Ebony Castle

Throughout the night, fierce winds rattled the window frame as if they were howling. Doha kept waking up because the bed was wide and cold. He pulled the heater closer to the bed and curled up, trying to fall asleep, but eventually, he ended up sitting in front of the fireplace with a blanket wrapped around him from the early hours of dawn.When he first arrived at the guest room, the small, piano-shaped ornament and a few thin books bound in old leather on the mantelpiece hadn’t been there. Doha picked up one of the books and, relying on the firelight, began flipping through the faded pages, reading poems printed on the worn paper. The light flickered softly over the black ink. The sharp yet blurry words traced the outlines of complex objects. In his muddled mind, the words crawled up separately, intertwining and coiling into strange shapes.His phone vibrated during London’s rush hour. Doha sluggishly rose to his feet, only when the call stopped and started ringing again, and grabbed his phone from the bed. He returned to the fireplace with the phone pressed to his ear.“Eden! Good morning!”Niklas’s voice was cheerful, piercing through layers of nightmares.“I saw your text! You’re still in Scotland?”“Yes.”“It must be tough, stuck there with that unlucky secretary and scary Tristan Locke!”It was similar to what Daniel had said. Doha, who had been eating delicious meals, sleeping warmly in a huge bed, and practicing the piano to his heart’s content thanks to everyone’s hospitality, found himself at a loss for words.Through the receiver, he could faintly hear a car honking. After saying, “Hold on,” Niklas pressed the horn long and hard before resuming as if nothing had happened.“The weather in London is no joke either. I went on a trip before Christmas, and Heathrow’s standard delay is a few hours. Lots of flights were canceled too. Be careful when you come back, Eden.”“…I’ll be here for a while longer. I’m thinking of heading back when the New Year comes and the weather clears. When the roads are safer.”“Well, today’s the 31st! Tomorrow’s New Year’s!”With cold fingers, Doha pulled back the curtains. Rubbing a small circle of clear space on the frost-covered glass, he saw the sky beyond, dark and tinged with purple. Niklas’s voice flowed into his ears, mingled with the noise of the city.“Every year, I get kind of depressed on this day. You know, like I wasted so much time over the year. None of the New Year’s resolutions I made around this time last year came true… What about you, Eden?”“…I don’t know.”“Still, looking back, this year was kind of a turning point for me. I finished my backpacking trip, got a job! Next year will be even more fun, right?”“I hope so.”“Oh, by the way, since you’re not in London, you’ll miss the fireworks tonight, huh?”Doha had forgotten that there was a fireworks festival for New Year’s Eve. Niklas, too excited to wait for an answer, continued speaking.“My friends booked tickets for Waterloo Bridge! It’s going to be packed, right?”“Yeah. Be careful not to get trampled.”“I will!”After that, the line went quiet, and Doha thought it must have just been a casual check-in. His unfocused gaze settled on the chair by the fireplace and the thin poetry book he had placed on it. The letters embossed in gold on the cover reflected the fire’s glow in a dark, golden hue. His sleep-deprived head ached.Then, Niklas unexpectedly spoke again.“Oh, by the way, Mr. Richard said he’d like to see you sometime in January.”“…Richard?”“Yeah. He said he’d like you to come to the company.”The awkward shift in conversation made it obvious that this was the real reason for the call. Doha rested his elbows on the window sill and gave a short nod.“Alright.”“He’s curious about how your hand is doing… He said he misses hearing you play the piano. By the way, did you know your contract renewal is in early February?”“…Ah.”“You must’ve been too busy to notice, huh? It’s been three years since you signed. Mr. Richard only remembered recently too.”“……”There was no way Richard Evans was that absent-minded. It all made sense now—the indifference and leisurely attitude Richard had shown recently. If Doha’s hand recovered soon enough to resume activities next year, they would renew the contract; otherwise, they would probably discard him like a burdensome problem.A suffocating sense of dread welled up, rendering Doha momentarily speechless. Without a management company, there wasn’t much he could do on his own. Even he realized that no prestigious management company would bother keeping a pianist who had to travel to Scotland multiple times a month just to use his hand properly. Doha’s condition was his own burden to bear, and it was true that his absence over the past six months had caused losses for Richard and the company.“I understand, Niklas.”“Yeah. Even if it’s late January, that’s fine… Just let me know when you’re ready.”It was a thinly veiled command to come to the company for an audition before February. Perhaps the humiliating request was an indirect way of prompting him to initiate the contract termination himself. Doha stifled a sigh and replied.“I’ll get in touch.”“Alright. Happy New Year in advance, Eden!”“Happy New Year.”Niklas hung up, his voice noticeably lighter with relief. Doha set his phone down on the window ledge and gazed out at the forest, which was beginning to brighten as dawn broke. Snow had started falling silently from the now lighter sky.Looking back, a few years ago, he used to meticulously plan out every day at the end of the year. His calendar had been filled with recital and competition dates. How young and arrogant he had been back then. He had believed that if he just worked hard, everything would go exactly as planned.This year, he simply watched the snow pile up in the woods, wishing that, by some stroke of luck, he would still be playing the piano somewhere next year at this time. If that future were dependent on any amount of effort, he hoped he could give every last bit of it, leaving no regrets behind.***He could hear raised voices from the open kitchen, and thought Jean might be talking to someone, but it turned out his conversation partner was Ulysses.“Leaving all that delicious food behind!”Whine.“You think if you look at me like that, I’ll give you a piece?”When Doha stopped at the threshold, both Ulysses and Jean turned to look at him. Jean, who had been slicing something on a large cutting board, softened his previously harsh expression.“You’re up early again today. Did you sleep well?”“Yes. …What happened? Did he do something wrong?”Doha crouched down to hug Ulysses, who had run up to him. Before Ulysses could lick Doha’s hand, Jean answered as if tattling.“He grabbed the dish towel hanging on the drawer and tore it up. When I came down this morning, the kitchen was a complete mess with torn-up towel pieces everywhere.”“He must have been really bored.”With the recent weather, Ulysses had been spending more time indoors, and perhaps he was feeling restless. Doha appreciated the warmth of the dog’s body against his chilly skin. He sat down on a stool at the counter and stroked Ulysses’ soft ears.Jean pushed aside the carrots he’d been chopping and moved on to slicing onions, letting out a scoffing sound.“If you’d seen the disaster, Eden, you wouldn’t be siding with the mutt. I mean, there’s plenty of space in this big house, so why come all the way to the kitchen to destroy a dish towel?”“…….”Doha was almost impressed by how smart Ulysses was for causing trouble while being fully aware of his place in the house hierarchy, but he stayed silent. The kitchen was filled with the warm steam and sharp scent of onions. The windows were fogged up, obscuring the view outside.Jean placed the finely chopped vegetables into a bowl and washed his hands. Soon, a steaming espresso cup was set in front of Doha.“Ah, thank you.”“Drink up and wake yourself up a bit. Anything you’d like for breakfast?”“I’m fine with just this. I was planning to head to the hall for some practice after finishing it.”The coffee in the small cup was black and strong. Doha had gotten used to the strong brew thanks to Jean, who served it daily. After taking a sip and lowering the cup, Jean turned around with concern in his voice.“Still, it’s better to have a meal before practicing, isn’t it? Locke already ate earlier. It would’ve been nice if you had joined him.”“Ah…”Just then, Ulysses made a loud munching sound, giving Doha a convenient excuse to look down and avoid answering. The dog was happily chomping on a large carrot piece. It seemed Ulysses had successfully coaxed a treat out of Jean.Doha stroked the dog’s fur as he silently composed himself. Hearing Tristan’s name made it feel as if the air had been sucked out of his lungs.Jean stretched and yawned as he spoke.“By the way, Locke said he’s taking the dog for a walk by the lake. Did you know there’s a lake nearby? I can’t leave because I’ve got things in the oven, but how about joining him? It’ll be good exercise.”“…By the lake.”Doha slowly replied while looking down at Ulysses, who was happily chewing on the carrot.“Going there again with Locke… I’d rather not.”“Why?”Jean asked, and Doha just shook his head. The vivid memory of being stuck in the mud by the water and feeling the fear of death was still too fresh.Doha finished his espresso. He walked to the large sink, washed the small cup, and left it upside down to dry.“Jean, thanks for the coffee. I’ll be on my way….”It was then that he noticed the delicious smell coming from the frying pan on the stove. Jean, expertly stirring its contents, spoke to the man standing at the kitchen doorway.“Oh, Locke. Why did you bring the tray down? I could have gone up to get it.”Without realizing, Doha stood up straight. He had grown used to how Tristan’s eyes always seemed to find him, no matter what room they were in. When they were together, it always felt as if the world around them disappeared, leaving just the two of them.But now, the man standing at the threshold wasn’t even looking at him. Wearing a black coat, Tristan placed the tray down with a short reply.“I came to look for the dog.”Ulysses immediately abandoned his carrot and rushed over to Tristan’s feet, sensing a walk coming from his owner’s outdoor clothes.“Oh, speaking of which…”Jean, oblivious to the tension, asked Tristan seriously.“Why not take Eden with you as well? He spends all day sitting while practicing, and he should get some exercise too, even if he says he doesn’t like the lake.”At last, Tristan’s gaze returned to Doha. He gave him a brief once-over, from head to toe, as Doha stood by the sink with wet hands.Doha opened his mouth, about to refuse. He was hoping to speak first before Tristan could reject the idea. But before he could say anything, Tristan had already looked away, turning with Ulysses at his heels. Just as he stepped out of the kitchen, Tristan spoke over his shoulder.“Come with us.”“…….”“Have breakfast and get ready.”His tone left no room for refusal. Doha watched as Tristan disappeared down the hallway. The lingering taste of coffee in his mouth had turned sour and bitter.***Crunch, crunch. The fresh snow beneath their shoes crunched with each step. The white path between the trees was already dotted with Ulysses’ paw prints from running ahead.It wasn’t exactly walking the dog. Every now and then, as they strolled down the gently sloping forest path, Ulysses would race back to them, look up expectantly, and then dash off again. His golden fur would flit between the black tree trunks, appearing and disappearing.“…….”Doha rubbed his cold nose with a gloved hand. Thanks to the thick padding that Tristan had lent him, he wasn’t cold, but his exposed face was starting to feel numb. They had been walking for over twenty minutes. The straight-backed man a few steps ahead of him hadn’t spoken a word the entire time.The sound of birds chirping close by, mixed with the distant barking of Ulysses, broke the silence. The path began to twist and narrow.“…Ah.”Rounding the corner, the scene that emerged was not a meadow as Doha had half-expected. It was a vast, frozen lake, blanketed in snow. Beneath the brilliant blue ice, white cracks snaked across like veins. It was a picture-perfect winter landscape.Woof!Ulysses, who had been sniffing around the lakeshore, ran up excitedly, rubbing his snow-covered nose against Doha’s leg.“…It’s not dangerous, is it?”In a quiet voice, Doha asked the dog, worried that the ice on the lake might crack and Ulysses could fall into the water. As he carefully wiped the snow off Ulysses’s black nose, Tristan answered in his place.“It’s fine. He’s too cautious. Even if left alone, he doesn’t stray far.”Just as Tristan said, Ulysses stayed near the edge of the lake. Occasionally, he would gingerly place a paw on the ice, but he was more interested in the small plants poking through the snow or the soil along the shore.After pausing for a moment, Tristan stepped onto the path that encircled the lake. Doha, slightly delayed, hurried to catch up with him. Thanks to the widened path, they didn’t have to walk in a straight line, so Doha followed a few steps behind. Sometimes, when Tristan slowed down or Doha’s steps quickened, it almost felt like they were walking side by side.“Are you cold?” Tristan asked calmly, without turning around. Doha, staring at his broad back, responded.“I’m fine.”The strong coffee he’d downed after a restless night was making his heart race. The cold winter air felt sharp and refreshing against his flushed cheeks.Bark!Suddenly, Ulysses, who had been trailing behind, bolted past them. His swift movement suggested he was chasing something.“Oh.”From the corner of the lake that had seemed empty, there was a sudden flurry of wings. A pair of large swans, hidden in the snow, took to the air to escape, their wings spreading wide. Ulysses, excited, barked repeatedly as the birds elegantly soared across the lake.“There are swans in the lake too.”Doha muttered in amazement. Tristan’s gaze turned towards him, and his clear eyes lingered briefly on Doha’s face.“Do you hear that?”“…Yes.”Even from afar, they could hear the swans’ calls. The sound was deeper and more resounding than expected, like brass instruments.“Those swans aren’t native to Scotland. They only come across the sea during the winter.”“Where from?”“Judging by their markings, they look like whooper swans. They probably came from Iceland.”Iceland—Doha imagined the distant, northern land. Even by plane, it would take hours to reach. As he pondered the map in his mind, he stepped through the deep snow.“Do they return to Iceland in the spring?”He asked, watching the swans flapping their wings in the distance. Tristan resumed walking and answered nonchalantly.“They usually leave around April. They spend the warmer months there and return once winter comes again, often with their young if they’ve had any.”“To the same place every year?”“Barring any unusual circumstances, yes. …Is that fascinating to you?”“Yes.”It was fascinating that the swans could travel over a thousand kilometers without maps or compasses, crossing the sea. Equally fascinating was Tristan Locke’s knowledge of migratory birds. Sensing Doha’s curiosity, Tristan, still looking across the lake, spoke calmly.“Migration is instinctual for birds. Even migratory birds in captivity tremble and grow restless when it’s time to leave. In German, they call that urge to migrate ‘Zugunruhe,’ the longing to move.”Ulysses, having grown tired of watching the swans, went back to sniffing the tree trunks. The crunching of small branches beneath his paws echoed pleasantly through the snowy forest.“It must be a grueling journey. Flying through countless nights without rest or food, searching for a place to land… I can’t imagine letting Ulysses hunt them after all that.”Doha thought the comment sounded unusually sentimental for Tristan. The sound of footsteps ahead stopped. When Doha turned away from the swans, Tristan Locke was standing right beside him.Those gray eyes, which hadn’t even glanced at him that morning, were now looking directly into his. He stood so close that Doha could have touched him by simply extending an arm.Doha, avoiding those striking, beautiful eyes, lowered his gaze to Tristan’s scarf and coat buttons.He could feel Tristan’s gaze lingering on his downcast face. Doha opened his mouth and, with short breaths, tried to speak.“You seem to know a lot about birds….”“……”His voice wavered. Tristan gave no response. In the distance, the swans called out again, and the wind whispered through the slender trees. The cold breeze brushed against Doha’s flushed cheeks.“Your nose is turning red from the cold,” Tristan murmured, his voice low and soft. His gloved hand lightly touched the tip of Doha’s nose.Without thinking, Doha took a step back. Slowly, gently, Tristan closed the distance once more. Another step back, and another.“Ah-.”Doha’s back hit a tree trunk, the impact surprising him. He looked up, startled, only to meet Tristan Locke’s eyes, which were now right in front of him. He could have stepped around the tree to escape, but his body felt frozen in place.Tristan’s voice was quiet, rough at the edges, and he looked resigned in a way.“Why do you make me feel like this…?”His cold, gloved fingers brushed Doha’s chin, then cupped his cheek. Slowly, Tristan’s face inched closer.“…Ugh…”As their lips met, Doha closed his eyes, dizzy with the sensation.Cool and soft. Tristan’s hand steadied Doha’s slipping body, his large hand moving from Doha’s cheek to cradle his ear, fingers threading through his hair. Tristan’s lips pulled back briefly, only to return more insistently.“Mm-.”As Doha’s frozen lips thawed from Tristan’s warmth, the kiss became more intense. Tristan’s hand gripped Doha’s chin, and his body was pressed between the tree and Tristan’s chest. His heated tongue explored Doha’s mouth, leaving no corner untouched, possessively rubbing against every part of him.“Mm, ugh…”Doha, gasping for air, raised his hand in protest, but Tristan pinned it down. Struggling for breath, Doha tapped Tristan’s hand with his fingers.“I… can’t… breathe…”His words were swallowed by Tristan’s mouth. Tristan finally pulled back, and a sharp sound echoed between them.Gasping for air, Doha opened his eyes, only to meet Tristan’s smoldering gray gaze. Tristan filled his vision entirely, the world around them glowing white. His heart pounded, and his tongue tingled, rendering him speechless.“Mr. Locke…”He wasn’t listening. Tristan had taken off one of his gloves and was now cupping Doha’s cheek, gently tapping his nose with his thumb. His reddened lips curled slightly into a faint smile.“Is your nose stuffed up, making it hard to breathe?”His voice was low and sweet. Doha nodded, and Tristan pressed his lips lightly to Doha’s reddened nose. After a quick kiss, his lips moved to the bridge of Doha’s nose. As he cupped Doha’s face with his long fingers, his lips gently pressed between his eyebrows.“Mr. Locke—”It felt like there was a bird flapping its wings inside his stomach. Unable to hold back, Doha closed his eyes, and his chin was lifted as Tristan’s lips met his once again. This time, there was no warning. Tristan bit down on Doha’s parted lips and pushed his tongue into his mouth. The kiss was skilled and domineering, leaving no room for Doha to respond.Even in the haze of the kiss, Doha remembered that this was the first time in a long while he’d had any direct contact with his Neim partner. When Tristan momentarily pulled away, Doha instinctively licked and swallowed the lingering saliva on his lips.Woof!Just as their lips met again, a distant bark from Ulysses echoed. Doha was suddenly reminded that they had been on a walk just moments ago.“Wait a second…”Doha twisted his body, gently pushing Tristan away. This time, Tristan let him go without a fight.“…Ulysses… What’s he holding? Is he trying to take that?”Ulysses approached, wagging his tail, with a dirt-covered pinecone in his mouth. Doha, trying to regain his senses, bent down, but Ulysses, as if aware, turned his head to the side.“We have plenty of them at home on the tree, don’t we? Is that really what you want?”Doha stood up after a few failed attempts to take the pinecone from Ulysses, who was now covered in both snow and dirt. Tristan, having put his glove back on, spoke.“Shall we head home now?”“…Yes.”Tristan reached out and kindly helped adjust Doha’s disheveled clothes. He brushed the bark off Doha’s back and zipped his coat all the way back up to his neck. His face was calm, as if nothing had happened.“…Thank you.”Doha’s legs felt weak, and he found himself lagging behind as Tristan started walking again. Ulysses, having had his fun, trotted alongside Tristan, still clutching the pinecone in his mouth. His tail swayed lazily.As the lake faded behind them, Doha’s heartbeat finally began to return to normal. Entering the forest, Tristan glanced back at Doha following behind and asked,“What were you planning to practice today?”His voice was the usual low and calm tone. Doha recalled the stack of sheet music waiting next to the piano and responded,“Sight-reading, like yesterday… and I should decide on a piece for the audition.”Despite feeling detached from reality, with London seeming to blur, Doha was aware that the end of January was fast approaching. Although he could choose a piece from his old repertoire, it seemed necessary to present new pieces to convince Richard.“Audition?”Tristan’s voice was light, but Doha hesitated, recalling how quickly his mood had shifted yesterday.“My contract with the management company ends in early February. Whether I renew it or look for a new company… I need to show what direction I want to take as a performer.”“I see.”As the path widened, Doha walked beside him for ease of conversation. Talking about the phone call with Niklas seemed to ease the weight of his worries slightly. Ulysses, sniffing around, gradually fell behind. After listening quietly for a moment, Tristan spoke.“There aren’t many prestigious classical management companies out there.”“Right.”“If you want proper support, you’ll need to be with a good company. You must have a lot on your mind.”“Yes. It would be good to use this opportunity to switch companies, but… that’s easier said than done. It would have helped if I had built a broader network while I was actively performing.”“That’s not something you’re particularly good at, is it?”There was an inevitable trace of amusement in Tristan’s voice. Doha, who had been looking down at the snowy path, glanced at his profile. The sky had cleared to a light blue, and the winter forest felt peaceful and warm.As they neared the mansion’s towering chimneys, Tristan spoke again.“Given the situation, it’s a shame.”“…What?”Doha looked at him without suspicion, confused by his calm tone. With a slight frown between his eyebrows, Tristan explained,“It seems your practice schedule will be disrupted for a while.”“…What?”Just as Doha was about to ask what he meant, the mansion’s front door opened. It appeared Hazel had spotted them from the window and had come out to greet them. Ulysses quickly ran ahead, surrendering the pinecone and receiving a scolding for how dirty he was. Meanwhile, Tristan and Doha reached the front steps.“Welcome back.”Hazel glanced up while wiping down Ulysses with a towel.“How was your walk, Eden? I turned the heater on in the dining hall.”“Ah, thank you.”The warm air of the mansion greeted Doha as he brushed off the snow and removed his shoes. His frozen feet ached as he curled his toes, and he looked up at Tristan, uncertain of what to say.“I’ll go ahead and… start practicing.”His plan was to stop by the kitchen for a hot cup of tea and then head to his practice room. He half-hoped Tristan might join him later or check in on him in the afternoon, but he knew he couldn’t expect that.“Hmm.”Tristan made a slightly troubled expression and, after circling around Ulysses, stepped into the front hall. He softly grasped Doha’s wrist with his bare hand.“How about going up to the third floor first, before practicing?”“…The third floor?”“It’ll be easier to practice if your hands are moving well.”Before Doha could fully understand the suggestion, Tristan was already leading him up the first step of the staircase. Ulysses, still caught up in Hazel’s towel, let out a short bark as they left him behind. Without thinking, Doha tried to move his hand, only to realize that Tristan’s fingers had tightened their grip on his wrist.Doha looked up in surprise, meeting his eyes.“……”The moment Doha saw the crazed look in his eyes, he understood the situation perfectly. It felt like his pulse was racing through his wrist.“Mr. Locke, you haven’t even had lunch yet…”His words came out tangled, like his tongue had tripped over itself. The sun was still high in the sky. Soon, Jean would call them for lunch, and there was still practice and rehab left for the day.“Also, it’s not even the night of the first…”He didn’t respond. Instead, he tightened his grip on Doha’s arm and silently pulled him up the stairs.There was no way to resist the overwhelming difference in strength. Doha glanced back at Hazel, who was staring up from the first floor with a dazed expression, before being helplessly dragged up the stairs.***When the bathroom door opened, Doha was lying uncomfortably at the farthest end of the bed, far from the door. The man paused in the doorway, noticing Doha, and asked with a puzzled expression.“Why are you all the way over there?”“……”Doha quickly tried to sit up but stopped. The sight before him made his mind go blank for a moment. Sunlight poured in waves from the bathroom, cutting through the artificial darkness created by the drawn curtains. There, standing in the golden light, was Tristan Locke, steam rising from his bare skin like mist.Water clung to his hair, and his elegant face was dotted with moisture. His eyes, which had seemed wild and untamed earlier, now looked calm and restrained, as if the shower had washed away his earlier desire. Doha felt a wave of relief, seeing that Tristan had regained his composure, and he shifted slightly away from the edge of the bed.“Jean called on your phone earlier.”“Did he?”Tristan, calmly drying his hair with a towel, asked in a steady voice.“Yes. I didn’t answer, but I think he was probably calling to ask about lunch.”Doha wondered if, now that Tristan had calmed down, he might suggest they go downstairs for lunch. With that thought, he began to sit up, still half-covered by the blanket. Unlike Tristan, who stood in his towel, Doha had already put on a robe after his own shower.After finishing with his hair, Tristan tossed the large white towel into a basket in the bathroom and shut the door. The room grew darker, save for a single beam of sunlight slipping in under the door.“You closed the curtains, I see.”Tristan glanced at the tightly drawn curtains as he spoke.“Yes, it was too bright outside.”Still, bits of light filtered through the cracks, filling the room with a tranquil golden hue, perfect for an afternoon nap. It felt strange to be sitting in bed again so soon after getting up that morning.Repeating, “Too bright, huh?” Tristan laughed softly, his eyes narrowing.“You always surprise me with how conservative you are. Do you only have sex when it’s dark?”“……”Doha had wanted to retort that it was common sense, not conservatism, but seeing Tristan’s smiling face, he couldn’t quite bring himself to speak.With a soft sigh, Tristan sat down on the mattress with his back to Doha, slowly shifting further into the bed. The air between them grew thick with the humid, hot scent of water. A faint, dry woody smell from the shower oil clung to Tristan’s body, mixing with his natural scent, complex and slightly bitter.“……”The space between their bodies gradually narrowed. Doha took a silent breath and pressed his lips together. His heartbeat thudded precariously high, right under his throat.Tristan’s gaze traced slowly up from Doha’s fingers, to his hands, to the inside of his arm resting on the bed. At the same time, Tristan’s arm brushed lightly against the blanket covering Doha.“Ah!”Their eyes met, and in that instant, Doha’s body was yanked out from under the blanket. A large hand grabbed his jaw, forcing their lips together in a rough kiss.“Mm, uh…”Doha’s back slammed against the headboard. Instinctively, he grabbed at Tristan’s shoulders as if to push him away, but the heat and firmness of his muscles made him recoil, like he’d been burned. In Tristan’s eyes, wild desire flared again, as untamed as a beast’s.Doha, lost in a hazy panic, wondered how things had spiraled like this. Just a moment ago, the atmosphere had been so different.“Ah…”A large hand slipped behind his head, cradling the back of his skull where it had hit the headboard. Tristan’s tongue invaded his mouth, exploring with raw intensity.“Hm, ah…”A shiver ran down Doha’s spine, a trembling that started at his tailbone and spread through his body, leaving him disoriented and overwhelmed. He tried to speak between the kisses, but each time, his words were swallowed by Tristan’s tongue, silencing him.“What’s wrong?”Finally, Tristan spoke. Doha opened his eyes, having squeezed them shut, and saw Tristan toss something off the bed. It was his robe.“Do you have something to say?”“…No, uh…!”Tristan’s grip tightened, one hand firmly squeezing the soft flesh of Doha’s hip. The pressure seemed to make Tristan exhale a low, restrained breath, as if fighting to control himself.He flipped Doha over onto his stomach on the bed, his large hands kneading and grasping Doha’s hips with such intensity that the pale skin turned red. Pulling Doha’s hips apart, Tristan ran his thumb roughly over the exposed area. Doha felt himself involuntarily clenching, only for the muscles to relax again under the pressure.“Ah, hnng…”With his forehead pressed against the headboard, Doha bit back a groan. There was no sign that Tristan intended to give him much time to adjust. Fear crept in, growing steadily with each moment. He knew he needed to relax, but his body wouldn’t listen.When Tristan couldn’t easily insert his fingers, he stood up, leaving Doha momentarily. Soon after, a cold, viscous liquid poured between his hips. It was an uncharacteristically hurried motion for Tristan.“Mr. Locke.”Doha, gripped by fear, reached out, fumbling for Tristan’s arm. His voice trembled as he called his name again, twice more. Tristan, still focused on his movements, briefly responded.“Yes.”“…Please, try to stay rational…”His voice shook. Doha swallowed hard and forced himself to continue.“Not saying anything… it makes me anxious.”