Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 105

On the day of the party, the sky was even cloudier than usual. Ashley unconsciously frowned at the sky, where dark clouds swirled as if a heavy snowstorm was about to begin. He stopped fastening his cufflinks and fixed his gaze, and the butler standing beside him asked.

“Is something wrong, sir?”

At the elderly woman’s voice, Ashley returned to reality and quickly shook his head.

“…No, nothing.”

After finishing what he was doing, he put on the jacket the butler had prepared, and immediately, employees brought a full-length mirror in front of him. Ashley looked at himself in the mirror, made his final adjustments, then turned his head.

Now, all preparations are complete. As employees quickly carried out the items that filled the room, the butler asked.

“There’s still about an hour to spare. Shall I bring you some tea?”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you.”

He added his thanks, and she smiled before leaving the room.

The door closed, and Ashley, finally alone, exhaled the breath he had been holding, then slumped into a chair. What kind of party was it that required such a fuss? A headache came on, and he rubbed his temples.

He had attended countless parties until now. But this was the first time he had spent an entire day preparing. From waking up early in the morning and having blood drawn, he had done all sorts of absurd things.

“You haven’t had a health checkup since you came here.”

To Ashley, who asked what this was, his father’s secretary simply said that, then left with the doctor who had drawn the blood. After that, he immediately had breakfast, received a full-body massage, had lunch, then finished his hair styling and nail care, and even shaved again.

After being dragged around frantically, he returned to his room to find several suits and accessories neatly laid out.

This is the first time I’ve prepared this much.

Ashley sighed and leaned his head back. He faintly heard thunder somewhere. He blinked blankly for a moment, then belatedly came to his senses and hastily searched for his phone. Fortunately, it was still daytime where Koi was.

“Ash.”

The phone hadn’t even rung a few times when a welcome voice flowed from the other end. Ashley felt his lips curve into a smile at the voice, which was as full of joy as his own, and called his name.

“Yes, Koi. How have you been?”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

Koi hesitated, then opened his mouth.

“Not, not so good.”

“Why?”

Ashley asked, even though he knew the answer. Sure enough, Koi answered in a small voice.

“Because you’re not here…”

Ah, Koi.

Ashley took a deep breath, unable to control his surging emotions.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone on Christmas too.”

“Yeah…”

Koi cautiously asked.

“Were you very busy…?”

“Yeah.”

I was so busy it made me sick. Ashley thought. But that’s over now. He would tell them he was returning after today’s party. This was enough. He had done his part.

Reaffirming his resolve, Ashley spoke.

“Sorry, I don’t think I can bring the present. They said orders are backed up because it’s the end of the year.”

He had asked them to rush it as much as possible, but he had no intention of waiting. He would rush to Koi as soon as he was free from this place. He planned to have the rings sent to a branch in the West Coast. Waiting for them to be completed was impossible.

More than anything, meeting Koi came first.

I want to return to you as soon as possible.

“It’s okay.”

Koi said without hesitation.

“I don’t know what you bought, but you don’t have to bring it. I…”

After a brief pause, Koi confessed in a small voice.

“You are the biggest present.”

“Me too.”

Ashley couldn’t contain his overflowing affection and immediately responded.

“There’s no greater gift in my life than you.”

He heard his own voice, faintly trembling. Hoo, he exhaled a shaky breath, and from the other end, Koi asked.

“Really?”

It was as if he could see Koi in front of him, with sparkling eyes and a flushed face, looking up at him. Ashley said with a broad smile on his face.

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Hearing Koi’s voice, Ashley revised his plan. After today’s party, he will go straight to the airport. He could call his father after buying the fastest plane ticket. Ashley felt like he would go crazy if he didn’t see Koi any longer.

“Koi.”

“Yes.”

At the immediate reply, Ashley said quickly.

“Just wait a little longer. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

Koi answered obediently as always.

“Don’t worry, I’ll always wait for you.”

For some reason, Ashley felt a pang in his nose. He hastily cleared his throat, then suddenly heard footsteps. It seemed it was time to leave. Ashley barely suppressed the urge to run away immediately and admonished himself.

This is the last time. Just one more time.

“Koi, I have to hang up now.”

“Yeah…”

Koi also sounded regretful, his words drawn out. Suppressing the urge to hug him immediately, Ashley gently comforted him.

“We’ll meet soon, Koi.”

“Yeah.”

Koi answered with emphasis this time.

“I’ll wait.”

Just then, a knock was heard, and Ashley could no longer delay. He said “I love you” one last time, then hung up. The door opened just in time, and the butler entered.

“It’s time to go downstairs.”

Ashley stood up and put his phone in his pants pocket. Following the butler, he walked down the corridor and into the hall, where his father’s secretary and employees were waiting for him.

The secretary briefly scanned Ashley’s suit, then fixed her gaze on his face and spoke.

“The car is waiting, let’s go.”

“Wait a moment.”

Before leaving, Ashley first laid down a condition. Negotiations should be concluded before work begins. There was no need to run away after the party. Couldn’t he get an answer from his father through the secretary now?

“When the party is over, I’m going straight back.”

Ashley spoke before the secretary could open her mouth.

“I’ve done everything my father told me to do so far, enough, more than enough. I’m tired now, I’m going back.”

He gave an ultimatum.

“Tell him if he doesn’t promise that, I won’t go to the party.”

Neither the secretary nor anyone else spoke. In dead silence, she looked at Ashley’s face for a while, then took out her phone.

She pressed a button in front of Ashley and waited for a moment, then spoke. Ashley watched her lips, which were reciting the proposal he had just made, with internal tension.

“…Understood.”

The secretary, who had answered briefly, hung up the phone and looked up at Ashley.

“He said you may go. However.”

Before Ashley could even rejoice, she laid down a condition.

“If you handle this party properly.”

“…Of course.”

A vague sense of unease flashed through him, but Ashley didn’t have time to think deeply. His chest was too full of the fact that he would soon meet Koi to think of anything else. The secretary quietly looked at him, then turned and walked towards the entrance. Ashley no longer delayed and followed her with long strides. This was the last time. Now he was going back.

Koi.

Even while riding in the car to the mansion on the outskirts where the party was held, Ashley remained excited, a faint smile on his face. The secretary watched him without a word, simply sitting with her usual expressionless face.

They arrived at the mansion where the party was held a little past 8 PM. It was already evening, so he was hungry, but Ashley decided to endure it for now.

I can eat on the plane.

At the very least, he could eat the refreshments prepared in the VIP lounge while the plane prepared for takeoff. His father would probably allow him to use the private jet after confirming the situation once the party was over.

Anyway, eating wasn’t important right now. He just needed to focus on perfectly handling the party. After stealing himself, Ashley got out of the car. The bodyguards and secretaries of the guests who had arrived earlier were scattered throughout the spacious garden, surveying the surroundings.

…What is it?

Ashley belatedly felt that something was strange. The opulent mansion, the expensive cars parked, and the guests visible everywhere were no different from what he had seen at previous parties, yet there was a sense of incongruity.

Unable to grasp it for some reason, he walked into the mansion. The mansion’s butler greeted them in the hall, which was brightly lit as if it were daytime by countless glittering chandeliers.

“Mr. Ashley Miller, thank you for attending today’s party.”

He bowed crisply and led the way. Ashley followed, focusing on the faint sounds he heard.

…Strange.

The sense of incongruity grew stronger. His heart fluttered uneasily. What was this? …Why did he keep feeling this way?

“This way.”

Ashley, startled by the butler’s voice, looked up just as he pulled on a doorknob.

The unpleasant creaking of misaligned hinges seemed to heighten his senses, followed by a cacophony of loud moans and greedy laughter that deafened his ears. For a moment, Ashley stood transfixed, his eyes wide. A scene he had never seen before unfolded before his eyes.

But before he could even process what it was, the moment he unconsciously inhaled, an unfamiliar scent captivated him first.

“Gasp…”

Ashley stopped breathing and slumped to the ground. He couldn’t stand. All strength left his body, and his mind went blank. His heart pounded wildly, and his pulse surged. His breath hitched, and his chest felt like it was tearing apart.

In his panicked mind, he desperately tried to recall. Ashley knew what this was. He had experienced it only once. But presentations happen only once in a lifetime. So this was.

“It’s a rut.”

His father’s secretary said from above him. In her usual calm voice.