Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 202: Breaking Barriers

If even Ithnan’s brother was encouraging him to take action, it was worth taking that step.

"Once Brother Ithnan is taken care of, we’d be delighted if you could give some thought to us as well," Thalatha added, stepping closer with a soft gaze that shimmered slightly, as though on the verge of tears.

Um... well... Damien wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

Though the exchange had taken place earlier, the memory of Thalatha’s request now lingered in Damien’s mind. It had been accurate—Ithnan was predictably reluctant, so forceful measures were necessary.

"Alright, can I assume that’s the end of your reward, Ithnan?" Damien asked.

"Yes. I hope you will take the rest of the evening to relax and rest, Master."

Ithnan spoke with a calm expression, though he had now stepped further into the room without realizing it. Damien could tell he didn’t truly want their time together to end.

"In that case, that concludes Ithnan’s reward time," Damien declared, clapping his hands once, as if signaling the end.

"Ah..."

The faint, involuntary sound of disappointment that escaped from Ithnan didn’t go unnoticed.

Damien couldn’t help but find it adorable that Ithnan’s face now betrayed the sadness he could no longer hide.

Sitting on the bed, Damien turned his head to the doorway, where Ithnan lingered, unable to bring himself to leave.

"Alright, here’s an order for Ithnan now that your reward time is over: come here and sit down."

He patted the spot beside him on the bed.

"E-Excuse me? Th-that’s far too bold of me..."

"This is an order. Are you saying you don’t listen to my commands?" Damien said firmly.

With a little bit more urging, Ithnan that was flustered and hesitant, finally sat beside him, his movements stiff and awkward.

"I-I am honored beyond measure to be allowed to sit so close to you, Master!" Ithnan stammered, sitting ramrod straight.

"Ithnan, what do you call me when it’s just the two of us?" Damien asked. It had been a long time since Ithnan had called him that, probably not since their first days at the mansion. Still, Damien figured starting with a shift in titles might ease the mood.

"E-Er... um... Brother..." Ithnan mumbled.

It was true that they were likely of a similar age, so "Brother" wasn’t too out of place.

"That’s right," Damien said with a grin. "Now, your brother here wants to get a little closer, so I’m ordering you to cuddle up to me."

"E-Eh!? C-cuddle!?" Ithnan’s face turned red as he froze in place, unable to process the command.

Ithnan looked utterly shocked, his expression one of disbelief, as if Damien had just said something completely unexpected.

Was it really that surprising? Damien wondered. He hoped Ithnan didn’t think he disliked him.

"B-but... I’m a Dragonewt, and I’m a man..." Ithnan stammered.

Oh, wow. That was, honestly, a pretty reasonable response, something Damien hadn’t heard in a while. Yet, seeing Ithnan say it and then look hurt by his own words, his eyes glistening slightly, made Damien’s heart ache with affection.

Ithnan truly was one of the rare voices of reason in this household. But, Damien thought ruefully, he himself was probably the most unreasonable one here.

"I don’t care if you’re a Dragonewt or a man. I still want to cuddle with you, Ithnan," Damien said matter-of-factly.

Ithnan blushed, shrinking slightly as he fidgeted with embarrassment. Slowly, he edged a bit closer to Damien.

"More," Damien urged.

"M-more?" Ithnan echoed.

When Damien nodded firmly, Ithnan hesitantly scooted closer, this time more boldly than before.

"More," Damien repeated.

"A-at this rate, I’ll be completely pressed against you..." Ithnan protested weakly.

"That’s exactly what I’m asking you to do," Damien said with a soft chuckle.

Ithnan’s composure broke, and he flailed in embarrassment. Seeing this, Damien gently placed an arm around his shoulder, pulling him closer.

Ithnan’s warmth, slightly cooler than a human’s, was soothing as he leaned against Damien.

"Do you hate being this close?" Damien asked softly.

Ithnan shook his head vigorously. "I love it!" he blurted out, his voice suddenly loud with emotion.

Wow, that was... intense. Damien blinked, slightly startled by Ithnan’s sudden outburst.

"But... I’m a Dragonewt..." Ithnan’s voice grew quieter again as his confidence faltered.

"Yeah, and you’re a very cool Dragonewt," Damien said warmly. His hand rested on Ithnan’s shoulder, and he gently stroked the rough, textured scales.

For a while, they sat there in silence. Damien felt the tension gradually drain from Ithnan’s body as he leaned more heavily against him.

"Um..." Ithnan murmured.

"Hm?" Damien responded.

Resting his head on Damien’s shoulder, Ithnan spoke hesitantly, "I... I actually wanted you to hold me tight."

Ithnan’s bashful confession made Damien’s heart skip a beat. He couldn’t help but think how adorable Ithnan looked in that moment.

"Oh, is that so? Well then—gotcha!" Damien suddenly pulled Ithnan down onto the bed, catching him off guard.

"B-brother!?" Ithnan exclaimed in shock.

Without hesitation, Damien wrapped him in a tight hug, holding him close with all his strength.

"Ahh..." Ithnan exhaled softly, a sound of pure contentment escaping him as he relaxed completely in Damien’s embrace.

"Now, try wrapping your arms around me too," Damien encouraged.

"W-what? But..." Ithnan hesitated.

"No ’but.’ Come on, you can do it." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

After some hesitation, Ithnan timidly tightened his grip around Damien.

"See? Doesn’t this feel nice?" Damien asked with a playful grin.

"Y-yes. Your body is so soft and warm... it’s really comfortable," Ithnan admitted while holding Damien tightly. His rugged physique pressed against Damien’s softer frame, creating an unexpected sense of comfort.

As the two of them held each other, Ithnan gazed at Damien from such close proximity that Damien could see the faint quiver in his eyes. Slowly, Ithnan’s eyelids lowered, and his expression turned serene.

Oh, Damien thought. This was... unmistakably an invitation.

Although Ithnan’s features differed slightly from a human’s, his face was strikingly handsome and well-defined. Damien’s heart raced, and he swallowed his saliva nervously.

Could he? Should he?