Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 184

Ariel was bewildered. What is this bastard saying to me right now?

“You liked him? Koi? All along?”

The word order was messed up, but she ignored it.

“But you were spouting nonsense about making Koi happy and then pushing him away? Has your brain gone haywire because of pheromones?”

Ashley chuckled. As if such criticism was nothing. Ariel was annoyed by Ashley’s reaction, but there was something more important.

“What on earth are you thinking? Ashley Dominique Miller.”

Ariel called Ashley by his full name, her face serious. Of course, she did it knowing he disliked it, and seeing Ashley’s eyebrow twitch, she felt a little better.

“If you really like Koi, I can’t understand why you’re thinking like that. Shouldn’t it be one or the other: either try to make things work with Koi, or give up? What exactly are you trying to do, you? What do you even want?”

Ashley didn’t answer Ariel’s pressing questions. As if he had no intention of telling her that much.

This bastard.

Ariel didn’t hide her rising disgust and asked,

“Are you, by any chance, playing hard to get with Koi?”

Suddenly, Ashley laughed out loud. It was a short laugh, but it contained many meanings.

“My goodness, Al. We’re not teenagers anymore.”

He spoke as if even thinking of such a childish idea was ridiculous, but Ariel, completely unashamed, said,

“Then what exactly are you doing? Are you, by any chance, doubting Koi?”

To Ariel’s question, Ashley unexpectedly replied brightly,

“I trust him.”

He continued, still composed, looking at the flustered Ariel.

“Koi will like me, of course. He’ll do his best.”

“Then what’s your problem?”

This bastard had already noticed that Koi liked him. Ariel felt sorry for Koi, who had tried so hard to hide his feelings, and the situation made her furious. When she pressed him, Ashley unexpectedly chuckled. He even shook his head, looking exasperated, like an audience member who had just seen the end of a ridiculous play, and said,

“Al, whether Koi genuinely likes me or not has nothing to do with me.”

Ariel wanted to strangle him right then and there, but she didn’t have the chance. Koi had returned.

Ariel, who had involuntarily raised her head at the sound of footsteps, then paused. Koi’s face had changed completely from before. Ariel’s expression hardened, while a look of satisfaction slowly spread across Ashley’s face. Seeing Koi awkwardly sit down in his chair, one of his thighs felt heavily warm.

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

Ariel asked first. Koi hurriedly shook his head, but it was clear to anyone that something was wrong. Of course, the only person who knew the reason here, besides Koi, was one man. The problem was that he was the very culprit who had caused this situation.

“I-I’m fine. Just a little… uncomfortable.”

“Suddenly?”

Ariel frowned. It was a very natural question, but Koi couldn’t explain. He was already so embarrassed and mortified that he wanted to run away; how could he say it himself?

Leaving Koi, who was just shaking his head with his head bowed, the man who was the root of all evil leisurely raised his hand. Ashley spoke to the quickly approaching staff member.

“The same, one more bottle.”

“Drinking again?”

Ariel frowned, looking exasperated. Koi also looked at him, pale. He had been relieved that only dessert was left, but he was drinking again? In contrast to their reactions, Ashley replied in a calm voice,

“It’s not often you get a chance to drink good wine. Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the wine.”

He smiled as if to reassure Koi, but Koi, his face flushed, couldn’t say anything.

“Are you really okay, Koi?”

Even as they were parting ways, Ariel asked with concern. She couldn’t help but worry about Koi, who had been restless ever since he returned from the restroom.

“If you’re feeling really unwell, do you want to go to the hospital?”

For some reason, he kept getting distracted, as if his mind was elsewhere, and his walking was somehow awkward. He was clearly unwell.

But despite his dear friend’s kind heart, Koi found it hard to accept the offer. It wasn’t because he was sick that he was acting so awkwardly. Koi managed a difficult smile at his friend, who was looking at him with concern.

“I’m fine, I’m just a little tired… I’ll feel better after resting at home.”

At the word ‘home,’ Ariel glanced at Ashley. He was standing behind Koi, his face not much different from before. Boldly, he had one arm wrapped around Koi’s waist. Ariel found the sight distasteful, but pointing it out would only lead Ashley to shamelessly spout nonsense. Something like, He’s holding Koi because he seems unwell, or some other bullsh*t.

Ariel had a lot she wanted to say to Koi, putting Ashley aside, but the timing wasn’t right. Ariel suppressed her true feelings for now and squeezed Koi’s hand tightly.

“Alright, go on in. I really enjoyed the meal today.”

“Yeah, goodbye, Al.”

A hint of relief flashed across Koi’s face as he said goodbye. He might have relaxed at the thought of finally going home. Ariel felt sorry for him and patted his arm a couple more times before letting go.

Ariel, who had waved to Koi, still standing there, as she got into the driver’s seat and started the car, then glanced at them in the rearview mirror as they faded into the distance before looking straight ahead again.

What on earth is that bastard plotting?

His words were utterly incomprehensible. He wasn’t like this in high school; had he changed? Or was he always this sly, and everyone had been fooled?

And his behavior towards Koi today was also strange. Ariel hadn’t drunk because she had to drive, but Ashley didn’t let Koi drink either, even though he wasn’t driving. Because of that, Koi had to drink juice or soda, and he couldn’t even touch a drop of the wine that was added at the end.

He praised the wine so much, yet he wouldn’t even let Koi drink it.

There’s something going on.

Ariel couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. She thought she needed to call Koi soon and have a deep talk with him, and she sped up the car.

Ashley, who had been watching the car disappear into the distance, tightened the arm wrapped around Koi’s waist and pulled him closer. Koi, caught off guard and falling into Ashley’s embrace, heard Ashley whisper above his head.

“Did you do as the card said?”

It was an intentional question, even though Koi’s awkward behavior made the answer obvious, and as expected, Koi reacted predictably. He startled, then buried his face, flustered, before finally managing a small nod and a mumbled, “Yeah.” Seeing him, Ashley felt his penis, which he had been trying to suppress, harden.

“…Hiek!”

Suddenly, Koi gasped. It was because Ashley had moved his hand down and grabbed his bottom. He was already going crazy with the awkwardness below, and now with his flesh being grabbed, he became noticeably flustered.

Ignoring Koi’s frozen reaction, Ashley leisurely kneaded the small bottom that fit in his large hand and asked,

“Shall we go back now too?”

Koi couldn’t even answer and just nodded frantically. He wanted to go home quickly and take this off. Completely unaware that the night was just beginning, Koi tumbled into the car door Ashley opened for him.

Haa, haa. Ashley, who closed the car door in front of him as he finally gasped a sigh of relief, calmly walked around the hood and sat in the driver’s seat.

“Koi.”

“Uh, yeah.”

When Ashley suddenly called him, Koi startled and looked back, and Ashley smiled and said,

“Show me when we get back.”

This time, he couldn’t even swallow, his mouth just hanging open. Ashley turned his gaze from Koi to the front and started the car. Koi sat there anxiously, unable to say anything, as the car seemed to be going faster than usual.