Chapter 341 - Backfired on him

Chapter 341: Chapter 341 - Backfired on him

Eric had never imagined that the man he had been teasing so shamelessly would actually climb over him.

Ryan was hovering above him, one hand planted beside his shoulder while the other supported his weight near Eric’s waist. His long black hair fell forward, brushing against Eric’s cheek, and the loose collar of his sleeping robe revealed far more of his chest than Eric was prepared to deal with at such close proximity.

For a moment, Eric could only stare.

He had been so confident just a few breaths ago. He had deliberately loosened his clothes, softened his voice and invited Ryan closer, fully expecting the general to become flustered. Yet now that Ryan had actually taken him up on the invitation, Eric discovered that he wasn’t nearly as prepared as he had believed.

His heart was beating so loudly that he wondered whether Ryan could hear it.

Worse, Ryan wasn’t moving away.

The man’s breathing had grown noticeably heavier, and his usually composed expression was strained with an emotion Eric had rarely seen so openly on his face. His steel-gray eyes remained fixed on Eric, occasionally drifting toward his lips before returning to meet his gaze.

Eric swallowed.

He had seen Ryan angry, amused and concerned. He had even seen him smile with a tenderness that made his own heart behave strangely. But this was different. Ryan was looking at him with unmistakable desire, and for the first time, Eric understood just how much restraint the man had been exercising around him.

"General..." Eric began, though he had no idea what he intended to say.

Ryan’s gaze softened slightly.

"Have I frightened you?"

Eric immediately frowned. "Of course not."

"Then why are you trembling?"

"I’m not."

Ryan glanced at the hand Eric had unconsciously curled around the front of his robe.

Eric followed his gaze and quickly loosened his fingers.

The general’s lips curved faintly.

Eric felt his cheeks grow warmer.

This is ridiculous.

He was the one who had started this. He had wanted to tease Ryan, to see that cold and disciplined expression finally crumble. Now that he had succeeded, he was lying beneath the man like some inexperienced maiden who had never been kissed before.

Ryan lowered his head a little, and Eric instinctively held his breath.

For one brief moment, he thought the general was going to kiss him.

But Ryan stopped.

Their faces were close enough that Eric could feel his warm breath against his lips, yet the man made no attempt to close the remaining distance.

Eric stared at him.

What is he waiting for?

Ryan’s gaze searched his face.

"If you want me to move, tell me."

The words were spoken quietly, without any trace of teasing.

Eric’s irritation faded.

He suddenly remembered that their marriage had never been something either of them had chosen freely. Ryan had been ordered to marry him, and Eric had entered the general’s residence with every intention of treating their relationship as a temporary arrangement.

Yet Ryan had never once demanded the privileges of a husband.

Even now, when Eric had deliberately invited him closer, the man was waiting for permission.

Something softened inside Eric.

He looked at Ryan’s face, at the familiar sharp features and those beautiful gray eyes that were watching him so carefully. His gaze eventually settled on the general’s lips.

They were rather tempting.

Eric had noticed that before, of course. He had simply never allowed himself to think too seriously about it.

Now, with Ryan so close, pretending he wasn’t interested seemed rather pointless.

He slowly raised his hand and touched the side of Ryan’s face.

The general went still.

Eric brushed his thumb along his cheek, feeling the faint roughness of his skin. Ryan’s eyes followed the movement before returning to Eric’s face.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Eric lifted his head slightly and pressed his lips against Ryan’s.

It was a soft kiss, barely more than a gentle touch.

Ryan froze.

His eyes widened, and the hand supporting his weight tightened against the mattress. He seemed so completely stunned that Eric almost smiled against his mouth.

The great General Ryan, who could face an entire army without losing his composure, had apparently been defeated by a single kiss.

Eric lingered for another heartbeat before slowly drawing back.

Ryan remained motionless above him.

Eric looked up at his expression and felt an unexpected rush of satisfaction.

There it was.

The reaction he had wanted all evening.

Except now, his own heart was racing just as badly.

He had intended the kiss to be another little victory, something to leave Ryan flustered before they went to sleep. But the brief warmth of the man’s lips had affected him more than he expected.

Eric unconsciously ran his tongue over his lower lip, remembering the softness of the kiss.

It had been nice.

Very nice, actually.

He glanced at Ryan again.

The general was still staring at him.

Eric couldn’t help smiling.

"Good night, General," he whispered.

He settled back against the pillow, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

That should have been the end of it.

He had kissed his husband, successfully stunned him into silence and even managed to regain some of the confidence he’d lost earlier.

A perfect conclusion to the evening.

Unfortunately, Ryan didn’t move.

Eric waited.

Then he blinked.

"Ryan?"

The general slowly lowered his gaze toward Eric’s mouth.

Something in his expression had changed.

The earlier surprise was gone, replaced by an intensity that made Eric’s smile falter.

Ryan had spent the entire evening trying to control himself. He had endured his wife’s shameless teasing, the deliberate touches while drying his hair and the sight of him lying invitingly on the bed. Even when Eric had asked him to come closer, Ryan had intended to do nothing more than tease him in return.

He had never expected his beloved wife to kiss him.

And certainly not like that.

So softly.

So willingly.

Ryan could still feel the warmth of Eric’s lips against his own.

For years, he had lived with little interest in romance. He had refused marriage proposals, ignored the advances of noblewomen and returned to the battlefield whenever his duties required it. He had never understood why men became so distracted by matters of the heart.

Now, looking at the beautiful man beneath him, he was beginning to understand.

His wife had kissed him once.

And Ryan wanted him to do it again.

Eric noticed the change in his breathing.

"General?"

Ryan slowly lifted a hand and brushed a loose strand of hair away from Eric’s forehead. His fingertips lingered against his cheek before sliding gently toward his jaw.

Eric’s heart gave a particularly violent thump.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

Ryan looked at him.

"You kissed me."

Eric blinked. "Yes. I’m aware."

"Then you wished me good night."

"That’s generally what people do before sleeping."

Ryan’s thumb moved lightly along his cheek.

Eric swallowed.

The man’s expression was far too serious for such a simple conversation.

"Did you think I would be satisfied with that?" Ryan asked quietly.

Eric’s eyes widened.

For a moment, he couldn’t find an answer.

He had expected Ryan to blush, perhaps retreat to his side of the bed and spend the rest of the night remembering that little kiss.

He had not expected this.

Ryan leaned closer, his hair falling around them until Eric could barely see anything beyond his face.

Eric instinctively tightened his grip on Ryan’s robe.

"Wait..."

Ryan stopped immediately.

Their eyes met.

Eric opened his mouth, but the words he had intended to say vanished when Ryan glanced down at his lips again.

The general’s restraint was clearly hanging by a thread.

And the most troublesome part was that Eric wasn’t entirely certain he wanted him to regain it.

Ryan brushed his thumb once more against Eric’s cheek.

"Do you want me to stop?"

Eric stared at him.

He could have said yes. Ryan would have moved away without complaint. Eric knew that much about him.

Instead, his fingers tightened around the loose fabric at Ryan’s chest.

"...No."

Ryan’s expression softened for an instant.

Then he lowered his head and pressed a kiss against Eric’s lips.

Unlike Eric’s earlier kiss, this one lasted longer. Ryan was careful at first, almost hesitant, but when Eric responded and drew him closer, his uncertainty gradually disappeared.

Eric’s eyes fluttered shut.

He had been so busy trying to make Ryan lose his composure that he hadn’t considered what would happen when the man finally stopped holding himself back.

When they separated, Eric’s cheeks were flushed and his breathing had become noticeably uneven.

Ryan remained close, his forehead nearly touching Eric’s.

"Still wishing me good night?" he murmured.

Eric looked at him, utterly flustered.

The general’s mouth curved into a small smile.

Then Ryan leaned closer to his ear, his voice low enough that only Eric could hear.

"I’m afraid it isn’t going to be a good night for you, wife."