The hesitant voice was moist as if soaked in water. As the resonance of the final bell passed, Hugo's mind became momentarily distant.
It was such a bewitching statement that he forgot what he had originally wanted to hear. Though it couldn't be, it almost sounded like pleading.
To stop? Or to do more?
Whatever Leonardo's intention, Hugo weighted toward the latter. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare embrace his neck from this angle, look up with such a pitiful face, and mention his birthday.
"...Hah."
As the echo spreading through the arena faded, his straight lips hardened then melted helplessly.
Nothing made him more uncomfortable than receiving congratulations from others on a false day. Though he had grown accustomed to it after living under the duke's skin for over ten years now. His innate nature was to distance himself from dishonesty and cherish what was truthful and good. So the past days of hiding his identity before everyone had endlessly tormented and lonely isolated him.
But was it because the one offering congratulations shared the same pain as him, or perhaps because he was someone who endured even greater pain? Though Hugo felt unworthy before Leonardo who didn't know he was from Bermuda, at the same time the congratulatory message he offered felt like divine revelation that would absolve the sins of his false life.
Even if it was merely his own arbitrary interpretation, he wanted to believe it for this moment.
Hugo leaned his head against Leonardo's as if collapsing. Sharing warm heat and body temperature, he embraced Leonardo tightly in that state.
"...?"
Cracks formed in his handsome eyebrows, and his sunken eyelids moved finely. Leonardo, who had been watching the subtle emotional changes, drew in his breath at the sudden pressure on his chest. A sound almost escaped, but he didn't let it out. It was the first time except when he was caught while fleeing the peninsula. Being restrained by two arms with such strong force.
Since the Commander usually controlled his strength worrying his shoulders might hurt, his behavior of embracing him as if to crush his ribs was quite bewildering.
"...What's wrong?"
He asked in a muffled voice due to his chest and throat being pressed. That too was brief, as low laughter spread near his ear. Leonardo, who had been puzzled, rolled his eyes slightly. Though he couldn't see the face since his chin was resting on the other's shoulder. But at least he could tell the man was happy.
'Does hearing congratulations make him that happy?'
He must have heard it until his ears were worn out living, but if this was his reaction, he could say it all day.
Leonardo, awkwardly embraced in Hugo's arms, intertwined his hand in the neatly arranged hair at his nape. As he savored the texture like flowing water, his tense golden eyebrows also relaxed loosely. His body, which had drooped like a wet stuffed animal, wound around the solid torso.
Hot breath flowed near his ear.
"You're hard."
His fidgeting body froze.
"...."
Then his exhaled breath trembled finely. Though hidden by darkness, Leonardo couldn't bring himself to raise his head.
Like a butterfly caught in a trap, he only repeated faint movements of his wing bones. The hand that had been caressing the man's nape moved stiffly as if trying to hide his agitation. However, the moment his lips touched his earlobe, he reflexively clenched his fingertips.
"Shall I help?"
"Ah..."
He hadn't expected such direct mention, nor for it to come this far. Leonardo shrank his neck and shoulders, avoiding the voice whispering like a caress.
"...Are you crazy? Right now—"
Leonardo struggled to hold onto his sanity. But the response that came back was astounding.
"Since I received congratulations, I want to give something in return too. This happened because of me."
The statement pretended to be perfectly normal, but the underlying meaning wasn't. Leonardo moved his lips as if dumbfounded.
"...Here, this isn't even your private room."
"Would it be okay if it were a private room?"
"That's not what I meant, hng..."
The inside of Hugo's lips slowly bit the heated earlobe then released it. Just that small act made Leonardo's spine flinch.
Moist moisture seeped into his skin. Like the midnight of a sweltering tropical night.
Hugo noticed his suppressed breathing was different from before. That his body was getting uncontrollably hot, and that a good scent was emanating even in the midst of this.
Wanting to smell it more deeply, he buried his mouth and nose in his nape and asked.
"Leo, did you forget whose territory this is?"
Water drop-tangled eyelashes trembled finely. Hugo couldn't resist and bit the well-ripened nape once more. The sudden curiosity about how far the heat could rise was probably due to other intentions more than pure curiosity.
"With just my will, anywhere on this land can become a private space. Your Grace is more convenient than you think."
"If you go out in this state, you'll be in trouble."
It was extreme tenderness, passing the fallen hair with his lips. Leonardo slowly closed and opened his eyes. Then the eyes that met as he lifted his trembling chin were terribly glistening for someone supposedly concerned about him. So it was dangerous to believe his words that seemed to coax like 'I'll make you comfortable.' But...
'My body is strange.'
He could clearly feel his condition was different from usual. Even if it was the touch of the man he had drawn for months, reacting so faithfully wasn't like him.
'Does that flower or whatever also have aphrodisiac effects?'
Leonardo couldn't gauge how heated his complexion hidden by the deep brightness would be. So he tried to sharpen his eyes somehow and pretend to be relaxed. But contrary to his will, his breathing grew increasingly rough, and even the act of biting his lips to suppress it appeared seductive.
The excited space between his thighs couldn't push away the man's invasion at all. His golden eyes wet with pleasure gradually contorted.
He grasped His Grace's forearm and pulled him toward himself. Soon he murmured in a wet voice.
"Finish quickly."
* * *