147: 4.12 Morning Wood

4.12 Morning Wood

For the first time in forever, Heimo woke up naturally and he couldn't even remember the last time he had felt this…serene. Before, he used to be jolted awake because of harmless rustle from small animals around, or the faint sound of conversation afar or his own limbs that slid off the ground or simply the sunshine that pierced through the fold of his eyelids.  1

Or recently, he would be shocked awake by the weird images in his dreams; another version of him in a different appearance and different era he had never seen before. Sometimes, he was mourning. Another time, he was living a blissful life. And in every single one of them, there would be someone standing by his side although the dream would always dissipate everytime he woke up. What remained was a strange sense of longing and hollowness that made his heart ache. 

Basically everything and anything could shock him awake and he wasn't surprised anymore to shoot up standing with his body being all defensive before his eyes opened and his mind even registered what was happening. It was a habit that had been formed through years of bitter experience.

But it was different this time. 

He felt so comfortable as if all his bones had turned into liquid and his mind was quiet for once. His head was groggy and all he ever wanted to do was to go back to sleep. Screw everything. Ha! It was such a laughable joke. He, Black Demon Weeping Blood, couldn't get enough sleep? His shijie would think he had succumbed to madness if she ever heard of it.

He sighed and snuggled closer toward the source of heat. It was just the right amount of hardness and silkiness. Perfect. Heimo couldn't resist running his palm across the smooth surface only to feel it rising and falling regularly. Up and down. A rhythmic movement that couldn't possibly come from his pillow. Or any pillow in the world.

Hmm…? Something was off. Alarm bells rang through the fog in his mind and he forced his brain to start working again. Right… he had wanted to kill Jingxue-Jun yesterday but instead, he ended up injuring himself instead. The subsequent memories came back like a crashing wave. The narrow cave, the crackling fire, the savory meat of the celestial phoenix, the pain that tore through his whole body, the agony, the warm embrace, and the voice that kept whispering into his ears. "Good boy. Good boy. You're doing so well."

Heimo's eyes snapped open abruptly and all the drowsiness dissipated like smoke. Damn it, Jingxue-Jun! He had fallen asleep without even realizing. How could he lower his guard so easily around that man?! What happened last night?! What if… What if—

His frenzied imagination, and practically all the thoughts in his head in general, screeched to a halt as he registered what was in front of his eyes and he took in a sharp breath. Someone's broad chest, he noted, and rumpled collar that gave hint to a glimpse of the sexiest collarbone he had ever seen. The strangely familiar scent of winter and sweetness he couldn't name surrounded him from all directions, making his head spin hazily like he was drunk on liquor.

Jingxue-Jun. His mind supplied the identity of the man whom he was laying on. Not only that, the man's arm was loosely draped over his hips while Heimo's arms were wrapped tightly around the man's waist. Their position couldn't be more intimate.

All of a sudden, Heimo became painfully aware of where their bodies were touching. Jingxue-Jun's soft breath grazed atop of his head and his heartbeat thrummed under Heimo's palm. Their legs tangled together and— Oh for fucking sake. His fingers twitched in mortification. The thing he had just caressed, he realized with heat exploding across his cheek, neck and down to his toes. The one he thought was the pillow. It was none other than Jingxue-Jun's c.h.e.s.t!

How—?! How did they end up in such a position?! What actually happened last night?!

Full blown panic settled in his mind and all his questions morphed into one single command he had to execute. Run! Run away! Before Jingxue-Jun awoke and caught them in such a suggestive position, Heimo should go and disappear to spare them from the awkwardness and humiliation! 

Damn it damn it damn it, Heimo should know that nothing good would come out of being in Jingxue-Jun's presence. Just in a span of one night, he had made Heimo lose his mind countless times and worse, he couldn't even tell if the man was serious or not!

He forced his body to relax and his breathing to even so as to not wake the man underneath him. Then slowly, he lifted one of his legs, intending to roll over Jingxue-Jun's body once and for all when his knee inadvertently bumped into a hard and solid length. Jingxue-Jun's arm tightened around him in response and Heimo's body was pressed impossibly closer to the point where his nose was tucked securely into the crook of the man's neck. Heimo… had never been so close and intimate to someone else before. And this… this was wrong, he knew it. But why did he feel a surge of giddiness in his chest at the little affection gesture?

Heimo totally turned into a block of statue as Jingxue-Jun nuzzled his chin affectionately atop of his head and snapped his hips forward a few times in search of friction and… and finally Heimo could make out what his knee had just bumped into.

It—It was Jingxue-Jun's m-m-morning wood!!!

If the previous event was enough to make him boil in shame, then this time Heimo's brain totally shut down. He wasn't even breathing. His ears, cheeks and practically his whole body was burning and… he could feel himself reacting down there. Okay, there wasn't anything wrong with morning wood. Such a powerful and virile man like Jingxue-Jun surely had to deal with regular needs. It was normal for men. There's nothing to be flustered about, Heimo. Yes, he should face everything calmly. He shouldn't get panicked. Even if Jingxue-Jun was unconsciously grinding against him, even if his broad palm splayed behind Heimo's back was slowly gliding down toward the swell of his behind... 

When Jingxue-Jun's palm squeezed, the speck of calmness Heimo had painstakingly built instantly crumbled like a sand castle against the roaring waves.

Heimo's breath was coming off in stutters through his lips and his heartbeat was thunderous, it was cooking up a storm within his ribcage. He had no way to run. He was trapped. Jingxue-Jun's arms were sturdy around him and there was no way he could slip away. He could feel the man's hardness steadily rubbing on his thigh and he…he himself had been growing erect since. He liked this… he didn't want to push Jingxue-Jun away, Heimo came to a short, painful realization. Every inch of his body was set aflame and his spine was tingling. Oh heavens… he really wanted this. The desire crashed down onto him so uncontrollably like never before. It wasn't a mere appreciation or awe anymore. It had morphed pure, unadulterated desire that left him aching and empty and Heimo didn't even realize it was happening until he was already drowning in it. How?! He… He shouldn't be lusting after the esteemed Jingxue-Jun! It was blasphemous!

But Jingxue-Jun… he—he was still asleep right…?

Heimo swallowed thickly and braced himself to steal a glance. And then his eyes immediately made contact with a pair of intense silver eyes that resembled moonstones. Close, so close that he could count each of the man's lashes and saw his own reflection in there. Heimo's breath stuttered. W—When did Jingxue-Jun wake up?! His eyes were so clear and alert. He couldn't have just roused from his slumber! Heimo panicked yet again and he was ready to say something, to laugh and pass it off and then continue the day as normal, when the man rasped, "Lan'er..."

Oh. Oh fuck. Heimo felt himself tipping sideways at the sound of his name rolling off the man's lips only to realize that he couldn't move any more closer. They were practically flushed together. Chest to chest, hips to hips, legs to legs. Heimo couldn't think… His mind was a muted, tranquil temple. Dizzily, he whispered in return. "Jingxue-Jun…" 

Jingxue-Jun's face was looming closer and closer… and Heimo's eyelids fluttered shut. His breath shook as he grabbed onto the man's lapels. Jingxue-Jun's exhale fanned his cheek and goosebumps flared along Heimo's arms. There was no doubt about it. He had always wanted this, presumably since the first time they met. He wanted Jingxue-Jun to kiss him, to ravish him, to—

The man gently bumped their foreheads together. "You're still a little hot. How are you feeling?"

Heimo snapped his eyes open to see genuine concern and inquiry swirled around those silver orbs. Oh, oh goddamnit. He had fucked up again. Jingxue-Jun was just asking, he wasn't— His cheeks flushed in mortification and he was sure that the color could be seen all over his body. 

He laughed, yet the sound came out like a squeak. "O—Of course I am okay! I am feeling so healthy, haven't been healthier before!" In one sharp movement, he rolled off Jingxue-Jun's body and grabbed the nearest random cloth to cover his tenting pants. "M—My apologies, this humble one have no idea how he ended up in such a position with you—"

"Stop apologizing." The man sat up, not minding his erection at all as he bent one of his legs to prop his arm up. Oh, he was huge, Heimo knew it — felt it. His immaculate hair had turned wayward and his collar was askew. He was nothing pure and righteous like the rumors made him out to be. Instead, he looked like he was out for Heimo's soul. For someone who had just slept on the hard and cold ground all night long and was made into a body pillow, he was flawlessly gorgeous. Heimo was itching to pounce on him and gnawed on his collarbone, to make those silver eyes darkened with lust. 

"There's no need for apologies between us." Jingxue-Jun said softly.

The sentence sent a torrent of pain up to Heimo's chest that left him gasping for air. It must be the poison's side effect. Standing up, he gestured outside with wildly moving arms. "T—This humble one will look around to see if there's someplace we can refresh ourselves. Please excuse me!" Without waiting for the man's answer, Heimo ran away like his life depended on it. 

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