Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 90

retorted Aiden’s words and quietly looked into the mansion. Through the large glass window, he saw Ash laughing. Since meeting Karlyle, Ash had always been by his side except when working, so this must be a rare gathering for him too.

Then a thought occurred to him.

Was Karlyle Frost a good lover to Ash Jones? Questions screamed in his head: Was he treating his loved one properly? If not, what should he do? And more than anything, he wanted to know if this person named Hazel had been a good lover to Ash. Wouldn’t she have been a much better person than himself? That’s why they could have promised marriage, right?

Karlyle quietly looked down at his feet, negative thoughts leaking out before he could suppress them. His shadow was pitch black.

“That’s true. That’s why meeting commoners is annoying. I understand their curiosity, but if you just act a little comfortable, they ask all sorts of things.”

Aiden seemed annoyed by Jamie, the tax accountant, comparing them to nobles in a drama. Karlyle twisted his lips into a dry smile.

“Considering that, you seemed to get along well.”

“Well, they all look good. Jenna, that ginger, she’s pretty.”

“You’d better try your moves somewhere else.”

“I don’t intend to touch her anyway.”

Aiden took out a cigar. He cut the cap with a cutter he carried and then lit the cigar. Silence fell for a moment. The sound of crickets chirping echoed softly. The fresh scent of grass permeated his nose, churning his stomach. Everything was supposed to be enjoyable today, but he couldn’t feel anything.

“Are you okay?”

Aiden asked. Karlyle turned his eyes.

“Is it because of that Hazel thing?”

Was it that obvious? He felt a sense of failure. Karlyle frowned and said to Aiden.

“Why do you think that?”

“You overexert yourself more when something’s bothering you. I’ve known you for over ten years, how could I not know that? Ash Jones, that human, might not know though.”

Technically, he was human, but Karlyle didn’t like him referring to Ash that way. Karlyle corrected Aiden’s word choice.

“Didn’t I tell you to call him Ash?”

“I don’t like it.”

Although they seemed to have narrowed the distance somewhat compared to the beginning, neither Aiden nor Ash seemed to particularly like each other. He gave up trying to persuade Aiden and instead held out his hand. Aiden, without a word, offered the cigar he was smoking. Karlyle quietly looked at Aiden.

“Is this all you have?”

Karlyle resigned himself to Aiden’s sly behavior, as if he had no new cigars. He wasn’t in the mood to waste energy on trivial matters right now. He took the cigar. But he couldn’t smoke it.

“What are you doing here, Lyle?”

A gentle voice calling him was heard. A long shadow stretched across the moonlit lawn. Aiden frowned fiercely. Karlyle quickly stood up. Despite his troubled mind, his heart melted when Ash came looking for him.

“Ash.”

“Hello.”

Ash, who had walked over in a single stride, smiled down at Karlyle. His gaze fell on the cigar in Karlyle’s hand.

“Do you smoke cigars too?”

Then Karlyle realized that he had never smoked a cigar in front of Ash.

“You didn’t know, it seems?”

Aiden seized the opportunity to interject. Ash continued to gaze steadily at Aiden with a smiling face.

“He hasn’t smoked in front of me.”

“It seems you two aren’t that close yet.”

“At least I don’t think I have a reason to hear that from Mr. Aiden. Lyle and I are lovers, after all.”

Ash was still smiling, but his pheromones had changed. Aiden also raised his own intensity to match the displeased wavering pheromones. Karlyle quietly called Aiden’s name.

“Aiden.”

“Alright, alright.”

As soon as he heard the lowered voice, Aiden raised both hands. Then he stood up. Aiden, who exchanged sharp glances with Ash, placed a hand on Karlyle’s shoulder. Ash’s cold gaze sharply pierced Aiden’s hand touching Karlyle.

“I’ll give you the one I was smoking. I’m leaving now.”

Aiden, emphasizing the word “I,” looked at Ash once more.

“Thank you for the invitation. Your sister’s cooking is excellent.”

His praise for Natalie’s food sounded genuine, but the preceding words were not very polite.

“I’m glad to hear that. Then please go home and rest.”

Ash also didn’t bother to hide his true feelings. Aiden shrugged at the implication to disappear quickly. After Aiden, who had caused a small commotion, left, Ash let out a faint sigh. Then he pulled Karlyle’s waist into an embrace. Their bodies pressed together.

Ash raised his hand and lightly stroked Karlyle’s hair with his index finger. Gently tucking his hair behind his ear, he met Karlyle’s gaze.

“I invited him because he’s Lyle’s friend. Although it seems Mr. Aiden came because of Lyle too.”

“I apologize.”

Unable to lie that Aiden liked Ash, Karlyle quietly apologized.

“Still, I hope you don’t smoke this.”

Ash said, gesturing to the cigar with his eyes.

“It’s someone else’s. I don’t like it. If Lyle wants one, I’ll go buy one right now.”

His voice was slightly different than usual. Ash said he wanted him to throw away the cigar in an affectionate tone. The cigars Karlyle and Aiden smoked were separately imported, so Ash’s words were almost unreasonable. But that fact wasn’t important. Ash, who was throwing a tantrum, was so adorable it was truly harmful to his heart. His subdued feelings slowly began to rise.

“…You don’t like that?”

“Of course not.”

Ash let his eyebrows droop pitifully, then bent his head and rubbed his nose. His fingers subtly stroked his cheek, then touched his lips. His fingertip lightly traced over his thin, red lips. A tickle subtly rose.

“Lyle…”

The finger tracing his lips subtly probed inward. The probing finger pressed firmly on his lips. Hmph, Karlyle gasped and opened his mouth.

“Don’t eat anything else but me.”

The finger pressing his lips pushed further inward. As it pressed his tongue and rummaged inside, saliva pooled. Haa, a hot breath escaped. His heart, which had been strangely lonely and anxious throughout the party, pounded, and Karlyle looked at Ash with a tearful face. Ash’s face gradually lost its expression. Instead, a certain desire filled its place.

The finger that had pressed, rubbed, and then massaged his tongue downward, withdrew. Ash’s warmth quickly filled the empty space. His soft tongue slid in. Their waists were tightly gripped as the kiss continued. Karlyle desperately pulled Ash’s back close with his hands.

Something ignited, like a rising flame. A faint intoxication circulating in his veins intensified it. His head twisted, and their tongues intertwined wildly. The squelching sound of their saliva mixing was raw. Their lower bodies rubbed together. Their bodies pressed together as if reaching the very limit. His jaw dropped, and hot breaths escaped in drops. His eyeballs burned, and his head became hazy.

The kiss, which seemed to steal all of Karlyle’s breath, ended. Their lips parted, and saliva stretched like a thread. Karlyle crumpled Ash’s clothes with his hands and looked up at him.

“You can ask me or tell me anything you want.”

The gaze looking down was gentle. The moment he heard those comforting words, something seemed about to burst out. Hesitation surged. For a moment, he couldn’t think of anything, and then countless questions echoed all at once.

Was Hazel your first? Did you love that person more than me?

Why haven’t you even hinted at our future?

His lips parted. But he couldn’t bring himself to speak. These were words he could never utter as long as he was in his right mind. Not only were they immature questions, but they were also tantamount to doubting Ash. He couldn’t ask questions that would be rude to Ash.

“Thank you for your concern. But I don’t have anything particular to ask. Oh, is Natalie okay? She seems to be drinking a lot.”

Karlyle forced a smile and changed the subject. He also released the hand that had been holding Ash’s clothes. Then Ash’s face stiffened slightly. His long eyelashes quietly lowered.

“Today…”

Ash shook his head instead of continuing. After looking at Karlyle for a few seconds, Ash smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Okay. I understand.”

Even though they were both smiling, a strange awkwardness lingered. It was hard to believe they had just kissed a few seconds ago; something alien instantly filled the space between them. This had never happened before. He was suddenly afraid. Karlyle flinched and looked at Ash. But there was nothing he could say in this situation. It felt like an invisible crack had formed.

“Shall we go inside then? The kids are looking for Lyle. Everyone likes Lyle.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Gentle but formal words followed. His hand was taken. As they walked hand-in-hand into the house, Karlyle looked at Ash’s back. They were together, yet it didn’t feel like they were together.

Karlyle quietly raised his hand and touched his face. He checked if the corners of his lips were turned up. Only after confirming the shape of his lips with his fingertips did he whisper to himself, as if brainwashing himself.

It’ll be okay tomorrow.

That’s what he thought.