never felt this way while performing. Every time Ash’s gaze, blatantly fixed on his cheek, became clearer, the churning intensified.

The breath he had unconsciously held escaped in a shallow gasp. The piece slowly became calm. His fingers slowly stopped on the keys. The subtly flowing melody completely subsided. Then, he felt as if he was sinking beneath the surface of the water.

“…I don’t know if you liked it.”

The momentary silence choked him. It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a very long time. A feeling he might have felt as a young boy, hoping for praise from his grandfather. He couldn’t turn his head. Objectively, his playing wasn’t bad. Even though he hadn’t touched the keyboard for a considerable time, his technique and tempo were accurate. But there was no guarantee that Ash Jones would like it…

“Karlyle.”

A hand reached out. Ash gently turned Karlyle’s face, which had been looking down at the keys, towards him. His eyelashes trembled for a moment. Erasing the momentary tremor, Karlyle wiped his expression clean. As usual.

“That was the most beautiful performance I’ve ever heard.”

It was truly good.

Ash said “good” again. It was a meaningless word, no different from saying he liked roses, yet Karlyle stiffened as before. However, his reason faithfully performed its role.

“You’re giving me excessive praise.”

“I’ve heard many, but this is the first time it’s been this good.”

“What’s the name of the piece?” Ash’s fingers gently stroked his cheek. His eyes, meeting Karlyle’s, shone with indescribable beauty. Those shining eyes were looking at Karlyle.

“Liebestraum.”

“Is that German?”

Ash’s smile deepened.

“…Yes.”

“I didn’t know you could speak German.”

“I only speak enough for what’s necessary.”

“That’s sexy. If Karlyle were my German teacher, I would have learned German in high school.”

Karlyle blinked. He restrained himself from biting his lip unconsciously. His body stiffened. He couldn’t escape the hand that merely rested on his cheek.

“Then… what does the title mean, teacher?”

Ash whispered playfully, leaning closer. At a distance where their noses were almost touching, Ash lowered his eyes and looked at him. Ash’s breath touched his lips. A fluttering sensation brought on thirst. He was parched.

“…”

It was just two words. It was nothing, yet he couldn’t bring himself to utter them.

“Hmm? Tell me.”

“…Lo…”

It was just a word. Karlyle cut through his incomprehensible hesitation and slowly uttered the word. His voice dropped low.

“…ve’s dream… it is.”

“Is that so?”

Ash repeated. His gently curved eyes were fixed solely on Karlyle. The moment he saw that, Karlyle felt a dizzying, almost faint sensation.

Why on earth… is Ash Jones smiling like this? Is this just a habit for him too?

“I like it, the meaning.”

Something spread rapidly inside him. Something diffused through his blood. A warm, ticklish sensation circulated throughout his body. It was probably because his unconfirmed guess had been right. Ash liked the name of the piece.

The sensation of something rapidly stirring in his veins intensified his thirst. Ash leaned closer. His upper lip was slightly bitten. It softly clung to his lips, then released. Karlyle pushed Ash’s shoulder away and barely managed to turn his head. His heart was beating so fast that his stomach ached.

“…Would you like some tea?”

Only belatedly did he remember that he hadn’t even offered a basic courtesy. Ash, with an inscrutable smile, shook his head slightly.

“Well, Karlyle…”

A low chuckle escaped.

“Rather than that, I want something else.”

A hot hand touched Karlyle’s thigh as he sat upright on the piano stool. The soft yet firm palm pressed firmly on the inside of his thigh. Karlyle’s eyes contorted.

“Shall we go wash up, Karlyle?”

His earlobe was lightly bitten. After a very short silence, Karlyle’s lips parted.

“…Yes.”

Ash asked if he wanted to shower together. Karlyle refused the offer with a tone so cold that even he himself found it surprising. He had never showered with anyone, and somehow, he felt unpredictable things might happen. Ash chuckled lightly and said he understood.

The shower took much longer than usual. Perhaps he was nervous. And the fact that he was nervous about such a thing made him feel down. This repeated. His fingers, rubbing his body as the water streamed over him, touched and then moved away from his private parts. Recalling Ash’s fingers probing his rear, and the pleasure transmitted from his fingertips, Karlyle was overcome with an indescribable self-loathing.

The sense of futility didn’t easily disappear. He still didn’t know what would change by doing this. The only achievement he had gained in the past three weeks was that Alphas could indeed copulate, and how well Ash Jones kissed…

At that thought, Karlyle turned off the shower. His mind was a mess, as if his thoughts were chaotically mixed in a box. It was better not to think anymore. Striving to regain his composure, Karlyle exited the bathroom. Ash was probably showering in the guest room right next to Karlyle’s.

Upon entering his room, Karlyle stopped dead at the faint scent of grass. Between the two windows on the side of the room, there was a door leading to the terrace, and it was open. Ash was standing in the open doorway.

His broad shoulders and smooth back were visible. The muscles, which had been difficult to fully discern beneath his clothes, were beautifully sculpted. His waist, below the perfectly curved back muscles, was firm. His gaze slowly descended. A towel covered half of his lower body. Karlyle averted his gaze there. Karlyle, unconsciously pressing his eyes shut, opened his mouth. He felt awkward.

“…Did I make you wait?”

Then Ash turned around. His wet hair, softly wavy, was swept back from his forehead. His face, which looked darker than usual beneath his hair, somehow gave off a different impression. The face that usually gave a gentle impression was, unlike usual, sensual.

“The garden is beautiful, Karlyle.”

Ash, offering a compliment in a neutral tone, walked towards him. His chest, with water droplets trickling down, was visible. His straight, firm collarbones and the chest below them were as densely muscled as his back. With his gentle and kind face combined with his well-maintained body, Ash truly seemed like a different person.

“I’m sorry for coming in without permission.”

“No, it’s fine.”