Chapter 278

Chapter 278

As the night deepened, the Governor's Mansion shed the clamor of the day and fell into a tranquil silence. The scent of magnolia flowers from the Clear Radiance Courtyard drifted gently into the room on the evening breeze, mingling with the faint fragrance of a bath—warm and soothing. Evan had just taken a hot bath, washing away the exhaustion and dust of the past few days. He wore only a loose white bathrobe, its collar slightly open, with strands of wet hair clinging to his neck, exuding a languid, youthful charm.

He was drying his hair as he walked briskly to the small door beside the bedroom—a door Salah had specially installed to connect his and Evan's bedroom suites, making it easy to look after each other while harboring an unspoken intimacy between them. After settling Ali and Xiao Ya during the day and chatting with Salah at length about the aftermath of Prison Island, Evan's thoughts remained with his loved one. He could hardly wait to see him after his bath.

He gently pushed open the carved wooden door without making a sound, and the warm light inside immediately filled his vision. Salah's bedroom was similar in style to Evan's but more refined and elegant. The soft wool carpet absorbed every footstep, and the air carried the clean, crisp scent of Salah's usual cedar bath scent.

Evan looked up and his eyes landed on Salah, who was sitting on the large bed. He had also just bathed, wearing a dark gray robe that hung loosely, revealing his sleek, fair collarbone. Drops of water still clung to the ends of his hair, slipping down his neck and soaking into the fabric of his robe, leaving dark, eye-catching patches.

Salah hadn't turned on the main light, only leaving a warm yellow glazed lamp by the bedside. Its soft glow fell on him, outlining his tall figure and gentle contours, stripping away the authority of the day's Governor and adding a touch of domestic languor and tenderness.

He was looking down, his fingertips lightly brushing over an open book, his expression focused. His long lashes cast faint shadows under his eyelids, and his gentle demeanor made Evan's heart skip a beat.

Evan instinctively stopped, the towel in his hand pausing mid-air, his gaze fixed on Salah's collarbone, his eyes instantly lighting up.

On ordinary days, Salah was always dressed in his crisp Governor's uniform, exuding an aura of authority. He rarely appeared so relaxed. This unintentional display of languor and allure made Evan's heartbeat quicken and a blush creep up his cheeks.

Perhaps sensing the movement, Salah slowly raised his head, his eyes landing on Evan. The concentration in his gaze instantly melted into an unfading tenderness. He set down the book, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. His voice was low and warm, carrying a hint of post-bath huskiness: "Done with your bath? Why did you come over so quietly?"

Evan snapped back to reality, scratching his head a little sheepishly. He quickened his pace to the bedside, placed the towel onto the nearby low table, and sat down beside Salah, leaning slightly toward him. "I missed you, so I came to see you."

His eyes still couldn't help straying to Salah's collarbone, and his voice carried a hint of shyness. "Your hair tips are still dripping."

Salah glanced down at the water droplets falling from his own hair, then looked back into Evan's bright, adoring eyes. The corners of his mouth curved in a helpless smile. His fingertips lightly brushed Evan's reddening ear tips before he reached out and gently rubbed Evan's damp hair clinging to his neck—the touch as light as a feather, avoiding his sensitive scalp, tenderly smoothing out the tangled strands.

"You're one to talk. Your own hair isn't dry yet. It's almost dripping onto your robe." His voice was even deeper than before, carrying the huskiness of a recent bath, with a slightly upturned tone that hid an unmistakable affection. As he spoke, he picked up a neatly folded dry towel, spread it out, and wrapped it over Evan's head, gently drying from the ends toward the roots. Occasionally, his fingertips brushed against Evan's nape, causing Evan to flinch slightly. He immediately softened his touch, his movements becoming even gentler.

Evan closed his eyes in contentment, leaning his head closer against Salah's shoulder. The scent of cedar from Salah's bathrobe, mingled with his warm body heat, instantly dispelled all remaining fatigue. He tilted his head slightly, pressing his cheek against the cool fabric of Salah's robe, feeling the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat. A sense of security and happiness surged within him like a rising tide, making even his breathing soft and gentle.

The afternoon's probing by Betty in the garden, the smoke and danger of Prison Island—all of it faded into the past, leaving only the warmth of the person beside him and this quiet, tender moment that was uniquely theirs. Unconsciously, he used his fingertips to lightly rub Salah's side, his movements soft and dependent.

Salah paused in drying Evan's hair, looking down at the young man leaning against his shoulder—his long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, his cheeks flushed with a faint blush, his nose delicate, his breathing even and soft. He looked docile and endearing.

The tenderness in his eyes was almost overflowing. He reached up to gently brush away the stray strands of hair hanging over Evan's forehead, his fingertips softly tracing Evan's smooth brow. His voice dropped to an extremely low, a voice gentle enough to drip water: "You must be exhausted today, aren't you? Running around on Prison Island, chasing after the man in black—you definitely didn't get any rest."

He paused, gently pressing his thumb against the faint dark circles under Evan's eyes, his tone laced with concern. "You don't need to worry about the Prison Island matter anymore. I'm here. I won't ever let you fall into that kind of danger again."

Evan nodded lightly, then suddenly tightened his arms, pulling Salah closer, burying his face into his chest. His voice was soft, almost like a whimper, carrying a hint of post-bath laziness: "I'm not tired. I'm not tired if you're here."

His voice was muffled, vibrating faintly through the fabric. "And we rescued Ali and Xiao Ya. They don't have to wander anymore. From now on, we'll stay here, living a good life." He lifted his head, rubbing his nose against Salah's collarbone, his eyes sparkling with expectation and dependence. "Okay?"

Salah stopped drying his hair, set down the towel, and pulled Evan fully into his arms. His palm gently patted Evan's back, as if soothing a kitten—soft and rhythmic. "Okay."

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Evan's head, kissing away the lingering water droplets on his hair. His voice was low and firm: "From now on, we'll stay here, living a good life."

The warm yellow glazed light from the lamp cast a soft glow, making their entwined figures look even more tender. Evan leaned against Salah's chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, the clean scent of cedar enveloping him. The emotions within him surged like fermented honey, slowly overflowing. He tilted his head slightly, his fingertips gently hooking onto the collar of Salah's robe, inadvertently brushing against his fair collarbone, feeling the warmth of his skin there. His cheeks flushed even deeper.

Salah looked down at him, his eyes brimming with uncontrollable tenderness. His hand continued to gently pat Evan's back, his movements lingering and gentle. Evan met his gaze, seeing the pure affection and love it held. His heart trembled. Gathering his courage, he leaned in slightly and gently pressed his soft lips to Salah's.

The kiss was very light, like a feather brushing by, carrying the moisture of a recent bath and a faint scent of soap, tinged with caution yet full of joy. Evan's lips were soft and tender, lightly grazing Salah's, with no urgency—only pure attachment and infatuation. He squinted slightly, his fingertips tightly clutching the fabric of Salah's robe, his body trembling faintly—both nervous and expectant, like a young man confessing his love for the first time, clumsy but sincere.

Salah's whole body stiffened for a moment, then slowed his breathing. He reached up and gently pressed his palm against the back of Evan's neck, not deepening the kiss but allowing Evan to lightly brush against his lips. The tenderness in his eyes was almost overflowing. He could feel the tension in the person in his arms, so he gently massaged the back of Evan's neck with his fingertips, using the motion to soothe Evan's unease. His lips slightly responded to this innocent yet sincere affection.

After a moment, Evan gently pulled back, his nose still rubbing against Salah's nose, his breath quickening, his cheeks flushed crimson. He looked up, meeting Salah's gentle eyes. His throat bobbed lightly, and then he leaned in slightly, pressing his lips to Salah's ear. His voice was soft and lingering, trembling slightly, as he recited a love poem word by word: "You are the cedar in the evening breeze, the tenderness beneath the lamplight, the destination I cross mountains and seas to reach; everywhere I look, there is only you, and my heart's desire is solely you."

His warm breath tickled Salah's ear, carrying Evan's unique youthful energy. Each word of the poem was both gentle and scorching, sending a current of warmth and arousal through Salah's entire body. He tilted his head slightly, rubbing his nose against Evan's reddening ear. His voice was low and hoarse with undisguised emotion: "Silly child, that's what I should be saying."

Before the words faded, Salah reached up and cupped the back of Evan's neck, applying gentle pressure as he lowered his head and kissed him. This kiss shed the gentle hesitation of before, carrying more lingering affection and possession. He gently captured Evan's lips, his movements tender but with an irresistible force. His tongue lightly caressed Evan's lips, soothing his nervousness while expressing the love in his heart. Evan's body went soft, and he completely surrendered to Salah's embrace, closing his eyes. He let Salah kiss him, his fingers loosening their grip on the robe and instead wrapping around Salah's neck, responding eagerly. Their breaths intertwined, and the air grew thick with intimacy.

The kiss gradually deepened. Salah's hand slowly slid down, gently encircling Evan's waist and pulling him closer. His fingertips lightly brushed over the warm skin beneath his bathrobe, his movements both gentle and suggestive. Evan frowned slightly, letting out a soft moan, his cheeks growing even hotter. His body leaned limply into Salah's arms, even his fingertips becoming soft and weak, yet he still held tightly to Salah's neck, unwilling to let go.

Salah slowly pulled away from the kiss, his nose still rubbing against Evan's nose. His breath was rapid, his eyes full of tender passion. He looked at the man in his arms—those reddened eyes, those moist lips—and his throat bobbed lightly. His voice was low and tender, carrying a faint huskiness: "Come here." He gently pulled Evan toward him, his arm tightly encircling his waist, and guided him onto the soft bed.

Evan let out a soft gasp, instinctively grabbing Salah's arm as his body landed on the plush bedding, which carried a faint scent of sun-dried linen. Lying on his back, he looked up at Salah leaning over him, his eyes sparkling with dependence and love. His cheeks were still flushed, but he took the initiative to wrap his arms around Salah's neck, gently pulling him to lean down. His voice was soft: "Salah..."

Salah propped himself beside Evan, gently brushing away the stray hair on his forehead. He pressed a soft kiss to Evan's forehead, then slowly moved down, kissing his brows, the tip of his nose, and finally his lips, each movement lingering and tender. "I'm here," his voice was low and husky, full of adoration. "From now on, every night, I am here."

The warm yellow glazed light remained soft. The evening breeze gently blew outside the window, and moonlight filtered through the crack, falling upon their intertwined figures. The bedding was soft, their love lingering. Murmured words against each other's lips, the gentle touch of fingertips—all held the purest, most fervent love between them, slowly spreading through the quiet night, tenderly filling the long night.