𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭

The drive back was quiet, only the hum of the engine filling the silence. By the time Nani pulled up to the Hirunkit mansion, the house already buzzed with panic.

Papa Book rushed to him the moment he stepped in. "Nani-my boy-don't worry, everything is going to be alright. We trust you."

His arms wrapped tight around him, warm and protective. Est hovered close, wide-eyed, looking like he wanted to demand an explanation but too worried to push.

Nani offered them a small, carefully measured smile. "I'm fine, Papa. Really. Don't let it get to you." He slipped away gently, excusing himself before the concern suffocated him.

In his room, he stripped off his day and all the eyes that had burned into him, letting the shower wash away the weight. When he finally stepped out, fresh and dressed in something soft, he wandered to the balcony.

The night breeze was cool against his skin, carrying the faint scent of the gardens below.

His eyes, however, weren't on the stars. They were fixed forward-locked on the grand entrance of the mansion, where a certain black Benz would eventually pull in.

He leaned back against the chair, crossing his legs with effortless grace, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳? 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘱 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘴. 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵.

His fingers toyed idly with the bracelet on his wrist, the one matching with Sky's.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘸.

My dear Sky, you've kept me out of the spotlight, avoided labels, left things undefined. But tonight?

Tonight, I'll have you where I want you. This time, I'll get my commitment.

In public. With everyone watching.

A soft chuckle escaped him, low and dangerous, carrying the promise of his next move.Nani leaned his chin on his hand, eyes never leaving the driveway. "Drive fast, Sky Wongravee Theerapanyakun,” he whispered to himself, lips curling. "I'm waiting."

The black Benz rolled up the long driveway like a shadow, engine purring to a smooth stop beneath the portico. Sky stepped out first, immaculate even in the dim light-suit crisp, posture perfect. Bodyguards melted into the background with automatic efficiency, leaving him to move forward as if the house itself had been waiting for him.

Papa Book was the first to meet him at the steps, worry still etched into his face until he saw Sky. The older man exhaled a breath that sounded almost like relief and reached for Sky without thinking. Sky accepted the hug with that same effortless ease that always made Papa Book relax.

"You came," Papa Book said, voice quick with gratitude.

Sky's smile was small, controlled. "Of course. I heard."

He glanced at Est, then at the others gathered in the hall. His gaze was calm but unreadable. "It's under control. Everything's being wiped. The channels, the feeds-those accounts will be gone by morning. Whoever did this will think twice before they cross us again."

Est let out a shaky exhale, the tension on his face easing. "Thank you, Phi Sky," he murmured, eyes still wide with the aftershock of the day.

Sky nodded once. "Don't worry." His tone left no invitation for argument. The men standing near the doorway straightened as if his assurance had settled them too. With one last quick, almost casual look at Papa Book and Est, Sky moved up the staircase.

Nani watched the procession from the balcony door, having staged his tired posture perfectly-shoulders slightly slumped, eyes ringed with fatigue, a soft, vulnerable pout that made him look heartbreakingly small. It was an act. But it was an act that always made Sky rush.

When Sky reached the second floor, he paused only a moment at Nani's door, then knocked lightly. Nani opened it and stepped forward, greeting him in a voice low and wearied, the look of someone who'd been wronged and hunted all day.

"Sky." It was a soft hello, more relief than anything.

Sky closed the door behind him and crossed the room in two strides. The worry in his features softened the instant he saw Nani up close. He reached out without ceremony and pressed a gentle kiss to Nani's temple-quick, assuring, intimate.

"It's taken care of," Sky said into the soft fabric of Nani's hair. "The feeds are cleared. They'll think twice."

Nani's breath hitched like a small laugh. He lifted his face and met Sky's eyes with that practiced mix of innocence and knowing. "I knew you would protect me," he said, voice small and dear. "I had nothing to be scared of."

He let the words hang there, then added softly, almost as if giving Sky permission, " I heard the other ones too about us and I want to let you know that I'm okay with whatever you want." There was no demand in it-only surrender, sweet and absolute. A faint charge passed between them; Nani's calm, pliant acceptance tugged at something behind Sky's composed mask.

Sky's hand slid around Nani's waist, firm and claiming. He rested his forehead against Nani's for a beat, the motion both possessive and protective. "Good."

"I'm Staying tonight." He murmured.

Nani's lips curved into the smallest smile. He leaned into Sky's chest, contentment and strategy braided together like a secret.

"Whatever you say," he whispered.

Outside, the night breathed on. Inside, with the doors closed and lights dimmed, the world narrowed to the two of them-one promising protection, the other giving surrender.

The balcony doors were left slightly open, letting the soft hum of night drift into the room. The air was heavy with jasmine, the faint glow of city lights spilling across the floorboards.

Nani lay against Sky, head resting on his chest, their limbs already tangled in the sheets. Sky's arm was draped across Nani's waist, firm and grounding, as if even in sleep he wouldn't dare let go.

But Nani wasn't asleep. Neither was Sky. Their breaths synced in the quiet, then Sky tilted his head just enough to find Nani's lips.The first kiss was slow-testing, tasting.

Nani's fingers curled in the fabric of Sky's shirt, pulling him closer. Their lips pressed again, deeper this time, a low hum catching in Nani's throat as Sky angled himself over him.

It wasn't rushed. There was no frantic urgency, only a steady, consuming pull. Every kiss was drawn-out, heat building beneath the surface like fire under silk. Nani's hand slid up to Sky's nape, nails grazing his skin, and Sky exhaled against his mouth-half restraint, half surrender.

They moved together lazily, lips parting only to breathe before finding each other again. Nani smiled into the kiss, a soft curl of lips that Sky felt more than saw. Sky answered with a deeper kiss, hand cupping Nani's jaw as if to claim him more completely.

The world outside-the scandal, the whispers, the enemies waiting in the dark-none of it reached them here. Here, there was only the weight of Sky's body pressing close, the taste of him lingering on Nani's lips, and the unspoken vow hanging between every kiss:

Mine.

The night stretched long, and they let it. Tangled in sheets, tangled in each other, they kissed until time no longer mattered.

The first rays of morning slipped through the sheer curtains, spilling pale gold across the room. Nani stirred slowly, his lashes fluttering open to the steady rhythm beneath his ear-the strong, unwavering beat of Sky's heart. His head rested on Sky's chest, his hand draped lazily over him as if he belonged there and nowhere else.

For a long while, he didn't move. He simply admired the man before him-how peaceful Sky looked in sleep, though the world outside demanded his ruthlessness. How much softer the sharp lines of his face became in this quiet light.

Nani's lips curved faintly, his chest filling with something so heavy and tender it almost hurt.𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, he thought, his heart clenching. He would go to the ends of the world, through fire and ruin, just to stay by this man's side.

With a delicate touch, Nani raised his hand to trace along Sky's jaw. His fingertips hovered, brushing lightly against warm skin, until he reached Sky's cheek. But then-he froze.

The morning light caught something there.

Not on Sky's face, but on his hand-Nani's own hand, resting against Sky's cheek, tilted just enough for him to see it.

A ring.

A breathtaking diamond-cut ring, large and unapologetically brilliant, sat snugly on his finger. The 25 carats sparkled like starlight captured in stone, glinting in the sunlight with a weight that wasn't only physical.

Nani's breath hitched. For a moment, the world stopped. His eyes widened, his body stilled, and then-

A smile broke across his lips. A smile so wide, so radiant it nearly spilled into laughter. His heart hammered in his chest, joy bubbling up inside him, dizzying and bright. He pressed his fingers to his lips, as if to hold the secret joy in, but his grin only grew bigger.

Finally-finally-he had it. Not just the ring, but the promise it meant.

Sky had given him what he wanted most.

What he deserved.

And in that moment, Nani swore he had never loved him more.