Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 66

It was the first week of the New Year. Karlyle had taken a week off. He was embarrassed to admit that he couldn’t bear the sadness and had gotten rid of his house, so he wanted to find a new place and make up for the time he hadn’t seen Ash.

To be honest, the latter accounted for 80%… no… 95% of the reason. Finding a house was practically his secretary’s job anyway. But Karlyle sugarcoated the reason.

If he told the truth, he felt he would put too much pressure on Ash right after they started dating.

Karlyle Frost was a man who knew nothing about dating, but he remembered what he had—reluctantly—learned through Aiden Haywood. Aiden always said that it was not good to be “clingy” from the beginning.

Karlyle didn’t quite know the exact meaning of that word, but from the context, it seemed to imply being overly possessive or overly familiar right after starting a relationship. He was a person who readily admitted his own ignorance. When it came to dating, Aiden was certainly more knowledgeable than Karlyle in every way. So, he felt he shouldn’t show such tendencies in front of Ash, especially since they started dating on January 1st.

Anyway, on New Year’s Day, when Karlyle told Ash about his vacation, surprisingly, Ash also said he was taking the first week off. At this immense coincidence, Karlyle couldn’t help but show a little bit of his delight.

Ash looked at him and smiled a knowing smile. “Are you happy?” he asked. Karlyle replied, “Yes.” Hearing his answer, Ash let out a low chuckle, as if trying to suppress something.

In any case, after this incident, Karlyle was now at Ash’s house.

He had arrived at Ash’s house exactly one hour ago. And for 59 minutes, Karlyle had been in a state of extreme tension. It wasn’t a bad kind of tension. It was a state of tension caused by Ash constantly touching Karlyle, so it wasn’t bad at all. Although it could be harmful to his heart. He felt the need to manage his body more systematically from now on.

Since they started dating, Ash hadn’t taken his hands off Karlyle for a single moment. Only two days had passed, but it meant a great deal to Karlyle.

It was the same now. During a brief silence, Ash reached out and caressed Karlyle’s cheek. Then he gently tickled his eyelashes with his finger, and then played with his ear again.

Karlyle held his lukewarm black tea, unable to drink it. If he drank the tea, Ash wouldn’t be able to touch his face.

“Aren’t you drinking?”

And finally, the question came. Ash smiled softly and gestured with his eyes at the mug Karlyle was merely holding. Karlyle elegantly twitched the fingers holding the mug and met Ash’s gaze.

Ash’s physical affection itself was very nice, but as mentioned earlier, it was somewhat harmful to his heart. Moreover, it was hard to calm down when Ash touched him.

“…I will drink.”

“It must be cold, should I make you another one? I like watching Lyle drink something.”

Hearing those words, Karlyle’s mind recalled past meal scenes. Even when they weren’t dating, Ash was inherently kind, often cutting food for Karlyle or pouring him drinks. He even embarrassingly twirled pasta and fed it to him. It was an excessively intimate act.

Karlyle had only ever cut or poured things for his younger brother, Kyle, when he was little, and had never acted that way with anyone else. But now, Karlyle and Ash were officially dating. So wouldn’t it be okay for him to do as Ash had done for him?

Once that thought crossed his mind, countless desires burst forth. Karlyle was surprised by his own true nature, having not known he was such a greedy person with so many desires. He quickly chastised himself and returned to the original topic.

“You… like seeing me like that?”

“Yes. I’d like it if you drank it too.”

Ash said something incredible. The back of Karlyle’s neck flushed hot.

“…Huh?”

Regardless of how incredibly flustered he was, Karlyle, even in that moment, thought that he too wished he could “drink” Ash.

What would Ash taste like? Unlike his soft, spring-breeze-like scent, his taste would surely be sweet. It would undoubtedly be very rich in flavor, naturally sweet, and undoubtedly luxurious. It would also have an addictive quality, like whiskey-filled chocolate.

“I also like watching you eat.”

Ash repeated a similar statement. Seeing no change in his expression, it seemed sincere.

“Lyle doesn’t make any noise when he eats. He eats as quietly as his personality, which I find fascinating every time I see it.”

Then Ash’s expression soon became strange. Ash gradually moved closer to Karlyle, who was sitting on the sofa facing him.

“But your crying sounds are so sensual and beautiful… they drive a person crazy. Don’t they?”

The topic changed abruptly. Karlyle didn’t know how to respond to that kind of conversation, especially when directed at him, an Alpha. He didn’t want to show his inexperience, but it was incredibly difficult to refute such words.

“I… didn’t… make a sound… while crying.”

“Not that kind of crying.”

Their bodies touched more. The atmosphere slowly shifted. The light and subtle aura took on a strange density and became heavy. The air was clearly dry and pleasant, yet he felt something sensual clinging to his skin.

Karlyle wasn’t sure what Ash was referring to. But his mind suddenly flashed to himself, splayed out on his back beneath Ash, his thighs spread to their limit.

Get a grip, Karlyle Frost.

Karlyle suddenly became serious. Because he had dealt with his ruts using only suppressants for several months since his last rut, even a minor trigger caused an unbearable surge of libido.

Of course, Karlyle didn’t mention it. He didn’t want to appear like a beast driven by lust. He had already shown his awkward side; if he showed an immature, beast-like side, wouldn’t Ash get tired of him?

Even though he thought he had pulled himself together a lot, when the very thing he wanted became a reality, there were so many things that restrained Karlyle.

“I also like watching Ash eat.”

So Karlyle barely managed to change the subject. “Hmm,” a soft chuckle was heard, and Ash leaned his upper body towards Karlyle. Ash’s fingers slowly crept up Karlyle’s knee. A ticklish sensation crawled up through his trousers.

“You know, Lyle.”

Karlyle silently inhaled and finally set the mug down on the floor. He felt like he might spill the tea otherwise. Ash smiled sweetly, as if approving.

“Yes, Ash.”

Karlyle calmly replied, rubbing his somehow heated palms on his thighs. At least his voice had to remain calm.

“Now that we’re ‘lovers’… how about we set a few rules?”

Meanwhile, Ash’s hand, which had been touching his knee, moved. The hand settled on Karlyle’s thigh, subtly caressing the area. The action of pressing and rubbing the inside of his thigh with appropriate force made Karlyle avert his gaze with wavering eyes.

Karlyle, with a bewildered expression, fixed his gaze on Ash’s shoulder and replied. Even so, the expression that showed was close to impassive, but it was faintly more noticeable than before.

“Sounds good.”

Karlyle answered without knowing what they were supposed to decide. Since it was his first time dating anyone, there was no way he would know what people did in a relationship.

It was the first time he felt so ignorant, so Karlyle straightened his back, adopting a learning posture. He was very conscious of Ash’s hand, but he could endure it. …Probably.

“There’s no need for many rules. We’re not in a contract relationship anymore.”

At those words, Karlyle unconsciously smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly. Joy surged within him. He even felt so happy he didn’t know what to do. His gaze twitched and slowly returned from Ash’s shoulder to his face.

Ash quietly watched Karlyle, then smiled sweetly. The palm pressing against his thigh gradually delved inward. Karlyle, too happy, didn’t notice this.

“First, let’s decide on pet names.”

“Pet names?”

“What do you like, baby?”

Karlyle’s mouth snapped shut. Everything paused for a moment at the single word “baby.” His breathing stopped. His eyes wavered. His mind went blank, then everything rushed in at once.

“…?”

“Or darling? Sweetie? Little one?”

Karlyle barely breathed as the embarrassing pet names poured out. The back of his neck was burning hot. Karlyle gripped the sofa base with his fingers and froze.

“…Do I… have to choose from… there?”

It wasn’t that he disliked it. How could he? But accepting it was too overwhelming. Even when Ash just called his name, Karlyle still felt a great flutter. He couldn’t get used to it at all, and it was so distant how many years it would take for him to become nonchalant about being called by his name, but such… lover-like… pet names.

When Karlyle heard pet names pouring out from countless songs or movies, he felt no particular emotion. He would probably have thought, Isn’t that a bit childish? But when such words came from Ash’s mouth, the impact was different.

“You don’t like it? Then call me ‘honey’.”

As if making a concession, Ash casually brought up the pet name “honey.” Karlyle flinched, his breath wavering. That was too dangerous.

Ash wouldn’t know. Karlyle had been a terrifying person who envisioned a lifetime together even before dating Ash. If he were to use a pet name like a married partner, Karlyle might propose to Ash before long.

Regardless of his lack of dating experience, Karlyle knew how such a hasty approach was generally perceived. Moreover, the marriage age in the UK was quite late. Many couples acted like they were dating, but it easily took a year or two to define their relationship.

Given the circumstances, it was customary for marriage to follow several years of engagement.

“Ash, such a pet name… seems inappropriate.”

For Ash’s well-being, and to prevent a quick breakup, Karlyle resisted the temptation.

First of all, saying that pet name himself was impossible. At least a year, no… two years? Three years? He couldn’t grasp how many years it would take.

“Lyle…”

Ash quietly called Karlyle’s name in a voice that sounded like he was struggling to hold back. Since remembering that day, Ash had called Karlyle “Lyle.” It was a pet name only Ash used.

“You react cuter than I thought.”

The hand that had been on his thigh moved up to his waist. Ash gripped Karlyle’s waist and pulled him closer.

Lying back on the sofa, Ash made Karlyle sit on top of him. Karlyle froze in the embarrassing position.

“I also prefer calling you Lyle. But… why is it an inappropriate pet name?”

Ash’s hand slipped under his clothes. Having taken off his suit jacket and wearing only a shirt, his hand easily slid under the thin, white dress shirt. It was dizzying. Karlyle twitched, unable to find a place to put his hands.

“That’s…”

He had to think of an excuse. The truth was, he didn’t even know how to voice it. But Ash’s hand interrupted him. Ash’s fingers tickled and stroked his smooth back, where his spine dipped.

“Hmph,” a moan escaped. His mind went blank. It had been so long since they touched that his mind became frighteningly scattered. Karlyle twitched his hips and fumbled to grasp Ash’s upper body with his hands.

Ash, lying down, was wearing a short-sleeved shirt under a thick knit cardigan. As a result, Karlyle could clearly feel his firm chest muscles under his palms. Every touch was stimulating.

“The second rule is to be honest. Lyle, unless it’s really difficult… I’d like you to tell me what you’re thinking.”

With his fingertips raised, Ash scratched down his spine a few more times. Karlyle arched his back tightly and pressed hard on his palms. “Uh, uhng,” his bewildered eyebrows repeatedly curved and straightened. The organ beneath his suit pants was already half-erect. Karlyle twisted his upper body and barely managed to nod.

“I, understand, hmph.”

“Good. Then Lyle, let’s try again? Why is it inappropriate?”

An index finger grazed his soft skin. The descending fingers stopped at his waist. Ash rubbed the slight indentation there, his fingers hovering nearby. The movement of his hand, just before delving into his pants, made Karlyle anticipate something.