LMI 64

For a while, Ashley thought his ears were playing tricks on him. He couldn’t believe what Koi had just said. There was no way Koi would say something like that. It was obvious. The one who was wrong was Ashley Miller. He was sure of it. So he denied his own eyes as well. The expression on Koi’s face, so distorted and full of tears as he looked at him, could never exist in the current situation.

“…I misheard, right?”

Ashley asked again. He was ready to burst out laughing and hug him if Koi said it was all a joke, even now. Still smiling, Ashley waited. Come on, Koi. Say it quickly.

That what you said just now was a mistake.

But once again, his expectations were dashed. The words that Koi barely managed to say in a trembling voice completely erased the smile from Ashley’s face.

“You’re not in your right mind because of the Manifestation.”

Koi continued.

“You’ll realize it when you come to your senses, that you were mistaken.”

Ashley, who had been lifting Koi up until then, slowly lowered him. Still holding Koi’s waist in the water, Ashley opened his mouth.

“I Manifestation, I’m not crazy.”

Koi shook his head again at Ashley’s words. It was a denial more certain than anything else, even though he didn’t say anything.

“Koi, really.”

Ashley spoke quickly, feeling impatient.

“I like you, Koi. It has nothing to do with Manifestation. I liked you before that.”

Koi, who had been listening silently to Ashley’s passionate words, shook his head. He didn’t say anything, but it was the most certain meaning of denial.

“Koi, I’m serious.”

Ashley continued quickly, feeling anxious.

“I like you, Koi. I’ve always liked you. Not as a friend, this is love. I love you.”

He thought he could tear open his chest and show his insides if only he would believe his sincerity. After Ashley repeatedly and passionately confessed, Koi finally opened his mouth after a long time.

“I… I.”

He whispered in a trembling voice, with rough breaths between them.

“I don’t like you.”

Ha, an exclamation escaped from Ashley’s mouth. Koi was still looking down, not looking at his face, and quickly added.

“I mean it, I don’t like you. I’ve never thought of you that way.”

“Koi.”

“I really think of you as a friend, and that’s why I came here. That’s all.”

“Koi.”

“It’s clear that you’re mistaken about me liking you, and I also…”

“Koi!”

He felt like he would go crazy if he heard him say one more time that he didn’t like him. Ashley ended up shouting to shut Koi up. He had achieved his goal, but he was in a terrible mood. He couldn’t figure out what was going on at all at the sight of Koi, who had hurriedly closed his mouth and was looking anxious and helpless.

Why?

Why can’t I, why?

I told you, I like you. But why are you denying your feelings? You like me. It was clearly written like that. You were saying it with your whole body. But why.

But Koi’s ears still didn’t move. He no longer had a smiling face towards him. Ashley even felt a sense of doubt that he might really be crazy because of Pheromone.

“…I have to go now.”

Koi pushed Ashley’s shoulder. Of course, he didn’t budge. Koi struggled in the water, trying to escape from Ashley’s hand, which was still holding his waist.

“I really have to go. Father might get angry if I don’t go home again.”

Ashley looked down at Koi, who was struggling to get away from him, with a cold face.

Should I lock him up?

It wasn’t a difficult task at all. There were plenty of rooms left, and there was also a safe room (also called a panic room. It refers to a space with protective functions to avoid external intrusion or natural disasters such as tornadoes) that could not be found even if the police came to search. If he locked Koi up in there, no one would ever be able to find him.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t admit it.

He could just lock Koi up in there as he was. No matter how hard Koi tried, he would never be able to escape from him. He wouldn’t be able to say any more nonsense about not liking him. Because I will be his whole world.

“Ash.”

Koi called his name. He was dull-witted, but he seemed to sense an unusual atmosphere. He barely raised his head and looked at Ashley’s face, but his expression was full of fear. Maybe he knew that Ashley was trying to imprison him now.What could Corner Niles do, anyway? There was nothing he could do. It was already too late to beg and cling, saying it was a lie, that he truly loved him. Ashley just stared down at Koi without a word.

He should have just raped him back then.

If he had, Koi might have Manifested as an Omega. The only explanation for why he remained a Beta, even after being covered in so much Pheromone next to a Manifesting Alpha, was that.

It’s not too late now.

Ashley thought. He should just embrace him as he is. If he poured Pheromone all over him and filled him up inside, he would surely Manifest. He might even get pregnant. He didn’t care.

Because he would be completely his.

He truly thought so. There was no other way. Maybe the Pheromone was driving him crazy. He even lost his self-control. There was only one thing on his mind. An intense possessiveness dominated him.

He had to have Koi.

“…Ah!”

Koi let out a short scream. Ashley had grabbed his waist with both arms and pulled him close. Their bodies were pressed together in the water, and unlike the cold water temperature, their hot body temperatures touched.

“…Ash.”

Koi looked up at Ashley. There was definitely fear in his eyes. It was the first time he had seen Ashley like this. He was obviously incredibly angry. He might hit Koi like Father. It would be painful to be hit, but it would be okay. He thought he would gladly be hit if Ashley hit him.

Koi closed his eyes in fear. He was trembling with his whole body tense, when Ashley opened his mouth.

“…Did you close your eyes because you wanted me to kiss you?”

It was a question as if he was dumbfounded. Koi was startled by the completely unexpected question and cautiously opened his eyes. He was still scared, but the expression on Ashley’s face that came into view was something he hadn’t expected at all. Koi blinked in confusion at Ashley, who was frowning and looking down at him as if he was dumbfounded.

“No, I, well.”

Koi stammered and answered with difficulty.

“I thought… you might hit me.”

“Hit you? Me? You?”

Ha, Ashley let out a rough breath. Koi flinched again. Ashley was just dumbfounded at Koi’s reaction. He had been thinking of something even worse until just now, but at least hitting him was never in his calculations. It was completely absurd. Where on this small body, which was not even half his size, would he hit?

“There’s no way I would hit you.”

He sighed and scolded, but he was actually realizing it. That what he was about to do was not much different.

Trying to force Koi to Manifest.

And even trying to confine and rape him. What a terrible thought. But even now, Ashley was feeling such a strong attraction to it.

No, I’m not like that man.

Ashley blamed himself. If he forced Koi to be his like that, how would he be any different from that man?

He couldn’t do that. He loved Koi, so he would cherish and treasure him. He wouldn’t manipulate Koi as he pleased just because things didn’t go his way, never.

Ashley reaffirmed and hugged Koi again. He buried his nose in his shoulder and took a deep breath, and he could smell a faint scent of flesh.

Ashley remained still for a while like that. By the time he finally raised his head, the dark desires that had been dominating his mind had also subsided.

“…Now, get out.”

Ashley said in a low voice and slowly released his arms.

“I’ll take you home.”

He could feel Koi’s body gradually relaxing in his arms. In the eyes that looked up at him, concern had taken the place of fear.

“Are you okay…?”

Koi, who had noticed that Ashley was strange, asked. Ashley kissed him on the cheek instead of answering. Ashley smiled as he watched Koi’s face quickly turn red. Just like he had been doing. Koi seemed relieved to see that smile and lowered his shoulders.

Ashley silently watched him step back, brush past Ashley, and hurry out of the water. Unlike him, Ashley slowly swam out of the pool and slowly followed Koi, who was running into the mansion.

Fighting tenaciously against the dark obsession within him.