Chapter 344: 344 — May I Love You Tonight? [18+]

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content [18+]

Zayden paced down the hallway toward his quarters, his strides long and restless. It had been the first time he had returned to the capital within such a short span of time.

The palace felt narrower than he remembered—its gilded walls closing in, every corridor filled with memories he would have rather left buried.

Perhaps it was because of that monster on which his younger sister’s scent lingered. He simply couldn’t stop thinking about her whereabouts.

His fingers curled unconsciously at his side, recalling what she had done to him.

He had thought distance would dull the ache. That time, war, and responsibility would turn the capital into nothing more than a place on a map. Yet the moment his boots touched its polished floors, his body had remembered before his mind could stop it.

The capital had a way of reminding him who he had once been and what he had abandoned.

And who it still expected him to be.

Zayden slowed, exhaling through his nose, and glanced back once—toward the direction of the carriage, toward where Ren and Eiran were.

Get a grip.

He told himself.

He straightened his shoulders and continued forward.

For their sake, he couldn’t afford to falter here.

He walked until he reached his bedchamber, then opened the door and stepped inside without paying attention to the interior.

"You are here?" Ren asked, sitting on the bed.

Zayden’s gaze lifted—and his jaw dropped at the sight before him.

The omega was dressed in a thin, veil-like garment. His shoulders were barely covered, and the transparent fabric did little to hide his pale pink nipples, the ring piercing one of them glinting under the light. Ren was also dressed in a skirt-like piece, slit high at the side, exposing his long legs.

"W-What is this?" Zayden managed, his heart racing.

Heat rushed through his body, as if it were about to burn him from the inside out.

Outside, it was dark, the curtains drawn. Yet within the palace, countless lights burned brightly for the numerous guests who had arrived ahead of the imperial wedding.

"Oh, this?" Ren said, his voice low—surprisingly so, to the point that Zayden had to step closer to hear him.

"Uhm... His Imperial Highness received gifts from his in-laws. I told him I loved the colour... so he gave it to me," Ren explained, lowering his gaze. His cheeks flushed a light pink, keenly aware of the alpha’s intense stare, which never left him for even a moment.

"M-My brother gave this to you?"

Ren nodded, biting his bottom lip. He didn’t dare look at Zayden’s expression. What if he didn’t like it?

He kept to himself the fact that Soren had suggested he wear it at night—though the young man had said nothing about why.

Zayden took another step forward before he realized he was moving at all. The door shut behind him with a dull click.

The sound echoed too loudly in the room, where only their breathing could be heard. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Ren stiffened at first, then relaxed—just slightly—as Zayden’s presence pressed closer, pheromones drifting into the air despite the alpha’s effort to restrain them.

Zayden’s eyes dragged over him again, slower this time, as though his mind were struggling to catch up with what his instincts already knew. He traced the omega’s body in silence, gaze lingering, consuming.

"You—" He stopped himself, jaw tightening. He ran a hand through his hair, breath uneven. "You have no idea what you’re doing to me right now."

He swallowed hard, heat pooling low in his abdomen, tight and suffocating.

Ren’s fingers curled into the fabric of the bedspread.

"I... thought you might like it," he admitted softly. "If you don’t, I can change—"

"No."

The word came out too fast, too sharp. Zayden swallowed again, forcing his tone lower, steadier. "Don’t. That isn’t what I meant."

He reached out, hesitated, then brushed his knuckles against Ren’s bare shoulder—just enough to feel warmth, to confirm this wasn’t some cruel illusion.

Ren inhaled sharply, lashes fluttering.

"You look..." Zayden exhaled, a breathless sound that was almost a laugh. "Dangerous."

Ren let out a small, nervous sound.

"That doesn’t sound like a compliment."

"It is," Zayden said immediately. "It just scares me."

Ren finally looked up at him, eyes searching.

"Because I wore something your brother gave me?"

Zayden shook his head.

"Because you trust me enough to look at me like this." His thumb shifted, grazing skin again—more deliberately now. "And because I don’t know how to look away."

Ren leaned forward just a little, closing the distance himself this time.

"Then don’t," he murmured.

Zayden froze—every muscle coiling tight. For a heartbeat, he looked like a man standing at the edge of a cliff, torn between restraint and freefall.

Slowly, he lowered himself in front of Ren, resting one knee on the floor. His forehead pressed briefly against Ren’s thigh—a grounding touch, reverent rather than possessive.

"You should not tempt an alpha like this," he said quietly. "Especially one who loves you."

Ren’s breath caught.

"...And what if I do?" he whispered.

Zayden lifted his head, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

"Then I am afraid you will have to bear the consequences."

This time, when Ren reached for him, Zayden didn’t pull away.

The omega cupped Zayden’s burning cheeks, warm and flushed. He smiled softly before kissing him—deeply, passionately, closing his eyes.

That was enough to shatter the alpha’s restraint.

Zayden didn’t hesitate. He unbuttoned his shirt, letting it slip to the floor, then kissed Ren again, harder this time, tongue sliding into his mouth as though tasting something precious, something he had waited far too long for.

Their breaths grew heavier with each passing second until they finally parted, foreheads resting together, both gasping for air.

Ren slowly parted his eyelids, only to find the man before him half-naked.

"You..." he hesitated, uncertain of what to say next.

Zayden didn’t need him to speak to understand. Without a word, he reached for the omega’s hand and guided it to rest against his hard cock—hot even through his pants.

"After seeing you like this, no man—no one on earth—would be able to think straight. And I, your lover, am bound to lose all control. But look, am I not being good? Holding myself back. I didn’t jump on you. I am not saying I would. Never. I could never dare do that without your permission—"

Ren burst into laughter, as if Zayden had told a joke.

The alpha raised an eyebrow, tilting his head, perplexed.

Did he say something wrong? Or something funny enough to make Ren laugh like this?

The omega coughed, regaining his composure quickly. Then he kissed Zayden’s forehead, cheeks, nose, lips, and finally his neck.

"If I didn’t want this, I would not have worn this for you," he said shyly, burying his face in the curve of Zayden’s neck.

The alpha’s heart thudded rapidly—so fast he could barely hear his own breath.

"Fuck," he cursed under his breath. "I love you so much," he murmured, pushing the omega gently onto the bed.

They locked gazes, staring at one another. Ren smiled, as if giving him silent permission to do as he pleased.

Still, Zayden inhaled sharply before parting his lips.

"May I love you tonight?"

Ren almost laughed but held it back. He had never heard such a way of asking for sex.

Who even does that?

Still, he smiled and nodded, unwilling to embarrass his beloved’s clumsiness.

Zayden was known to be an expert—but Ren soon learned that was only when it came to sex, not expressing his love. It wasn’t as though Ren was any better.

Perhaps that was why they were fated mates.

Even so, Ren still found it hard to believe such a thing was possible.

"Ren. Where are you lost? Am I going too easy on you?" Zayden asked. He was already between Ren’s legs, the omega’s hard cock in his mouth.

Ren’s cheeks flushed, the colour deepening.

"Z-Zayden," he moaned, his hands flying up to cover his face.

"Don’t hide," the alpha said, pulling Ren’s hands away as he sucked faster.

This went on for a moment longer until Zayden slid a finger into Ren’s mouth. The omega sucked on it, saliva dripping down the alpha’s hand. Surprisingly—or perhaps not—Zayden didn’t complain.

Once his finger was wet enough, he pulled it free and rubbed it against the omega’s entrance.

Ren moaned louder this time. Slick spilled freely, and Zayden used it to slide one finger inside.

The omega groaned—not from pain, but from the pleasure beginning to overwhelm him.

Zayden pulled away just before Ren could climax.

"W-Why?" Ren muttered.

The alpha grinned.

"I can’t let you have all the fun alone, my beloved omega. I need some release too, don’t I?"

He unzipped his pants, freeing his cock, finally able to breathe as the ache eased.

Before Zayden could say anything, Ren got on his hands and knees, crawling the short distance between them. Without a word, he pushed Zayden’s cock into his mouth, looking up at him.

"R-Ren!" Zayden groaned, taken aback. He hadn’t expected the omega to do this without him asking.