Our happy ever after

Taeui wanted to laugh, even he who was the one who had seen more sides to Ilay than any other person, couldn't imagine him saying those words while acting shy. Ilay was never shy, or embarrassed. Never. He didn't care enough about what other people thought enough to get a reaction from it. Honestly, he couldn't imagine Ilay saying those words seriously without any bad remark next to it, at all. But it was not like Taeui doubted Ilay's intentions. Because even if it was embarrassing to admit it, Ilay cared for him in his own way. 

Like those moments when Ilay looked at him and seemed to read his thoughts like the back of his hand. Or those moments where out of nowhere Ilay would pat his head while reading or in deep thought, or while Taeui was asleep. Or when he traced his lips across his face or kissed his lips as if consuming his very soul. And even more, the way he called his name when they were intimate, like a prayer and a delicacy, full of devotion. Yes, Ilay was devoted to him in a way only Taeui knew and that was enough for him because even if he didn't say it with words, he could feel it. In the beginning of their relationship, for a while, Taeui entertained the idea of Ilay one day saying those words, but the more time passed the less he felt like he needed to hear them. 

Taeui pressed his lips together and glanced at Ilay, whose smile still showed on his lips, but underneath there was a flick of a strange expression Taeui couldn't place. The fleeting expression quickly vanished and the small cold smile was back again. He looked back at Alain and gave a knowing smile. There were no surprised looks, instead, all three shared an 'Ah, I thought so' expression that tugged at Taeui's heart seeing them thinking of Ilay as such an unfeeling beast. 

"I don't need him to say it. He has shown he… cares…" Taeui's face grew red saying it out loud, and got even redder seeing the stares full of pity.

"And let me guess he shows you by taking you to whatever country he is working in even if you don't want to and having sex?" said Alain smirking. 

"It's not like that," said Taeui massaging his temple, a headache forming.

"No better than a fuckboy," said Angel. "You should've run away when you had the chance."

"It's not like that."

"Bet he only gives you presents that you ask for and never once picked out something he thought you might like," concluded Alexei.

"It's not like that!" shouted Taeui. 

He was frustrated with the situation. What they were saying was somewhat true, and without context, it looked like he was just a pet for a diamond spoon man there just to cater to his desires. But there was so much more that wasn't easily seen with bare eyes nor that could be expressed with words. And still, the way they painted Ilay and Taeui's story was like it was nothing and he hated that. So many bridges they crossed together, so many layers to their relationship. So much more, that even if Ilay were to say those words it wouldn't fully grasp their history or feelings. But those three clueless men were putting so much importance on such words without considering any of it. 

"Who cares if he says it or not? Saying it doesn't mean he is more serious about me or not. And who cares what you think? I know that he cares for me–"

"How do you know if he never expresses it?" pressed Alain.

Taeui was angry now. How dare they question his feelings? 

"I know it by the way he plays with my hair when I'm asleep. The way he smiles at me when he is happy. Or the way he can't keep away from me. And the way he calls my name. 

"Or how he doesn't kill me even when I snap at him. Tell me how many punched or simply annoyed that guy and lived to tell the tale? Even how he pats my head like earlier today. Do you see him touching anyone of free will without beating them to a pulp? Or when–" 

He stopped talking as he took in the expression of the men around him. Realising he fell for their ploy he felt his cheeks grow red by the second from everything he had said. A long tired sigh left his lips. The trio laughed and teased him saying things like 'I can't imagine it', 'Did you really punch him?' and 'Playing with your hair?'. He glanced at Ilay and despite not looking as cold as before and his smile still showing on his lips more amused than before, there was still that strange tinge from before that Taeui could not grasp what it meant. 

"I'm tired. I'm going to my room," he said walking towards the house. 

More jeers reached him when Ilay stood up and followed him, 'Don't forget to play with his hair', 'Call his name a lot' and 'Touch him a lot without killing him'. 

"Why are you following me? Stay there!" Taeui said turning to look back at the approaching man.

"I have to make sure you know I care for you. It's been a week, after all," said Ilay, smirking. He walked past Taeui and led the way to their room.

"Before you say anything," started Taeui the second he closed the bedroom door behind him. "I know I was stupid for falling for their trick, so just forget everything that I said today."

Ilay looked back at him as if thinking, a moment after he said, "But I missed patting your head while you sleep." A teasing smile showed on his lips.

"I– just forget you heard that. Anyway I'm tired so I'll go straight to sleep," he said hiding beneath the covers. Taeui was sure Ilay was going to pounce on him no matter what, after all, they hadn't seen each other for a whole week. But as he hid beneath the covers he didn't hear anything. 

'No. No. This is his tactic to make me look at him,' thought Taeui. 

But after some time without any movement, he pulled the cover down to his eyes and stared at Ilay who hadn't moved an inch. He stood by the end of the bed looking down at him with a serious expression. The second their eyes met, Taeui felt a shiver running through his spine. Ilay must have felt something similar as his eyes slightly narrowed and his lips parted ever so slightly. 

"It's late, sleep. You must be tired," said Taeui, pushing the covers up again and closing his eyes. For a long moment, Ilay didn't move, but after what felt like hours, Taeui felt him lay down next to him. He could feel his heart pick up the pace, relishing Ilay's warmth. Ilay grabbed Taeui's waist and pulled him to him, his chest to Taeui's back. He nestled his face in Taeui's neck but didn't do anything else. Taeui was ready to tell him he wanted to sleep even though a part of him wanted to be intimate with Ilay after that conversation. Normally Ilay would start by kissing and fondling him, working him up slowly to put him in the mood. Even if he said 'no', Ilay knew when his 'no' was serious. He might not care even if it was serious but he knew the difference. But he wasn't expecting Ilay to just lay down and sleep after one week apart. Suddenly the conversation from earlier began to gnaw at him but he quickly pushed those thoughts away as he felt Ilay's warm hand holding him close. However, he could not quiet the haughty thoughts he was having while lying so close together.

"If your heart is any louder I'm afraid you might die of a heart attack," murmured Ilay in Taeui's neck. His breath raised his hackles and another shiver ran up his back, this time stronger. 

"Shut up. It's your fault."

Ilay chuckled. "I should take responsibility then." Ilay's hand slowly traced Taeui's abdomen making its way down, inside his trousers

"I said I wanted to sleep." 

Ilay planted kisses on his nape while one of his hands jerked Taeui's shaft and the other probed his entrance. Taeui could feel Ilay's smile as he kissed his neck and ear.

"Like you weren't waiting for it as much as me," Ilay murmured before taking his lips in a devouring kiss. Despite what they were doing and Ilay's lustful stare, he could still sense that weird feeling from Ilay. He almost remembered it when he had seen Ilay with a similar expression, but he soon forgot it again as Ilay continued to work him up.