Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 103

“Right?”

Ashley reacted immediately. Koi nodded and said, “Yeah.”

“Meerkats are pretty big too.”

At those words, Ashley flinched. The reaction was somehow different from what he had expected.

“…Isn’t it cute?”

Koi answered the question that came after a pause.

“It’s 50 centimeters including the tail.”

This time, Ashley was silent. Damn it, you idiot! Meerkats have tails! They have tails! He resisted the urge to hit his temples with his palm and spoke as calmly as possible.

“If you only count the body, it’ll be less than half.”

“I think you should include the tail, though?”

“Koi.”

Breaking stereotypes was harder than he thought. He had underestimated Koi too easily. A more elaborate plan was needed. Ashley decided to retreat for now and quickly changed the subject.

“Size isn’t that important, right?”

Say yes, quickly.

As Ashley urged him internally, Koi hesitated for some reason. Sensing something strange, Ashley frowned and called his name again.

“Koi, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Ash noticed.

Koi, startled by his unusual reaction, widened his eyes in fear. His heart pounded again.

“Um, that is.”

Koi felt his face flush and confessed with difficulty.

“I, I bought some too, um, I think I bought the wrong kind.”

“What?”

Ashley asked again. Koi swallowed his embarrassment and forced out the words.

“I, I bought, bought condoms too.”

For a while, there was no sound from the other end. Koi couldn’t stand the awkward silence and quickly continued.

“Th-they’re, but I think I bought the wrong kind. It’s too late to return them.”

Ashley still said nothing. Koi grew a little anxious.

“Ash…?”

When he cautiously called his name, Ashley finally spoke.

“You bought condoms? You did?”

His voice was full of laughter. His usually low voice seemed somewhat higher. Koi could clearly tell that Ashley was happy, so he felt both embarrassed and relieved, and nodded slightly.

“Uh, uh-huh.”

“Ah, Koi.”

He mumbled something. Koi didn’t understand, but Ashley barely managed to hold back a curse. Why was he here right now? If Koi were in front of him, he would hug him immediately and shower him with kisses.

“Koi, you buying those… can I take that to mean something?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Koi swallowed hard, then answered.

“I, prepared.”

“Haaah…”

This time, an even deeper sigh flowed out. Ashley had to desperately suppress the urge to run to the airport immediately. As he took repeated deep breaths, Koi continued.

“Um, but I only bought one pack. I didn’t know I’d need so many…”

Ashley, who had been smiling with his lips curving at Koi’s hesitant, fading voice, suddenly realized.

“You only bought one?”

“Uh, yeah.”

To Koi, who answered without much thought, Ashley asked with a voice full of laughter.

“And not for yourself?”

“Oh…”

Belatedly, Koi realized. Come to think of it, why didn’t I buy any for myself?

From the other end, Ashley teased him with a very mischievous voice.

“Koi, you’re too naughty.”

“Ah, no, I mean, I…”

Koi tried to deny it desperately, but his mind was completely tangled, and no words came to him. But he absolutely couldn’t reveal the truth.

He only thought about touching an anaconda, but he didn’t think about himself at all.

Ashley barely managed to hold back another burst of laughter at Koi’s reaction, who could only stammer, “Um, um.” Imagining Koi, enduring his embarrassment to pick out condoms for him, made his heart feel like it would burst from endearment.

“What did you say when you bought them?”

At Ashley’s question, Koi couldn’t bring himself to say it and mumbled.

“Um, just…”

“Tell me, Koi.”

There was no resisting Ashley’s coaxing. In the end, Koi answered haltingly. When he got to the part where he mispronounced “condom,” Ashley barely held back, but when he reached the part where he made a mistake choosing the size, he finally burst into laughter. Hearing that laughter, Koi’s face turned bright red, and he stomped his foot.

“You kept calling it an anaconda, so I made a mistake!”

Brainwashing was truly terrifying. As he spoke, recalling Ashley’s, he unconsciously said “anaconda.” Remembering the weight of the silence that followed, he still wanted to run away. But that wasn’t all. Koi, emboldened, asked again.

“Why are there so many, anyway?”

Buying just one was so hard, how did Ashley buy and stock so many?

To Koi’s curiosity, Ashley answered with a question.

“Why do you think so?”

With a voice still full of laughter, Koi hesitated, then mumbled.

“Did you have so many girlfriends…?”

“Idiot.”

When he asked listlessly and without confidence, Ashley immediately chided him.

“I bought them to use with you.”

Koi’s eyes widened, and he unconsciously exclaimed.

“Th-this many?!”

Ashley chuckled again and said.

“Yes, do you understand now how much I want to sleep with you?”

I bought them every time I wanted to sleep with you. He didn’t bother to say the last part. If he surprised Koi any more, he might faint. Ashley didn’t want to put his boyfriend in danger. He had other things he wanted to do with Koi.

“Haah.”

Unable to contain the rising impatience, Ashley sighed. Running a hand through his hair, he murmured with a sigh.

“If we were outside, I would have made you try all sorts of things, it’s a pity.”

“Wh-what?”

When Koi hastily asked, Ashley replied vaguely, “Well.”

“Next time, let’s go buy them together, Koi.”

He answered before Koi could ask a question.

“Because what you like matters.”

Koi wondered why it mattered what he liked if Ashley was going to use them, but he didn’t have a chance to ask. He heard voices around Ashley, and a busy atmosphere could be felt. Sure enough, his voice followed.

“Then, Koi, I’ll call you again.”

“Ash, Ash, Ash!”

Koi desperately shouted to hold onto the disconnecting call. Hearing Ashley say, “Yes,” from the other end, Koi cautiously asked.

“When are you coming…?”

A phone call wasn’t enough. He desperately wanted to see his face. He had even bravely bought condoms, but they were useless. As if seeing into Koi’s disappointed heart, Ashley opened his mouth.

“I miss you too, Koi.”

“Hoo,” Ashley sighed and continued.

“I don’t know yet. Anyway, I’ll go as soon as possible.”

“Mmm…”

He couldn’t insist any longer. Koi reluctantly nodded, trying to hide his regret.

“Okay.”

Ashley tried to change the mood, shifting the topic.

“Koi, are you done with your tasks?”

“Yeah, almost.”

Koi, who had answered quickly this time, cautiously asked.

“Um, what are you doing now?”

Ashley answered as if it were obvious.

“I’m buying presents.”

“Presents?”

Year-end gifts for his family, perhaps? To Koi, who was jumping to conclusions, Ashley added.

“I have a present for you.”

“Oh…”

Koi stammered at the unexpected answer.

“You, you’re buying a present for me?”

“Yes.”

Ashley soothed Koi with a voice laced with a smile.

“So, even if you’re lonely, just bear with it a little longer. Okay?”

He was incredibly gentle, but that only made Koi feel a deeper loneliness.

You don’t have to give me presents, you’re enough for me.

Koi held back the words that were on the tip of his tongue and instead offered a simple goodbye.

“Okay, …I’ll wait.”

That was all he could say. Ashley said gently.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

And just before hanging up, he added.

“Don’t cheat on me, or I’ll lock you up.”

“Lo…”

He was speechless at the absurd words, but there was no need to retort. Koi looked down at his phone, which had been hung up with a lingering chuckle, then dropped his head in emptiness.

“Um, Mr. Miller.”

The manager approached Ashley, who was just looking at his phone with the screen off, and spoke. The customer, who had been sitting alone in the VIP room and on the phone, had just finished his call. The manager smiled and said.

“All the items you requested are ready. Would you like to see them now?”

At his words, Ashley put down his phone and nodded. Then, as if on cue, staff members lined up, carrying velvet boxes filled with jewels. The manager, who arranged the boxes on the table, asked to confirm.

“You said you wanted to see wedding rings, correct?”

Ashley looked down at the countless rings in the boxes with an utterly serious expression and answered absently.

“Yes.”