Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 195

Koi hiccupped instantly. Ashley frowned and looked down at him. Ashley’s face, staring at him with a serious expression and crossed arms, reminded him of the time he had looked at Koi, who was locked in a jail cell on the day they first met again. Koi felt a chill run down his spine at the cold expression he hadn’t seen in so long.

“I-I’m sorry I’m late.”

He stammered, apologizing unconsciously.

“I met Al after a long time and played too much… I tried to come back on time, but there was traffic.”

He had taken a pre-ordered taxi on his way back as well. Koi firmly believed the doorman’s words, “a basic service for residents,” when he was leaving. Of course, Ashley had arranged it beforehand “in case Koi went out,” but he believed it implicitly. Thanks to this, Ashley already knew where he had been. Of course, meeting Ariel was annoying, but that wasn’t the only reason he was on edge now.

He wanted to scold Koi and get angry right away, but Koi’s anxious face stopped him. For a moment, Koi’s past of being beaten by his father flashed through Ashley’s mind, followed by the memory of when he, in his reckless youth, had been blinded by jealousy and terrified Koi. Then Ashley slowly relaxed his shoulders and uncrossed his arms.

“I see.”

Ashley feigned a gentle voice and smiled. Seeing Koi’s face brighten immediately, Ashley continued.

“I was worried because you were late. It’s a relief nothing happened.”

“Yeah, nothing happened. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

To Koi, who apologized honestly, Ashley opened his arms. Koi soon went into his embrace. Ashley, who had strongly hugged the easily caught prey, paused again.

The pheromone scent he had thoroughly soaked Koi in before leaving in the morning was completely gone. His expression instantly turned fierce, and the pheromone scent lingering around him intensified, but of course, Koi didn’t notice at all. He still leaned his head on Ashley’s shoulder and continued.

“Al’s sink was clogged, so I went to fix it. It’s great that I could help Al, isn’t it?”

His voice was still full of the joy he had gained from meeting his friend, but Ashley couldn’t purely accept it.

“Did you wash up, Koi?”

To Ashley, who buried his nose in Koi’s hair and checked for the scent of detergent, Koi replied without much thought.

“Yeah, I took apart the drain pipe to check, and my clothes got dirty… so I washed up while I was at it.”

With those words, Ashley resolved another question that had angered him, but it created new suspicions.

“So you changed your clothes.”

Ashley said from above Koi’s head, still hugging him to hide his expression.

“But what are these clothes, Koi?”

If Koi could smell, he would have sensed danger from the strong pheromone scent lingering around him. But unfortunately, it was impossible for him, and since he was in Ashley’s embrace, he couldn’t see his expression either. Deceived by the gentle voice reaching his ears, he answered obediently.

“Garrett, oh, Al’s boyfriend, left them behind. They used to live together until recently, but it seems they broke up…”

Koi recounted what he knew about them, but it was a topic Ashley had no interest in. There was something more important.

“Alright, Koi. Shall we change your clothes first?”

“Oh, yeah. I will.”

Koi obediently nodded and pulled away from Ashley. Ashley smiled at Koi, gently grasped the collar of his shirt. And then mercilessly tore it apart from both sides.

“Oh…”

Koi just opened his mouth, letting out a blank exclamation. Buttons flew off the shirt, scattering everywhere. Ashley, still smiling, spoke.

“You shouldn’t come into my house wearing another man’s clothes.”

Koi looked up at him with a bewildered expression. Something felt wrong, but seeing Ashley still smiling made it seem like nothing much. While he was still confused, Ashley gently put his hand on his shoulder and pushed the shirt off.

“Here, Koi. I’ll throw this away, so go upstairs, wash up, and change your clothes.”

“Oh, oh…”

Koi, who had unconsciously followed orders, taking off his arms and completely removing his shirt, quickly moved his feet, belatedly feeling embarrassed. As Koi hurried up the stairs, Ashley asked.

“Koi, did Al help you change your clothes?”

“Huh? No…”

Koi stopped and shook his head, looking down at him.

“Why would she do that… she just gave me the shirt. I changed by myself in the bathroom.”

Ashley found some peace of mind in the lingering faint marks on Koi’s body, and briefly replied, “I see.” Koi tilted his head, then practically ran up the stairs to the bedroom. Ashley unconsciously smiled at the sight of him naturally entering his own bedroom, but then his expression turned cold as he looked at the torn shirt still in his hand. Ashley mercilessly threw it into the trash can, then took out some liquor and poured it into a glass.

He emptied two glasses of whiskey in one go, but it didn’t help at all. Of course. Alcohol had no effect on him.

Useless pheromones.

He suppressed the urge to throw and shatter the glass, instead clenching and unclenching his fist tightly. After standing there for a while, catching his breath, Ashley suddenly turned and walked quickly, almost running, towards his room. He took three steps at a time up the stairs and soon reached his destination.

He flung the door open without knocking, startling Koi, who was just buttoning his shirt. Koi turned his head, bewildered and blinking. Ashley walked purposefully towards him without a word. Koi instinctively backed away, but after two steps, Ashley grabbed him by the shoulders. Koi instantly stiffened and held his breath. Ashley spoke.

“Are you sure nothing happened?”

“Uh… yeah.”

Seeing his face, which had lost all tenderness and was now cold and hardened, Koi stammered, flustered.

“I told you, I met Al.”

It was the absolute truth, but Ashley twisted his lips and sneered at him.

“And it wasn’t Al, was it?”

Koi’s eyes widened, and his mouth hung open at the unimaginable words. What on earth is he talking about?

“Al and I are friends, what… you know. Al calls me her sister.”

“But you’re not a woman, and Al knows that.”

His words weren’t wrong, but they weren’t entirely right either. Koi just gaped, then managed to mumble.

“How could you say that… are you doubting Al and me right now?”

“If it’s not Al, then is it that Garrett guy?”

“Ash!”

Koi raised his voice, then quickly took a breath and lowered it.

“What’s wrong with you? I told you everything at the entrance, that’s all. It’s true, really, these misunderstandings are rude to Al and Garrett.”

He hoped Ashley would regain some reason, but all he got was a sneer. With clear derision, he muttered.

“Did you not think about the consequences of showering outside and coming back wearing another man’s clothes?”

To the hesitant Koi, Ashley gave no quarter and lowered his head. He buried his nose in Koi’s neck, took a deep breath, and mumbled in a low voice.

“All my pheromones are gone.”

Koi only then began to feel a little afraid. An ominous premonition crept in, telling him he wouldn’t be able to convince Ashley no matter what.

“I-I’m sorry, Ash.”

Koi spoke urgently.

“I… I was wrong. I won’t do it again. This time, I was thoughtless… please forgive me, okay?”

He looked up at Ashley with sincerity.

“You’re the only one I love… you know that.”

He looked up desperately, not losing hope, and Ashley replied.

“I know.”

His quiet voice continued.

“You said you loved me before. Yes, it must be sincere.”

“Then…”

Koi opened his mouth again, not losing hope, but Ashley spoke first.

“It’s okay, we can just start over.”

A low laugh was mixed in. Ashley looked down at Koi, who was frozen with wide eyes, and whispered sweetly.

“I’ll pickle your whole body in my pheromones.”