By Zephyria 
Grayson merely looked down at Dane with a dumbfounded expression. Under his gaze, Dane replayed what he had just said in his mind. What was surprising was that he felt no regret whatsoever for having said it. Impulsively, he stroked Grayson’s hair. As if it had already become a habit, Grayson tilted his head to make it easier to stroke, but his expression remained bewildered. Dane smiled naturally and spoke again.
“I’ll quit being a firefighter, if you’re that worried.”
At that moment, a sweet Pheromone scent spread widely around them. Adding to that, his ears, twitching wildly, clearly revealed Grayson’s feelings.
“Are, are you serious? Really, you can do that?”
Grayson asked, a beat late. Seeing his eyes sparkle with excitement, as if it had finally sunk in, Dane’s lips curved upwards naturally.
“You can.”
“Dane……!”
To the voice, raised in emotion, Dane replied coolly.
“It was just a way to earn money. It’s a bit of a shame about losing the insurance, though……”
Glancing at Grayson, he smiled like a villain.
“You’ll pay for it, right?”
At that moment, Grayson felt his heart drop, then begin to pound at three times its previous speed.
“Yes, of course. I’ll pay for it, all of it!”
Grayson, who had been nodding vigorously, suddenly pulled Dane into a hug. Darling, caught between them, let out a meow, but Grayson seemed not to hear him at all, showering Dane’s face with kisses. Dane, creating space with his arms so as not to crush the cat, continued speaking, leaving Grayson to mash his lips all over the place.
“We’ll need pension insurance too.”
“Got it!”
“Once the renovation on my house is done, I’ll have to rent it out. Getting rent would be income.”
“Do that.”
“I was thinking we could go on a cruise while we’re at it.”
“Yeah, let’s do that. If I quit my job, I’ll have plenty of time!”
Grayson, pressing his lips firmly against Dane’s before pulling away, declared with a brightly illuminated face.
“Playing around and doing nothing is my specialty. Leave it all to me!”
It was only natural. There were experts in everything in the world, and following an expert’s opinion was fundamental. In that regard, who else was a greater expert in the field of playing around and doing nothing than Grayson? Probably no one. This man had spent his entire life doing just that.
“I’m so happy, Dane. Let’s go around the world on a cruise!”
The thought of being on a ship for that long was a bit much, but Dane remained silent. They could discuss such things later when they were making concrete plans. Wasn’t it okay to let Grayson savor this moment of joy, given how anxious and lost he had been just moments before?
Though I do seem to be too soft on this guy.
The problem was that Dane found Grayson’s behavior cute. Dane, who eventually let out a chuckle, was met with a smile from Grayson, his eyes crinkling.
“Dane, but.”
At the sudden remark, Dane looked up to find Grayson’s face looking somewhat awkward. His smile remained, but somehow it felt subtly different. What is it? Dane asked, his lips still pulled into a smile.
“Um, you said you’d rent out your house once the renovation is done. Then where will you stay……? Are you going to that hotel again?”
Dane looked at his face without a word. The man waiting for an answer had a mixture of anticipation and anxiety on his face. Dane’s usual mischievous streak began to surface. Hmm, Dane crossed his arms silently.
Is this guy provoking me at this point?
“Well, I haven’t thought about it yet.”
As Dane deliberately drew out his answer, Grayson’s eyes lit up. Dane knew exactly what words he was waiting for. Of course, they were the words he himself intended to say.
But when he looks at me with such anticipation, it makes me want to tease him.
Dane brought a hand to his mouth as if to stroke it, slyly hiding his rising smile within his palm.
“That hotel isn’t bad, and there are ways to find cheap rent…… there are plenty of options, aren’t there?”
And then he added lightly.
“I could ask friends to put me up.”
“What?”
Grayson’s voice suddenly rose. Dane expected him to argue about why he would stay elsewhere, but he was wrong.
“You had friends? Really?”
This guy?
Dane frowned and looked at him.
“What do you mean by that? Why wouldn’t I have friends?”
Grayson was even more surprised by the bewildered reaction. My goodness, my Dane had friends.
“The person I sleep with isn’t a friend.”
“I sleep with friends too. No, I used to. No, it wasn’t everyone I slept with. No.”
Dane, mid-sentence, covered his face with one hand. Doubt suddenly washed over him. Why was he even engaging in this kind of banter in the first place?
Sighing softly, Dane decided to just be honest.
“Can I use the room I used before again?”
“Huh?”
Grayson, taken aback by the sudden question, seemed to malfunction again. Seeing him blink in surprise, Dane, feeling a bit embarrassed, said nonchalantly.
“I was thinking of moving back in. Of course, it wouldn’t be possible if you didn’t want me to……”
He trailed off, his brow furrowing. Grayson’s expression was different from what he expected. He thought Grayson would scream with joy, but instead, he was lukewarm.
Did I overthink something so trivial? Feeling unnecessarily awkward, Dane thought. Just then, Grayson opened his mouth. He seemed about to say something, but his lips parted and closed without making a sound. After a few attempts, he finally managed to utter a sound.
“Dane, I.”
Dane knew what was coming next. But instead of slapping Grayson’s cheek as he had before, he pulled his head closer and kissed him. The lips, which had touched with a slight peck, were soon pressed gently. Dane extended his tongue, skillfully creating an opening, and traced the inside of Grayson’s lips and his teeth before pulling away.
Grayson stared blankly at him, his eyes wide open as before. As Dane let out an involuntary, breathy chuckle, Grayson, who had been blinking rapidly, quickly turned pale and said.
“Dane, you must have hit your head.”
“Snap out of it.”
Dane said sternly, and then he slapped Grayson’s cheek. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a loud ‘smack’ or ‘slap,’ but a soft ‘tap.’ The action, ending with a mere touch of his fingertips to the cheek, left Grayson’s mouth agape.
Is the one with the strange head me?
Grayson thought blankly. Maybe I’m sleeping with my eyes open. Yes, that must be it. I must have fallen asleep while smelling Dane’s Pheromone and had a dream. A very good dream……
“Is it true?”
Grayson asked, his voice trembling faintly.
“Really, you’re living here? With me?”
“Yes.”
Dane answered coolly.
“I’ll live with you, in this house.”
“……!”
Grayson covered his mouth with both hands. He barely managed to suppress a scream, but he couldn’t stop a faint sound from escaping. Hoo, hoo, Grayson breathed heavily under his hands, then swallowed dryly and removed them. Following a pah sound, Grayson, his face flushed with excitement, asked breathlessly.
“Seriously? You won’t change your mind or say it was a joke? You’re living here, with me? Permanently?”
“Yes. I’m serious.”
Dane couldn’t help but laugh out loud. This guy, maybe I should just kiss him. Feeling his own heart pound, he opened his mouth.
“You……”
“Wait a minute!”
Suddenly, Grayson held up a hand and shouted. Taken aback, Dane asked in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”