CHAPTER 36: WHERE DOES IT GO?

[Leif’s Chamber—Continuation—Leif’s Pov]

His words still rang in my ears. Tonight is going to be longer.

Longer? What was that even supposed to mean? ...the kind of "longer" that made my legs tremble like jelly and my bathrobe feel far too thin?

Alvar’s breath ghosted across my ear as he leaned in, his voice low and maddeningly calm. "Why are you trembling, Leif? ... Are you scared of me?"

Scared? Ha. No. Well—yes. Maybe. Okay, fine, definitely.

I gulped, gripping the hem of my robe tighter. "N-no. I-I’m not scared. Just... cold. Yep. Very cold. Freezing, actually. Frostbite-level."

His smirk deepened as his hand brushed over my bare knee, his touch scorching hot—utterly ruining my excuse.

"Cold?" he murmured. "Strange... because to me, you feel like fire."

. . .

. . .

My brain stopped functioning. Fire?! Excuse me—who just casually says things like that?!

"I-I think you need your eyes checked," I stammered, trying to scoot back. "I’m not fire; I’m more like... um... soggy bread. Very safe. Very un-threatening."

He tilted his head, amused. "Soggy bread doesn’t blush this much."

My face burned hotter, and I swatted his arm. "Stop saying embarrassing things!"

But he only chuckled, catching my wrist mid-swat and holding it firmly, his gaze burning into me. "Then stop looking at me like that."

"I—I’m not looking at you any special way!" I squeaked.

"Yes, you are," he whispered, his lips so close I felt his breath when he spoke. "Every time your eyes wander... every time you bite your lip to hold back words... you look at me like I’m already yours."

. . .

. . .

"Are you not?" I asked.

For a heartbeat, silence stretched. His lashes lowered, then his lips curved into that dangerous, lazy smirk of his. In one fluid motion, he stood and tugged me up by the hand. My chest collided with his, his arm sliding around my waist until there wasn’t even a breath of space between us.

There is officially 0.0 inches of personal space. The emergency exits are blocked.

"I am yours," he said softly, eyes glinting like molten gold, "and you’re mine. Since we belong to each other..." His fingers brushed the nape of my neck, lingering there, sending sparks down my spine. "...why don’t we mark each other? Can I, Leif?"

My breath hitched.

My brain screamed. Warning: the male lead belongs to someone else in the script; abort mission! But my heart? My traitorous heart kicked my brain straight out the window.

"Yes..." The word came out barely above a whisper. "...you can."

He smirked, slow and dangerous, and then in a second his lips were on mine.

At first, it was soft—almost unbearably tender. His mouth brushed mine like I was fragile glass, coaxing me open with patience I didn’t deserve. My eyes fluttered shut, my fingers curling helplessly against his chest.

The soft press of his lips drew a shaky sigh from me, and when he deepened the kiss just slightly, a soft "mmm..." slipped out before I could stop it.

His hand slid up the back of my neck, tilting my head. And then—everything changed. The kiss turned rough and hungry. His lips crashed over mine, demanding, devouring.

My body jolted, a muffled "Ah—mmhh—" spilling out as he pressed me back.

I tried to breathe, but he swallowed the sound greedily, kissing me harder, deeper, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, tasting me, owning me. My knees gave way beneath me until, without realizing, my back thudded against the wall near the fire hearth. The heat of the flames licked my skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat of him.

"Mmh—ahhh..." The moan slipped helplessly past my lips, our mouths still connected by a slick string of saliva when I finally pushed him away with my weak, trembling hands.

"Hahh... Al...var..." I gasped, chest heaving, lips swollen.

He looked down at me, eyes dark, predatory and yet maddeningly calm. "... What’s the matter? Was I too slow?"

I froze, brain short-circuiting. "...S-slow?" My voice cracked as my hands pressed against his bare chest, feeling the muscles twitch beneath my touch.

I blinked up at him, dumbfounded. "You were devouring me like a beast who hasn’t eaten in days—and you call that slow?"

He smirked, teeth flashing, and bent low enough to nip my cheek. "Because... I’m still hungry for you, my love."

A shiver shot straight down my spine, my knees knocking.

"Ahh—" I gasped when his tongue licked the side of my neck, wet heat followed by a sharp nip. My breath hitched, another shameless "Mmh... ahh..." tumbling free.

His mouth kept working down my neck—sucking, nipping, tasting every inch as if memorizing me. Each time his teeth grazed me, I jolted, a desperate moan breaking past. "Ahh—Alvar... mmhh—"

Meanwhile, the other hand found the knot of my robe. In one effortless tug, it came loose, and with a slow slide of his big palm, the fabric slipped off my shoulder.

I flinched, every nerve in my body sparking as the robe slid away completely—falling like water to the floor.

"Hah... hah..." My chest heaved.

My hands twitched uselessly, trying to cover myself, but it was pointless. I was—completely naked in front of him.

His gaze burned into me, sweeping down every inch of exposed skin. For a terrifying heartbeat, I thought I’d combust under the weight of it.

He leaned in, teeth grazing my ear, his breath hot as he whispered, "Am I doing it right?"

A shiver ran through me so hard I nearly collapsed. My voice trembled, "Y-yes... but..."

His hand pressed flat against my chest, warm and large, thumb brushing across my pounding heart. His eyes didn’t move from me—hungry, possessive, as if I were prey already caught in his claws.

"But?" he echoed, tone low, amused, and dangerous.

My throat bobbed, words stuttering out. "It’s... it’s unfair. I—I’m all naked and you—you’re still wearing... pajamas..."

For a moment, he blinked at me. And then—he chuckled. Low and deep, the sound rumbled through his chest as his hands slid down to grip my waist tighter. Before I could react, he pulled me flush against him, no gap left between our bodies. I gasped, heat roaring through me.

In one smooth, frighteningly easy motion, he scooped me up into his arms. My arms instinctively clung around his neck, legs trembling in the air.

"D-don’t just lift me like that!" I yelped, face burning.

"Why not?" His smirk widened as his lips brushed my cheek. "You fit perfectly in my arms, Leif. You were made to be carried like this."

My heart did a dangerous flip, stomach twisting. "Y-you’re insane—"

"Mm," he hummed, his voice dark velvet against my ear. "Then let me drive you insane with me."

He shifted me higher against his chest, my bare skin pressed into the heat of him. I could feel the ridges of muscle through the thin fabric of his pajama pants.

"Don’t worry..." he murmured, pressing a kiss just below my jaw, "...you’ll be seeing the complete me soon enough."

A violent shiver tore through me, heat curling low in my stomach, every nerve sparking with dangerous anticipation. And then—before I could even catch my breath—he lifted me higher and tossed me gently onto the bed. My body bounced once on the mattress, my heart lurching with it.

He leaned over me, caging me in with his arms. The firelight carved his bare chest into shadows and ridges, his eyes devouring me like I was already his feast.

"Now..." His voice dropped, rough and commanding. "Tell me, Leif... how do two men pleasure each other?"

My entire face went up in flames. His smirk deepened as he studied my every flinch, clearly enjoying this more than he should.

But for the first time since I became Lief—hell, maybe in both lifetimes—I desperately missed the internet. Pornhub. Google. Literally anything.

"I—I mean..." My voice cracked as his weight pressed just enough to remind me how helplessly pinned I was. "...just... like normal people do sex. Men... do the same way too..."

"Mm." His gaze traveled down my body, slow and unhurried, like a lion savoring every inch of prey before sinking its teeth in. His hand traced over my chest, down my stomach, smoothly, making me tremble and squirm.

Then his eyes locked with mine again. Hungry. Serious.

"I have read books," he murmured, voice husky, "about men and women." He leaned closer, lips grazing the shell of my ear, sending lightning through me. "But..."

His breath was hot. His words were blunt.

"...where will I put my cock inside?"

"—!"

My entire brain short-circuited. I froze. Staring at him. Trembling under his heat, my mouth opened and closed like a dying fish.

WHERE. WHERE. WHERE.

Somebody—please—BRING THE DAMN INTERNET TO THIS WORLD!!!

The silence stretched, thick with my panic and his deadly calm curiosity. My lips twitched, my body squirmed, and I realized with horror... Tomorrow, the history books would not remember me as a ruler, not as a hero.

They would remember me as the man who had to explain gay sex to the Grand Duke—aka—Male lead of this damn Novel.