Noah was just about to slip away when the message arrived.
"Parking garage."
Just two words.
He stared at the phone screen, irritation flaring in his chest.
Yesterday after the reading, he'd tried to sneak home.
Asher had intercepted him and dragged him back to the apartment.
Was he not allowed to go home again today?
What was this man's problem?
Noah grumbled internally, but his feet kept moving.
His instincts told him that if he didn't show up, Asher would come find him.
When he reached the garage, Asher was already waiting by the car.
He leaned against the door, looking at his phone, only raising his head when he heard footsteps.
Before Noah could say anything, he was pulled into the car.
Seatbelt fastened. Door closed.
Asher had already started the engine, pulling out of the garage.
Noah looked at Asher's profile, resigned to the fact that he probably wasn't getting home today either.
Whatever.
He closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat.
Go wherever you want.
The car moved through traffic. Noah rested against the seat, his mind a jumbled mess.
After a while, he slowly opened his eyes and stole a glance at Asher.
Asher was focused on driving.
Sharp profile. Defined jawline.
One hand on the steering wheel.
Long fingers. Pronounced knuckles.
The evening sun filtered through the window, casting a soft golden glow across his face.
Noah's heart skipped inexplicably.
From this angle, Asher looked...
He quickly looked away and closed his eyes again.
What was he thinking?
Some time later, the car stopped.
Noah opened his eyes.
Outside the window a familiar street, a familiar apartment building.
His home.
Noah was surprised. He turned to look at Asher.
"You actually brought me home?" he said. "I thought you were going to drag me back to your apartment again."
Asher didn't respond.
Noah didn't wait for him to say anything. He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out.
He assumed Asher was just dropping him off, but then he heard a car door close behind him.
Noah turned around. Asher had gotten out too and was following him.
"Why are you following me?" Noah frowned.
Asher looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a problem?"
Noah was speechless.
Why was this man always so matter-of-fact about everything?
Fine.
Follow if you want. You're already here anyway.
Noah sighed, turned, and walked toward the building. Asher followed behind him.
---
Noah fished out his keys and opened the door.
The apartment wasn't large one bedroom, one living room but it was tidy.
A fabric sofa sat in the living room, scattered with colorful throw pillows. Photos hung on the wall some of Noah with friends, some of him alone.
The kitchen was open-concept, spice bottles neatly arranged on the counter, the refrigerator door covered with cute magnets.
Small succulents lined the windowsill, and sunlight streaming in made the whole space feel warm.
Completely different from Asher's apartment, which had everything but felt cold as ice.
That place was luxurious but devoid of any sense of life.
This place, though small, felt warm.
Asher stood in the doorway, his gaze sweeping across the room.
His expression didn't change, but there seemed to be a hint of... curiosity in his eyes?
Noah didn't notice his gaze.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said. "I'm going to pack."
He walked into the bedroom, opened the closet, and started stuffing clothes into a suitcase.
Asher didn't sit down.
He wandered around the living room, looking at this and that.
Then he turned and walked into the bedroom.
Noah was sitting on the floor, packing his suitcase, and didn't notice him come in.
The bedroom was decent-sized a bed, a closet, a desk.
The desk held a few books on acting and some notes, along with stationery.
Then Asher's gaze fell on the nightstand.
There was a small lamp, and beside it, a box.
Not large just an ordinary storage box.
But a logo was stuck on the outside. Asher's fan support logo.
Asher's gaze paused.
He walked over and picked up the box.
Opened the lid.
Inside were his posters, photos, and various movie merchandise.
Even a few movie ticket stubs, carefully preserved.
Asher looked through them one by one, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
He picked up one particular photo him at some awards ceremony.
He flipped it over.
On the back, a handwritten line:
"Thank you for being my light."
Asher froze.
The handwriting was a bit clumsy, as if written many years ago.
He stared at those words for several seconds.
A strange feeling stirred in his chest.
Just then...
"Who said you could touch my stuff!"
Noah's voice came from behind.
Asher turned around.
Noah stood by the closet, looking annoyed.
When he saw the photo in Asher's hand, his face flushed immediately.
"Give it back!"
Noah rushed over, reaching for the photo.
Asher raised his hand, dodging him.
"Give it back!" Noah lunged again.
Asher stepped back, his leg hitting the edge of the bed.
He lost his balance and fell backward.
Noah couldn't stop his momentum and fell forward onto him.
They tumbled onto the bed together.
Noah sprawled on top of Asher, Asher's hand pressed against his waist.
They were close enough to feel each other's breath.
Noah's heart pounded wildly.
He tried to get up, but Asher's arm tightened, holding him firmly in place.
"Let go," Noah said.
Asher didn't.
He looked at Noah, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"You like me?"
Noah answered in a fluster.
"No, I don't."
Asher flipped them over, pinning Noah beneath him.
He braced himself above, looking down at him.
Those eyes were deep and dark.
He waved the photo in his hand. "Then what's this?"
Noah opened his mouth, hesitated.
"I..."
He looked away, his voice dropping. "It's just admiration."
"Just admiration?"
"And I don't even admire you anymore," Noah added.
Asher watched him without speaking.
A few seconds of silence.
Then he read the words from the back of the photo, his voice low:
"'Thank you for being my light.'"
Noah's face grew redder.
He tried to turn away, but Asher's hand gripped his chin, forcing him to meet those eyes.
"That's also just admiration?"
Noah was pinned down, unable to move.
"That was written a long time ago..."
"How long?"
"A very long time ago." Noah avoided his gaze. "I was still a trainee then..."
"So you've admired me since then?" Asher asked.
Noah bit his lip and didn't answer.
"Admired me enough to collect my photos, posters, merchandise?"
"..."
"Admired me enough to write 'Thank you for being my light' on the back of a photo?"
Noah's face was completely red now.
He wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.
"Are you sure this is just admiration?"
Noah glared at him. "What else would it be?"
Asher lowered his head, bringing his lips close to Noah's ear.
His voice was low, slightly husky:
"Love."
Noah's heart skipped a beat.
"I don't..."
His words were swallowed.
Asher kissed him.
This kiss was different from before.
Not urgent, not fierce.
But calm.
Calm like still, deep water.
Yet it was precisely this calm that made it impossible to resist.
Asher's lips pressed against his, gently grazing, gently sucking.
Unhurried, yet leaving Noah's mind increasingly muddled.
He wanted to push Asher away, but his body wouldn't cooperate.
The kiss lasted a long time.
Long enough that Noah's breathing became ragged before Asher finally released his lips, moving down to kiss his neck instead.
Noah's body trembled.
"What... what are you doing..."
Asher's voice was low. "F*cking you."
Noah's mind went blank.
This man... could he get turned on anywhere, anytime?
He was in his own home!
And he still had packing to do!
Noah desperately searched for a reason to make Asher stop.
Then he thought of one.
"There's no... no lubricant." His voice shook slightly. "It'll hurt."
Asher's movements paused.
He raised his head and looked at Noah.
"You know about that?" His tone held a hint of amusement. "Looks like you've been doing your homework."
Noah's face burned hotter.
He had... looked up some precautions.
To avoid getting hurt.
Asher watched his expression, the corner of his mouth curving upward.
Then he got up and walked out of the bedroom.
Had he... given up?
Noah exhaled in relief and sat up on the bed.
His heart was still racing, the heat in his face not yet faded.
He was about to continue packing.
Footsteps.
Asher walked back in.
Holding a white jar.
Noah looked at it.
"Why do you have coconut oil?"
Asher walked to the bed and set the jar on the nightstand.
"You said it would hurt, didn't you?"
Noah was completely dumbfounded.
Coconut oil... could work too?
Before he could think further...
Asher had already leaned down again, kissing him.
Kissing him while starting to undress him.
His T-shirt was pushed up and pulled over his head.
Noah's chest was exposed to the air.
He struggled briefly, trying to push Asher away.
But Asher's hands were quick, stripping off Noah's pants in a few swift motions.
Then his own clothes.
Their clothes were scattered beside the bed in no time.
Asher pushed Noah down onto the bed and pressed over him.
The instant their skin touched, Noah's body shuddered.
Asher's body temperature was high, like a furnace.
Noah could feel that firm chest against his own, could feel that heartbeat.
Asher began kissing Noah's neck, leaving mark after mark.
Then lower kissing his collarbone, his chest.
His hand found the sensitive spot on Noah's chest and began to tease.
Noah's body jerked, but he bit his lip, refusing to make a sound.
Asher had discovered this last time Noah's weak point.
His lips closed over one side, sucking gently, while his other hand worked the other.
Noah's body went taut.
He bit down hard on his lip, fighting desperately to hold back.
But Asher wouldn't let him.
He intensified his efforts tongue circling that sensitive spot, teeth occasionally grazing, fingers kneading the other side firmly.
Noah's body began to tremble beyond his control.
Strange sensations spread from his chest through his entire body, like electricity coursing through him.
He bit his lip until it went white.
But still...
"Mm..."
A moan slipped from his throat.
Noah froze completely.
Asher raised his head and looked at him.
Noah lay beneath him, cheeks flushed, the corners of his eyes glistening. His lips were red and swollen from biting, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. His pale skin had taken on a delicate pink flush.
The darkness in Asher's eyes deepened.
He continued sucking at that sensitive spot, his fingers never stopping.
Noah's body had betrayed him.
Something inside him had been ignited, burning hotter and hotter.
"Stop... don't..." Noah's voice trembled.
But Asher didn't stop.
His lips moved from chest to stomach, trailing lower.