Hot flashes

Xiao Jue wiped the cloth a few more times, then tossed it aside.

"alright."

Zhou Heng touched his hair; it was indeed almost dry. He turned around, about to say something, but met Xiao Jue's gaze.

Those eyes have changed at some point.

The candlelight reflected inside, flickering with two dark flames. It wasn't a deep pool, but something burning. The gaze slowly slid across his face, from his eyebrows to the bridge of his nose, from the bridge of his nose to his lips, finally settling on his still slightly reddened earlobes.

Zhou Heng's heart skipped a beat.

"Xiao..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Jue's hand had already reached out, his fingertips resting on the side of his ear. It was the same spot as before, gently caressing it. Very slowly, very lightly, as if tracing something.

Zhou Heng's breathing became unsteady. He wanted to dodge, but his body wouldn't obey him, and he just sat there, letting that hand linger beside his ear.

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Jue's eyes darkened even more.

The hand slid down from his ear, gripped the back of his neck, and pulled him closer.

A kiss landed. Not heavy, yet irresistible. It carried the fresh scent of a post-shower bath, and a faint, indescribable fragrance.

Zhou Heng's breathing became slightly disordered from the kiss, and her hand unconsciously climbed up his shoulder, grasping the piece of dark fabric.

Xiao Jue released him, pressed his forehead against his, and their breaths mingled.

"Tonight..." His voice trailed off, and he didn't finish his sentence.

Zhou Heng's face felt hot. He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Xiao Jue looked at him, at his drooping eyelashes, and at the little bit of moisture still clinging to them.

His hand was still clasped behind Zhou Heng's neck, his fingertips gently stroking the skin. Very lightly, very slowly, as if waiting for something.

Zhou Heng's breathing was somewhat unsteady.

He looked up and met those eyes.

The candlelight flickered.

Xiao Jue's eyes darkened in that instant.

He lowered his head and kissed him, conquering him relentlessly. Zhou Heng was breathless from the kiss, his hands gripping his clothes, his knuckles turning white.

Xiao Jue's hand slid down the back of his neck, down his spine, leaving a trail of burning heat through the thin nightgown. Zhou Heng's body trembled slightly, whether from the cold or something else, it was hard to tell.

The kiss landed on the corner of his lips, on his chin, on the side of his neck. It traveled downwards, carrying a burning sensation. Zhou Heng tilted his head back, his breathing becoming more and more rapid, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Xiao Jue's lips lingered there.

He raised his head and looked at Zhou Heng. Those eyes were no longer deep pools, but burning with something, a dark flame.

His hand cupped Zhou Heng's chin, his thumb resting on his lips, gently caressing them. The movement was slow, as if he were savoring something.

Then he pressed down.

Zhou Heng's breath hitched for a moment. He lowered his head and looked into Xiao Jue's eyes, the sight in those eyes sending a shiver down his spine.

A moment later, Zhou Heng suddenly turned his head and coughed violently. He reached for the water on the small table beside the bed, rinsed his mouth, and spat it into the bowl next to him.

There was still an indescribable feeling in my throat, and a little bit of physiological moisture welled up in the corner of my eye.

Before he could catch his breath, a force from behind flipped him over.

Zhou Heng sank into the brocade quilt, not having time to turn around, before Xiao Jue had already covered him. He pressed down on him from behind, one hand holding his waist, the other turning his face to kiss him.

The kiss was fierce and brutal. Zhou Heng was breathless from the kiss, his hands gripping the mattress beneath him, his knuckles turning white.

Xiao Jue released his lips, pressed his ear to his ear, and breathed heavily.

"Aheng..."

The voice was incredibly hoarse, as if it were being ground out from the depths of the chest.

Zhou Heng turned his head to meet those reddened eyes.

Xiao Jue looked at him.

Then I stopped restraining myself.

The candlelight flickered, casting their shadows on the wall, intertwined and inseparable. The air was thick with sweat, panting, and a certain other scent.

Zhou Heng's consciousness gradually blurred, leaving only the burning body temperature of the person behind him, their rapid breathing, and those red eyes that had been watching him.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Jue finally stopped.

He lay on top of Zhou Heng, panting heavily, sweat dripping down Zhou Heng's back.

Zhou Heng was so tired that he didn't even want to move his fingers. He just lay there, feeling the burning heat of the other person on his body and his heartbeat.

After a long while, Xiao Jue turned over and pulled him into his arms.

Zhou Heng's face was pressed against his chest, and he could hear a faint, rapid heartbeat. Xiao Jue's hand rested on his back, stroking it gently.

The sound of the night watchman's gong came from afar; it was the third watch of the night.

Zhou Heng closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep in that person's arms.

When Zhou Heng woke up, it was already dawn.

A layer of grayish-white light shone through the window paper, very faint, like a thin veil. He moved and found himself being hugged from behind—Xiao Jue's arms were across his waist, his palms pressed against his lower abdomen, and his breathing was even on the back of his neck.

Zhou Heng listened to the steady heartbeat of the person behind him and looked at the increasingly bright sky outside the window. The morning light gradually seeped in, first the shadow of the window frame, then the outline of the bed, and then Xiao Jue's hand on his waist.

That hand was beautiful. Long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles, calluses on the fingertips—from holding a knife. Now, relaxed and resting on him, it possessed a rare gentleness.

Zhou Heng stared at that hand for a long time.

Then he gently turned over, facing Xiao Jue.

The sleeping person's eyebrows and eyes are relaxed, their brows are not furrowed, and their lips are not taut. They look several years younger than when they are awake.

Her eyelashes were long, casting a small shadow under her eyes. Zhou Heng looked at that shadow and suddenly wanted to reach out and touch it.

My hand was grasped as soon as I raised it.

Xiao Jue opened his eyes and looked at him. Because he had just woken up, his eyes were still a little hazy, unlike his usual deep and unfathomable eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

His voice was low and hoarse, muffled, as if he had just woken up.

Zhou Heng was caught red-handed. His ears felt a little hot, but he said stubbornly, "Look at your sleeping posture. Ugly."

Xiao Jue looked at him without saying a word. His gaze still carried the languor of someone who had just woken up, but it had slowly regained its focus, landing on Zhou Heng's face and tracing his features bit by bit.

Zhou Heng felt a little uncomfortable being stared at and tried to turn his face away, but a hand held his chin, keeping him rooted to the spot.

"Don't move."

Xiao Jue's voice was still low and hoarse, but it carried a hint of a smile.

He stared at Zhou Heng for a long time. From his eyebrows to his nose, from his nose to his lips, and from his lips to his chin.

Zhou Heng's face grew hotter and hotter under his gaze.

"Have you seen enough...?"

"no."

Xiao Jue lowered his head and placed a kiss on his forehead.

Then he released him and sat up.

Are you hungry?

Zhou Heng paused for a moment, then nodded.

Xiao Jue got off the bed, casually picked up his outer robe and put it on, then walked to the door and gave a few instructions. A moment later, footsteps faded into the distance, while others approached.

Chang An brought in a basin of hot water, placed it on the shelf, and then silently withdrew.

Xiao Jue walked back and pulled Zhou Heng out of the quilt.

"Wash your face."

Zhou Heng was carried to the basin stand, where steam wafted towards him, warm and comforting. He scooped up some water to wash his face, then took the towel Xiao Jue handed him and dried it. Turning around, he saw Xiao Jue already offering him an outer robe.

Zhou Heng took it and put it on. As soon as he finished, Xiao Jue reached out and straightened his collar, then retied the belt around his waist.

Zhou Heng looked down at the hand moving around his waist and suddenly remembered what those hands had done last night, and his ears started to burn again.

Xiao Jue fastened the strap, raised his head, and looked at his bright red ear tips.

"What are you thinking about?"

Zhou Heng shook his head: "No, it's nothing."

Xiao Jue's lips curved slightly.

"Let's go," Xiao Jue said, taking his hand. "Let's have a meal."