One Afternoon

One Afternoon

A few years of raising children born in quick succession, and before they knew it, the sound of laughter filled the vast mansion beautifully. The space that had once been as bleak as a masterpiece settled into obscurity by time now sparkled as though freshly painted in new colors.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving me treasures."

Aeroc stood beside Kloff and took his hand.

"Isn't that usually the alpha's line?"

"As far as the public is concerned, I'm still an alpha, so put away any pointless complaints. If I say I'm grateful, then I'm grateful."

Aeroc pressed a light kiss to the pouting lips of his lover, whose expression held a trace of interest alongside a sliver of displeasure.

Lenoc and Yurea alone had filled his heart to bursting, yet two children were woefully insufficient to fill the mansion. Still, the two of them had agreed to hold off on having more for the time being. There was nothing wrong with Aeroc's health. The one who had objected was, ironically, Kloff — the very man who had once made crude threats about locking Aeroc away and doing nothing but getting him pregnant.

"There are already three ticking time bombs running around out of my sight. My head's about to explode as it is — I will respectfully decline any additional angels who cry, eat, and shit every two hours, no matter how maddeningly adorable they are."

Was child-rearing really that exhausting? Aeroc, of course, was thoroughly drained himself. Martha helped, and during the day Hugo lent a hand as well. But Martha had never once broken her solemn promise to rest without fail at night, and Hugo's assistance was something Kloff refused outright.

An imprinted alpha's instincts classified Aeroc and the two children as his territory, and Kloff strongly disliked entrusting them to another alpha's care. In truth, after Martha, he had more aptitude for child-rearing than Aeroc did. From the moment Lenoc was born, rocking the children to sleep had been his domain.

Sometimes Aeroc grew jealous enough to ache. So from time to time, still holding a child, he would nestle into Kloff's broad arms and indulge in a little clinginess. Despite the weight, Kloff never showed so much as a flicker of strain and stayed at their side until both Aeroc and the child fell asleep. All this while maintaining an active public career.

Since joining the Treasury, Kloff had been expanding his influence by the day. By any measure, a second son from a minor barony with no title of his own had done remarkably well for himself — but Kloff was never one to be satisfied.

"I'm going to secure a title."

"A title? Is being a count not enough?"

"That one isn't mine. It's yours."

"What's mine is yours."

"Not the same."

No one could bend Kloff's stubbornness. Thanks to that, Aeroc spent his days clinging bare-handed to the prow of the good ship Teiwind — officially christened The Fearsome Doormat: Captain Bendyke and Three VIPs — weathering every shard of ice as they plowed through rough glacial waters, holding firm despite it all, and perpetually exhausted from intermittent nagging.

Rapiel, who traveled abroad frequently, had recently returned and established a household at Wolfrake Villa, not far from the Teiwind estate. Kloff, truly grasping at straws, had swallowed his pride and gone to see him. He'd then offloaded two of the key figures — the ones he could go a full week without worrying about. When Aeroc lobbed a half-joking accusation about selling off their children, Kloff responded with perfect nonchalance.

"Lenoc says he likes Suu and wants to sleep over. Yurea too."

"Lenoc likes Suu?"

Aeroc echoed the claim in disbelief, recalling his eldest son, who never failed to screw up his face in apparent distress at the mere mention of Suu.

"He likes her, so obviously he acts repulsed."

"When I think of him as your son, somehow that does start to make sense."

Watching Kloff trot out his absurd logic, Aeroc felt a strange sense of déjà vu. The eldest was growing to resemble his father. Thinking that Lenoc would turn out the same way — somehow, it tracked. Even so, this was the first time the children had been separated from them for an entire week, and the worry was considerable.

Without the children, the mansion suddenly felt like a tomb. Lonely for no reason, he drifted to his spouse's side, but the man — absorbed in his own work — paid Aeroc scant attention. Knowing that Kloff was genuinely handling urgent matters, Aeroc had no intention of throwing a tantrum like a child. He simply settled onto a nearby sofa and opened a book. After turning pages with listless motions, he spoke up.

"Do you think Lenoc and Yurea are doing all right?"

"Don't worry. Those little monsters eat well and thrive wherever you put them."

Kloff was currently seated at his desk in the breezy study, locked in combat with paperwork. Aeroc was brilliant but utterly useless with money, so every financial decision for the count's household — its accounting ledgers rivaling those of a mid-sized firm — along with general household management and all matters pertaining to education fell on Kloff's shoulders. He was the primary caregiver on top of that. Between chasing after and keeping up with two children, he'd said he simply hadn't had the time to process the various documents and invoices. The moment he found some breathing room, he'd tossed his spouse aside and plunged into his figures.

He'd claimed that if he'd had even a sliver of spare time, he wouldn't have resorted to dumping the kids at someone else's house. Aeroc believed him. Kloff, already a more than adequate lover, aspired to be the perfect father. Separating from the children hadn't been an easy decision for him either — let alone the fact that it was Wolfrake Villa, of all places.

The receipts were piled high, and if they weren't processed, the household would grind to a halt at any moment. Payroll for the butler, the footmen, and even Martha's weekly wages had fallen behind. No one could survive Martha's retribution for an unpaid salary.

"Last month's invoices are still sitting here. Good lord."

Kloff grumbled as he sorted through the receipts. The Count's extravagant spending habits were part of the problem, but there were also receipts for sundry household necessities consumed by the estate, documents related to the vast assets and various properties scattered about, correspondence tied to the investment ventures Kloff himself had launched, and letters and inquiries from an enormous staff. From matters that could be decided in an instant to those requiring deep deliberation — all of them demanded Kloff's attention.

"A week won't be enough."

While he was buried beyond all hope of surfacing, the master of the house — Count Teiwind himself — lounged idly around Kloff's periphery. Having been absorbed in reading until moments ago, he now sat at the small tea table by the window where the lace curtains billowed, sipping strong tea with a provocatively leisurely air. Sunlight struck his faded blond hair and scattered into opalescent refractions. Stealing occasional glances at the beautiful man who used the sole self-emanating light in this world as nothing more than his personal chandelier, Kloff worked diligently through the paperwork.

"Hmm. The tea is at the perfect temperature. The aroma is exquisite."

Aeroc had deliberately chosen the seat in the path of the breeze, sipping the crimson liquid. He rotated his cup slowly to disperse the fragrance on purpose, and even commented aloud for Kloff's benefit — yet the miser, mad for money, could not be pried from his heavy seat.

This year's bulb harvest had been bountiful. Gazing at the clusters of beautiful flowers blooming in every color, Aeroc smiled with satisfaction. He hadn't originally possessed any deep expertise in horticulture. Lately, however, he'd found enormous pleasure in it. By squeezing the villain — quite literally squeezing Kloff's member nestled against his skin; perhaps he was just as shameless when money was at stake — he'd been gradually acquiring rare bulbs from the international flower market.

"At least we're not holding a concert this year. If we had, I'd be crushed to death under paperwork by now."

The man buried nose-deep in documents grumbled. Aeroc shot him a covert glare and twisted his lips.

He'd been planning to hold an evening concert once full summer arrived and the flowers reached peak bloom. A nocturne performed on piano, violin, and cello — it would be magnificent. But even that hadn't been easy. The penny-pincher who held the household purse strings somehow found recitals the most objectionable of all artistic endeavors. Once, Aeroc had pressed the point.

"You don't oppose buying paintings, so why do you hate concerts so much?"

"Paintings leave you with the real thing. A concert is a one-off. Feels pointless."

"You insufferable miser."

In short, paintings and sculpture were investments; concerts were not. Later, Kloff said he wouldn't object to attending recitals and suggested Aeroc buy as many tickets as he pleased. But performing was important too. Children needed rich sensory experiences for their emotional development — a concept that utterly escaped Kloff.

"Performing before an audience builds confidence and a sense of responsibility for the event. How can children who will inherit a count's household not practice presenting themselves in public?"

"I never had a single recital and I turned out perfectly fine."

"Yes — into an arid miser."

"Emotional enrichment doesn't come from spending money. It comes from running wild in nature. This is exactly the problem with city people."

"I see. Since I'm from the city and wouldn't know, you can take them out into all that glorious nature yourself."

At that, Kloff shut his mouth. He was hardly in a position to request leave from the Treasury. When Aeroc's gaze turned accusing, he deflected.

"Read to them. Poetry. Hold a reading."

The most cost-effective recital the wretched country bumpkin could conceive of. Of course, they also purchased books without restraint. But the emotional impact of literature and the emotional impact of music were separate matters entirely. No matter how many times Aeroc repeated that exposure to rich musical experiences from an early age was critical for nurturing good performers, Kloff's ears might as well have been sealed shut. Aeroc had long known the man lacked musical refinement, but lately he was beginning to genuinely worry whether Kloff might be partially deaf.

"It's a relief the kids are gone. Every time I try to work, my auditory nerves are on edge, wondering what disaster's about to erupt in the playroom."

"The playroom is clear on the other side of the mansion. You can hear them from here?"

"Obviously."

Given the flat delivery, it seemed to be the truth. He could hear the children from the opposite end of the estate with uncanny precision, yet somehow couldn't hear a word about concert funding. He clearly possessed ears that filtered exclusively for what they wished to hear. Some sort of naturally generated earplugs, perhaps.

Rotten man.

A more efficient counterstrategy was needed. Just as Kloff had adapted to the abundant coffers of the Teiwind household, Aeroc had grown accustomed to dealing with a penny-pincher's habits. More precisely, he'd had no choice but to learn the art of extracting what he wanted. A certain special persuasion was currently the best and most efficient weapon in Aeroc's arsenal. He couldn't deploy it at every turn and devalue its currency, though. A different approach had to be developed.

In the past, Aeroc would have vehemently opposed sending Lenoc and Yurea to Wolfrake Villa, insisting he couldn't bear being separated from them for even a moment. But not this time. Privately, he'd been waiting for the chance to turn the situation to his advantage. Kloff wasn't oblivious to that either.

Their eyes met as Aeroc paused mid-sip to look at him. Kloff smiled faintly. And yet his pen never left the page. He didn't come close for a casual kiss, either. His patience was sturdier than expected. At times like this, Aeroc wanted to call him a clueless, thick-headed fool — but he refrained.

"It's a relief you didn't fight me on sending them. What got into you?"

"Even you need a break sometimes."

Other motives certainly factored in as well. Rapiel was fond of music, so Aeroc intended to propose a modest concert under the pretext of thanking him. The guest list would be a generous maximum of thirty or so. The garden was in full bloom, so they could use those for the table arrangements. As for champagne…… he'd have to sweet-talk the miser into opening the cellar stock for that, too. And candles for the late evening — they'd used the last ones up. If he asked for just a hundred boxes of new ones…… the miser would have an absolute fit. What to do…….

While he mulled it over, the second cup of tea had gone cold on the table. Aeroc set it down and glanced toward the desk.

Kloff, who only moments ago had been passionately immersed in calculations, was now leaning back in his chair, fast asleep.

"He was talking to me like nothing was wrong just a second ago."

The heavy leather chair, unable to bear his weight, had tilted back slightly. Its wide back supported his large frame generously, and the upper edge curved gently forward — convenient for resting one's head against. Kloff had pressed his forehead to that ridge and was breathing in a steady rhythm.

"Kloff?"

A tentative call. The man who was alert to the faintest rustle from the playroom half a mansion away showed no reaction. His closed eyes revealed an uncommonly pale complexion — the consequence of sleeping poorly in recent weeks. Between the children, the rest of the household duties, and his work at the Treasury, his days weren't long enough, and sleep had been naturally whittled away. Aeroc had once suggested he take a break from the Treasury altogether.

"I don't want to remain a count's consort."

Kloff had dug in stubbornly. When Aeroc countered that there was no need to be his spouse's equal —

"It's the way you take your own superiority so completely for granted. It's infuriating."

The grumbling had been rather serious. There seemed to be other motives he refused to voice. Why the sudden need for a title? It didn't feel like mere ambition for advancement. No concrete evidence — just intuition.

In any case, having chosen this path for his own private reasons, Kloff almost never complained to anyone about it. Even now, with a family, he tried to handle most things on his own. Kloff Bendyke was an independent alpha. It wouldn't hurt him to lean on the Count of Teiwind once in a while.

Aeroc rose and approached the desk. Kloff, deeply asleep with his brow furrowed, looked somehow fragile. It was a rare sight, and one that made Aeroc's defenses crumble entirely. His chest constricted. He wanted to reach out and caress everything about the man. The unguarded expression of someone perpetually self-assured brought a tenderness that was difficult to contain.

He loosened Kloff's dark tie and undid his collar button. He tousled the neatly combed-back hair a little. Kloff usually rolled up his sleeves when working to avoid getting ink on them. Well-developed muscle was visible along the arms resting on the armrests. In an instant, the scene before his eyes turned carnal.

Even as a former alpha, Aeroc hadn't exactly been soft-bodied. His gardening hobby had put decent muscle on him as well. But it was qualitatively different from Kloff. The man's slightly tanned muscles were like those of a hero from mythology. The thigh muscles visible beneath his well-tailored trousers, in particular, were — to put it crudely — those of a stallion. A stallion……. Rolling the word he'd conjured over in his mind, Aeroc licked his lips. This defenseless man was his. He took delight in confirming that fact, anytime, anywhere. Now was no exception.

He went and quietly locked the study door. No one was likely to visit the study in the afternoon, but just in case. Returning, Aeroc carefully climbed on top of his alpha. He spread his legs and settled onto those solid thigh muscles. The chair groaned under the weight of two. The moment the other man felt a grown alpha sit down on his lap, he slowly opened his eyelids. When their eyes met — Kloff's drowsy, languid with sleep — Aeroc felt a shudder of electricity. Was this what it felt like to corrupt a pure soul? In reality, it was closer to holding the leash of a savage predator.

"Wha……"

Still hazy, he murmured in a voice thick with sleep. Lips that knew how to curl into a vicious smile twitched endearingly in that instant. Aeroc cupped his angular jaw and stole a kiss.

"Go back to sleep. We have plenty of time."

"Mm……"

Aeroc continued scattering small kisses on the alpha as his eyes fell shut again, while undoing more of his buttons. The sturdy column of his neck emerged. His broad pectorals swelled and subsided with each breath, and the thick neck, pushed upward by their mass, pulsed as though flaunting its overflowing vitality. Aeroc bit lightly at the solid neck, the way a vampire might. A hand resting on the armrest flinched. A warm palm slid down along Aeroc's thigh. Kloff seemed about to wake for a moment, then went still again.

Between kisses — dozens of them — Aeroc unfastened the waistcoat, loosened the belt, and pulled the shirttails from the trousers. He traced the contours of the abdominal muscles with his fingertips, their dips and ridges more familiar to him than his own body. Kloff frowned slightly at the ticklish sensation. But he didn't wake. He must have been extraordinarily tired. A twinge of sympathy and guilt accompanied the observation — but on the other hand, the fact that the man remained unresponsive despite being seduced this aggressively was frankly absurd. Still, Aeroc wasn't angry. Until now, it had always been Kloff who initiated their encounters. His lover's passionate attention never failed to bring Aeroc to a satisfying climax. But sometimes Aeroc wanted to explore his spouse for himself. He wanted to make Kloff burn through his own caresses, to give him that strained expression along with the peak. This was the perfect opportunity. Lifting the corner of his mouth, Aeroc whispered against his lover's ear.

"Stay still just like that. I'll take very good care of you."

"Mm……"

Aeroc licked and nibbled at Kloff's earlobe, moving his hands with growing boldness. He stroked the lower abdominal muscles, then slipped his hand downward. The angle twisted his arm slightly and wasn't entirely comfortable, but Aeroc kept pressing kisses to Kloff's jaw while his fingers found the thick, long, and — like its owner's face — handsome member. The dense hair at the base tickled his wrist.

Even as Aeroc worked the critical spot in earnest, Kloff did nothing more than furrow his brow further, stubbornly refusing to wake. Aeroc ran his tongue along the edge of Kloff's lips. What was hardening and swelling in his hand — and yet the moans came from Aeroc's mouth instead.

"Hmm."

Originally, the intention had been to force a service upon Kloff while the terrifyingly effective weapon known as mental arithmetic was disarmed by sleep, and somehow wring out the champagne in the process. But the original goal had long since vanished. The pleasure of being in control had already lost its luster. All that remained was the desire to take Kloff inside and ride until his mind went white. His cleft was already damp.

The truth was, Kloff being tired and busy also meant that proper intimacy was difficult. When Kloff was busy, Aeroc had to manage the children alone. By nightfall, he was invariably sprawled out, spent. Alongside boundless love for their children, the physical toll was immense.

The sex was always satisfying, but the issue was frequency. Lately, he couldn't even remember the last time they'd had a proper go. This isn't living. As an imprinted alpha and omega, the two of them could roll around together all day and it wouldn't be enough — yet crushed by the children and household demands, they'd failed to fulfill their duties as lovers. The frustration wasn't Aeroc's alone. Without any real foreplay, the alpha's formidable member was already asserting itself. Just a few strokes and it had achieved full erection. Gazing at the pillar straining against the trousers as though ready to rip through, Aeroc caught himself licking his lips.

Kloff's brow furrowed a notch deeper. Getting hard in his sleep — how uncomfortable that must be. The man was generously sized to begin with, and the fabric pressing down on it would be unbearable. He needed relief at once. A spouse's rightful duty. Aeroc descended swiftly from the chair.

Oddly, a pang of guilt surfaced. Was he doing something terrible? His heart said one thing, but his trembling hands knew no retreat. Fingers gone cold with tension drew out the thick, vein-ridged shaft with care. The fearsome red tip stood proudly upright the moment it was freed, as though it had been waiting. Aeroc swallowed hard. By hand? By mouth? Or…… when was the next heat week again?

While he hesitated, the scent of the aroused alpha grew thicker by the second. His body trembled involuntarily at the familiar heat woven into that fragrance. He was soaked behind, and just as painfully hard himself.

"I can't help it — I swear on the heavens, I truly cannot help this. Not being able to remember when the next heat even is — that's not my fault. This is entirely the fault of a certain penny-pincher who's failed in his duties as a lover."

No one was listening, but Aeroc offered his excuse anyway as he kicked off his shoes, socks, trousers, and undergarments in one swift motion. Then he climbed right back on top of his delectable alpha.

He planted a kiss of gratitude on his devoted husband and father, and settled into position. He hadn't specifically intended this. He swore — he'd only meant to rub against it, just a little. A slight friction at the entrance would have sufficed. But the greedy, wanton entrance, the moment it felt the rigid head brush against it, latched on as though it had been waiting — and at the slightest shift, swallowed it in one smooth glide.

"Ah."

Spreading his legs and mounting an unconscious alpha on the sly — of course, there had been roughly similar occasions before. Kloff returning late at night after a long day and waking Aeroc from a light sleep with his rigid member — that had happened more than a few times. But the reverse was a first. Flushing with embarrassment at what he'd done, his face went hot.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. But…… it's already in, so there's nothing to be done."

Aeroc moved his hips with utmost care, so as not to wake the peacefully sleeping Kloff.

"Haah…… nnh…… ah…… hh……"

The enormous shaft scraped slowly along his inner walls, and he couldn't help the sounds that escaped through his nose. One hand gripped the back of the chair for balance; the other clamped over his own mouth. Wet breathing and louder moans needed to be contained so as not to disturb Kloff. But the heavy leather chair creaked far too loudly. And moving slowly was, frankly, maddening.

"Haa."

He placed both hands on Kloff's shoulders and wedged his knees into the gap between Kloff's thighs and the chair. That made the position a little more comfortable. He sank his hips deep. The massive shaft caught on the sensitive spot along his inner wall.

"Hnn—"

A sharp, tingling sensation tore through his entire body. The jolt threw him off-balance and he wobbled. The rigid head scraped hard against the wall inside.

"Ahh—!"

A thoroughly wet sound escaped before he could stop it. When the blunt tip pressed firmly against the cervical opening hidden deeper inside, Aeroc clenched down hard without thinking.

"Hnn…… haa……"

His vision blurred. He buried his face in the crook of Kloff's neck and repeated deep breaths. The careful, deliberate movements only heightened the arousal. Fully erect, Aeroc gripped himself with one hand and stroked. Biting his lower lip, stifling his breath, he drew Kloff deeper inside a few more times.

"Hmm."

A nasal sound slipped out on its own. The depravity of taking a sleeping man sharpened every nerve to a finer edge. Or perhaps it was the considerable backlog of frustration egging him on. It felt so good that he threw his head back and let out a small cry.

"Kh."

Aeroc came into his own hand with a low, broken gasp.

"Haa…… haa."

The immediate urgency subsided with the release. A low ember of heat still coiled in his lower belly, but sating it now would be difficult. He'd planned to seduce Kloff properly once he woke.

"Phew."

He let out a breath and tried to ease himself off. At that moment, the arm that had been draped limply over the armrest moved — seized his half-risen waist and slammed it back down.

"Ahh! Nngh……"

"You jump a man in his sleep and try to run off without cleaning up after yourself?"

A terrifying voice reached his ears. A chill shot up Aeroc's spine.

"When did you wake up?"

"From the start."

"Why did you pretend to be asleep?"

"Wanted to see what you'd do. Also, I really was drowsy."

"Then go back to sleep."

"Not a chance."

The newly awakened Kloff locked his arms around Aeroc's waist and pulled him firmly down. Aeroc yelped and braced both hands against Kloff's shoulders. One hand couldn't uncurl from its fist — and Kloff, catching it from the corner of his eye, grinned wickedly.

"Taking your pleasure alone — that won't do, Count."

"You were the one playing dead while I did all the work."

"I wasn't playing dead. I was genuinely exhausted. If you've ravished a sleeping man, you ought to take responsibility."

"R-ravished?……"

Aeroc stared at Kloff in disbelief. Still drowsy, eyes half-lidded and languid, Kloff lifted the corner of his mouth.

"If this isn't ravishment, what is it?"

"Your member is the one that's practically a deadly weapon, and it's the one trespassing!"

"Unilateral penetration and other sexual acts performed without any form of consent constitute sexual assault. I don't recall consenting."

"Between spouses, this much is just…… no — you do the exact same thing to me all the time!"

"I always obtained your consent."

Defeating Kloff in a solemn cross-examination was nearly impossible. And in truth, he never did proceed beyond foreplay until Aeroc spoke the words of permission himself. Aeroc had privately regarded it as a conscientious habit — Kloff perpetually and keenly repentant of the aggression he'd shown during their first time. That he would weaponize it like this.

"I'll take responsibility. What do you want?"

"Nothing much. You've aroused my sexual desire, so you can resolve it accordingly. By yourself, of course."

Kloff smirked. Aeroc glared at his triumphant face through narrowed eyes and held up his fingers.

"Fine. But don't you dare back out."

At the stern warning, Kloff grinned as though delighted.

"Wouldn't dream of it. I'm looking forward to it."

Studying the smug face, Aeroc licked his lips. In truth, his own need was nowhere near satisfied. His earlier intention to stop at one round had been because of the heat cycle. Watching Kloff collapse into exhaustion after juggling childcare and work, Aeroc had privately agreed it would be better to space out their next child. But now that Kloff was telling him to go as far as he pleased — well, what choice did he have?

Aeroc straightened his back. The shift tightened things slightly, and Kloff let out a satisfied sound as his hand swept down Aeroc's thigh.

Smack.

"You stay still."

"As you command."

Chin raised, pushing his disheveled hair back, Aeroc gave the order with imperious authority. Despite the slap to the back of his hand, Kloff beamed. His hands settled obediently onto the armrests.

From the waist down Aeroc was bare, but his upper half was still buttoned into his waistcoat. He began unfastening the buttons one by one. Still seated atop Kloff, of course. He drew the end of the tie cinching his throat and slowly, slowly pulled it free. As his upper body moved, the lower half shifted naturally with it.

"Hmm."

By the third button, Kloff couldn't contain his thirst any longer — he curled his lips, then released them. When Aeroc, draped in nothing but his silk shirt, smiled with a languid expression, Kloff licked his lips again. The confident look stiffened just slightly, and the gaze raking over Aeroc betrayed a flicker of agitation.

"When are you going to start?"

Unable to hold out, Kloff twisted his hips and urged him on. Lifting his own hips just enough to keep the angle from deepening, Aeroc leaned slowly toward Kloff's ear. He noticed the lust-dark gaze snagging on the pale nipple visible through the parted shirt. Aeroc chuckled low in his throat.

"Kloff Bendyke. Exceptionally capable and blessed with striking looks — but far too arrogant and willful."

"And that's why you lo—kh."

The instant Aeroc clamped down hard on the shaft inside him, the masculine lips contorted in agonized pleasure. The searing rush of sensation turned Aeroc's own mind hazy. But no matter the moment, his outward composure never cracked. That very composure had earned him countless misunderstandings and excruciating suffering in the past — but now, it served him beautifully.

"I don't recall giving you permission to talk back."

The scolding tone was deliberately severe. The self-assured grin broke as Kloff released the breath he'd been holding, and in that instant Aeroc seized his chiseled jaw and kissed him. Tongue met tongue first — a deep, consuming kiss that quickly dissolved into slick, obscene friction. Simultaneously, he began to move his hips. Slowly. Clenching down hard on the thick shaft buried inside him, up, then down, savoring its fearsome girth and rigidity at leisure.

"Hmm."

The alpha's hands seized the armrest and wrung it. His knuckles went white. From the two points where membrane met membrane, wet, competing sounds of friction spilled in tandem. The heavy chair, bearing the weight of two, screamed.

* * *

Orange light poured through the window. It had been early afternoon — and now, somehow, the sun was already setting. Aeroc, sprawled across the desk, watched Kloff biting into his inner thigh with a drowsy gaze. Settled between Aeroc's legs where they lay open across the desk, Kloff wore the same intent expression he'd had while studying the paperwork earlier — only now it was Aeroc under examination. How many peaks had been reached, he'd lost count. The one who'd been wrung dry without a drop to spare was Aeroc.

"Already tired? We can go another round."

"Beast."

He clamped his thighs shut, trapping the hand that had been idly stroking deep inside. Then he nudged Kloff's firm jaw with the ball of his foot. Kloff caught the foot caressing his chin and smirked, biting gently at Aeroc's big toenail.

"So what is it you want this time? A hundred boxes of candles for the evening soirée?"

As expected. The penny-pincher had seen through Aeroc's scheme all along.

"That's not enough."

He withdrew the toe caught between Kloff's teeth. With that foot, he traced the hard muscle of the alpha's chest and abdomen — dangerously radiating masculine allure in the aftermath. His toes traveled slowly downward, reaching the border where the dark thicket began. With his other leg, he rubbed against Kloff's thigh.

"Thirty bottles of the wine in the cellar."

"That's……"

He could picture Kloff's gleeful face when he'd said those bottles could be sent to auction in just ten more years of aging. By then the flavor would deepen considerably — but a lighter bouquet had its own pleasures.

It was Aeroc who ended the other man's hesitation. The foot that had been parting the thicket pressed its sole firmly against the root of the rigid shaft. Nothing more.

"Fine."

Kloff ground his molars as he conceded, then roughly batted away the foot rubbing at his groin.

"Damn legs."

Cursing, he spread Aeroc's legs and wrapped them around his own waist. Then he fixed his chuckling spouse with a menacing glare.

"Brace yourself."

"Gladly."

Aeroc smiled as he received the alpha's eager charge with his whole body.

The sun vanished and blue night descended, and still neither of them left the study.