I want to kiss you

Warm breath brushed Huo Jin's neck. His heart ached until it went numb.

This was the first time Ji Chi had taken the initiative to hug Huo Jin. Fire raced through Huo Jin's chest, but he felt no joy.

Ji Chi, so proud and overbearing, had been reduced to this because of him.

He had dragged him into the abyss, yet he had no other choice.

Huo Jin gently stroked Ji Chi's shoulders and back, his fingertips tender. "I'm sorry."

Hearing Huo Jin's voice, Ji Chi instinctively felt safe.

"I... couldn't find you..." His low, muffled sobs trailed off into bitterness.

"I couldn't find you anywhere..."

Huo Jin took Ji Chi by the shoulders, wanting to look at his face, but Ji Chi instinctively thought Huo Jin was trying to push him away.

Instead, he held him even tighter.

Ji Chi feared him, but he feared seeing Ji Chi like this even more.

Huo Jin had never wanted to take anything from Ji Chi. His radiant smile and proud spirit belonged to him alone, but things had already gone beyond repair.

Realizing how insecure Ji Chi felt, Huo Jin soothed him softly. "It's all my fault. Did you get scared just now?"

Ji Chi rested against Huo Jin's neck and shook his head. His mind could only follow one thought at a time. "No."

"Just a bunch of low-level Alphas."

"Useless Alphas. None of them could beat me."

Ji Chi said, "I didn't want to fight... I wanted to find Huo Jin..."

"I wanted to find Huo Jin..."

Ji Chi drew out the words in broken fragments. None of his panic had come from anyone else.

It was because he couldn't find Huo Jin.

He wanted Huo Jin.

"Let me look at you." Huo Jin stroked Ji Chi gently, soothing him.

At those words, Ji Chi pulled back a little.

They were still very close. He lifted his head to meet Huo Jin's eyes. Gentle moonlight overlapped their shadows, and Ji Chi's hair brushed Huo Jin's cheek.

Those eyes, usually so cold and indifferent, had softened considerably. A hazy pink flush colored his face.

His usually pale lips were unnaturally red today, tempting Huo Jin to lean closer and taste them, desire clamoring without restraint.

Huo Jin raised a hand to Ji Chi's face, gently stroking and wiping it.

Ji Chi didn't move. He only stared at Huo Jin with unfocused eyes as the potent pheromones emanating from him seeped into every pore.

He wanted to be close to Huo Jin.

The desire had taken root deep in his heart.

He wanted to hold him.

"Does it still hurt?" Huo Jin asked gently. The moment he spoke, his already potent pheromones intensified several times over.

Ji Chi clutched Huo Jin's lapels, his fingers slowly tightening.

His lips parted slightly, a vivid red.

Suddenly, with a weary, petulant look, he leaned in and kissed Huo Jin on the lips.

Ji Chi's initiative sent a jolt through Huo Jin.

The soft touch was only faintly warm, yet it seared straight through his heart, making his whole body tremble for a breath.

Electricity shot through his fingertips.

Time fell still for a moment, and longer than a moment.

Huo Jin's arms tightened sharply around Ji Chi.

Ji Chi's kiss was only a fleeting brush, so brief that its lingering warmth had faded before Huo Jin could react.

"This way... it doesn't hurt anymore." Ji Chi's wavering eyes were so bright, like stars, that they made Huo Jin ache all over.

Huo Jin cupped Ji Chi's face, holding back more than words. "Do you know what you just did?"

Ji Chi lowered his eyes slightly, his long lashes fluttering very slowly.

"I want... to kiss you." Ji Chi timidly reached out to hug Huo Jin again.

"Don't leave me here..."

Huo Jin desperately wanted to promise he wouldn't, but his heart ached so much that he couldn't find the words.

Ji Chi was using kisses to please him, afraid he would leave him behind.

Huo Jin rubbed Ji Chi's head. "I won't leave you."

Never.

He lowered his eyes slightly and murmured beside Ji Chi's ear, "Let me take you home, all right?"

Ji Chi clutched the fabric at the back of Huo Jin's neck, loosening his grip and tightening it again before finally nodding.

He clung to Huo Jin with no intention of walking on his own. He only wanted to stay in constant contact with him.

Huo Jin scooped him up around the waist and carried him to the car.

Ji Chi's dependence on Huo Jin had reached its peak. The first thing to change with his mindset was his behavior.

He refused to sit in the passenger seat alone, no matter what Huo Jin said.

The moment Huo Jin seemed about to let go, Ji Chi pressed himself against him again.

"Huo Jin."

"No."

Looking at Ji Chi, who refused to release him, Huo Jin found a little more patience.

He lowered Ji Chi into the passenger seat without making him let go, coaxing him softly instead. "Sit by yourself for a few minutes. I'll hold you again afterward, all right?"

Ji Chi kept both arms around Huo Jin's neck and refused to let go.

It was as though the man before him would disappear the moment he did.

"I can't drive while I'm holding you."

Ji Chi rested against Huo Jin's neck and shoulder and shook his head.

"Be good."

Ji Chi kept shaking his head.

"We'll be there in five minutes. Can you be good and sit by yourself for a little while?" Huo Jin deliberately understated how long it would take.

Hearing that, Ji Chi only felt that Huo Jin was going to abandon him. His mind couldn't process much more.

"No..."

Huo Jin coaxed him for a long while before Ji Chi began to waver.

Ji Chi loosened his grip on Huo Jin, pressed his lips together, and finally sat obediently in his seat.

Huo Jin rubbed Ji Chi's cheek. "I'll be right beside you. I'm not leaving."

Ji Chi pulled Huo Jin's coat into his arms and hugged it, giving him no reply.

He looked a little angry.

Huo Jin stroked the hair beside Ji Chi's ear and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Ji Chi's cheeks were slightly puffed out. After Huo Jin kissed him, he raised a hand and wiped his forehead.

The gesture made Huo Jin laugh despite himself.

Huo Jin closed the door, then went around the car and got into the driver's seat.

His home was about half an hour away.

Huo Jin drove fast. Looking at Ji Chi beside him, who was holding his coat and refusing to let go, he produced a piece of candy from somewhere and offered it to him.

Ji Chi huddled in the coat and wouldn't take it.

"Alphas... don't eat candy."

Using the opportunity to fasten Ji Chi's seat belt, Huo Jin leaned close. "Then what do you want?"

Warm breath curled against Ji Chi's cheek. Huo Jin himself was indeed more effective than his coat. Ji Chi lifted his weak hand and touched Huo Jin's prominent Adam's apple.

Circling it, tracing lightly, pressing down to the cartilage.