L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 93

“Uh, yeah.”

Koi stopped shaking his head and fixed his eyes on Ashley. Ashley looked him straight in the eye and said firmly:

“If your father threatens you for any reason, contact me immediately and come to my house. Got it? I’ll take care of the rest.”

No matter what else, this wasn’t something Ashley could back down from. He had to get a clear answer from Koi.

When Ashley followed up with a quiet, “Okay?” Koi blinked a few times before hesitantly nodding.

“Okay.”

Under the unwavering gaze on him, Koi had no choice but to promise again.

“I will.”

“Good.”

Only then did Ashley nod and let out a small breath. He was relieved that Koi had agreed, at least. Koi thought the same, but still couldn’t accept Ashley’s proposed solution.

“Ash... still, saying I dumped you, that’s just...”

“Koi.”

Ashley cut him off gently.

“It’s already decided. There’s no other way. If you don’t like it, then suggest a better idea.”

Koi paused as if thinking, then his eyes lit up with sudden inspiration.

“What if you say you dumped me?”

“I was the one who confessed.”

The instant rebuttal left Koi speechless. Ashley gave a small, amused smile.

“I confessed to you, and then I dumped you? That’d make me an asshole, wouldn’t it? That’s even worse.”

“Uh...”

Now that he thought about it, it really was. Koi flushed red and mumbled, “Sorry.” Ashley found him too adorable and leaned in to kiss him again. Their lips brushed softly, and when Ashley pulled back, Koi gazed at him, eyes already dazed.

Ashley smiled and lightly licked his lips.

Koi shivered and shut his eyes. With Ariel, he’d let the misunderstanding go because correcting it felt pointless. But now, thinking about having to go around saying he got dumped felt a bit ridiculous. Still, when he looked at Koi’s face—it was worth it.

You know that, Koi? You’re the only one I’d go this far for.

He playfully nibbled Koi’s lip, then pulled back. This time, he asked seriously:

“Koi, have you ever thought about reporting your father?”

Koi, still in a haze, quickly snapped back to reality. After a moment of thought, he shook his head.

“If I do... I’ll end up in a facility.”

He wouldn’t be able to keep studying or apply to college. And more than anything—he didn’t want to be separated from Ashley.

Ashley could see what he was thinking, so he didn’t push. But knowing that someone so precious to him had to stay in such a dangerous place tore him up inside.

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If only we were adults—I’d take you and run away right now.

But no matter how grown-up he acted, Ashley was just a high school student. Just a kid with a rich father. That wealth and power weren’t his to use.

That was why this—this was all he could do.

All he could say was to call him and come to his place.

Ashley was painfully aware of his helplessness, and self-loathing took hold.

“I’m sorry, Koi. For not being able to protect you.”

He murmured like it hurt just to say it. Koi instantly shook his head.

“No.”

He looked at Ashley with complete sincerity.

“I only need you.”

Ashley couldn’t help but laugh, even in such a situation. With a bittersweet smile, he whispered back:

“Me too.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

This time, before their lips touched, Koi closed his eyes first.

Ashley kissed him, softly, and tried to slip his tongue in—but failed again. He gave up with a sigh and raised his head, using his thumb to gently wipe away the saliva left on Koi’s lips.

“Koi, do you think... the reason you can’t smell is because of your dad? I mean...”

He struggled to find the right words, but Koi shook his head.

“No. It’s not because of getting hit.”

“Then...”

Ashley looked like he wanted to ask more but stopped. If Koi didn’t bring it up himself, he wouldn’t pry. Maybe this was Koi’s deepest scar.

If Ashley hadn’t awakened, if he hadn’t decided to stay by Koi’s side, Koi might have kept this hidden forever.

Ashley vowed not to repeat his earlier mistake and let it go.

“You should head back now, Koi.”

His voice had softened.

“If you’re out too late, your dad will find out... and right now, you’re completely drenched in my pheromone scent.”

“R-really?”

Koi panicked and brought his arm to his nose. He sniffed instinctively, then remembered—he couldn’t smell anything—and lowered his arm again.

“Okay, then... I’ll go.”

“Yeah.”

Koi looked at Ashley one more time before opening the car door. As he stepped out of the passenger seat, Ashley also got out from the driver’s side. Koi, confused, stopped on the sidewalk and looked back.

Ashley met his gaze and said,

“This time, I’ll watch you walk away.”

Usually, it was Koi who stood watching Ashley’s car disappear. But not tonight. Hearing Ashley say that, Koi hesitated, then nodded.

“Okay.”

Ashley’s going to be watching my back.

Just that thought made his heart swell, and his face lit up with joy.

“See you, Ash.”

“Take care, Koi.”

Ashley lifted a hand and gave a small wave. Koi smiled brightly and turned around.

He had never realized how reassuring it felt to have someone watching from behind.

Just knowing Ashley was still standing there made his steps lighter than ever before.

He walked a few steps, then glanced back—and Ashley was still there.

Seeing him smiling as if to say “Don’t worry,” Koi turned forward again... but after a few more steps, he looked back once more.

Ashley watched this and recalled a video he’d seen once. It reminded him of the moment when an injured wild animal is released back into nature.

The way it kept looking back at the person who had cared for it.

That image came to mind, and Ashley smiled. Then, Koi stopped walking again and looked back.

Ashley smiled at him once more—reassuring, warm.

But this time was different. Koi hesitated, then suddenly turned around and sprinted back. Seeing him running full speed, Ashley stood upright from where he’d been leaning against the car.

“Why—”

He opened his mouth to ask, but before he could get the words out, Koi jumped up on his toes and threw his arms around Ashley’s neck—

—and kissed him, full on the lips.

Ashley was genuinely caught off guard. He hadn’t imagined this. Koi, initiating a kiss? Running at him and leaping into it?

He understood what it meant to say your brain stops working.

Koi pressed his lips firmly against Ashley’s, then pulled back. As his feet touched the ground, his arms dropped, and they stared at each other in silence.

Koi’s face turned bright red. Realizing what he’d just done, he quickly turned around to run.

But Ashley grabbed his arm and yanked him back. Koi stumbled straight into his chest, and Ashley caught him—then kissed him again, hard.

Ah.

Ashley leaned over him, and Koi bent backward, instinctively opening his lips. Ashley seized the chance.

“—Mm.”

A breathy moan escaped between their mouths. Ashley’s tongue slid into Koi’s mouth, tangling with his, licking and pressing.

Koi squeezed his eyes shut, brows furrowed, every muscle in ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) his body tight with tension. The slippery sensation of their mingled saliva made his mind go blank.

His breath grew ragged, chest and shoulders rising and falling as he gasped.

Ashley wrapped his tongue around Koi’s, caressing it, while his hand slipped down to grab Koi’s ass. Koi flinched in surprise.

If Ashley hadn’t been holding him so tightly by the waist, he would’ve collapsed.

“I love you, Koi.”

Ashley murmured the words, brushing against Koi’s lower lip. His breath was just as hot and heavy as Koi’s.

Koi hesitated, then shakily raised his hand to the back of Ashley’s neck.

“Mm...!”

The moment Koi hugged him, Ashley crushed him in a fierce embrace, arms locking tight around his waist.

Koi gasped, and Ashley dove back in, tongue plunging deep again. Their mouths met without a sliver of space between them, tongues twined and lips wet.

Pressed chest to chest, Koi lost himself in the kiss completely.

So this... this is what kissing really is.

In his hazy state, the realization hit him. Just how much Ashley had been holding back. And that if Ashley really wanted to, he could devour him whole—down to the bone—without effort.

That thought sent a chill down Koi’s spine...

...but somewhere in his chest, he also felt a trembling thrill of anticipation.