The real house visit starts the next day. Perhaps Ash is serious in saying that they should see the house together, he asks Karlyle about the house in detail.
When Ash asked which house he liked, Karlyle just randomly chose four houses in a reluctant way. Ash won't live in that house, so there's no need to care.
They visit the first house on February 11th. Since it's a weekday, they set the appointment at 7 P.M. The house is in the residential area, a 10-minute walk from Notting Hill station. It is painted white like a mansion in the Mediterranean, and rose vines are beautifully grown in the garden.
The inside of the mansion is neither particularly great nor bad. There is one large garage, and the peculiar feature is the pond in the backyard. The interior is Victorian style. It's similar to Natalie's house.
And it is incomparably smaller than his old mansion in Hampstead Health. Well, it doesn't matter since he'll live alone anyway...
"It's too small."
Ash says so as soon as he enters the house. Looking ahead, Karlyle blinks.
"Do you think so?"
"Yes. Thinking about the house Lyle used to live in... Isn't this too small?"
Even compared to Ash's house, this place is about twice as big. Karlyle is quickly persuaded.
"Probably so."
"The condition of the house is similar to your old one, but I don't think this is the right house."
Ash says "Oops", then turns around. He tilts his head, gently furrowing his eyebrows, then says to Karlyle.
"Of course, that's just my opinion. If Lyle is okay, then it's fine. I will also help you with moving."
At the word "moving", Karlyle flinches. With a calm and cool face, Karlyle shakes his head. Keeping a serious expression like at work, Karlyle explains why this house is not good.
"Ash is right."
That's what Ash said.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Nodding quickly, Karlyle points his head at the secretary, who looks awkwardly behind them. And that's how one of the houses is crossed out from the list.
"I'm glad Lyle also agrees."
Ash smiles like a rose blooming, his eyes curve brightly. Karlyle's heart is mesmerized by the pretty smile. The decision Karlyle has just made is very prudent and rational. When it comes to interiors, Ash is more of an expert than him.
Furthermore, Karlyle does business with the residence, he doesn't sell houses. He just manages properties. So everything Ash said about the house is right.
The next house visit is on February 12th. Today they will go see two houses. One is located about a 15-minute walk from Ash's house. Well, the location is not bad.
Surrounded by brick walls, the house is pretty neat. At first glance, the renovated black-white-toned shape, which resembles that of an apartment, seems to be taken from part of Mayfair's most expensive and famous mansion.
"I don't like the direction of the windows. Of course it's just my opinion."
Unlike the previous mansion, this house is similar in size to Ash's house. As he climbs the stairs and carefully looks inside with a thoughtful chin, Ash gives an answer to Karlyle's request for an opinion.
"Karlyle's body temperature is still low, so personally, you should live in a warm place. In a house like this, the sunlight doesn't come in well in winter. A good heater and good sunlight are two different things, right?"
In fact, the human body produces vitamin D from UVB bands of ultraviolet rays. Without proper exposure, it would have a huge effect on the body, so Ash's point is very reasonable.
In addition, the cloudy climate for more than half of the year contributes to the gloomy nature of the majority of British. When summer comes, there is a reason why people often take off their clothes and lay down on the grass where the sun is shining. You can see this scene everywhere regardless of region.
"That may make the house look depressing."
He is always depressed when Ash Jones isn't around, so this is also true. At Karlyle's words, Ash rubs his chin seriously.
"If my Lyle is depressed, I'll be very sad, too. I may not even be able to eat."
Making your lover sad enough to affect his eating is the action of a playboy. Karlyle is a gentleman who has been educated in manners since he was young. In fact, he even has half the blood of the aristocrat, doesn't he?
"Looks like this house is also not the right one."
"Well thought out."
Ash, who has sad eyes, smiles broadly. The smile shape is so pretty that Karlyle feels like he is melting inside. Unable to hold it in, he hesitantly reaches out and takes Ash's hand. Ash holds Karlyle's hand tightly and kisses the back of his hand.
They go straight to the next house. The secretary has adjusted the schedule because they spent less than 10 minutes looking around the house. This time, it's a mansion in the opposite direction.
Ash looks inside with indifferent eyes. Karlyle doesn't even care to look inside himself anymore, and quietly waits for Ash's review. Behind them, the secretary looks puzzled.
"I don't like the kitchen here. Lyle likes to cook."
In his 33 years of life, apart from his 3 days last year and 43 days this year of dating with Ash, in which he cooked with him, Karlyle had a relationship with cooking in only 20 days. Having good skills is a totally different matter.
So his culinary career is 66 days in total. Too short of a period to even call cooking a hobby.
"I don't like the induction here, either."
In fact, home appliances can be changed, but anyway, that is Ash's opinion. Karlyle agrees with no disagreement this time.
"Ash has a good eye."
"You think so? But I guess it's helpful since I study interior design. Lyle praising me makes me shy."
His voice shows no embarrassment, but Ash rolls his eyes shyly and dimples his lips. It's like he is drawing a painting hy his thinly curved lips.
Looking at Ash's lips, Karlyle unconsciously wants to kiss them. As if noticing it, Ash gives him a feathery kiss on the lips. The secretary quickly leaves the seat.
The long-awaited last house is on February 13th. Ash can't go with him on this day. Ash looks a little tired in the morning. Karlyle notices it at once.
"Ash, are you okay?"
Worried, he touches Ash's shoulder. In the past few days, Ash's pheromone has become very dark. It feels so tingly on his skin that he can even see it with his eyes.
Just waking up, Ash looks at Karlyle with no expression on his face. The slow movement of his gaze stops at Karlyle's hand on his shoulder.
Karlyle knows that Ash tends to be expressionless in the morning. But today, there is something off. Ash blinks his eyelashes, then slowly raises his hand.
And he grabs Karlyle's wrist. His hand touching the shoulder falls down, Ash moves it to his lips. Light pink lips open, revealing Ash's white teeth. He bites Karlyle's fingers real hard.
"...Uhm."
Ash nibbles Karlyle's fingers like a beast with fangs, then begins to lick them thickly. He licks his fingertips to the point where his tongue becomes frantical. Karlyle is frozen.
Sucking his fingers, Ash begins rubbing his lower body with Karlyle. Two adult men rub their erected cocks through their thin bottoms in between.
Karlyle is quickly aroused by the act of pressing and rubbing his hard cock. His body is hot. Ash usually wants him regardless of time, but he tends to refrain from doing it in the morning, especially weekdays. Besides, Karlyle has never been bitten like this.
Sucking his fingers like a beast, Ash pulls them out of the slimy saliva. This time, the target changes to the nape of his neck.
Alphas can't imprint each other, but Karlyle lives with a scar on his neck because they leave traces on each other every time like marking. Ash's lips touch something like a purple bruise that is getting lighter.
"Ash...?"
But Ash has never been like this since the morning... Karlyle is embarrassed. Ash sucks in the nape of his neck like a man who can't hear Karlyle. He sets it up and chews on the delicate skin, making a straight mark on the nape of his neck like sucking blood. The marks continue to the collarbone and to the chest.
Opening Karlyle's sleep gown, Ash rubs his nose against his chest. The nipples exposed to the air are half raised. Ash gently sucks the thick nipples that have a nice color and shape. At the act of licking like sucking milk, Karlyle's body turns red as if it's about to explode. He is too shy.
"Ash, this is, later..."
He pushes Ash's shoulders away to escape the restraint. But Ash doesn't budge. He acts like he can't hear Karlyle at all. Shaking his head in annoyance, Ash sticks himself to Karlyle, determined to do the opposite. Ash looks like he is acting childishly, Karlyle's heart starts beating faster than usual. So cute.
But the action that follows is not cute. Because Ash, with his tongue wide open, licks up the areolas and nipples stickly. Feeling the saliva wet the sensitive area, Karlyle twists his waist slightly.
"Hah..."
What he is feeling in his chest is so embarrassing. Karlyle gives a little more strength to the hands holding Ash's shoulders. This action is too daring to do in the morning.
"Ash, stop..."
The nipples are stimulated and start to turn red. Ash begins to chew the tips. The sensation of electricity flowing rises from his chest, then gradually spread throughout his body. His toes twitch.
"There, ah, hic, there, Ash..."
As the stimulation scratching his stomach spreads through his body, he becomes nervous. His toes keep twitching, curling up, then spreading out again. Ash suppresses Karlyle from twisting his upper body and starts rubbing his lower body. His cock is rubbed from below, his nipples are chewed, the stimulation is too much.
"Ah, hurg, hah, stop, uh, urg, ah...!"
Contorting his stinging eyes, Karlyle pleads. It would be weird if he comes from his chest. And just in time, the phone rings like a savior. His secretary is calling. Karlyle's schedule starts quite late today so he decides to see the house at 10 A.M.
"Ash, huh, hah, phone, I have to...take it, urg."
Perhaps hearing Karlyle this time, Ash, who has been sucking the nipples tenaciously, raises his eyes. Pheromone pierces Karlyle's nose. Karlyle gasps as the pheromone colors his brain.
Ash gets up. Looking at him getting up like retreating, feelings of relief or regret flood in. The bottom of his robe is slightly wet because of the genital that has started dripping fluid. Gasping while looking at Ash, Karlyle barely picks up his phone to answer the call.
"Karlyle Frost...speaking."
But Ash hasn't backed down.
[Good morning, director. I'm calling to confirm that you have a house visit scheduled in an hour. Do you want me to send a driver there?]
Ash gets up, grabs Karlyle's thighs and spreads them apart. Large hands support the back of his knees and push them up. Eyes wide open, Karlyle looks down. What...?
Their eyes meet. A strange smile returns to Ash's expressionless face. With drowsy but dangerous eyes, Ash lowers himself. Lowering his torso, Ash shoves his face into the gap between Karlyles legs. Then, his tongue...
"...!"
Since it was used last night, the tongue licks the loosely loose hole. He can hear squeaking sounds like tasting something delicious.
The tip of the tongue presses against the hole, straightening out the wrinkles around. Karlyle bites his lips, tightening his hand holding the phone. But he can't stop his hot breath from leaking.
"...hm...uhm."
[Director?]
His tongue flutters into the burning inner wall. The long, soft, slippery tongue moves in and out of the hole, making it tighten automatically. It's so shameful and good at the same time.
Karlyle is very shy about rimming. After they start dating, Ash doesn't really do rimming. For that reason, this is the first rimming in a long time.
"About, the driver..."
Karlyle continues speaking very slowly, fearing that he might moan. He tries to push Ash away by moving his legs, but it doesn't work. His fumbling hand grabs Ash's hair. But Ash's tongue stirs inside, making Karlyle involuntarily pull Ash towards him.
"No, need, to send...one...!"
It feels so good. No, not good, it's not good... Tears well up without stopping. Rubbing his red cheeks against the pillow, Karlyle bites his lips. A vein pops up on his neck. His feet under the struggling bottom keep trembling.
[Are you okay?]
The tongue grows faster and faster, mischievously. Water sound keeps ringing even though there is no lubricant. A moan rises to the top of his neck. Karlyle ends up hanging the phone. Barely pressing the end call button, his hand drops the cell phone.
"Huh, ah...ah! Uh, hic...!"
Why does it feel so good to be licked in the back? Why do I feel this way? Tears stream down his cheeks as a sense of shame soars. But he doesn't want to tell Ash to stop.
Head trembling, Karlyle bends his back. Noticing it, Ash pulls Karlyle's lower body close and pushes his tongue in as much as possible.
After a long time like that, Karlyle eventually climaxes with that alone. He is so easily excited under Ash's hand, to the point of ridicule if he says he used to have a period of orgasmic disorder. Now he gets excited and cums so fast.
Ash takes off his mouth as he watches Karlyle panting with his chest shaking hard. His fingers rub the glans that is spurting out semen. Hah, hah, Karlyle turns like wanting to run away. Ash quietly rubs it, then slowly blinks.
"Ah..."
I made a mistake. That's what Ash says. Karlyle looks up at him resentfully with watery eyes.
"Lyle..."
Even more than the last time, Ash ruffles his hair with a puzzled expression. Frowning, Ash shakes his head nervously and sighs.
"I'm sorry. I know you hate rimming. Just now..."
Ash licks his lips, head shaking. The chest, which is gasping violently, gradually subsides. Karlyle is silent. He tries to say that it's okay, but it's true that the situation just now is very embarrassing.
"Recently...you seem strange."
Karlyle finally speaks about what he has been feeling for the past few days. He can feel Ash's pheromone shaking nervously. Looking at him, Ash blinks. He looks very shocked.
"Lyle..."
"I...I'll go wash up."
To be honest, he doesn't hate it, he also feels it a lot. However, it's a little strange and awkward that Ash feels like a different person. With sex on the table as the starting point, Ash has taken a lot more drastic actions than before.
It's different from the day Ash made him cry by making him spill something close to urination. At that time, if it happened while both of them were excited, this time Karlyle feels like Ash is doing something difficult to handle from the beginning. Do I not like it? Do I hate it?
"Lyle, wait."
Ash follows him with an anxious look. After a few steps, Karlyle stops. Rubbing his cheek, he raises his eyes and looks at Ash. Not being able to touch him easily, Ash only looks at him, then closes his eyes and washes his face dry. Karlyle has been seeing this action from Ash a lot lately.
"Once again, I'm sorry. For a moment, I was out of my mind."
Karlyle hesitates. Rather than dislike it, it's just hard to handle. The feeling that sex has driven him crazy is still unfamiliar to Karlyle.
It makes him look like he is blinded by lust, which seems to make him an informal person. Maybe it doesn't matter to other people. But Karlyle feels awkward with himself.
"...It's fine."
"You are going to see the house later, right?"
Ash asks, lowering his eyes like being sorry. Karlyle's heart melts like snow at the seemingly weak look. He wants to hug Ash.
"That's right."
"Have a good visit."
Ash speaks to Karlyle in a resigned voice.
"I hope it'll be the one you like."
Saying that, Ash lets Karlyle go. Strangely heartbroken, Karlyle stands still and quietly watches Ash turn his back.
Has Ash's wish come true? The last house Karlyle went to see is perfect, nothing to complain about. Or it might look that way because Ash wasn't there to take a close look at it.
Karlyle steps forward slowly with eyes drooping. The sound of shoes echo hollowly on the marble floor. He doesn't remember them having a conflict since they started dating. Ash treats him carefully and gently. He also meets Karlyle's needs.
But Karlyle only makes Ash upset because sex makes him feel too good. Why did he make a fuss over rimming? It's not like that area has never been licked, and he has already done something worse.
Karlyle's heart gradually grows heavier. Depression floods out of control. Ash's words saying it would be nice to have a house he liked keeps ringing in his head.
Ash probably wants Karlyle out of his house, too. No wonder Ash thinks so, since the person wishing for it is Karlyle.
No matter how much he looks around the house, there's no reason not to buy it. The price is also reasonable. The swimming pool is of an adequate size, and the house is four stories high including the basement.
The size, design and location are perfect. It takes 20 minutes on foot to Ash's house, and only 5 minutes by car.
Karlyle told the secretary to put its name on the list, along with saying good work. He can buy it right away if he wants, but he has vague lingering feelings.
Sadly, it doesn't end there. Ash has not contacted him all afternoon. Like someone waiting for big news, Karlyle is on high alert the whole time. As he continuously looks for his cell phone, Alice finally opens her mouth.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Although Karlyle has heard his mother's most inner thoughts, she is still a difficult person to him. He shakes his head in a neat manner. But at the text that comes after that, Karlyle flinches and gropes his arm.
"It looks like the call you have been waiting for, take it."
"...Excuse me."
He should have said no, but Karlyle impatiently slips his hand inside his suit to confirm it. The text is from Ash. But the content is not what he expects.
[Sorry, Lyle. Can you sleep at your home tonight? Can you do that until the day after tomorrow?]
The sky seems to be falling. Karlyle's eyebrows furrow. His eyelashes tremble anxiously. Ash must be angry, too. Karlyle has no understanding and consideration at all.
If Ash says something like that, maybe it means that he has been considerate of Karlyle and accepting him until now. Aiden is right.
"Karlyle."
Alice's hand touches his shoulder. Karlyle sighs and lowers his gaze. Alice is looking at him. There is a faint of worry in her blue eyes.
"I don't know what is going on...but you can go back."
"I'm fine, mother."
Karlyle replies in an unconvinced voice. Alice shakes her head.
"Go in."
A firm voice. His heart is torn in several parts. Not only has he made Ash upset but he also makes his mother worried. Such a pathetic sight. Now that he has hit the bottom, he thought now he only had to go up, but he can't.
"They say tomorrow is Valentine's Day."
Unexpected words come out of Alice's mouth. Karlyle's mood, which has been plummeting, calms down for a moment.
"...Yes?"
"Have a good time with Mr. Jones. It's okay to just rest this week."
This is really something he didn't think of. Karlyle is perplexed. He didn't expect to hear that from his parents, not from anyone else. Perhaps Alice is embarrassed, too, she frowns at Karlyle and turns away first.
It is only after seeing the car that has been waiting in front of the yard depart that Karlyle begins to ponder her words.
He has never done anything for this kind of commercial anniversary. But he knows roughly what people do. The question is whether Ash will like it. How can he relieve Ash's mood, meanwhile he has to stay at his parents' house until the day after tomorrow...
He can't come up with any creative ways. Ash won't like gifts that cost too much. Karlyle's thoughts keep flowing, reaching the only acquaintance around him who he can ask this kind of thing.
[Have sex.]
There is only one thing Karlyle has to ask Aiden. Whether he has done anything for Valentine's Day. And Aiden returns only one vulgar sentence. Karlyle frowns.
[Is this a joke?]
[That's the best. Instead, you should do something you don't normally do.]
Karlyle has no intention of having such a private conversation with his sibling. Seeing no reply from Karlyle, Aiden starts talking on his own.
[This is cliche and childish, but it's surprisingly easy to put chocolate on your body. But which one of you two will do that?]
It's not even worth answering.
[You look like the serious type, but if you do what your partner usually wants but you can't do, that is the Valentine's Day gift. That is expensive advice, so keep that in mind.]
Karlyle tightens the phone in his arm. After that, there seems to be one or two more texts, but Karlyle doesn't reply. Similar to the previous texts, it's clear that Aiden is going to be nonsense.
He has been struggling for half a day, but the candidate for the gift is not good. Trying to ignore Aiden's forgettable words about sex, Karlyle recalls 34 roses, a watch and a dinner at Chelsea's most favorite restaurant recently.
It seems okay, but not very brilliant. But maybe that is the best for this year. He must study more about this in the future.
But if Karlyle plans this on his own, he has to know whether Ash has any schedule for tomorrow. If Ash has important things to do, it'll be hard to make an appointment.
After Karlyle replies that he has understood, Ash hasn't called until nightfall. Fear and worry keeps alternating. It's too difficult to sleep.
At 10 o'clock at night, Karlyle struggles to take a shower and go to bed. But it is in vain. There is no Ash by his side wishing him a good night so it feels like having insomnia.
His stomach aches as anxiety multiplies. The whole body seems to be on edge. The sound of clock ticking hit his ears to the point of being annoying. Enduring the slow passing of time is too painful. They didn't even fight, but it feels like something bad has happened.
Karlyle finally decides to change clothes. He wears only a simple wool sweater, formal trousers and a coat. Before heading to Ash's house, he has called him 3 times.
Ash still has picked up. Now he even has an ominous imagination that something might have happened. Needless to say, Ash has never avoided Karlyle's contact on his own. There was one time in the past when he didn't pick up, but he has a reason. They were not even dating at that time.
He knows it's rude to go to your lover's house at night. Ash usually sleeps well past dawn so this might make him upset. But Karlyle wants to make sure that Ash is okay even if he is hated. Otherwise, he might go crazy.
Worry overcomes fear. Worry has become fear to be exact. Making up his mind, Karlyle drives to Ash's house.
The lights in Ash's house are off. Only the garden is lit with orange light. Everything is quiet. A cold wind blows wildly, making the hem of his coat fluttered. Because he doesn't dress properly, the cold air penetrates him bitterly.
Karlyle enters the password at the front door. However, he needs a key to get inside Ash's house. In England, there are still far too many places where keys are used. He doesn't know if it's a classic preference, but there are many houses using such doors even after renovation.
Ash keeps a key under a stone in the garden for Karlyle. You need a password to enter the garden, so it isn't too dangerous. This is the first time Karlyle has exchanged keys in this way, so he feels strangely excited when doing this.
Karlyle turns and picks up the largest one among all the similar round stones. But there is no key under the small stone. It looks so empty and dark underneath.
What should he do?
He feels like he has messed something up. Karlyle looks at the stone for a long time with a shaky gaze. Maybe Ash doesn't even want him to come here? Karlyle is so sad that he stands still for a few minutes.
His courage has died down. But now he has come this far, he has to check on Ash's condition. The wind is getting stronger, messing up his hair. His cheeks turn red and frozen.
Standing in front of the door, Karlyle gently knocks on the door. It bothers him to ring the doorbell since the lights inside are all off. He wouldn't feel this way if they were living together.
Does it really take more than a year to reach that stage with Ash? What if they don't become like that after a year? What if Karlyle breaks up with Ash? An ominous thinking that he hasn't thought of for a while churns inside his stomach recklessly.
After politely knocking on the door three times, he lowers his hand weakly. If Ash is sick, will it be better to call an ambulance? If he knew what the hell was going on, he wouldn't feel this way.
When they get back together, Ash has fallen in love with him, but Karlyle feels sad that he has bothered Ash too much, he is also presumptuous. His hand rubs the door with a lingering regret.
5 minutes later, the door opens. Karlyle is contemplating whether to ring the doorbell. The temperature gradually drops, now he can't feel his ears. The moment his hand is about to ring the doorbell, the door swings open.
"...Lyle?"