“Hey, you there!”

The shout from the end of the corridor made the reporter’s shoulders jolt violently. He had already been tense, his palms soaked with sweat. The recorder he had only meant to test slipped from his fingertips and was sucked into the hole.

“...!”

The dull thud that followed suggested it had fallen to the floor. Horrified, the reporter dropped flat and shoved his fingers into the crack of the door. But the gap was too narrow, and white uniforms were rushing from the direction of the shout.

“Damn it,” he muttered shortly and sprang to his feet. He abandoned the recorder for now and rounded the corner, running for his life. Being caught loitering in front of the door would leave him no defense if they accused him of attempting to leak confidential information. Pulling his coat over his head, he headed toward where his colleague should be.

He meant to confuse his pursuers, but the scene that unfolded the next moment rendered his plan useless.

“Stop. If you attempt to flee, you will be subdued by force.”

Security personnel with imposing builds stood lined up across the forked passage. Even his colleagues who had come with him were already bound. There had been no sign of struggle or resistance — he had no idea when they were captured.

The reporter stopped in place, unable to run. Without time to think, he slowly raised both hands above his head. Judging by the bent suppression batons in the members’ hands, the warning to use force was no empty threat.

“I-I was just about to leave.”

“Face the wall. Hands behind your back.”

The moment he crab-walked to the wall at the cold command, the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° pursuing members rushed him and twisted both arms behind him.

“Aagh! G-gentle—!”

“You are under arrest for trespassing and security violations.”

“Is this the last one?”

“Seems we should search more.”

The two group leaders who had met while rounding up outsiders looked down at the subdued reporter and sighed.

“If League information leaks on the first day, it’ll be a headache. Search all belongings thoroughly, and confiscate any film or recorders.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Where is the Commander?”

“He said he was heading underground first. We just arrived as well, so we’re not sure where exactly...”

“He came underground? Did he notice the reporters made it this far?”

Not far away, listening to their voices, Leonardo Blaine pressed his lips tight.

Lowering his eyelids, he stared at the recorder on the floor. The red light blinking on it looked like a warning beacon of danger.

His tense fingertips slid up Hugo’s well-shaped waist. Stroking the defined obliques, he informed him of the situation outside.

“Mm....”

But the man’s tongue, slick as it climbed from his chin, sealed Leonardo’s lips. The hand gripping from his neck to his lower face tilted his head back. Forced by an irresistible will, Leonardo’s gaze tore away from the blinking device.

Instead he faced the blue abyss faintly glowing in the man’s eyes — like a vast sea swallowing a lighthouse as cold waves crashed.

The man bit his lip without hurting him and murmured,

“It’s fine.”

It seemed to mean ignore it and focus. Despite the gentle tone.

“...hn.”

At that moment, his tightly shut golden eyes trembled.

Unbefitting someone called a fire mage, beads of sweat formed across his forehead. Trying to support his body as the man pushed him, he parted his legs slightly — that was the mistake.

A thick thigh had slipped between them at some point and pressed deliberately, whether by intent or instinct. His balance was already gone, and it felt like his reason would follow.

The rising heat seeped into his head, melting even his thoughts. Honestly, this had not been planned.

He was glad for the reunion, and knew the other felt the same.

He had only followed instinct faithfully...

“Search the remaining ones first. When finished, transfer them to the nearby branch. I’ll review the collected items and report to the Commander.”

“Yes, understood. Ah, just in case — wouldn’t it be better to check the inside once as well? If you order it, I’ll confirm.”

“Just the underground. I’ll instruct another team about above.”

The outside situation he wanted to ignore kept intruding. Hidden in darkness, his senses sharpened frighteningly. His heart pounded even at faint footsteps near the door, but hearing the conversation clearly made it pound harder. It seemed the ‘inside’ they mentioned meant the interiors of these many doors.

As if unaware, the smooth tip parting his lips skillfully stole his awareness. Holding the back of his neck, the man deliberately brushed his nose intimately.

Each time, a tingling thrill shot across Leonardo’s bridge and brow. As if imagining something, the inside of his thighs trembled as well. Hugo, who could not fail to notice, explored his mouth deeply, slowly rubbing their lower bodies together.

Breathless, Leonardo stretched his neck, face flushed. Saliva stretched from his damp lips, and when he turned his head a ragged breath escaped.

“Ha... is this... okay here?”

He could not define the act. Hugo pressed a kiss to his turned cheek and asked in a humid voice,

“What is?”

Smack. He rubbed hard enough to sting yet feigned innocence — spiteful. Leonardo knew the eyes that pretended calm yet burned with impatience. Still, anxiety could not be helped.

The sensational rookie who nearly ruined the opening ceremony entangled in scandal with a Council Legion Commander? In a corner of the stadium? It would be headline news.

But His Grace seemed to value this moment above all else. Hugo wiped the messy saliva smeared at the corner of Leonardo’s reddened lips with his own. He retraced each mark he had left with his tongue, biting and sucking the lower lip as if determined to be caught.

Leonardo squinted at him, then frowned.

“You... hn... reckless today.”

The blue eyes curved halfway in response.

“So, you dislike it?”

“...No.”

Hugo’s leaking laughter slipped between their lips. Leonardo touched the loosened corner of his mouth and one cheek with a warm palm. Even if his eyes adjusted to darkness, there was a limit to indulging the handsome features.

He wanted to know the expressions the man made, the muscle volume that seemed larger than before, in this way at least. It was regrettable he could not see the neat, refreshing features clearly like fine calligraphy. Yet he was also relieved his own shabby state was not visible before the radiant man.

Still — did he not care about being caught? A duke without caution. He should know how frightening scandal could be.

Regardless, everywhere the man’s nose brushed left suggestive traces. The already slick skin was no longer his. Having brought no other gift today, entrusting himself entirely to be taken freely was his second mistake.

Hugo, absorbed, allowed a brief pause and murmured,

“...Because I was afraid you would disappear again in front of me.”

Each time his voice paused, lips touched. At first Leonardo did not understand, but the longing he listed became clear — a dedication to the recklessness Leonardo had mentioned.

“I carefully sent you off after showing you everything, yet there was no contact. I was always where your eyes could reach, but you hid where I could not find you.”

Leonardo could not answer.

“You’re cruel. Truly.”

The fingers touching his swollen lips suddenly pushed between his teeth, teasing the tongue behind his canine.

“I wonder how pleased you were leaving with just a single note.”

Stopping there, he filled the path he made with breath again.

Even his tongue resembled its owner — large and heavy, stirring inside as if toying. Suffocation aside, Leonardo’s eyelids parted slightly at the unexpected remark.

But the obscene sucking sound worried him their secret might leak through the door crack. He pressed lips and tongue close to prevent any gap. All he could do was match the rhythm and indulge the dangerous man’s complaint.

At the same time, his palm slowly rubbed from the man’s hipbone up along his spine. The hand parting the long cloak passed broad back muscles spread like wings. When he patted the wide back twice, the man’s tongue pushed deeper.

In that moment, he faintly understood the hurried behavior today. Feeling the Commander’s sincerity — that he had missed him more than expected — Leonardo felt the drifting fragment in his chest surge like meeting a tidal wave.

“...mm.”

Half-opening his eyes, he lightly grasped the heavy shoulder with one arm. Hugo had noticed the signal early, yet did not stop. Instead he embraced the slender waist fully and gently stroked the spine. Leonardo tilted his head, pressing one shoulder beneath his ear.

Fine brows twitched. The reaction was rather cute, stirring him, but Hugo followed to the end and asked with a burning gaze,

“Nothing to say to me?”

Hands occasionally pressing like switches traced sensitive spots. Leonardo, pretending composure, reached a hand behind his back and grabbed the man’s wrist in surprise. Meanwhile Hugo’s fingers near the belt crossed the line and slipped inside the clothes.

He rubbed the hollow of the lower back then lightly brushed the tailbone inside the pants. Disordered breath tickled Hugo’s ear.

“What, ah...”

Trying to reply, Leonardo sighed helplessly. The breath along his jaw settled on his neck tendon. Elegant brows twisted, his collapsing head bending the opposite way.

Smack, smack. Each clear sound at his nape made the pliant body against the door slide down. The weakened legs ended atop the pressing thigh. Leonardo shut his eyes tight, resenting the swelling front against his will.

Meanwhile damp traces marked around the black choker. Hugo, baring teeth on the delicate skin, grabbed Leonardo’s firm thigh with one hand and lifted it, wrapping a leg around his waist.

At that moment, the bell announcing midnight rang through the stadium.

Dong—

Dizzy, Leonardo wrapped his arms around Hugo’s neck to support himself, clinging with effort.

Hugo lifted his lips from the throat he had been sucking. The shameless roaming hands paused briefly.

Because Leonardo, breathing hard enough to shake his upper body, rested his forehead against his shoulder. Heat radiated from the crown. Blue eyes stared quietly at the reddened nape.

Sweat-damp golden hair clung in strands — beyond stimulating, it was sensual.

The bell rang exactly twelve times. During that time neither spoke.

As the great reverberation shaking the hot interior faded, Leonardo’s panting calmed.

Burying his face, he raised his head halfway. Hugo’s dark eyes narrowed.

The beauty flushed with excitement looked as if bewitched and whispered,

“Happy... birthday, Your Grace.”