Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 64

For a while, Ashley thought his ears were playing tricks on him. He simply couldn’t believe what Koi had just said. There was no way Koi would say something like that. It was clear. The one who was mistaken was Ashley Miller. He was certain. So he even denied his own eyes. Because Koi’s expression, with his face so contorted and tears welling up as he looked at him, simply couldn’t exist in this situation.

“…I misheard, didn’t I?” Ashley asked again. He was ready to burst out laughing and hug Koi if Koi said it was all a joke now. Ashley waited, still smiling. Come on, Koi. Hurry and say it, quickly.

Say what you just said was a mistake.

But again, his expectations were dashed. The words Koi managed to say in a trembling voice completely erased the smile from Ashley’s face.

“You’re not in your right mind because of your presentation.”

Koi continued.

“You’ll realize you were mistaken once you come to your senses.”

Ashley, who had been holding Koi up until then, slowly lowered him. Still holding Koi’s waist in the water, Ashley opened his mouth.

“I presented, I’m not crazy.”

Despite Ashley’s words, Koi shook his head again. At the strong rejection, Ashley finally accepted reality. Koi was denying him. He was dismissing his feelings, his sincerity, as nonsense. That, he absolutely could not tolerate.

“Why on earth…”

Ashley inhaled roughly, then exhaled. He barely managed to stop himself from shouting. Right now, he had to somehow appease Koi. But even as he thought that, Ashley was so frustrated as to why Koi wouldn’t accept his feelings that he almost swore.

“Koi.”

He suppressed his temper as much as possible and spoke calmly.

“Why can’t you believe me? This has nothing to do with my presentation. I liked you even before that.”

Koi, who had been listening silently to Ashley’s fervent words, shook his head. He didn’t speak, but it was a clearer negation than any words.

“Koi, it’s true.”

Ashley spoke quickly, his heart aching.

“I like you, Koi. I’ve always liked you. This isn’t as a friend, this is love. I love you.”

He thought he could tear open his chest and show him his insides if only Koi would believe his sincerity. After Ashley’s repeated fervent confessions, Koi finally opened his mouth after a long pause.

“I… I.”

Between ragged breaths, he whispered in a trembling voice.

“I don’t like you.”

“Ha,” a gasp escaped Ashley’s lips. Koi still had his head bowed, not looking at his face, and quickly added.

“It’s true, I don’t like you. I’ve never thought of you that way.”

“Koi.”

“I truly think of you as a friend, and that’s why I came here. That’s all.”

“Koi.”

“You saying you like me must be a misunderstanding, and I also…”

“Koi!”

He felt like he would go crazy if he heard “I don’t like you” one more time. Ashley finally shouted, making Koi shut his mouth. His goal was achieved, but his mood was in shambles. Seeing Koi, who had hastily closed his mouth and was anxious and at a loss, he couldn’t grasp what was going on.

Why?

Why not, why?

I told you. I like you. So why are you denying your feelings? You like me. You clearly wrote that. Your whole body was saying it. So why?

But Koi’s ears still wouldn’t move. The smiling face towards him was also gone. Ashley even began to doubt if he was truly going crazy because of pheromones.

“…I, I should go now.”

Koi pushed Ashley’s shoulder. Of course, he didn’t budge. Koi struggled in the water, trying to escape from Ashley’s hand, which was still holding his waist.

“I really have to go. If I don’t go home again, my father might get angry.”

Ashley looked down at Koi, who was struggling to get away from him, with a cold expression.

Should I lock him up?

It wouldn’t be difficult at all. There were plenty of spare rooms, and there was even a safe room (also called a panic room, a space with protective functions to escape external intrusions or natural disasters like tornadoes) that no one could find even if the police came to search. If he locked Koi in there, no one would ever find him.

It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t acknowledge it.

He could just lock Koi in there. No matter how hard Koi tried, he would never be able to escape from him. He wouldn’t be able to say nonsense like “I don’t like you” anymore. Because Ashley would become his whole world.

“Ash.”

Koi called his name. Despite being slow-witted, he seemed to sense something unusual in the atmosphere. He barely managed to lift his head and look at Ashley’s face, but his expression was full of fear. Perhaps he knew that Ashley was trying to imprison him.

But what could he do? Connor Niles could do nothing. It was too late now, even if he cried and clung to him, saying it was a lie, that his true feelings were that he liked him. Ashley silently looked down at Koi.

I should have raped him then.

If he had, Koi might have presented as an Omega. The only explanation for why he remained a Beta despite being covered in so many pheromones next to a presenting True Alpha was that.

It’s not too late, even now.

Ashley thought. Let’s just take him now. If I pour pheromones all over his body and fill him up, he will definitely present. He might even get pregnant. It doesn’t matter.

Because he’ll be completely mine.

He truly thought that. There was no other way. Perhaps the pheromones were driving him crazy. He had even let go of his self-control. There was only one thought in his mind. Only intense possessiveness dominated him.

I have to have Koi.

“…Ah!”

Koi let out a short scream. Ashley had strongly embraced his waist with both arms. Their bodies pressed together in the water, and hot body heat met the cold water temperature.

“…Ash.”

Koi looked up at Ashley. There was definite fear in his eyes. This was the first time he had seen Ashley like this. He was clearly incredibly angry. He might hit Koi like his father. Being hit was painful, but it was okay. He thought he would gladly take it if Ashley hit him.

Koi closed his eyes first in fear. His whole body was tense and trembling, but Ashley opened his mouth.

“…Are you closing your eyes now because you want me to kiss you?”

It was a bewildered question. Koi was startled by the completely unexpected question and slowly opened his eyes. He was still scared, but Ashley’s expression that came into view was something he hadn’t expected at all. Seeing Ashley, who was frowning in bewilderment and looking down at him, Koi blinked in confusion.

“No, I, um.”

Koi stammered, answering with difficulty.

“I thought… you might hit me.”

“Hit? Me? You?”

“Ha,” Ashley exhaled roughly. Koi flinched again. Seeing Koi’s reaction, Ashley was simply dumbfounded. He had just been thinking of something far worse, but hitting was certainly not in his calculations at all. It was utterly ridiculous. Where would he hit this small body, less than half his size?

“There’s no way I’d hit you.”

He sighed and rebuked him, but he also realized the truth. What he had been about to do wasn’t much different.

To force Koi to present.

He had even thought of imprisoning and raping him. How terrible those fantasies were. But even now, Ashley felt an intense fascination with them.

No, I’m different from that man.

Ashley blamed himself. If he forcibly made Koi his, how would he be any different from that man?

He couldn’t do that. He loved Koi, and so he would cherish him and treat him with care. He would never manipulate Koi just because things didn’t go his way, never.

Ashley vowed and hugged Koi again. He buried his nose in Koi’s shoulder and inhaled deeply, smelling a faint scent of skin.

Ashley remained still for a while. When he finally lifted his head, the dark desires that had dominated his mind had also subsided.

“…Now, let’s go.”

Ashley spoke in a low voice and slowly loosened his arms.

“I’ll take you home.”

He felt Koi’s body in his arms gradually relax. In his eyes, too, concern had replaced fear.

“Are you okay…?”

Koi, who noticed that Ashley was acting strange, asked. Ashley kissed his cheek instead of answering. Seeing Koi’s face quickly flush, Ashley smiled. Just as he always had. Seeing that smile, Koi seemed a little relieved and let his shoulders droop.

Ashley silently watched him back away, then brush past him and quickly get out of the water. Unlike him, Ashley slowly swam out of the pool and leisurely followed Koi, who was running into the mansion.

Fighting persistently against the dark obsession within himself.