YiJun's POV

I feel like I am going crazy. Maybe nineteen years away from my home, my family has finally started taking a toll on me.

Why else would I keep feeling like Xian wants me, the way I want him.

I think I am losing my mind. 

I must stop before I do something that will make him hate me.

I step back and trip over an ingredient that I must have unceremoniously dropped while my baking adventures. And am, therefore, not surprised when my behind blesses the floor.

Xian Laughs.

Maybe I should fall more often.

Teasing me, he holds out his hand. As expected, children never let the mistakes made by adults, slide. Xian is no different. 

'I am not a child anymore, Jun.' Xian's words come to my mind and I shake my head. As I take his hand and stand up, I am once again reminded of the fact that Xian is almost a man now... an adult.

Will you leave me now, Xian?

Will you not ask me to sleep with you anymore, now that you have someone else? 

I thank him and tell him that I was going to call him after cleaning the mess, and he chuckles like he doesn't think that I am capable of cleaning up after myself.

He is not exactly wrong. 

He gives me a once over, and walks closer. I try to step away, but he is faster; holding my wrist, he commands me to stay still. And just like the night before, I find it impossible to refuse him. I comply. I stand still. I go a step further and hold my breath as well. 

He leans in, invading my space, and gently tugs at a few strands of my hair, "I wonder if I search some more... would I also find a chick in there somewhere." He teases, pulling out a small piece of eggshell from my strands and I almost smile.

I had intended to surprise him with a beautiful cake, but now with the way the cake has turned out, and the element of surprise lost, I ask him if he still wants to celebrate his birthday the way we usually do.

He nods and requests me to light a candle. After complying, I ask him to make a wish, but instead, he enquires, "I will, but first I need to know if this wish will be taken out of the four you promised me last night?"

Childlike... manipulative... Mine.

I can't stop myself from laughing. I don't know why I am laughing though, his question is not funny.

An urge to touch him makes me run my fingers through his soft silky hair.

It's my turn to tease, "Someone's being greedy." I say, trying to camouflage my greed; my desire for the boy in front of me as mear jest; as mischief; as something innocent.

I am not innocent..my desires are not pure...my heart is, greedy. 

"How dare you call me greedy?" He challenges, jutting out his bottom lip slightly and looking away.

My eyes get drawn to his lips on their own accord, and before I can control myself, I am in his space, lifting his chin to make him look at me, "A Xian, greed... is a sin." I whisper.

What would you do if I claim your mouth now, Xian?

Would you give in? 

Would you let me have you? 

He closes his eyes, and his long lashes fan is cheeks. I am thankful that he can neither hear my heart nor my thoughts.

My desires are mine. Mine alone.

I trace his bottom lip, and his heart starts to race. I watch as his Adams apple bobs up and down, and he parts his lips. I lean in closer; I want to claim what's mine, when suddenly, I feel his bottom lip quiver under my touch.

I look at our position and step away.

What the hell is wrong with me!?

"Chocolate." I declare, and he opens his eyes. His brows crease and he looks at me questioningly.

"There was frosting on your lip," I lie, bringing my thumb to my lips.

But before I can act on my lie, he leans in and my thumb disappears between his full lips.

He sucks, and I hold back a moan with great difficulty.

"Xian!" I scold, and he lets go of my thumb. I resist the temptation to thrust my spit slicked thumb into my mouth.

Jun, control yourself!

"Why did you do that?" I ask, instead of asking what I wanted to ask.

I want to know how your lips would feel against mine.

Will you let me taste you? 

"Mine." He answers shrugging his shoulders casually and adds, "So, what about my wish?"

It takes my lust addled brain a moment to understand what was being asked, and I nod after a second, "No, it won't be counted towards the wishes."

My answer makes him happy, and he smiles.

It's like staring into the sun.

He closes his eyes and blows out the candle before cutting the cake and lifting a piece to my lips.

"But it's yours," I remind him, and he chuckles, "Yes, it is and so are you. Now, open."

There it is, that commanding voice.

I open my mouth, and he feeds me the unfortunate-looking cake.

To my surprise, it doesn't taste half bad...At least I did something right.

"Let me help you clean up the mess." He suggests and returns with an apron tied around his waist.

"But it's your birthday and you... " I start, but he interjects, "I am feeling fine now, Jun."

"Is that your birthday wish?" I enquire and wink. He huffs shaking his head.

"Patience is a virtue, Jun." He picks up the bag of flour from the floor, hands it to me, and starts mopping.

I sigh and put the flour in its place before bringing another mop and taking the other end of our kitchen.

Within a few minutes, we, and by we, I mean birthday boy, has prettied it up again.

Xian wipes the sweat from his brows and looks at me triumphantly.

"You did good." I congratulate him and take off his apron before returning the mops to their residence.

When I return, Xian is nowhere to be seen. "Xian..." I call and a second later, I can hear the water running in his bathroom.

He is cleaning himself up, I reason, and go to take a shower.

When I come back, I can still hear the water running.

Is he alright? 

I go to his room and knock. Neither does he open, nor does he respond.

Unable to bring myself to wait anymore, I enter his room. I find the door to the washroom open and step inside after a moment's hesitation.

"Xian, are you alright?" I question when I can't see him through the fogged glass walls of the cubicle.

After waiting for a few moments for him to respond, I walk closer and tap on the glass partition, "Xian." I call out louder.

No response.

Fear grips my heart and I barge inside.

Rivulets of water are running down his naked back and I command my eyes not to stray lower.

"Xian," I whisper, putting my hand on his shoulder, shaking him.

His body jerks and he looks at me, "Jun, will you stay with me tonight?"

I nod and give him a small smile.

Did he have a nightmare again... But he was awake, right? 

I step out and hand him a towel, which he ignores, and keeps staring at me.

What happened to him? 

"Jun, you won't leave me, right?" He asks, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

"No. Never," I answer truthfully and wrap the towel around his waist.

He keeps staring at me without blinking as if he is scared that I will disappear if he looks away even for a second.

I step outside expecting him to follow, but he doesn't. He holds my wrist instead.

"What?" I ask.

"Take care of me" He hesitates, biting his lower lip, he adds, "Take care of me like you used to. That's my wish." He blurts out the last bit and holds my gaze, trying to gauge my answer.

Your wish is my command, my love.

I nod before noticing for the first time that his cheeks are flushed. I touch his forehead, and as expected, he is burning up.

What is happening!?

Without a word, I wrap another towel around him and carry him to bed.

He continues to stare as I dry him up and dress him.

I tuck him in bed and try to get off, but once again, he holds my wrist, "Stay."

"I need to change, Xian," I explain, gesturing towards my damp cloths.

"Wear something of mine," He pleads, and I comply.

I feel his eyes on me as I shed my damp cloths and put on dry ones.

When I return to bed, he pulls me close. "Jun, let me hold you, " He requests and waits for my response.

I nod and he plasters himself to my side. Burying his face in the crook of my neck, he breaths deeply.

His body feels warmer. "Xian, what's wrong?" I voice my thoughts, and I run my fingers through his hair.

He shakes his head and looks up, "You... you... " He doesn't complete his sentence and bites his lips before holding me tighter and burying his face in my neck again.

I caress his back, and after a few minutes, his body relaxes and so does his grip.

'Maybe he has fallen asleep.' I tell myself and try to distance myself from him.

He growls and pulls me closer, "No, stay. You have to stay the night."

It's the voice, the voice whose command I can't refuse. 

I nod and hold him close. He smiles.

I wait till I am sure that he is asleep before I dare to look at his face.

"A Xian, " I whisper to check if he is truly asleep. When he doesn't respond, I pull myself closer and kiss his forehead, "Happy birthday, my Love." I wish him one last time.

"Ummm...Sleep." He groans, nestling his face in the crook of my neck once more.

I panic.

Did he hear me? 

I wait till his breathing evens out once more before leaving a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Maybe he was talking in his sleep, I reason and close my eyes.

{Note :- That's it for today's update.

Most of you want them to get together, and they will. But once must remember that Xian is Jun's charge. And that puts him in a delicate situation. Xian is the most important person in Jun's life and losing him is what he fears most. Then there are things that he has just realized about Xian's parentage that he has to think about as well.

What I am trying to say is, they will get together and things will progress. I just don't want it to be unrealistic is all 🤷‍♀

Thank you for sticking with this story 🤗🤗🤗

On another note, I finally updated The Fine Print, my YiZhan fic. Please take a look at it if you can spare some time ❤

And please Vote to show your support for this update if you have enjoyed it. It really makes me happy to know that you guys are enjoying it.

Thank you for reading.
Have a nice day.}