139 Her schemes (2/2)

When they pulled away, a string of saliva connected their lips. A wonderful splash of rose painted Liu Sumeng's cheeks, all the way p to the tips of his ear. He trembled a little under Yuan Xuelan's touch.

A part of him still beheld fear and apprehension. A lifelong wound born out of the relationship he once had with the same person before him was difficult to erase. Emperor Taixu was desperate and insane.

But Liu Sumeng was coming to terms that his Xuelan now was different. Cuter, softer and while he still had the same intensity and tiny flicker of madness in his eyes, he was considerate as well. Loving and even patient.

Liu Sumeng did not need to fear him. All he needed to do was trust him, and receive trust in turn. A euphoric warmth engulfed his soul from such a realization and a hunger sprouted that Liu Sumeng had never recognized or acknowledged before.

Was this the true nature of what romance was meant to be? All-encompassing and feverish to behold. Liu Sumeng wondered how he lived two whole lifetimes so utterly deprived. Why in the world did it take so long for him to experience such a thing?

Yuan Xuelan looked down at him with deep intensity in his eyes. A thumb brushed loose strands away from Liu Sumeng's face. The younger was utterly entranced, ”You're so beautiful, Sumeng. Did I ever tell you that?”

Liu Sumeng didn't know what made him roll his eyes more, the cheesy words or the startling honesty behind them. ”Don't be foolish,” he chided but had difficulties wiping the smile entirely off his lips.

It earned him a little huff. Impatient, Yuan Xuelan used one hand to simply hop over the length of the desk to Liu Sumeng's side. ”I'm telling the truth,” He pouted, and now brimming with both excitement and confidence, wrapped his hands around the small of Liu Sumeng's waist. With a single pull forward, Liu Sumeng's body was pressed flush against him. Excitement tickled Yuan Xuelan's heart, knowing well that Liu Sumeng could easily push him away but didn't.

”The first time I ever laid eyes on Sumeng back at Wangyun Peak, I thought you were the most beautiful person in the world.”

Liu Sumeng's expression stilled, he looked unimpressed but at least didn't push Yuan Xuelan away. Not only did he simply not believe the younger cultivator but who was the person who inspired Xuelan to say these generic, cheesy things? ”Enough with the flattery.”

”But it's true!” Yuan Xuelan's hold became even tighter, his hands trailing up the line of Liu Sumeng's spine, feeling the curves and slopes of muscles that decorated his back. It stirred up the inner beast in Yuan Xuelan's belly, making it growl from hunger and thirst. Lust was overpowering in its sway, making his hands roam freely. Suddenly, Yuan Xuelan felt that Liu Sumeng was wearing too many clothes. He too, was feeling hot, with his collar tight around his chest and neck. The trousers were feeling uncomfortable as well… In the way.

”No, it's not,” Liu Sumeng's lashes fluttered as he sank into the feeling of Xuelan's hands around his body. He shuddered at the touch, tense at first. But Yuan Xuelan, while eager, was also gentle and did not push when Liu Sumeng was not completely willing.

Liu Sumeng opened his eyes, one arm circling around Yuan Xuelan's neck to angle his head downward and the other hand grabbing ahold of Xuelan's bicep. ”You hated me, remember?” He leaned up for a kiss, but Xuelan tilted his head just slightly to dodge Sumeng's slightly swollen, rosy lips.

”I was stupid,” Yuan Xuelan said, ”I made weird assumptions about you but I always thought Sumeng was like a beauty that rivaled ten thousand--”

Annoyed, and much too embarrassed to listen to the nonsense that was sprouting out of Yuan Xuelan's lips, Liu Sumeng's grip around Xuelan's neck became a little more forceful and pulled him into a kiss.

Successfully silenced, Yuan Xuelan groaned a little in protest wishing that he could have somehow convinced his Sumeng that he genuinely was the most beautiful person on the face of the earth. Alas, a kiss was too delightful for him to refuse, and soon he was pressing his lips eagerly against his beloved's. His hands roamed Liu Sumeng's body against, picking and prying at those annoying robes.

Suddenly, Liu Sumeng tensed in his hold.

Yuan Xuelan, stunned, pulled away quickly, ”What's wrong? Did I do something--”

But he quickly noticed that Liu Sumeng's still expression was pointed toward the window.

…Should Yuan Xuelan really, turn around?

He regretted it right as he did. Nan Chang's arms were propping her head up against the window ledge. She blinked at them, innocently with a sweet smile on her lips.

”Go on, just continue! I won't bother you, Nan Chang swears.”

Liu Sumeng shoved Xuelan away and quickly turned his back on her to fix the state of his clothes.

Yuan Xuelan liked Nan Chang usually, but at that moment, he vowed to kill her.

Nan Chang ran off in a shrill of giggles.