Morning light pushed through Neo's curtains like it was trying to drag him out of sleep.
For once, he didn't feel like death. His body wasn't aching, his breathing wasn't sharp just warm, calm, steady.
He stretched, groaned softly, then-
"NEO! HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEWS?!"
Pia BURST into his room like she owned the place.Neo shot up."What?? What happened?". Pia was panting, shoved his remote into his hand.
"Just switch it on. Oh my God, just switch it on!"He clicked the TV. And the headline hit him like a sledgehammer:
WEALTHY TYCOON DARIAN FOUND DEAD IN HIS OWN ESTATE.
BODY DISMEMBERED.
WIFE & DAUGHTER MISSING. Neo's blood ran cold, his breath stuttered. He had one name in his head. One single name, that could have done something like this.
Lucas.
Everything in Neo's chest twisted fear, anger, panic, guilt.
He stood up so fast his vision blurred.
He didn't care if Lucas told him to rest for a week. He didn't care if he wasn't supposed to leave the house yet, he rushed to the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face, gripping the sink.
"Lucas… what did you do, please tell me your not the one?"
The news kept repeating behind him.
Darian's house, darian's body.
Missing wife and child.
Neo's voice cracked from stress.
"Please don't tell me you killed everyone… even the child…"
He dressed fast ,too fast hands trembling, mind racing. And then he left the house
He needed answers. "And where are you headed" pia stopped him "to work" he said casually "okay but I know what you're thinking it might also not be him so don't act rational" pia said looking at him sternly sometimes she acts as though she was the matured one. "I won't okay" neo said before walking out heading for his workplace.
Lucas' POV
Lucas had been in his office since dawn, suit perfect, hair clean, expression unreadable.
If anyone saw him, they'd swear he was a normal CEO working on spreadsheets not someone who spent the night destroying an empire.He signed files, reviewed reports, sipped coffee. Calm,normal,untouched.
Almost as if blood had never touched his hands.
Almost.
A knock came first then it went silent for a while then he pressed the button.
Then the door flung open. Neo literally stormed in, face flushed, Eyes wild, Breath shaking.
Lucas didn't move.Didn't even straighten up.
He simply looked at him.
"Neo."
But Neo was already exploding.
"YOU KILLED THEM!" he yelled, voice cracking.
"You killed EVERYONE in that house, please don't tell me it's because of me! Even the woman and the little girl—"
"Neo." Lucas' voice dropped, cold.
"Watch your tone."
Neo ignored it which was bold and stupid.
"You think you can just...just go around murdering people?!"
His hands were shaking.
"I don't even know who you are at all-"
Lucas' jaw twitched.Just once.
But he stayed seated.
Neo paced, ranting, pointing, accusing fear and emotion pouring out of him like a broken dam.
"You didn't have the RIGHT! You didn't even THINK! You—"
The second Neo said
"You just act without thinking about anyone—"
Lucas stood, slowly, silently, deliberately.
Neo's words died in his throat instantly.
He stepped back.Then another step.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
Lucas didn't rush him.
He walked forward with controlled steps, eyes locked on Neo like a predator choosing when to strike.
Neo's confidence melted into fear but lucas passed him and leaned casually against his desk, arms folded as if unimpressed by the entire outburst.
"Are you finished?" Lucas asked quietly.
Neo swallowed. "I....I-"
Lucas cut him off.
"I didn't touch the woman or the child."
Voice low, sharp.
"I let them go. I even warned them to run."
Neo froze.
Lucas continued, completely calm
"If I wanted them dead, they would be dead.
I chose not to harm them...But you—"
He pointed lightly at Neo.
"You barged in here and accused me like you know my work better than I do."
Neo's stomach twisted with guilt.
"I… I didn't know," he whispered. "I thought"
"That's your problem," Lucas interrupted, stepping closer.
"You think too fast.....And you doubt me too easily." Neo looked down, voice small.
"…I'm sorry."
Lucas' expression softened not in a gentle way, but in a claiming way. "Come here."
Neo's head snapped up.
"Lucas...I." "Come. Here." He said it slowly this time. Neo hesitated but his feet moved on their own.
He stepped closer until he was standing directly between Lucas' legs, exactly where Lucas wanted him.
Lucas took his chin between two fingers and tilted his face up.
"Look at me." Neo obeyed, cheeks red, breath trembling.
Lucas' voice dropped to a low command
"Never doubt me again, Neo. Not my choices. Not my loyalty. Not the things I do to protect you or anyone around you."
Neo felt that in his bones.
Lucas brushed a thumb across his cheek, slow and careful.
"How's your jaw?" "Your ribs?" "Do you feel any pain today?"
Neo's face went bright red. His voice tiny
"I'm fine…"
Lucas smirked dark and satisfied.
Neo was still standing between Lucas' legs, breath shaky, cheeks red, eyes refusing to lift even though Lucas had told him to look.
But Lucas wasn't done with him. Not even close, "Raise your head," Lucas said, voice low but firm. Neo lifted it slowly, like the moment itself was too heavy to move through.
Those wide brown eyes met Lucas' darker, unreadable ones and the air tightened.
Lucas studied him.Every tiny twitch, every shaky inhale, every flush of embarrassment crawling up Neo's neck.
"You come into my office shouting," Lucas murmured, "but the moment I step close, you melt."
Neo swallowed hard. "T-that's not...I don't—" "Don't lie."
Lucas's fingers slid from Neo's chin to his jaw, holding him gently but firmly.
"I know when you're scared.
And I know when you're… overwhelmed."
Neo's blush deepened violently.
"Lucas—"
"You think I didn't notice?" Lucas leaned in just enough for Neo to feel his breath on his cheek.
"The way you trembled when I stood up? The way your voice cracked?...The way you kept backing away like I'm something dangerous?"
Neo's whole body heated up.
"You are dangerous," Neo mumbled, voice tiny.
Lucas smiled slow, dark, amused.
"And yet…"
His hand slid to the back of Neo's neck, fingers brushing the soft hair there.
"You walked right back to me when I told you to." Neo's heart nearly exploded.
Lucas tilted his head, eyes softening just a little.
"You trust me more than you want to admit."
Neo's lips parted but no sound came out.
Lucas's thumb brushed Neo's lower lip without thinking.
Neo froze, lucas froze too. Both of them felt it, that sharp, electric snap in the air between them.
Lucas pulled back slightly not away, just enough to get control.
"You came here angry," Lucas said quietly.
"You shouted. You accused me."
His voice softened even further. "But you came. To me. First."
Neo blinked rapidly as his heartbeat pounded against his ribs.
Lucas lowered his voice, almost a whisper.
"When something scares you…"
His thumb brushed Neo's cheek again.
"You run to me."
Neo stared at the floor again, overwhelmed.
But Lucas wouldn't let him hide he lifted Neo's chin again, more gently this time.
"Tell me why," Lucas murmured.
Neo's chest tightened.
"I… I don't know," he whispered.
Then, honest and trembling "I just… feel safe with you."
Lucas went completely still, It hit him harder than any bullet ever could.
He released a slow breath he didn't realize he was holding, eyes softening in a way almost no one else had ever seen.
"Neo."
Neo's breath caught. Lucas leaned in just enough that their foreheads almost touched not a kiss, not even an almost-kiss, just intense closeness that made the room feel too small.
"You matter to me," Lucas said quietly.
"More than you understand, that's why I protect you.That's why I do things you'll never see."
Neo's eyes widened, and something fluttered violently in his chest.
Lucas finally released him and stepped back slightly giving Neo space, but not too much.
"Sit," Lucas ordered softly, nodding to the chair beside his desk.
"Your legs are shaking."
Neo actually sat without arguing and he didn't even notice until Lucas smirked.
"See?" Lucas murmured, voice warm with teasing.
"You listen to me even when you're upset."
Neo covered his face with his hands, groaning.
"Lucas, stop…"
Lucas chuckled under his breath the soft, rare kind of laugh he didn't show to people.
Only Neo seemed to pull it out of him.
Then Lucas walked around his desk, sat beside Neo, and kicked one leg over his knee, looking relaxed but also watchful.
"What else is bothering you?" he asked quietly. "You didn't only come here because of Darian." Neo hesitated.
Then, voice small "I thought… you saw me as a responsibility, like… something fragile.
Something you had to fix all the time."
Lucas turned his head slowly, eyes darkening.
"Don't ever think that," he said not angry, but fiercely sincere.
"You're not a burden, You're not weak, and you're not my responsibility." Neo blinked.
While lucas leaned closer. "You're someone I chose." This time neo felt something melt inside his ribcage.
Lucas stood again smoothly, brushing his fingers lightly through Neo's hair soft, brief, but enough to make Neo shiver.
"Go home," Lucas said gently.
"Your sister is probably panicking. And I need you calmer before I explain more."
Neo stood slowly, eyes still locked on Lucas.
"And Neo?" Lucas added as Neo reached the door.
Neo paused.
"…yes?"
Lucas's voice dropped to that quiet, possessive register that made Neo's knees weaken. "Don't ever walk into my office yelling at me again." He smirked.
"Next time you want my attention… ask."
Neo's ears BURNED.
He rushed out before he humiliated himself further.
And Lucas stood there watching the closed door, jaw tight, fists clenched, trying to control the urge to go after him because Neo had no idea what he was doing to him.
Cealen's pov
Ethan had been pacing Cealen's living room for the past ten minutes, pretending he wasn't nervous.
Which was hilarious, because Cealan had been watching him the entire time from the couch with that lazy, almost bored expression the one that always made Ethan feel like he was being studied.
"You're restless," Celan commented, voice low, unbothered, like he was talking about the weather.
"I'm not restless," Ethan snapped.
Celan lifted one eyebrow.
Slow.Judging.Amused.
"You sure?" he asked. "Because you look like a cat whose tail someone stepped on."
Ethan froze mid-step. "…What?"
Celan shrugged that slow roll of his shoulders that always exposed the smooth line of his collarbone.
He didn't even try to hide how he liked messing with Ethan.
"You heard me."
Ethan's face went pink instantly.
He hated no he LOATHED how Cealan got under his skin so easily.
"Why are you even here?" cealen muttered.
"You know why am here, you know what you did"
Cealan stared at him for a full three seconds.
Then patted his thigh.
"Come here."
Ethan's heart dropped. "No."
Cealen's lips curved in the tiniest smirk that dangerous little spark that meant he already won. "I wasn't asking."
Ethan's breath hitched. Cealan didn't raise his voice. didn't move, didn't threaten.
He didn't need to.
There was something about the way he sat there legs slightly apart, arm draped over the back of the couch, eyes half-lidded like he was evaluating Ethan's soul that made Ethan feel small in the best, most terrifying way. Ethan swallowed and stepped closer.
One step.
Another.
Until he was standing between Celan's legs.
Celan looked up at him with that stupid calm expression.
"See? You do know how to listen."
Ethan's face flamed.
"Y–you said you weren't asking" "And you obeyed."
Celan's voice deepened just a little.
"Good boy."
There and there Ethan nearly combusted.
His knees literally weakened.
He placed a hand on Celan's shoulder just to steady himself.And cealan noticed of course he did.
His smirk widened like he'd discovered Ethan's biggest secret.
"You're too easy to read," Cealan murmured, sliding a hand up Ethan's waist, fingers slipping against the hem of his shirt like slow, warm electricity. "One little push and you fall apart."
Ethan's voice shook. "I'm not falling apart."
"Mhm." Cealan tugged him down ever so slightly. "Then why won't you look at me?"
Ethan's eyes flicked anywhere but at Cealan's face.
"That's what I thought," Celan said softly. "You always melt the moment I touch you."
Ethan's breath trembled.
Celan's other hand rose slow, teasing, deliberate tracing the underside of Ethan's jaw with just the pads of his fingers.
"Relax," Celan whispered, leaning closer so his lips brushed air near Ethan's cheek.
"You're shaking."
"I'm not-!" "You are."
Cealan's thumb brushed Ethan's bottom lip.
A feather-light touch that made Ethan gasp.
Celan's eyes darkened dangerously.
"You have no idea what you do to me, do you?" he murmured. "Standing here, blushing like this… looking at me like you want something but won't say it."
Ethan froze.
Cealan tilted Ethan's chin up with two fingers, making him meet his gaze finally.
"Say it," Celan whispered.
"What do you want from me?" Ethan's entire body burned.
He opened his mouth but no sound came out., Cealan smiled.
A slow, satisfied, possessive smile.
"That's alright," he murmured. "I'll drag it out of you eventually."
"Come here," Cealan said, already heading into the kitchen.
And Ethan followed like gravity is doing the work for him.
Cealan is leaning against the counter, sleeves rolled just a bit, hair slightly messy from earlier, looking maddeningly effortless.
Ethan swallows hard.
Cealan notices.
He pushes a glass of water towards Ethan.
"You look like you're overheating."
"I- I'm fine."
Celan tilts his head. "You don't sound fine."
Ethan's ears go pink.Then Cealan stepped closer . Slow, deliberate, a predator assessing. He takes Ethan's chin gently between his fingers, turning his face left, then right, like he's checking something.
"You're flushed."
He leans in just enough that Ethan feels the warmth of his breath. "Tell me why."
Ethan steps back instinctively
and bumps into the fridge.
Celan's smirk widens.
"No running," he murmurs, placing one hand beside Ethan's head on the fridge door. "Not in my house."
Ethan's breath stutters. "I...I wasn't-"
Cealan taps his jaw lightly. "Lie again."
Ethan clams up instantly. Cealan always did things like this to him, it was only him that had this submissive side.
Cealan lifts his other hand and trails a single finger down Ethan's throat to the collar of his shirt.
"Relax," he whispers. "You're shaking."
And Ethan is. God, he is.
Ethan tries to slip away, but Cealan catches his wrist with one hand gently, but unchallengeable and guides him backward until Ethan's back meets the hallway wall.
Cealan doesn't slam him. He doesn't even push, he just steps into Ethan's space until Ethan has nowhere to go.
His hand rests on the wall above Ethan's shoulder, caging him in.
His voice is low, amused:
"You always get soft when you're nervous."
Ethan bites his lip. "I'm not—"
Celan cuts him off by leaning in, lips brushing the edge of Ethan's cheekbone without touching. "Don't start lying now."
Ethan's knees literally weaken.
Celan sees it, and Smirks.
"Look at me." Which ethan does.
And regrets it instantly.
Cealan's eyes are dark, focused, studying him like he's figuring out exactly which button to press next.
"Good," Celan murmurs. "Don't look away."
He drags his thumb across Ethan's lower lip again, slower this time.
"You have no idea what you're doing to me, do you?"
Ethan's breath catches.
"I—I'm not doing anything."
"That's the problem," Celan whispers. "You don't even try, and you still get me like this."
Ethan's whole body goes hot.
Cealan walks him backwards again, herding him toward the bedroom door without touching him just presence and eye contact.
"Come here." Ethan obeys instantly.
Halfway through moving, he mutters under his breath:
"Y..yes, si-" but he cuts himself off realizing.
Cealan DEFINITELY heard it.
He paused then looks Ethan up and down.
"Finish it."
Ethan shakes his head violently, face burning. "No."
Cealan takes one step closer.
Just one.
Ethan's breath stutters. "Finish it," Cealan repeats softly.
Ethan whispers, "Sir…"
And Celan's exhale is slow, controlled, a little too satisfied. "Good boy," he murmurs.
Ethan almost collapsed
Cealan places a hand on Ethan's cheek, thumb stroking once.
He leans in slow, close enough that Ethan feels every breath. Ethan closes his eyes.
Waiting, Wanting, Needing.
Cealan stops a hair's breadth from Ethan's lips.Ethan swallowed hard.
His chest rose and fell in sharp little shivers.
He could feel Celan's warmth… almost taste him.
Celan whispered, voice deep and soft:
"Look at me." Ethan did.
And that was it.
Cealan moved in
'RING. RING. RING.'
The ringtone cut through the moment like a knife.
Ethan jumped. Cealan didn't move.
His forehead rested against Ethan's, eyes closed, jaw ticking.
He whispered, dangerously calm
"…I'm going to kill whoever is calling me."
Ethan's breath shook.
"It might maybe you should check-"
Cealan stepped back a hair just enough to breathe but kept one hand braced beside Ethan's head on the wall.
He glanced at the screen.
And froze.
CALLER ID: Lucas.
Celan stared at the phone like it personally betrayed him.
Then, to Ethan, deadpan "He has terrible timing."
He answered.
"WHAT."
Lucas didn't even say hello.
His voice came through the speaker sharp, confident, full big-brother mode:
"Back off my brother."
Ethan choked on his own spit.
Cealan blinked slowly, like he needed a second to process what just happened.
"…excuse me?"
"BACK. OFF." Lucas repeated.
"At least not tonight." Cealan looked around the room suspiciously.
"Did you put cameras in my house?"
"Nope."
Celan pointed at the nearest flower vase.
"You're lying. There's definitely something in there." "Don't flatter yourself."
Lucas sounded bored.
"I can hear your breathing patterns. That's enough."
Cealan ran a hand down his face.
"Oh, go to hell."
Lucas ignored him. "We have family business. Ethan needs to go home. So stop being a hungry wolf and release my brother."
Celan's jaw dropped.
"Hungry WHAT—"
Lucas cut him off. "I said what I said."
Ethan covered his face with both hands, mortified.
Cealan dragged a hand through his hair, pacing like a madman.
"I hate you," he hissed into the phone.
"You KNOW that, right?"
"Oh, I know," Lucas said casually.
"Same now tell him to go home and get yourself out here am in front of your house."
Click.
He hung up.
Silence.
Cealan stood there holding the phone, staring at nothing, looking five seconds away from throwing himself off the balcony.
Ethan peeked through his fingers.
"…are you okay?"
Cealan turned to him slowly.
Too slowly.
"If your brother wasn't a national treasure," he said, voice strained, "I would commit a crime."
Ethan tried not to laugh failed then covered his mouth fast.
Cealan narrowed his eyes at him, stepping forward again.
"Don't laugh at me." "I'm not!" Ethan squeaked, absolutely laughing.
Cealan exhaled dramatically, defeated, pressing the phone to his forehead.
"I was this close," he muttered.
He held up two fingers, almost touching.
Ethan's blush returned instantly.
Cealan sighed deeply, turned away, then paused and looked back at Ethan
eyes still warm, still hungry, still frustrated as hell.
"This isn't over," he said quietly.
And Ethan instantly forgot how to breathe.
Ethan finally grabbed his coat, cheeks still a warm pink.
"I–I should go… Lucas said—"
Celan groaned loudly.
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, waving a hand.
"Go before your brother sends the military to my room."
Ethan bit back a smile and slipped past him.
But just before he reached the door, Cealen grabbed his wrist gentle, not forceful just enough to make Ethan stop and inhale sharply.
Cealen leaned in just slightly.
His voice dropped low, velvet-dark:
"This… isn't done, okay?"
Ethan nodded once, shy and breathless.
Then he slipped out through the back door.
The moment the door clicked shut, Cealen let his head fall back dramatically.
"LUCASSSSSSSSSSSS."
Lucas was leaning casually against the hood, arms crossed, looking like he owned the night.
Cealen came storming out like a man who'd had his soul snatched.
"YOU," he snapped, jabbing a finger at Lucas.
"You are a NUISANCE."
Lucas didn't even blink.
"Good evening to you too."
"No. No evening." Cealen threw his hands up.
"You RUINED my moment. Do you even understand how close I was? HOW. CLOSE."
Lucas shrugged. "You'll live."
Cealan made a strangled noise.
"Aren't you supposed to be doing paperwork somewhere? Why are you here? Why do you show up exactly when you're not wanted??"
Lucas stared at him with disgust
"I was wanted. Just not by you."
Cealan squinted at him like he was trying to burn him alive with his eyes.
"Do you enjoy this? Is this a hobby? Sabotaging my personal life?"
Lucas pushed off the car, slow, calm, smug as hell.
"I'm not sabotaging anything. I'm regulating."
"REGULATING?!" Cealen nearly tripped over air.
"What am I, an air conditioner?!"
Lucas didn't break. Not even a smile.
"You get overheated easily."
Cealen's jaw dropped open like a door hinge broke.
"I SWEAR Lucas, I swear to God one day, when I find a fully legal, morally acceptable justification"
Lucas cut him off. "You won't."
"WHY NOT?!"
Lucas stepped closer, looking him dead in the eyes.
"Because you love my brother." Cealen inhaled sharply.
His mouth opened no sound came out.
Lucas smirked.
"See? Regulation works."
Cealen clutched his chest dramatically, like he'd been stabbed.
"You're evil." "I know."
"You're CONTROL FREAK."
"Absolutely."
"You're.....you're-YOU'RE A....."
Lucas waited, patient as a saint.
Cealen pointed at him, shaking with frustration.
"A COCK-BLOCKING MENACE TO SOCIETY."
Lucas finally gave the tiniest smirk.
"I try."
Cealen groaned so loudly a bird flew out of a tree nearby.
Then Lucas looked at him, expression softening just slightly only slightly.
"Go freshen up. You look like a man whose soul got denied."
"It DID," Cealen snapped. "And YOU denied it."
Lucas held up the car keys.
"Get in. We're going to my place so you can cry in peace."
Cealen stomped toward the car like a child who'd been denied candy, muttering every curse known to mankind under his breath.
Lucas followed, completely unbothered, and added casually:
"And Cealen?"
"What?!" Cealen yelled.
Lucas smirked.
"You're not kissing my brother until I say so."
Cealen screamed into the night.