Wenzhi settled back comfortably, still straddling Xinyuan and pressed right against him.

A smile threatened to escape him. Especially when Xinyuan was looking at him like that.

Those warm brown eyes had softened again. Needier than before.

Wenzhi gripped his shoulder tightly. "Are you going to start crying if I decline your request, sleeping beauty?"

Xinyuan laughed softly. "You aren’t leaving," he whispered.

Wenzhi became painfully aware that he really wasn’t. Not anymore. "You shouldn’t let your brother push you to the edge like this."

"Well," Xinyuan said lightly, "I am sensitive."

His gaze dropped to Wenzhi’s lips.

Wenzhi noticed immediately.

Their eyes met again.

Neither looked away.

"You are sensitive too," Xinyuan added quietly.

"I’m human." Wenzhi rolled his eyes. But he didn’t pull back.

That only made Xinyuan smile. "You don’t deny it."

His hand remained around Wenzhi’s waist while his other hand lifted slowly, fingertips brushing along the side of Wenzhi’s neck. Tracing his freckles. Following familiar paths.

Their breaths mingled, close enough to feel.

"You talk too much." Wenzhi exhaled heavily. His body was reacting far too easily.

Their wavelengths drifted together, wrapping around each other in a way that felt natural now.

His grip tightened on Xinyuan’s shoulder.

Xinyuan’s fingers drifted lower. Across his collarbone. Across his chest.

Wenzhi’s lips parted.

Before he could say anything, Xinyuan leaned forward and kissed him.

The kiss wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t patient either. It felt like someone starving finally being offered food.

Wenzhi immediately felt the desperation. The relief. The need. His fingers dug into Xinyuan’s shoulders as he kissed him back, trying to keep up. Trying not to get lost in it.

Xinyuan deepened the kiss like he could never get enough. Like he needed proof that Wenzhi was really here.

The room seemed to disappear around them leaving behind only warmth. Their breaths, heartbeats and the familiar pull of their wavelengths.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing harder, Wenzhi’s eyes looked dazed.

Xinyuan stared at him with a satisfied and smug smile. He leaned forward again, pressing another slower kiss against his mouth.

This time he wasn’t devouring. This time he was savoring.

Wenzhi hated how easily his heart responded. How easily his body responded.

Every touch felt amplified. Every breath felt heavier.

His pulse raced. His thoughts scattered.

Xinyuan’s hold around his waist tightened. Anchoring him there.

Keeping him close. Keeping him exactly where he wanted him.

Eventually Xinyuan broke the kiss again.

Wenzhi’s lips were flushed. His breathing uneven.

Xinyuan watched him for a long moment and leaned closer until his lips brushed against Wenzhi’s ear.

His voice dropped into a rough whisper. "You are so fucking beautiful, freckles."

Wenzhi stared at him. His freckled face was flushed from the kiss and those words.

Xinyuan looked entirely too pleased with himself. A smile played on his lips, dimples appearing as he watched Wenzhi.

For some reason, that smile sent goosebumps racing down Wenzhi’s spine.

He parted his lips. "You shouldn’t look at me like that."

Xinyuan blinked. His expression immediately turned confused. "Like what?"

Wenzhi held his gaze for a moment before answering in a dry voice that completely failed to match how flustered he looked. "Like you’re in love with me."

For a second, Xinyuan simply stared at him. "But I am in love with you."

The answer came so naturally. So casually. As if it should have been obvious.

Wenzhi closed his eyes briefly. "Of course you are."

He wasn’t even surprised.

That was the problem.

Xinyuan’s smile brightened. The heaviness that had haunted him for days seemed lighter now. Like breathing was easier. Like simply being here with Wenzhi had pulled him back from the edge. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He leaned forward, brushing their noses together.

Wenzhi’s eyes slipped closed automatically.

"I love how comfortable you are with me," Xinyuan murmured.

His voice was quiet, honest.

"I love that you stay."

Wenzhi’s fingers tightened against his shoulder.

"I love that no matter how much you complain, you never really leave."

The words settled heavily between them.

Wenzhi hated how much they affected him.

Xinyuan rested his forehead lightly against his. "I love watching you pretend not to care."

A small laugh escaped him. "Even though I always know when you do."

Wenzhi rolled his eyes. Or at least attempted to.

His thoughts felt strangely slow. Strangely warm. "You’re ridiculous."

"I know." Xinyuan sounded entirely unbothered by that accusation.

His hand settled against Wenzhi’s side, grounding himself. Making sure he was still there.

"You make everything easier."

That finally made Wenzhi look at him. Really look at him.

Xinyuan’s smile was still there. But underneath it was something much more vulnerable.

"You’re having a moment, aren’t you?" Wenzhi asked.

"Probably."

"It’s not attractive."

"It is."

Wenzhi snorted.

Xinyuan laughed softly and for a while neither of them moved.

The silence between them felt comfortable warm and safe.

Xinyuan looked at Wenzhi again with that same look. The one that made Wenzhi immediately regret existing.

"There it is again," Wenzhi muttered.

"What?"

"That look."

Xinyuan smiled. "I can’t help it."

"Yes, you can."

"No."

"You absolutely can."

"No."

Wenzhi frowned at him.

Xinyuan’s smile only widened. "You’re perfection, Lin Wenzhi."

The words were spoken so seriously that Wenzhi immediately regretted making eye contact.

"You’re fucking impossible."

"Maybe."

"You are."

Xinyuan laughed.

Wenzhi tightened his grip on him and finally managed to produce a proper glare. "Shut it."

The glare would’ve been much more convincing if his face wasn’t still completely flushed.

Xinyuan only laughed harder.

He felt happy. Ridiculously happy.

Wenzhi hadn’t said I love you too.

He wasn’t expecting him to. He wasn’t even hoping for it.

Wenzhi was here. That alone felt miraculous.

He had stayed. He had broken down a door because he thought something had happened to him.

Xinyuan couldn’t stop thinking about that.

The warmth spreading through his chest felt precious.

Wenzhi cared and that was enough. More than enough.

He looked at Wenzhi. At the freckles scattered across his face. At the stubborn frown he seemed permanently attached to.

Xinyuan smiled and without another word, he leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Pressing his forehead briefly against Wenzhi’s.

Before finally stealing another kiss.