Chapter 99: Sleep

Chapter 99: Sleeping

Yuan Rang pulled back from those slick, wet lips and carried him toward the front courtyard.

Chen Shuoan clutched the collar in front of him, breathing faintly against Yuan Rang's chest, his gaze drifting lazily toward the pavilion where Chen Gangpao was gleefully pestering Chen Zhangying, his pudgy paws landing dead-on the big cat's head every time.

Chen Zhangying was quiet until he wasn't—pushed past his limit, he swiped a paw right across that smug dog face. Chen Gangpao let out a pitiful yelp and tore off yowling, tail tucked between his legs.

Chen Shuoan watched his dog's paws churning like they were about to lift off the ground, opened his mouth to call him back—but barely got the "Chen" out before he was coughing uncontrollably against Yuan Rang's shoulder, reflex tears beading at the corners of his eyes.

Yuan Rang supported him with one hand while the other smoothed down his back, his expression dark and composed, saying nothing.

Chen Shuoan coughed several more times, then let his head drop against Yuan Rang's shoulder, looking utterly drained.

He took a deep breath, deciding to leave Chen Gangpao to his own devices, and instead reached out to touch Yuan Rang's prominent Adam's apple.

"Do you have any wounds on you?"

Yuan Rang pressed his thin lips together. He looked down into Chen Shuoan's glistening eyes and abruptly bit the soft flesh of Chen Shuoan's cheek.

He lifted his long leg, and the door swung open at the motion. Yuan Rang guided Chen Shuoan inside, then shut the door slowly behind them with his back.

The room was heated by underfloor pipes, the air turning dry and stuffy. Chen Shuoan sat at the edge of the bed, the bed curtains brushing his slender wrist, stirring up an unbearable itch with every breeze.

He watched Yuan Rang kneel on one knee beside the bed, watched his long fingers close over the fastenings of his outer robe, watched his thumb and forefinger pinch the dark fabric and slowly pull it free.

Flesh bared—the broad chest before him was slashed with vicious sword scars, the scars stretching back and disappearing into his back, carrying an endless dread.

A bead of moisture slid down Chen Shuoan's nose, looking like fine sweat from the room's stifling heat.

"Hot?"

Yuan Rang pressed his lips together, reached out and traced Chen Shuoan's temple, his rough fingertip pressing against that dry, warm skin—then stopping short.

That glint of moisture in the shadows was a tear sliding from the corner of Chen Shuoan's eye.

A low, pleased laugh escaped Yuan Rang's throat. He leaned in and kissed Chen Shuoan's eyes.

His skin trembled, damp; the tears flowed warm and unrestrained.

Yuan Rang rose, gently undoing the cloak draped around Chen Shuoan, and pressed a soft kiss to his brow.

His voice was low and gentle, completely concealing the vicious madness within.

"Don't cry."

Chen Shuoan was already sobbing in hiccups; at those words he couldn't hold back at all, wailing so loudly that even the sparrow resting outside the window startled and flew off.

Yuan Rang pulled him into his arms, fingers kneading the soft skin at the back of his neck, soothing him in a soft voice: "Your throat's already rough—you'll strain it soon."

Chen Shuoan sniffled, his nose red, lashes lowering lightly as he reached out to touch Yuan Rang's abdomen.

The muscles there were sharply defined, yet also marked with scars both large and small.

Tears brimming in his eyes, he tilted his head up to find Yuan Rang's lips.

Yuan Rang tensed his abs, enduring it until the veins at his temples bulged.

His left hand grabbed the soft flesh of Chen Shuoan's cheek, and in an instant he'd pressed Chen Shuoan onto the bed for a deep kiss, while his right fingertips brushed something cool and smooth—slippery and soft, but not skin.

Yuan Rang raised an eyebrow, pulled back slightly, and pinched between his long fingers a plum blossom petal that had fallen on Chen Shuoan's neck, letting out a low laugh near his ear.

Chen Shuoan's body trembled. The fastenings of his inner robe were undone by Yuan Rang, revealing a chest pale as gleaming jade, glowing warmly in the daylight.

Yuan Rang breathed low against his ear, desire churning violently in his eyes. His eyelids lifted slightly, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Chen Shuoan.

A hand suddenly swept around Chen Shuoan's waist, lifting his whole body into the air. His doe eyes widened slightly as he was set, dazed, onto Yuan Rang's thighs.

Yuan Rang pinched the flower's base between his fingers, squinting as he swept the petals lightly across Chen Shuoan's ear, his neck, down to the slender, glistening white curve of his waist.

He laughed in delight, watching the skin the petals traced flush with a tempting, faint red, then lovingly pressed kisses along the trail with his lips.

"Mm..."

Chen Shuoan bit his lip helplessly, desperately trying to hold back the breathy gasps threatening to escape.

Yuan Rang bit down hard at the end of the trail, leaving a full set of teeth marks on his body.

Chen Shuoan squirmed restlessly, pressing his hand firmly over his mouth.

His vision blurred, as if heat were steaming off his body and fogging over Yuan Rang's face, making it impossible to see clearly.

Yuan Rang's fingertips still held the plum blossom. The blur of vivid red drifted toward Chen Shuoan's lips, paused at that soft warmth, then vanished in an instant.

"Not as pretty as you."

The hoarse voice sounded by his ear, desire building and bursting forth.

Chen Shuoan's chest heaved as he breathed hard, watching Yuan Rang part his lips and lightly bite that brilliant, wine-red petal.

He turned his head away shyly, completely unable to handle this kind of teasing.

"It's still daytime..."

Yuan Rang's eyes were dark and suppressed, yet he nodded obediently.

He soothed and kneaded Chen Shuoan's earlobe, his voice low and gentle: "I won't do anything right now."

"Qingle, keep me company for a nap."

Chen Shuoan was laid down on the soft bedding, his gaping robe gathered and closed by Yuan Rang, the alluring colors hidden away beneath the moon-white inner garment.

Yuan Rang's bare upper body pressed down over him, and Chen Shuoan was pulled into his arms, burying his face in the burning heat of his neck.

Because Yuan Rang had been away traveling, Chen Shuoan had been sleeping late recently—he couldn't sleep, missing Yuan Rang too much.

Now, listening to the scorching breath brushing against his ear, Chen Shuoan finally felt the stirrings of genuine, solid drowsiness.

His consciousness was just beginning to blur when his long brows knitted tightly. He found the warmth of the person beside him unbearable, so he pressed both hands against Yuan Rang's chest and squirmed toward the cooler side of the bed, mumbling sleepily.

"You're so hot—move over a little..."

The body beneath his palms suddenly tensed, then relaxed again.

"Alright."

Yuan Rang seemed to let out a soft laugh, determined to pay lip service while doing the exact opposite.

His mouth agreed sweetly, but his hands pulled the man firmly tighter, leaving not a single gap between their bodies.

Chen Shuoan, annoyed, turned his head away and ignored him, enduring it as he drifted off to sleep, his breathing becoming calm and shallow once more.

The screen standing before the bed blocked most of the light streaming into the room, softening the harsh, frigid winter daylight into a warm, gentle glow within this small space.

Inside the brocade bed, their dark hair intertwined, and the moments passed in quiet stillness.

Until Chen Shuoan was roused by a soft voice.

Yuan Rang crouched by his bedside, his fingertip lingering over his striking brows and eyes.

Two years had gone by, yet it was just like before.

"Qingle, time to get up and eat."