A/N: This chapter covers events in "Fresh Start".

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ARTHIT

Well that just happened.

I made out with Kongpob like I was planning to devour him and to be honest, I still kinda wanted to. If only Em wasn't out in the living room waiting for me to leave the bathroom then I might have done exactly that. 

Quickly turning the water back on in the shower, the temperature much cooler this time around, a shiver runs up my body as I stepped into the stall, desperate to calm my frantic heartbeat and ragged breathing.

Fuck that was....hot.

If Em hadn't interrupted us....

I groaned and dropped my head against the tiled wall as I realize that I am once again privy to Kongpob's inner thoughts. My softening cock instantly rose to half-mast as the younger male ponders how far things would have gone between us if we had continued. A cold shower just isn't going to cut it if he keeps this up and the sheep thing is all his crazy idea, not mine.

I...I don't think this is all the soul mark.

My heart beat faster at that statement because I had been waiting for some hint that he would realize that the soul mark was not responsible for all that Kongpob has tried to blame on it. Sure, it had it's part to play in what brought us together but he gave it more credit than it was due. I knew that if I tried to tell him that, he wouldn't believe it so it was better than he came to understand it on his own. Or so I thought at the time.

Kongpob seemed to be aware that I was able to read his thoughts just then if I wanted to and even went so far as to call out to me but I was able to keep my lusty thoughts on lock down despite the urge to let him in. There's still a thread of fear in me that I would be rejected if I fully opened up and let him know all that I'm thinking, especially in regards to him and us.

Fuck it.

I have a mind's eye view of Kongpob as he pulls down his boxers and grips himself, my knees turned weak seeing his large cock wrapped in his hand. It was mind blowing to me that I would ever be excited over another's man erection but something about this male drove me to the brink. 

However, the younger male is trying to think of some girl whose features I can't make out and it made me want to punch a hole in the wall. This was exactly why I hesitated to pursue him and it was clear that the kiss between us was a mistake.

Except.....

The image then morphed into my own face and body. It took my brain a minute to catch up before I realized that it's me that Kongpob was now jerking off to. Me and our hallway moment. It seemed like he stopped trying to fight it and was fully embracing his attraction as he mentally relived our make-out session in vivid detail.

My cock was now fully erect and throbbing with the need to be touched. I wrapped my hand around it and moved in sync with Kongpob's, as if he was touching me instead of myself. The kiss played out for me like a movie as I saw our lips touch and tease, tongues entangling before withdrawing, and our harsh loud moans filling the air. His mouth leaving a mark on my neck that I could see in the reflection of the mirror, even from where I stand in the shower, dark against my pale skin and easy to spot. Knowing that he's left behind evidence of our encounter makes it all the more real to me and a involuntarily shudder runs up my spine. 

I wish it was his hand on me right now.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. 

The fact that Kongpob was wishing for the same thing I was undoes me. Knowing that the younger was getting closer to his orgasm made me want to finish simultaneously and I bucked my hips faster against my tightened fist. My knees were shaking and my body tensed up as I felt my balls ready to erupt. My control slipped and I knew in that moment that I had just shared my thoughts to my soulmate and it was seemingly enough to finish him off which only caused me to tip over the edge right after. A loud groan slipped out of me before I bit it off, afraid to be overheard by my brother.

I quickly shut down my link to Kongpob and took a few minutes to regain my self-composure before I turned off the shower. Dressed in my boxers and undershirt, I stepped out of the bathroom to see my brother waiting impatiently for me. Trying not to look guilty as he glared at me, while hustling into the bathroom-no doubt to relieve himself-I glanced at Kongpob's closed door.

I'm in so much trouble.

The next morning I was barely awake as I made my way into the bathroom, my stomach growling as I wondered what to eat for breakfast. It's as I was washing my hands and glanced into the mirror that I saw it and remembered the previous night. Peeking at the edge of my shirt was the hickey that Kongpob left on my body last night. The images started flashing in my head before I realized that I'm wide open to Kongpob and that he's clearly eavesdropping on me, so I blocked him before he could glean much from my unfiltered brain.

To avoid Em from seeing the mark and asking questions that I was not ready to answer, I got dressed as fast as humanely possible before making my way to the kitchen to have some breakfast. I pulled out my laptop as my work would be a welcome distraction, especially when I saw Kongpob finally make his way out of his bedroom. Seeing how well he wore the tight black shirt and low strung sweatpants was making my heart palpitate so I averted my eyes, hoping he wouldn't notice. I could feel him staring at me as I pretended not to notice him but I knew that my blushing face was giving me away.

At some point we need to talk about it.

I'm aware but not now.

In fact, I managed to dodge the conversation altogether by using my brother's presence as a diversion even despite the fact that he started to ask uncomfortable questions about what we were doing in the hallway last night when he came out of his room. He thankfully only thought that we had potentially fought and didn't know what really happened between us. It would have gone off without a hitch if only Em hadn't also pointed out that I had been in the shower longer than necessary, especially when Kongpob was aware that I had no valid excuse to since I had already washed up before he got hurt.

You didn't just start it though. You were finishing.

Please God don't let him mean what I think he meant. There was a smirk on his handsome face  so it's probably safe to say that he was deliberately teasing me.  

This was not a conversation I wanted to have right now....or ever.

Seriously? Not the time or place.  

I know he wants to discuss what happened but I'm not ready, not when it had only recently come to my attention that I liked him in a romantically inclined way. Yet Kongpob didn't seem to feel the same way and it was a bit crushing to be in a one-sided crush with your very own soulmate.

Later, as the younger man was eating his lunch and contemplating our actions the night before, I'm astounded by his sheer idiocy. It blew my mind that Kongpob was once again under the impression that the soul mark was the reason for our kiss. It was a complete turnabout from his thinking last night when he was finally starting to doubt its effect and it pissed me off. It was an easy excuse for him to pretend that he didn't have any real feelings for me. Maybe I should tell him the truth about the soul mark but I don't think he'd believe me, not when he wants to use it to hide behind.

And friends? Is he for real? I didn't want to be his friend. I...I wanted to be more than that.

Making a decision, I took my phone and stepped out of the apartment to make a private phone call, not wanting to be overheard while I plotted. I heard it ring several times before the person on the other line picks up.

"Ai'Arthit! Hi!"

"Hey Namtan! How are you?"

"I'm good and yourself?"

"Same. Hey listen, I need a favor."

"Sure, anything for you my dear."

"I need you to help me make someone jealous."

"....."

"Nam?"

"So did you finally find your soulmate then?"

"What the fuck? How-"

I had never told either Nam or Jay about my soul mark as it wasn't something that I discussed with most people. It's not that I was embarrassed about it, I just don't like to share my personal business. Besides, once people knew about the soul mark, they tended to act different with me and I never wanted that from my friends.

"Seriously Art? I've seen the mark several times and so has Jay. You aren't as sneaky as you think you are, especially to those that know you best."

"Why haven't you said anything before now if you knew?"

"I figured you would tell us when you're ready."

"Oh. Well thanks, you're a good friend."

"Damn straight I am. Now, tell me why exactly you want to make your own soulmate jealous?"

"Err...well...that's a bit complicated." 

It took a few minutes to explain the situation I've found myself in with Kongpob, though I did skip over a few of the more...salacious...details. I could tell that the fact that my soulmate is a guy surprised her at first but she's supportive nonetheless. She's always been the most open-minded of all my friends and I think she was only surprised because of the fact that I was wholeheartedly chasing after him when I'm usually a reserved person.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?"

"Yep. If I were to tell him I like him, he'll just say it's because of the soul mark and that I'm confused. That's how he sees what's happening between us. So I'm just trying to give him a little....push."

"Wow. I almost feel sorry for him. This guy. Kongpob you said his name was? He really doesn't know what he's getting with you does he?"

"That's what I'm counting on." I chuckled because Nam knows how devious I could be, all too well. 

Two hours later, I was out the door after telling Em that I was having dinner with a friend that evening. I knew the info would make it back to Kongpob because for once, my brother's big mouth was what I was relying on. Em tends to be forgetful and vague, so if I was really lucky, Kongpob would be given the impression that I was on a date when-not if-he asked where I was this evening.

I met my friend at a trendy restaurant a few miles down the road and we had just ordered our meals when my plan was put into effect. A wicked grin spread across my face and Nam laughed at my expression, quickly putting the pieces together that we now had an unseen visitor to our dinner seeing as I had told her all about our "gift" earlier so she could be prepared.

Where did you go?

Ah! There he is, right on time. And boy did he sound irritated too.

I'm out with a friend for dinner.

Just a friend huh?

Yes. And why do you sound like a jealous wife right now?

I fucking do not!

Oh yes he fucking did and to be honest, it was pretty hot as hell. Dammit Arthit. Focus! Now is not the time to be thinking about that. Bigger picture here!

If you say so.

I'm just curious because I thought we were gonna talk still.

We did. You said we should be friends.

But you didn't answer.

No, I suppose I didn't.

Why?

I couldn't help but hesitate here because Kongpob was clearly frustrated by my answers and not wanting to accidentally push him away, I was going to give another vague half-truth answer but when I overheard his thoughts about me being pushed to him only because of the soul mark, I lost my temper. I'm sorry but I was just so goddamn tired of that shitty excuse.

Because it's utter bullshit.

What do you mean?

I don't know about you but I don't make a habit of kissing my friends.

Neither do I!

Besides, we both know it wasn't just about the soul mark last night.

Shit. He heard me last night.

Fuck yeah I did, more than even you seem to know or are willing to acknowledge Kongpob!

That shut the junior up for the time being and I felt elated for winning that round. At least I did....until he started to stress over our conversation causing me to feel guilty. He thought I was pissed at him and for a minute, I admit I was but now I realized that I was being unfair to him. Kongpob was trying to logically take it one step at a time while he worked out his conflicted feelings towards me and there I was, pushing him to take a leap of faith that he clearly wasn't ready for. 

Just because I was ready for my soulmate didn't mean he was and I shouldn't be angry at him for dealing with it in his own way.

So, while I wasn't going to stop trying to prove that we were meant for more than friendship, I was determined to go about it without a chip on my shoulder in regards to how he viewed what was happening between us.

Fine. We'll try it your way. Let's be friends. 

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A/N: My writing process - Write some stuff, quick check to make sure I don't sound like a complete and utter idiot then say "fuck it" before publishing (no joke). 😂