Chapter 52: 052 Sleeping with the Big Cat part 1
Because Zhu Ran was stroking the top of Z’s head, his wrist was swaying right before Z’s eyes.
Whenever Z shifted his gaze slightly, he could see the flawless skin of Zhu Ran’s wrist.
The dark veins were visible beneath the translucent, snow-white skin of the inner wrist, which emitted a faint, lingering fragrance.
Z had once touched his lips to the skin of Zhu Ran’s wrist while the latter was unconscious. On that occasion, he had been far too careful; he only remembered that Zhu Ran’s wrists were beautiful and fragrant, but he hadn’t experienced any other sensations beyond that.
Now, however, as Zhu Ran proactively stroked his hair, that slender wrist—one so thin that Z could easily encircle both of them with a single hand—was right there in front of him.
Zhu Ran was fast asleep, completely unguarded, his lips slightly parted as he exhaled a warm breath tinged with that light scent.
With the room bathed in dim light, every dark desire could be concealed beneath the deep shroud of night.
The tension in Z’s mind suddenly snapped.
The veins on the back of his hands bulged and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Even in the darkness, the thick, surging undercurrents within his blue-and-gold heterochromatic eyes—ordinarily as clear as crystal—could not be hidden.
You’re the one who started this…
With that thought in mind, Z closed his eyes and indulged in Zhu Ran’s touch.
Forehead, temples, side of the face… Z tilted his head, letting the half-conscious Zhu Ran follow his movements and caress the contours of his face.
Those fair, tender hands slid down along his golden hair; soft fingers and palms brushed against Z’s skin from time to time, sending shivers through him.
Under Zhu Ran’s movements, Z’s neatly combed golden hair became a tangled mess, mirroring the chaotic and out-of-control emotions currently clashing within him.
Whenever Z’s movements became a bit more pronounced, Zhu Ran’s entire wrist would press flush against Z’s face.
This created the illusion that Zhu Ran was affectionately caressing him, pushing Z to the brink of losing control.
Painful pressure built up in his hidden depths, and the sheer force of desire turned Z’s entire being a shade of crimson.
Heat surged through him, an unceasing tide.
However, in Zhu Ran’s subconscious, he was merely petting a long-haired, golden “big cat”.
The cat was very clingy, constantly rolling around as if acting spoiled. Zhu Ran obliged the demanding cat’s needs, giving it a thorough petting from head to tail.
Initially, the big cat’s fur felt a bit coarse, but it softened as he continued to stroke it.
The big cat’s body temperature was pleasantly warm.
The cat smelled wonderful, too—a scent like lavender essential oil. This was a clean cat that must have taken an essential oil bath.
The texture of the big cat was so soft…
Wait? Soft…
Must be the paw pads!
In his subconscious, Zhu Ran had petted the cat from head to toe and felt deeply satisfied.
But he was exhausted and didn’t want to keep petting it; he figured he might as well let the cat sleep with him.
With that thought, Zhu Ran reached out and pulled the “big cat” into his embrace.
He even thoughtfully shook out the blanket and covered the “big cat” as well.
This cat is huge. Is it a Maine Coon?
I should give it some room…
Realizing the sofa was a bit cramped, Zhu Ran shuffled further toward the back of the cushions, pulling the “big cat” even tighter against him.
When Z was suddenly pulled onto the sofa with Zhu Ran’s arm around his neck, his entire body went rigid.
The other’s forearm was hooked around his neck, the bare skin of Zhu Ran’s arm pressing firmly against Z’s vein-lined neck.
Z clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked.
The blanket was draped over them; half of Z’s body was covered by it, and the warmth of Zhu Ran’s fragrant breath enveloped him, causing his pupils to tremble.
Zhu Ran… what is he doing?
Not only that, but Zhu Ran had backed away to leave more space on the sofa for Z.
The arm around Z’s neck was applying pressure, making it impossible for Z to easily break free.
Zhu Ran and Z were now face-to-face. Zhu Ran’s breath fanned across the skin just below the corner of Z’s eye, making that patch of skin burn with heat.
A delicate crimson flush spread, like the blooming of a magnificent spring morning.
Z, who had already found it nearly impossible to maintain his composure while Zhu Ran stroked his face, now felt like a fire had been set to a parched prairie.
Zhu Ran’s blanket was fragrant.
Zhu Ran’s entire person was fragrant.
Zhu Ran’s lips were so close that Z only had to move slightly to taste that sweetness.
Z stared at Zhu Ran’s moist lips for a long time, his predatory instincts baring their fangs.
Z followed his instincts and leaned in, pressing close to that tempting, oblivious “vanilla sugar”.
He embraced him… buried himself… touched… and breathed heavily.
Z’s dry lips brushed against Zhu Ran’s earlobe before he buried his face in the crook of Zhu Ran’s neck.
His cheek pressed against Zhu Ran’s jawline, his heavy, labored breathing suggesting a wealth of hidden meanings.
He closed his eyes, drowning in the soft, warm fragrance.
(Editor’s Note: The ML is only thinking about it; he hasn’t done anything.)
Z wanted to cover Zhu Ran in his own scent, to leave him disheveled, to mark him with symbols that belonged only to him.
However, Z couldn’t bring himself to hurt or wound Zhu Ran.
(Editor’s Note: The ML is being soothed here.)
The beast, tormented by its own instincts, forced itself to suppress its terrifying thoughts before the soft, emerald-green blades of grass.
He paced restlessly around the grass, occasionally retracting his sharp claws to touch a spreading leaf, or burying himself within it to take a deep breath.
But he limited himself to that and nothing more.
Enveloped by that special scent, Z’s breathing gradually stabilized.
While being held by Zhu Ran as they slept was exactly what Z desired… this sleeping posture was not just a source of happiness; it was also a form of sweet torture.
He was being held, he was so close, and he was nearly exploding from the heat, yet he could do nothing…
I’ll make sure you pay this back in full later.
Z made a silent vow in his heart.
Z lifted his head from Zhu Ran’s neck and gazed intently at Zhu Ran’s peaceful sleeping face; his heart was filled with an overwhelming sense of tranquility and happiness.
The gloom and irritability that had accumulated over the past few days were swept away.
Zhu Ran was his spiritual cure—the sweet, fragrant kind.
Originally draped around Zhu Ran’s waist, Z’s hand began to wander improperly, slipping beneath the fabric to rest against the fine skin of Zhu Ran’s waist.
This brought Z a great deal of satisfaction.
He recalled the last time he had slept while holding Zhu Ran, after they had used the lavender massage oil and he had pretended to be exhausted just to get Zhu Ran to stay in the room.
Back then, Z had been incredibly anxious, worried that Zhu Ran would push him away and leave immediately. Z could even feel Zhu Ran’s spiritual power turning cold.
And yet… he had successfully held Zhu Ran all night that time.
Today, Zhu Ran was proactively holding him while they slept, without a single shred of wariness.
Did this mean that his relationship with Zhu Ran had grown closer?
If he were to be a bit bolder… did it mean Zhu Ran liked him, even just a little bit?
A sweet smile touched Z’s features, and his fingers grazed lightly over Zhu Ran’s waist.
Z’s fingertips were not as soft as Zhu Ran’s; they were a bit rough, which created a peculiar sensation as they moved.
A kind of… coarse itchiness.
His waist being touched made Zhu Ran uncomfortable. He withdrew his arm from around Z’s neck and gave the top of Z’s head a soothing pat.
He murmured softly, “Be good, big cat. Don’t cause trouble.”
Z suddenly froze.
Every romantic, sweet, and restless thought vanished without a trace at the words “Be good, big cat”.
Zhu Ran… has he mistaken me for a big cat?
Is it that long-haired, heterochromatic cat from the emojis?
Hmph.
Z was sulking.
He had thought Zhu Ran was proactively holding him because he felt some modicum of affection for him.
But who would have thought that this soft, unguarded behavior was only because Zhu Ran mistook him for a big cat?
Do I really look like… a big cat?
Z’s expression was a complicated mix of conflict and distress.
For a fleeting second, Z wanted to just get up and leave, refusing to let Zhu Ran hold him.
But that thought only lasted an instant before Z banished it from his mind.
It was rare for Zhu Ran to be this close and proactive; there was no way Z would give up this opportunity.
He gazed intently at the sleeping person—the relaxed brow, the long eyelashes, the dainty yet high bridge of the nose, and those slightly parted, tempting lips…
As he watched, the displeasure in Z’s heart evaporated.
He was completely helpless against Zhu Ran.
Z noticed that one of Zhu Ran’s hands was outside the blanket; the sleeve of his forearm had rolled up to the elbow, exposing a stretch of flawless skin.
After admiring it for a few seconds, Z carefully picked up Zhu Ran’s hand and tucked it beneath the blanket, terrified that Zhu Ran might catch a cold.
Then, his hand wandered improperly again, coming to rest on Zhu Ran’s waist.
Z was already larger than Zhu Ran, and since Zhu Ran was currently pressed against the sofa cushions to leave more room, it made Zhu Ran look even smaller.
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