94 – Cypress Mosaic

My ​mouth ​went ​dry ​under a heavy ​gaze ​that ​felt ​as ​if it were pushing ​and ​pressing me from ​behind.

More than ten ​days ​had ​passed ​since ​Lorenz ​proposed the contract ​marriage. ​Nearly ​two weeks since ​the day they had ​gone through ​Heat and ​Rut. Elian’s ​sense of ​smell, ​which ​had recovered to ​near-normal levels, ​had been gradually deteriorating ​and had now returned ​almost to its previous ​state.

Because they ​hadn’t ​shared Pheromones.

“By now, your olfactory function ​should have declined again.”

The ​tone ​was ​slow, ​yet ​it left no ​room for ​leisure.

Lorenz ​Lockhart’s persistent gaze, ​indifferent ​to the other’s discomfort, pressed ​for an ​answer.

Elian ​bit his lower ​lip ​hard. ​Reflexively, ​he ​glanced at ​the ​child sitting ​beside him. It was to check if ​the child had ​noticed the awkward ​atmosphere and was feeling ​anxious. Fortunately, ​the brown eyes ​looking ​up at Elian ​were filled only ​with curiosity.

Elian ​spoke ​quickly, as ​if ​murmuring in ​a ​small voice.

“You ​know ​how ​important this time ​is. ​Please… [stolen content]stolen contentdon’t ​drag ​Lucas ​into ​our business.”

“I am merely worried about you.”

To end the conversation quickly, Elian promised as if fleeing.

“I’ll see you in the study later.”

“……”

“I’ll tell you then.”

It was a voice squeezed out by force.

Like a predator that presses its prey hard before licking its lips and stepping back, Lorenz slowly leaned his upper body back.

“I shall look forward to it.”

It was only for a fleeting moment, but a satisfied smile definitely brushed across his lips.

■

Standing at the small home bar, Lorenz’s long, neat fingers moved over various liquor bottles as if tapping a keyboard. With his back turned to Elian, he asked the visitor behind him.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Yes, please.”

“……”

It was extremely rare for Elian to request alcohol when visiting Lorenz’s study. He had asked the question as a formality, thinking Elian would decline this time as well. Surprised by the unexpected answer, Lorenz stopped his hand and turned around.

Sitting on the sofa with a rigid posture, Elian seemed very tense.

Tense? That wasn’t exactly the right expression.

Looking down at somewhere on the table as if his mind were elsewhere, those blue eyes looked somewhat sorrowful.

And that displeased Lorenz.

Right, he must hate it. Perhaps it’s horrific.

He turned his head coldly, as if ignoring Elian’s sadness.

“I didn’t expect you to ask for a drink. Your throat must be quite parched. Or perhaps, this is a conversation you cannot have while sober.”

Using tongs to place ice into his own on-the-rocks glass, Lorenz continued.

“Shall I have some champagne brought in? There is only high-proof liquor here.”

“That’s fine. I’ll have the same.”

Lorenz’s brow furrowed slightly. He looked back once more.

“You aren’t good with strong liquor.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy it, but it’s not that I can’t drink it. It’s fine if I add ice.”

Hmm.

Among the bottles displayed at the bar, Lorenz chose the smoothest Scotch with [stolen content]the lowest alcohol content. stolen contentHe took out another crystal stolen contentglass, filled half of it with ice, and poured a bit of the liquor. The golden liquid flowed between the ice cubes, swaying slowly.

One glass with more ice and less liquor.

One glass with less ice and more liquor.

He returned to the sofa with the two on-the-rocks glasses.

Elian was still lost in deep thought, staring only at the table. So much so that he didn’t notice someone approaching right beside him.

Lorenz stood there for a moment, looking down at Elian.

A man who remained motionless, as if he had crawled deep into his inner self and isolated himself while keeping his gaze lowered.

To the point that it drained the spirit of such a brilliant person. Lorenz felt he understood that this matter was nothing but pain for Elian.

A bitter sneer appeared on Lorenz’s lips. It was directed at himself.

Recently, Lorenz had frequently woken up in the middle of the night and sat blankly on the edge of the bed. There were several times he thought about jumping up, going down to Elian’s bedroom, and knocking on the door. He felt as if he could only sleep peacefully if he bound Elian to his side with a contract as quickly as possible.

He was sorry, but he had no intention of backing down just because Elian was suffering.

It was unfortunate for Elian, but to him, the man was a unique existence.

The only Cypress Mosaic, for whom there could be no substitute.

“…!”

The cold surface of the glass lightly touched a white cheek and then pulled away.

Startled, Elian covered his cheek with his hand and looked up.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“No… nothing. Thank you.”

Taking the glass, Elian took several gulps of the strong liquor before Lorenz could even sit in the opposite seat. Lorenz’s brow furrowed instinctively. He can’t even drink well, yet he’s drinking liquor that hasn’t even been diluted by the ice…

“Before I answer your proposal…”

Even as he began to speak, Elian’s eyes were not yet directed toward Lorenz.

“There is one thing I want to make clear.”

Lorenz crossed his legs in a slow motion.

“Tell me.”

“Promise me that once I fulfill the contract, you will guarantee the safety of my family, no matter what happens afterward.”

Only then did a pair of blue stars turn toward Lorenz. No, Elian’s blue eyes were not stars now, but flames. Blue flames burned within those defiant eyes that glared at an object of hatred and resentment.

Lorenz gazed blankly at Elian.

Even if it was because of the Heat, he knew the soft touch of the man’s lips before him. He knew the heat of their tongues rubbing against each other. He had rubbed his manhood inside the man’s most fragile abdominal cavity, granting him climax time and again. He knew the sweet moans Elian let out while clinging to him in those moments.

Lorenz, Lorenz…

Even the whispers calling his name in a fading voice after being completely swallowed by the heat of the Heat.

It seemed as if all of that had become non-existent to Elian.

It was Lorenz himself who had said that what happened that night was merely emergency treatment, not sex. Yet, he felt a sense of betrayal from Elian. It was an emotion he himself would never be able to recognize.

Lorenz took a long sip of the Scotch in his hand.

“Is your family that precious to you?”

“I know that family isn’t that kind of existence for everyone. But for me… yes, they are more precious than anything.”

It was a calm and firm answer. A bitter smile escaped Lorenz’s deep wine-colored lips.

“I would have been disappointed if you had said it’s only natural for family to be precious.”

His father, Damon Lockhart, and his only sibling, Joshua Lockhart. Lorenz thought of them for a moment, then quickly erased the thought. Swallowing another sip of liquor, he gave a cool answer.

“Fine. I guarantee it.”

“……”

“As long as Elian properly fulfills [stolen content]the terms of [stolen content]the contract, I have absolutely no reason to harm your family.”

However, even though he had elicited the answer he wanted from Lorenz, Elian’s gaze remained guarded. Rather, those blue eyes sharply demanded a more explicit commitment.

“Once the contract is over, whatever happens after that has nothing to do with my family.”

“……”

Lorenz tilted his head slightly. He examined the man sitting in front of him meticulously once again.

He had a slender build and delicate features, but his impression was by no means frail. Was it because of those two shining eyes, mysteriously deep and transparent? Or perhaps because of the set of his mouth, which looked difficult to persuade?

When he smiled softly while with Lucas, he looked like an angel who embraced all sins.

In the moments he wrapped his arms around Lorenz’s neck and called his name, he had been so lovely.

But in this moment, checking him with a straight and defiant gaze, he was like a warrior facing an invader.

Elian continued to demand.

Once the contract is over, do not involve my family no matter Read on Read BL Novelswhat Read on Read BL Novelshappens. — [Read on Read BL Novels]As if the moment the contract ended and his family’s safety was guaranteed, he would betray him.

Only after a long while did Lorenz speak slowly.

“…I promise.”

“I will trust that you are not the type of person to handle such matters sloppily.”

“…Of course.”

Even so, Elian’s gaze showed no sign of softening.

“If you do not keep your promise even after the contract is finalized, I will consider the contract itself null and void, and I will take action as well.”

“Take action? What do you mean by that?”

“I mean I will judge that I am no longer obligated to fulfill the terms of the contract. That I will no longer have the responsibility to keep Mr. Lockhart’s secrets.”

Lorenz’s sleek eyebrows twitched. Then, a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. It was a smile that seemed genuinely amused.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Mr. Lockhart also took my family hostage.”

“……”

At the title ‘Mr. Lockhart,’ a look of displeasure appeared on Lorenz’s face. Since returning from the villa, every time Elian called him ‘Mr. Lockhart,’ Lorenz had persistently corrected him. Yet, it seemed that name simply wouldn’t stick to Elian’s tongue.

“It’s only fair if we both have a weakness to aim at.”

Elian Bellotti. He was an opponent who could never be underestimated.

“Fine. Let’s proceed with the contract, including a clause that fully guarantees the safety of Elian’s family.”