Chapter 82 - Ephemeral

He couldn't bring himself to move, hell, he didn't even want to resist it. Jian Yu kept his eyes open this time, he wanted to see, to know what Zeke was going to do. 

When the distance between their faces was closer than a breath away, the silverette Beta almost closed his eyes again, but he insisted on keeping them bȧrėly open to observe any kind of expression Zeke made. He could feel the sharp nose of the other Alpha pressed into the curve of his cheek and chocolate was all he could smell. 

A soft featherly light touch brushed across his lips before the clatter of teeth against teeth was heard, like the other person had gnashed his teeth together. 

There was a brief minute of silence. But those lips never deepened. Just staying there, hesitating and trembling. The breath coming out from those lips stuttered as it hit Jian Yu's face. It acted like it was unsure what to do, indecisive but desperate. 

The hand on the Beta's silver hair tightened but Jian Yu made no sound at the ȧssault, while another hand landed on his shoulder, clutching at his coat and clinging for its dear life. 

"Haaaaaaaa…." 

Until a loud but hopeless sigh was heard that both hands landed on either side of Jian Yu's shoulder, his hair was released from its misery. 

Zeke shuffled his whole body and leant down, putting his body weight on Jian Yu, resulting in dragging the Beta down along him until they were both sitting on the ground with Jian Yu's back against the brick wall and the Alpha in between his legs, bench forgotten on the side. 

Jian Yu let out a small 'oof' when he was pulled along. His chin felt ticklish from the Alpha's hair as Zeke seemed keen on burying his face in Jian Yu's coat. 

"God, this is pathetic…" Zeke breathed so close into his coat. Jian Yu was actually quite hopeless to think about the situation, so he just waited for Zeke to finish what he wanted to say. 

"I like you, alright? I love you," The black-haired man said. The words cut inside of his mouth like glass as if warning him for going against the promise he made with Clement that Jian Yu was supposed to confess first. But the situation was indeed initiated by the silverette, so it counted right? 

Besides, no one knew about the promise but them, him and Clement, so who the hell could tell on him? 

"I love you, I want you, but I.." He clenched his hands on Jian Yu's shoulder and raised his gaze to catch Jian Yu's. The Beta's eyes widened, but he still said nothing, making Zeke gulp. "I thought you needed some space when I crossed the line. I know I shouldn't have done that, you look like… Like--" Zeke choked on his words. 

Besides the rut approaching, he kept on remembering the nauseous face Jian Yu was making before and his heart tightened at the image. 

That was also another reason for him to avoid the Beta. 

"I like it." 

"I wanted to apologize, I fully intend to do so but I'm too much of a coward to do and avoid you! I know you must have hated me…! But please give me another chance! I want to be with you, please let me court you properly--" 

"Don't be so dramatic, I told you I like it." 

"Even if you hate me, I am fully prepared for it. But you need to know, I'm serious about you. I want to have a life with you. And I'm pretty sure I love you. So please--" 

SMACK! 

Twin palm clapped Zeke on his cheeks, waking him up from his stupid ramble. Instead of leaving, those hands stayed on his cheek, rubbing the thumb under his eyes. 

"Huh?" 

"Don't get so full of yourself," Zeke heard Jian Yu shuffle closer and lean until their foreheads were touching. "When did I say I have no interest in you?" 

Jian Yu almost sobbed when he heard what the Alpha was rambling on, it sounded too good to be true. 

"When have I ever said I hate you?" Jian Yu ċȧrėssed the Alpha's reddened cheeks as he whispered those words softly. "I haven't even answered you properly, do you even want to hear my response?" 

It was quite funny how the situation turned about. It was chaos for the both of them in the beginning, miscommunication and misunderstandings were bound to happen. Fortunately, things ended short-lived and both of them seemed content with the result. 

With Zeke's face still cupped in his palms, he finally just noticed how out of it the other guy looked, like he couldn't believe it. It's totally fine because Jian Yu felt the same! 

"Oh come on, seriously…" Jian Yu felt like sighing fondly, which he did. 

"You…" Finally, the guy said something. 

"The kiss…" Jian Yu smiled. "I'm returning it to you like this, so if you still don't get it, I don't know what else could." 

This time, Jian Yu was the one initiating the broken kiss from before. He tilted his head and brushed his lips against Zeke's. 

Featherly light like before, moving kindly, like he was asking for Zeke's permission. 

Zeke swallowed thickly. Everything seemed surreal. It had happened too fast for him to comprehend and somehow everything was just moving the way he had always wanted. 

The fire burning inside him was warning him about the rut arriving, but he was still deep inside his fantasy. And he didn't want it to end. The obsidian eyes across him were piercing and drilling into him, reflecting the other's emotions and what he really felt. 

Zeke parted his lips, letting the Beta in, inviting him into his treacherous mouth. 

Jian Yu kissed him slowly, so gently. The silverette's tongue danced over his chapped lips. The muscle swept and licked, prodding deeper as Zeke opened his mouth. Zeke wanted to return the action but Jian Yu suddenly pulled away. 

The Alpha almost followed the movement, wanting to chase after that delicious mouth. Licking his own lips, Zeke yearned to taste and explore every crevice of the Beta's, to get the full taste. 

A light knock on his forehead woke him up from his daydreaming. 

Jian Yu had pressed their forehead together again, their breaths mingled towards each other. Obsidian eyes locked with jade ones, staring into each other in their own world. Only the sound of the breaths echoed in the room and it was peaceful, until Jian Yu decided to open his mouth that Zeke couldn't help but laugh out loud. 

"I just gave you a kiss, if you don't like it, you can return it, you know? A refund is allowed."