The car pulled to a stop at the foot of the apartment building.
Cohen Phillips lay silently against Bard Morgan's shoulder, tears streaming down his face.
His eyes were red, his nose was red, and his lips were even redder.
Bard Morgan, who had kissed him into this state, coaxed him into putting his coat back on and gently kissed away the tears at the corners of his eyes.
"Be good, don't cry. I'll walk you up."
Cohen swatted his hand away and pushed the car door open to get out.
Bard Morgan followed leisurely into the elevator.
Cohen shrank into a corner, sniffled, and muttered under his breath, "Beast."
"Hmm?" Bard's long arm reached out, pulling him into an embrace. He lowered his head to peck the swollen lips. "
I was just a little intense with the kissing.
Far from being a beast."
It wasn't just the kissing!
He'd also spouted a bunch of shameless, embarrassing lines!
Utterly without shame!
Bard Morgan stroked his cheek, then nibbled on his earlobe, enticing him.
"Baby, come keep me company at work tomorrow, hmm?"
Cohen turned his head away.
"I'm not going."
"Don't you want to spend time with your boyfriend?"
"..."
Cohen did want to.
"But, you're just too..."
He had originally intended to pursue Bard properly.
He never expected Bard Morgan to come on so strong right from the start, shifting Cohen from the active pursuer to the passive recipient.
Now, he was feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Bard leaned in closer, his presence still oppressive.
"What?"
Cohen looked up at him, the rims of his eyes red, appearing somewhat pitiful.
"Bard, can't you tone it down a little? It's too fast..."
A faint smile touched the corners of Bard's eyes.
"This is fast? Who was it that asked me to watch him bathe the second time we met at the resort?"
Cohen argued guiltily, "I didn't."
Bard pressed on relentlessly.
"And who said he wanted to stay at my place as soon as we got back to City B?"
"...I was joking."
He'd just been talking big at the time.
"Tch. All talk, but you shrink back as soon as things get real."
Cohen held Bard's finger and gave it a gentle shake.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened.
Bard, holding him, stepped out.
They stopped at the door, but Bard didn't let him open it, instead pressing his forehead against Cohen's.
"Give me a kiss, and I'll tone it down in the future."
He hesitated for two seconds, then slightly pursed his lips and met Bard's with a brief, feather-light brush.
Bard's eyes darkened, but he restrained any deeper desire.
He ruffled Cohen's hair.
"So good. Go on in. Come find me tomorrow."
Cohen didn't promise anything.
He opened the door and hurried inside.
"Bye."
Bard Morgan smiled, then turned and left.
While the elevator descended, he couldn't help but pull a cigarette case from his coat pocket.
Ding.
Bard Morgan stepped out of the elevator, a cigarette dangling from his lips, eyes downcast as he lit it.
"Bard?"
Anthony Ferguson called out in surprise.
"What are you doing here?"
Kerry Phillips, standing beside him, didn't look pleased.
Bard lifted his gaze, completely unabashed.
"Oh, seeing Cohen home."
Anthony's face cycled through shades of green and purple.
"You... you and Cohen..."
Bard glanced at Kerry Phillips and openly admitted, "We're dating."
Kerry took a deep breath, his face stern.
"Are you serious about him?"
"Of course."
Anthony still found it absurd.
These two were worlds apart.
"Bard, this is too sudden. Weren't you homophobic and practically asexual? How did you suddenly end up with Cohen? He's young and doesn't know any better. Don't mess with him."
Bard exhaled a smoke ring, his expression casual but his words carrying weight.
"Don't worry. I'm not messing around."
Kerry sighed.
"He liked you before he even left for City Y. Don't hurt him."
Bard flicked the ash from his cigarette.
"How did he come to like me?"
"I don't know. But maybe he's just attracted to the surface you show the world. He doesn't know the real you."
Bard Morgan smiled.
"I know. I'll let him get to know me slowly."
Kerry had nothing more to say.
He took Anthony's hand.
"See yourself out."
"Wait."
Bard looked them over, his gaze settling on Anthony with a hint of danger.
"Are you staying the night?"
Anthony looked uncomfortable.
"Ah, I didn't drive..."
Bard narrowed his eyes slightly.
"No."
"What?"
He said languidly, "My baby is still young. He shouldn't be exposed to adult content. You go home."
A vein throbbed at Kerry's temple.
Since when did he become yours?
Anthony's face flushed crimson.
"Bard, what are you talking about! There's nothing going on!"
"Still not allowed. I can give you a ride; it's on my way. Let's go."
He glanced at Kerry Phillips and, pressured by Bard Morgan's imposing aura, reluctantly followed.
Kerry watched them leave, pressed his fingers to his temples, and stepped into the elevator.
When he entered the apartment, Cohen Phillips was drinking water.
He guiltily avoided Kerry's glare and made to float back to his room.
"Need to tell you something."
Kerry spoke up.
"We're having dinner at the Phillips house tomorrow night."
"I thought we were going after New Year's?"
"A couple of days early doesn't make a difference."
"Oh. Got it."
Kerry reminded him, "Cade Phillips was sent to be raised at Oona Reed's maternal family home specifically to give him more opportunities to interact with Bard Morgan. He even went abroad chasing after Bard's shadow. If Oona finds out about your relationship with Bard Morgan, she'll do everything in her power to drive you out of City B."
The Reed and Morgan families were considered old friends.
But after the Reed family patriarch passed away, the Reeds gradually declined, and their connection with the Morgan family wasn't as close as before.
Their so-called stepmother, as a foster daughter of the Reed family, had her eyes on this remaining link from the moment Cade Phillips was born.
She sent Cade back to the old Reed residence, which was close to the Morgan family estate, intending for him to build a good relationship with the favored son of heaven, Bard Morgan.
This way, he could gain the Morgan family's protection in the future and smoothly take over the Phillips family.
However, now Bard Morgan was together with Cohen Phillips, who had grown up practically invisible.
Oona Reed would go insane.
Cohen shrugged.
"Whatever."
"I'll start getting busy with the company in a few days. Might not have the energy to keep an eye on you."
"You focus on your work. Don't worry about me."
Kerry shook his head with a wry smile.
"Handle it yourself when the time comes. Come to me if you can't."
"Mm. Going to wash up and sleep."
"Go ahead."
Cohen returned to his room.
By the time he finished his shower, his phone had been ringing for a while—a voice call from Bard Morgan.
He sat on the edge of the bed and answered, his features softening.
"I was in the shower."
Bard's voice held a smile.
"Figured."
"Are you home yet?"
"Just got back. Reporting in."
Cohen couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth upward.
"Coming to keep me company at work tomorrow?"
"No. Sounds boring."
Bard chuckled.
"Keeping your boyfriend company is boring? Cohen, you're the one who said you wanted to pursue me. If I hardened my heart and kept playing hard to get, how would you ever catch anyone like this?"
Cohen mumbled, "Can't we just meet after you finish work?"
"Fine. I'll pick you up after work, and we'll have dinner together."
"I have to go home for dinner with my brother tomorrow night."
Bard gritted his teeth.
"So I won't get to see you at all tomorrow, is that it?"
Feeling a little in the wrong, Cohen asked, "Can I see you the day after tomorrow?"
Bard lazily made a demand.
"Call me something nice, and it's a deal."
"Like what?"
"You call Davey 'Brother,' and that Bevin Lawson too. But your boyfriend gets the full name? Is that any way to behave?"
Cohen fiddled with the duvet, hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "Baby..."
Bard was silent for a beat, his voice turning hoarse.
"Say it again."
He touched his warm cheeks and complied.
"Baby..."
"Baby, you're so good."
Bard let out a low sigh.
"Come keep me company at work the day after tomorrow."
"Mm... It's late. Time for bed. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."