Asher stared ahead, his voice dropping lower. "Let's go to the beach."
Noah glanced at him, expression cold. "You're drunk."
Asher shook his head, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "The beach. Please?"
Noah didn't answer right away.
The car filled with silence, broken only by his shallow breathing.
Finally, he said flatly, "Whatever you want."
As the words left his mouth, something flickered and died in his eyes.
He didn't care where they went anymore.
Beach, anywhere else—it was all the same.
The car kept moving forward.
City lights gradually disappeared outside the window, replaced by the endless stretch of highway.
Asher leaned against the window, apparently asleep.
Noah gripped the steering wheel, his gaze still and expressionless.
He didn't want to think about anything.
About an hour later, a faint gleam of ocean appeared in the distance.
The beach was deserted, nothing but waves beating against the shore.
He stopped the car and killed the engine.
The world went quiet, leaving only the sound of the surf.
Asher got out first.
His steps were unsteady, and when the wind hit him, he swayed.
Noah sat in the car watching him for a while.
Asher walked to the edge of the sand, close to the water, bent down to pick up a stone, and tossed it casually into the sea.
The splash was swallowed by the waves.
Noah finally opened his door and got out.
He wasn't wearing much. When the night wind hit him, he couldn't help hunching his shoulders.
He walked forward a few steps and sat down beside Asher.
There was a small distance between them.
The waves rolled in, one after another. The sea breeze struck their faces.
Not strong, but cold.
Noah pressed a hand against his arm, shivering slightly.
Asher noticed and shrugged off his jacket, holding it out.
"Put it on."
Noah looked at him. "Keep it yourself."
Asher gave a low laugh. "I'm not cold."
He draped the jacket over Noah's shoulders.
They fell silent again.
Asher suddenly moved closer.
His palm settled on Noah's knee, warm against the skin.
Then slowly, through the fabric of his pants, he began tracing up the inner thigh.
The movement was slow, lazily drunk, but purposeful.
Noah's breathing hitched.
His body went rigid instantly, muscles tensing.
Asher's hand kept moving. He leaned in closer.
His lips found Noah's neck, warm breath ghosting over skin.
Then he kissed him.
Once, twice.
The wet sensation traveled down the line of his throat, carrying the smell of alcohol and something predatory.
He kissed slowly, like he was savoring something.
Noah's voice went cold, trembling with restraint. "Don't."
A pause, then he added, "We're outside."
Asher's hand stilled, but his lips remained pressed against Noah's neck.
"There's no one here."
Wind passed between them, carrying away the last shred of rational distance.
Noah turned his head, voice colder. "If you're going to do this, why didn't we just go home?"
Asher didn't answer.
He just reached up and caught Noah's wrist.
The grip wasn't hard, but it held a note of refusal that brooked no argument.
Noah's eyes darkened.But he didn't struggle.
Asher said quietly, "Come on."
He pulled Noah back toward the car.
Their footsteps made soft sounds in the sand.
The car still sat where they'd left it, headlights dark, like a sleeping beast.
The night was thick and black, only the waves churning in the distance.
Asher opened the car door.
Noah assumed they were driving back.
But Asher had opened the back door.
The moment the door shut, the world seemed to go quiet.
Wind cut off, wave sounds muffled.
Only their breathing tangled together in the cramped space.
Asher closed in almost immediately.
He smelled of alcohol mixed with the damp salt air.
His lips found Noah's neck again, no hesitation this time, latching onto a patch of skin and sucking hard.
Noah's brow furrowed slightly. His body tilted back, but Asher's arm circled his waist and pulled him forward.
"Don't pull away." Asher's voice was rough, carrying the weight of a command.
Noah's eyes fixed blankly on the car ceiling, letting Asher move over him.
Only one thought repeated endlessly in his mind:
One more month.
The contract ends in one more month.
Just hold on a little longer.
Asher's hand slipped restlessly under the hem of Noah's shirt, palm pressed against warm skin.
Fingertips traced slowly along his side, inch by inch upward, raising fine tremors.
Noah's breathing grew ragged.
Asher kissed him hard, with the loss of control that comes with alcohol and raw possession.
His tongue pried Noah's lips apart, invading, plundering every bit of air.
Noah could barely breathe, could only tilt his head back and take it.
The kisses moved from lips to jaw, then to neck.
As Asher kissed, he worked at Noah's shirt buttons.
His movements were a bit frantic.
Buttons came undone one by one, revealing the lines of his chest.
The shirt was pushed down to his shoulders. Cold air hit bare skin, bringing a shiver.
Asher's lips settled on his collarbone, teeth grazing lightly.
Then his chest.
He took one side into his mouth, tongue circling, making Noah's whole body jerk.
His hand reached for Noah's waistband, undoing his belt, pulling down the zipper.
The sound of fabric moving was unnaturally loud in the small space.
Noah's breathing quickened.
He felt Asher's hand slip inside, palming him through his underwear.
The touch was warm, movements slow but determined.
Asher bent down, kissing his lips again while sliding his pants down.
In the narrow back seat, their bodies kept colliding.
Clothing fell piece by piece onto the seats.
The windows had fogged over.
The night outside was a blur, only the distant sound of waves rolling in.
Asher's fingers pushed inside.
Noah's body went taut, a low, strangled sound escaping his throat.
"Relax." Asher murmured in his ear, voice soothing but also oppressive.
Noah obeyed, relaxing his body.
He'd learned how to cooperate, how to make this end faster.
It was the only skill he'd acquired in this relationship.
Asher felt Noah's compliance.
Not compliance born of desire, but compliance born of numbness.
Everything had changed since that night.
Asher moved slowly, stretching him bit by bit.
Noah's breathing grew more uneven, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
He bit down hard, making no sound, only his fingers gripping the leather seat tightly.
When Asher finally withdrew his fingers, Noah's body was trembling faintly.
Asher undid his own pants, taking himself in hand, slowly moving closer.
He lifted Noah's leg, hooking it over his shoulder.
"Look at me," he said quietly.
Noah opened his eyes, gaze hollow.
He looked at Asher, no lust in his eyes, only exhaustion.
Those eyes held no light.
Like a stagnant pool, reflecting nothing.
Asher's movements suddenly paused.
He looked into Noah's eyes, at that utterly calm expression.
Something indescribable surged through him.
This is what you wanted, isn't it?
He asked himself.
Making him like this was your plan.
So why does it hurt now?
But he still pushed in slowly.
Noah's body tensed immediately, breath nearly stopping.
He bit his lip, nails digging into his palms.
It hurt.
But compared to the emptiness inside, what was this pain?
Asher paused, then continued.
Inch by inch, until he was fully buried.
The air in the car grew scorching.
Their breathing wove together, broken and harsh.
Asher began to move.
His rhythm went from slow to urgent, force spiraling out of control.
The car rocked gently with his movements, making small sounds.
Noah tilted his head back, eyes unfocused.
He didn't cry, didn't moan.
Just passively took each thrust.
Asher kissed him, but didn't stop moving.
His breathing grew more ragged, edged with suppressed gasps.
Asher's movements grew faster, harder.
Noah's breathing stuttered, body shaking uncontrollably.
He clenched his jaw, but a low, broken sound still escaped.
Finally, Asher's movements stopped abruptly.
He let out a low growl, body going rigid, then released completely.
The car went quiet.
Only their ragged breathing remained.
Noah moved first.
He reached for his clothes, putting them on piece by piece.
His movements were slow but calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Asher looked up, his gaze somewhat vacant.
He wanted to touch Noah's face.
His hand lifted halfway, but Noah turned his head away.
Buttoning his shirt, he said quietly, "Dawn is breaking."