The shoot finally wrapped. People drifted out of the studio, their voices fading into the night. Sarah closed her iPad, beaming as she walked toward them.
"Come on, it's over. Let's go eat something—we deserve it."
Noah opened his mouth to decline, but Asher beat him to it.
"Whatever you want."
The car glided through neon-lit streets. Sarah sat in the front passenger seat, scrolling through her reservation details, her voice light and cheerful.
"I booked a Japanese place. Quiet. No one will bother us."
Noah leaned against the window, his expression unreadable. Asher sat back with half-lidded eyes, looking detached, yet his gaze kept drifting toward Noah.
---
The restaurant glowed with soft light as the three of them settled in. Sarah ordered for the table, then her eyes flicked—just for a second—to Noah's neck.
There was nothing to see now. But she remembered what she had glimpsed that morning—a faint red mark, almost like… a kiss.
She smoothed her expression into a smile.
"Noah, your schedule's been packed, hasn't it? Are you holding up okay?"
Noah replied politely, "I'm used to it."
Her smile widened, but she turned her attention to Asher.
"Strange. You never let people stay at your place, not once. I've never seen you do that."
Noah's chopsticks paused for the briefest moment. His face betrayed nothing.
"It's just temporary convenience."
Sarah gave a little "oh," then added casually, "Funny—I thought I saw something this morning. Noah, on your neck… was it an allergic reaction?"
Noah's pulse lurched.
—Damn.
He had checked carefully before leaving the house, covering every trace until the mirror showed nothing. How could she still have noticed? Had he missed a spot? Or had she really seen?
His fingers curled tightly in his lap, but his voice stayed calm, his expression cool.
"Yeah. Reaction to makeup."
The words were measured, unhurried, as if they meant nothing at all.
Sarah's eyes lingered for two beats, as if trying to confirm.
Noah's heart pounded so fast it hurt, but outwardly he managed a faint, dismissive smile.
Asher looked up then, pinning Sarah with a frigid gaze.
"You talk too much."
Sarah blinked, startled, before forcing a laugh.
"I was just asking."
She lowered her eyes, but her mind kept whirring. Something about her brother felt… different.
The meal continued, light on the surface, but underneath ran a thread of tension. Sarah made small talk; Noah responded with polite restraint; Asher said little, offering only the occasional cold, clipped remark.
By the time they finished, Sarah set down her chopsticks.
"I've got an early meeting tomorrow, so I won't drive you back. Take care of yourselves."
Asher gave a curt nod.
"Mm."
---
Back at the apartment, the door closed—and silence pressed in. Only the sound of their breathing remained.
Noah opened his mouth, about to excuse himself with a quiet "I'll go to bed," when Asher's hand closed around the back of his neck.
The man's lips crushed against his, heat and force leaving him no space to breathe. Noah's hands braced against Asher's chest, startled.
He found himself pinned against the wall by the door, ears burning red, breath scattering. Panic rose as he pushed weakly at Asher's chest.
"Wait—! You said tomorrow. It's not tomorrow yet!"
Asher laughed low in his throat, one hand gripping Noah's nape, the other sliding boldly down to his waist. His breath seared against Noah's ear.
"It already is tomorrow."
Noah froze, his instinct flaring to deny.
"No—it's not!"
Then came the glow of a phone screen in the dimness.
00:50.
Asher's voice was rough, dark with hunger.
"This is tomorrow."
Noah's chest tightened, a rush of shame and fury crashing into him. Midnight or morning—what difference did it make?
"…You—you tricked me?"
Asher's gaze locked on him, burning with unrestrained need. His voice rasped low.
"I held back all day, Noah. Do you know how hard that was?"
Noah's chest rose and fell violently. He should push away, but the heat of Asher's body pressed close, those devouring eyes threatening to swallow him whole. His strength ebbed like water.
The next kiss slammed down, fierce and merciless, lips pried open, tongue forcing its way in with raw possession.
"Mm—!" Noah's head tilted back, breath shattering. He pushed helplessly at Asher's chest, but his wrists were caught, pinned.
Asher's laugh rumbled low, predatory.
"Don't waste your strength."
His hand slid down, gripping firmly through thin fabric, pressing against Noah's hardness.
"Ah—" Noah shuddered violently, a broken sound escaping before he could bite it back.
"You're so sensitive," Asher murmured, voice ragged, fingers tugging his shirt up. Cold air hit bare skin; Noah's waist trembled under the sudden exposure.
Asher's palm kneaded harder, cruel and deliberate, until Noah's legs nearly gave way. His mouth traced down along Noah's jawline, biting and licking, branding him with every touch.
Noah clung weakly to his shoulders, his body betraying him.
The metallic sound of a zipper split the silence. Noah's heart jolted, face flooding crimson.
Fabric fell to the floor, discarded. His shirt was tugged off, leaving pale skin bared under the dim light.
Noah's body shook with humiliation, too ashamed to open his eyes.
But Asher devoured him with his gaze, hunger blazing. Fingers found a hardened peak, twisting, pulling until Noah gasped helplessly.
"Mmh—!" He bit his lip hard, but muffled whimpers still slipped out.
Asher swallowed the sounds with another kiss, tongue fierce, relentless, leaving Noah drowning in heat.
Then suddenly, Noah's feet left the ground.
"Asher—!" He cried out in shock, legs instinctively wrapping around the man's waist.
"What are you—"
"Taking you to bed," Asher growled, breath ragged with restraint.
The bedroom door slammed open. Noah hit the mattress, bouncing against the sheets, panic fluttering in his chest.
He tried to crawl back, but the weight of Asher's body pressed him down instantly. Hot, consuming, inescapable. The kiss returned, harsher, hungrier, hands roaming everywhere, leaving Noah nowhere to hide.
His chest heaved with ragged breaths; every touch lit his body on fire, stripping his mind blank.
"Asher…" His voice cracked, trembling, almost pleading. Then a sudden thought broke loose, spilling out.
"You only want my body, don't you?"
Asher stilled, just for a beat. His eyes burned, sharp with ruthless intent.
"Yes."
Noah's throat tightened. His next words came out hoarse, almost to himself.
"Then why… why do I still want to like you?"