kiss like it was stitched

rver dust and cheap office ai

terile lights-calm, silent, unre

at of his own heart

't plan

t meant

thing ha

, the rest just

enough-at least, for someone

pretending to work, pretending no

r. He hadn't liked the man when

y. Dangerous in a slow

and exchanged glares, things had sta

s gra

ical. That maybe it was about co

building. But the

want to co

ed to k

fied him more

into the server room, it was su

eyes were too sharp, his movem

ecords, monitoring network logs.

ryt

lling security, h

d unbothered, Chi had felt his a

ss and said, "What do you think I'm here for? And

he wanted

ne goddamn second, to forget

ad kissed

what ruined

, the memory st

media was circling. His parents

isk now-an open wound i

he couldn't

rom Jun in their temporary h

ng felt li

t the window when

surprised when I kissed you.J

owned.

at me like you'v

owed. "Ma

fell

walked over, l

rything harde

ned. "Because I

e real. And I don't know how to do that.

ve to be anyt

gathering.Anonymous emails had b

eculated

own Media the same day Chi Suy-

ed the heir's attention-and do

nda

o of Jun and Chi walking near th

ons were alre

d expe

hi ha

is hand curled into a fist

, tension bu

hrough news articles with dead eyes. Jun paced b

knew that."Chi said nothing. We control the narr

N

inked.

ements. No explanations. No we're

us, let them com

, surprised. "You

iding," Chi said.

chest

ak again until

asn't violent.

ything they

softly, letting Jun push him back onto the c

gled in shirts, pulling, tugging-

hing

cked together,

't go all

irst time they l

arrow couch, Chi whispered, "Are we makin

n't want

iss to his temp

oom w

ws, soft and insistent like a se

ed by streetlight, the outlin

e bed, shirt half-unbuttoned, ey

muted. Only

ing, Chi s

the moment crackling between th

oat worke

een them. Be close to s

ad. Too late. You

n't smi

Then let me fix it.Their lips met slow, deliberate. No ga

le to

nto his lap, mouths still locked.

hirt, palms flat against skin

nsane, Chi whi

led. Now you k

by layer each button, eac

, across his chest, licking, tea

shoulders, hips

bed sheets tangl

ok his

n like it meant something. Like C

man aching for

eeper, until they were nothing but the heat and skin needed.When J

u

whispered, forehea

, then fasterlike thunder building

n't ju

as g

as r

as l

er, they didn't sp

t the ceiling like it held Jun lay beside him, fingers trailing patterns ove

f this all goes wrong, pr

s head. Only

es. That's the pa

till damp, heart still racin

st time, neithe

ck but soft. Jun pressed his lip

e storm outside had gotten heavi

n the d

t it'd be you,

linke

've pushed everyone away for years. No one ever fought to stay. But you b

s glinting. You'

addicted, J

lower, deeper, their tongues tang

oke the kiss, his lips were

more, C

row rose.

ded. Ri

et over them with a

time, more deliberate. Every mo

him, eyes locked on Juns like

eth

they didn't b

hin. I wish we met in another life. Jun whispered,

In the morning, Jun wo

de was s

clothes

ote in neat handwriting: **I'll c