Burning with desire

Shan Ye closed his eyes, his mind automatically conjuring up what Fan Jin must have looked like when he said that word.

"Fan Jin," he called softly.

"Hmm?"

Shan Ye asked, "What are you doing?"

His questions were casual and sporadic, but he was listening to Fan Jin's voice every second. Fan Jin had a beautiful, compelling voice, like sandpaper scraping over wood-rough, yet searing.

Without realizing it, Shan Ye's fingers slipped a little farther down. When they touched his body, he went taut. He bit his lower lip, trying hard to keep his breathing normal.

"Just finished showering," Fan Jin said.

Shan Ye suddenly let out a breath.

An image immediately appeared in his mind: Fan Jin stepping out of the bathroom, his hair wet, droplets running down his neck and over his collarbones, lingering on those two red moles.

"Shan Ye," Fan Jin suddenly called.

"Huh?" Shan Ye answered, going still.

"What are you doing?"

Shan Ye's heart skipped a beat. He opened his eyes and stared at the hotel ceiling. The lighting was dim, and the air blowing from the AC was chilly, but his palms were slick with sweat.

"Nothing," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "Just showered. I'm in bed."

As he spoke, his fingertips unconsciously traced a circle, then stopped again. His breathing grew a little heavier despite himself, and he quickly held his breath, afraid Fan Jin would hear.

"Video call me," Fan Jin said.

The tips of Shan Ye's ears suddenly burned.

"N-no, let's not." His voice trembled. "I turned the lights off. It's really dark."

Even as he spoke, his fingers stayed where they were, his palm against his burning skin, unable to move either way.

Fan Jin said nothing, but he didn't hang up either.

Silence spread between them like a taut string.

Shan Ye could hear Fan Jin breathing, each deeper or shallower breath carrying through the phone, brushing his ear like a feather. He closed his eyes and imagined Fan Jin lying beside him, turned on his side to look at him. What would those usually aloof eyes look like right now?

"Fan Jin," he called again, his voice softer than before, the final syllable drawn out almost coaxingly.

"Hmm," Fan Jin answered.

Shan Ye loved hearing him respond like that, with a slight upward lilt, as though waiting for him to go on.

"Your voice sounds so good... I really like it," Shan Ye said.

"...There you go again." Fan Jin's voice was tight, as though someone had a hand around his throat.

Shan Ye heard it. The corners of his mouth lifted. He shifted, rolled over, buried his face in the pillow, and gave a muffled laugh.

"I mean it," he said, his voice muffled and nasal. "It really does sound good."

As he said it, the restless heat in his body still hadn't faded. He rubbed against the covers, uncomfortable.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

"I know."

"Did you miss me?"

"Yes."

Shan Ye smiled at that, his voice softening. "Okay. Good night, Fan Jin. See you tomorrow."

After hanging up, Shan Ye tossed his phone aside and went to the bathroom to take care of his physical needs. He didn't do this often. After all these years, he was used to being single, and his needs weren't that strong.

But ever since Fan Jin had come into his life, it had become more frequent, some desire inside him quietly stirring.

The next morning, Shan Ye went to the airport with Yu Chuan.

Before boarding, he sent Fan Jin a message. "Fan Jin, I'm boarding. Three hours. Wait for me."

It was eleven in the morning when the plane landed in Muzhou.

Shan Ye turned on his phone, and the instant the signal returned, a message from Fan Jin popped up.

It was a photo.

The photo showed a sign for the arrivals hall at Muzhou Airport. It was a little crooked, but the location was clear.

Shan Ye stared at the photo for three seconds, then sprang out of his seat, nearly hitting his head.

"What happened?" Yu Chuan asked, startled.

"Nothing!" Shan Ye clutched his phone, his voice trembling. "Um... I'm going ahead. Take your time."

"What?" Before Yu Chuan could process it, Shan Ye was already rushing toward the cabin door.

"Shan Ye!" Yu Chuan shouted after him. "You checked your luggage! You haven't picked it up yet!"

Shan Ye stopped and glanced back, his face flushed with urgency. "Get it for me! I'll come find you!"

"I-"

Before Yu Chuan could say anything else, Shan Ye had vanished down the passageway.

He stood there, looking in the direction Shan Ye had disappeared, then shook his head and took out his phone to send him a message: "Ditching your friends for a guy. That's you."

Shan Ye didn't even look at his phone.

He jogged through the jet bridge and into the arrivals hall, his eyes darting everywhere. A row of people stood at the arrivals exit, some holding signs, some craning to see, others looking down at their phones. He rose onto his toes to peer into the crowd, his heart pounding so hard it nearly leaped into his throat.

At last, he spotted him.

Fan Jin stood at the far end of the arrivals exit, leaning against a pillar. He wore a thin black jacket, both hands tucked in his pockets, clearly waiting for someone.

People streamed past around him, but he stood alone, like a pine tree growing amid the crowd.

Shan Ye immediately rushed over, stopping two steps away from him.

Their eyes met.

"You..." Shan Ye panted, his face flushed from running so hard. "What are you doing here?"

Fan Jin glanced at him, his gaze settling on his tousled hair.

"Didn't you tell me to wait for you?" he said evenly.

Shan Ye froze for a second, then smiled until his eyes curved into crescents.

He took a step forward, then stopped. This was an airport, with people coming and going. He couldn't hug Fan Jin here.

But he wanted to hug him so badly.

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Shan Ye's voice was slightly nasal, almost aggrieved. "I thought you weren't coming."

Fan Jin didn't answer. He glanced at Shan Ye's empty hands. "Where's your luggage?"

"Oh! I didn't have time to pick it up, so I asked Yu Chuan to get it for me." Shan Ye glanced back toward the passageway. "Yu Chuan's still back there. I need to let him know."

Fan Jin frowned without realizing it. "Go find him and get your luggage."

Shan Ye paused, then obediently did as he was told.

He took out his phone and sent Yu Chuan a voice message. "Yu Chuan, where are you? I'll come get my luggage."

Eventually, he saw Yu Chuan emerge slowly from the passageway, dragging two suitcases by himself.

Shan Ye stepped forward and took his suitcase, smiling at him. "Thanks."

Yu Chuan wanted to roll his eyes at him. He spotted Fan Jin standing behind him.

"You certainly ran fast."

Shan Ye smiled. "Fan Jin drove here. Come with us."

Yu Chuan waved a hand. "No, I won't get in your way." Holding his suitcase in one hand, he prepared to leave. "Don't forget the dinner tomorrow night."

Shan Ye nodded and said goodbye.

Fan Jin took Shan Ye's suitcase without being asked and started walking. Shan Ye walked beside him. "What dinner?"

"The school's teaching and research group. They said we'd have dinner tomorrow night and talk about work while we're at it."

Fan Jin nodded and said nothing more.

Outside, the sky was a little overcast, and the wind blew cold. Shan Ye was wearing short sleeves. He hadn't noticed when he first ran out, but now that he'd stopped, the cold wind poured down his neck, making him hunch his shoulders.

A second later, a jacket settled over his shoulders.