Chapter 89: The Painting (2)

Adrien awoke to feel something warm and heavy wrapped around his chest. Mikyle was curled around him, wrapping himself closely to Adrien’s backside, his nose digging softly into the top of Adrien’s head.

The arm around Adrien’s chest tightened minutely as Mikyle shifted in his sleep. "Go back to sleep," Mikyle murmured sleepily, his breath tickling Adrien’s hair.

Adrien chuckled. "We can’t. My parents will be here in a couple of hours, and I want to show you something before then."

Mikyle pulled Adrien snug against him, leaving no room between them. He then nuzzled Adrien’s neck and Adrien could feel the smile that Mikyle was wearing. "You have something you want to show me?" He asked, his voice sounding more awake.

Adrien turned around in Mikyle’s grasp, which he allowed after raising his arm slightly. Adrien’s hand reached up and touched Mikyle’s chin, running his thumb below Mikyle’s lower lip. "I do. It’s a surprise that I think you will really like."

Mikyle’s lips tugged higher and an amused glint appeared in his eyes. "If you want to surprise me, you should suggest staying in bed for longer."

Adrien groaned internally, immediately catching onto Mikyle’s meaning, though it wasn’t like the man was even trying to hide his intentions. I have a feeling that Mikyle may have gained the dragon’s stamina as well as everything else. . .though I still don’t fully understand what it means when an Ancient King passes on their will.

"Your mind is wandering again," Mikyle whispered, his ears brushing against Adrien’s ear, before slowly and deliberately taking the soft cartilage between them. Adrien gasped when Mikyle began to suck, his teeth grazing against him as Mikyle’s hot, wet tongue began swirling around the soft tip.

Adrien’s hands automatically came up and laid against Mikyle’s chest, his fingers digging in softly against the firm muscle beneath them. He was finding out a bit too late that his ears were just as sensitive as his neck and a few other body parts he was unwilling to name.

"Mikyle," Adrien gasped out. "We don’t have time for this," he pleaded, unfortunately already feeling his lower half beginning to stir.

Mikyle smirked before pulling away and Adrien instantly felt cold air slap against his wet and recently teased and abused ear. "Think of this as an encouraging gift before my competition." Mikyle then leaned down and began layering wet kisses down his neck, coming to a stop atop his collarbone.

"No!" Adrien managed when he felt Mikyle’s teeth graze the skin that dips around the collarbone. "You’ll say the same thing on the day of your competition!"

Mikyle pulled away and Adrien ignored the cold air biting at his neck. Mikyle wore an all too pleased expression as he smirked down at him. "You know me well."

Adrien narrowed his eyes. "You are insatiable," he muttered under his breath.

Mikyle’s smirk widened as he caught Adrien’s words. "Only for you."

Ignoring the growing discomfort in his lower half, Adrien freed himself from Mikyle. "I’m going to go wash up, alone."

A grueling hour later, Adrien managed to drag Mikyle out of the room and the two of them were now standing in front of the gallery where the students’ exhibition was taking place.

"This was the surprise you wanted to show me?" Mikyle’s red eyes gazed up at the building, a small frown tugging his shapely lips downwards.

"It’s inside," Adrien said with an amused smile.

"I’m guessing you did not paint the picture you had shown me before," Mikyle said, accurately guessing as to the reason why Adrien had dragged him there.

Adrien flinched, hating how sharp Mikyle’s intuition was. Adrien had a feeling that he would have to step up his game if he ever wanted to successfully surprise Mikyle.

Mikyle gave a slight nod, his expression showing how pleased he was. "I must’ve guessed right," he hummed, his lips curling up into an annoying smirk.

Adrien frowned, hating how easy Mikyle could read him. I’ll definitely have to work on my poker face, Adrien vowed silently.

The two of them walked down the corridors of the art gallery, casually looking at the paintings hanging on the pristine white walls while scanning for his own work.

Adrien spotted his piece first. . .though it wasn’t actually the painting that he had spotted. Not far from them near the center of the south corridor were the Ceciles sisters, a tall and handsome man who had pale blonde hair that curled slightly and piercing pale blue eyes. Adrien took note of how similar the man looked to the sisters. And standing across from them were Adrien’s parents, the Count and Countess.

Adrien came to a stop as confusion filled him. Weren’t they supposed to arrive later today? Why are they here so early?

"It appears we’ve found your piece," Mikyle stated, taking notice of the gathered people before them, the very same people who possessed a strange connection to Adrien.

"Adrien?" Came the Countess’ voice as she was the first one to spot them.

"Mother. . .father," Adrien greeted the Countess and Count, feeling strange at having called the Count by that familiar title. The same title he vowed to never call that man by when he had first arrived in this world. He then turned and greeted the sisters. "Aisley, Aefre," Adrien spoke with a smile, using the familiar term of address.

"Greetings your highness, and Adrien," Aefre and Aisley said simultaneously, not forgetting to greet Mikyle first since he held the higher rank among them.

"Adrien, this is our father, Duke Aethelred Ceciles," Aisley said, introducing her father to Adrien.

It was after all the introductions were out of the way when Adrien finally had the chance to show Mikyle the painting.

Mikyle’s eyes widened as soon as they landed on it. And then just as quickly, his eyes returned to normal and his lips thinned back into a neutral expression. Bit Adrien noticed the way Mikyle’s hands flexed at his sides and the way his red eyes deepened with a barely suppressed hunger.

I knew it would have an effect on him, but I didn’t know it would be this immediate, Adrien hummed to himself, feeling quite pleased.

And then the others around them turned to look as well.

"You’ve certainly picked an interesting topic to paint," the Countess said slowly and the Count’s lips twitched at her words.

Adrien felt his face turn red when he realized exactly what he had done. He had decided to do the piece as a surprise for Mikyle, but he had never truly thought about the other people who would be looking at it. . .especially the people that were currently in front of him. At best, he thought they would see it without him around.

It was at that moment when Adrien heard the slow sound of someone clapping, followed by a low and appreciative whistle. "What a fine piece of work, brother. It really highlights your seductive manliness."