24 Chapter 24- The Mark of a True Husband

In the office, Xiao Nai watched as his staff were drawn to the windows overlooking the car park. He wouldn't have thought much of it, but even Wei Wei was standing next to Yu Ban Shan, open mouthed and looking like she was watching her favourite drama. Coming up behind her, he leaned against her back with his hands carefully placed in his pockets. In the car park below, KO and Hao Mei were providing enough entertainment for his staff- he didn't need to add to that by getting caught playing with his furen.

"Did you see what happened?"

"Nothing! KO was just sitting at his computer..."

".... then all of a sudden he stood up...."

"... his face was even colder than usual...."

"... carried Hao Mei over his shoulder..."

"... we heard Hao Mei cursing at him when they went in the elevator so ran here to watch the fun. Wish I had popcorn."

Xiao Nai rested his head on Wei Wei's shoulder and his breath tickled her ear. "Why do you look worried?"

Bei Wei Wei flinched at the hot air on her skin and bit her lip. "KO-shixiong looked so angry. Will Meiren be okay? Maybe you should stop them? Call KO back to the office?"

Xiao Nai looked down at the arguing couple. KO had placed Hao Mei on the ground as soon as they left the building, and now the younger man was gesticulating wildly as he stormed after the stone-faced hacker. His words were inaudible, and his back was to the windows so no one could attempt to read his lips. Xiao Nai shook his head.

"Coming events cast their shadows before them."

"Oh." Wei Wei wasn't entirely sure what he was alluding to, but she'd understood enough to know that he wasn't going to interfere.

A stunned hush washed over the gathered crowd, as they watched KO step into Hao Mei; backing him up without a single word. KO stepped forward, and Hao Mei retreated; a well choreographed dance that led the couple underneath the overhang of the building... and out of sight.

"He won't kill him... will he?" The whispered question made everyone look at each other; doubt rising as soon as the worst case scenario had been voiced.

Qui Yong Hou snorted. "Not likely. Mei-ge on the other hand, looked fit to do murder, but he won't succeed against KO."

"And after all the effort KO went to, to corner him in his own office..." Yu Ban Shan struggled to keep a straight face. "He won't kill him now."

Comprehension cleared the faces around them and laughter returned only to die away as the pair emerged from the shadows of the overhang. KO led the way over to his motorbike, while Hao Mei trailed along behind; one hand rubbing the nape of his neck and the other in the vicinity of his mouth. With his back to the window, no one could see what he was doing but the general consensus was that he was covering his mouth so he didn't say anything and get into even more trouble.

Yu Ban Shan choked when Mei docilely let KO place a helmet on his head. 'Was that a.... oof..." Qui Yong Hou jabbed an elbow into the loud mouth's stomach, cutting his words off and preventing him from questioning the red mark that had been revealed when Hao Mei removed his hand from his neck. As the pair rode off, the crowd at the window dispersed and work returned to normal.

Lips tingling from the force of KO's kisses, and mind full of cotton wool, Hao Mei stayed silent as KO took them back to Mei's apartment. Mei didn't have a car, so KO was in the habit of pulling in to the underground car park and using the space for his motorbike. Caught in his thoughts, Mei didn't notice KO swing around on the bike, facing him and lifting Mei's legs to cross over his own. The older man gently lifted the helmet off Hao Mei and with the lifting of the weight, returned coherent thought. Mei blinked to find himself almost straddling KO, only his butt retaining a connection to the bike.

"We're home?" He looked around the underground car park, brows furrowed. Why had KO carried him off like some sort of technologically adept Neanderthal? "We have to go back to work. We can't just leave in the middle of the day."

KO's gaze softened when Mei inadvertently referred to his apartment, and KO's implicit presence there, as 'home'.

"Sick day."

"You're sick? Well then why didn't you say so? You didn't need to cart me off like a sack of potatoes. If you'd said you were unwell then I'd come home with you... you can't stay by yourself if you're sick."

"Not sick. Sick day." KO corrected Mei's assumption.

"You can't take a sick day if you're not sick." Mei's voice was slow and gentle, as though explaining a basic concept to a child.

"Hmm... then I think you have a fever."

"What are you talking about? I don't have a fev...." Mei's rebuttal was swallowed by KO. The soft, gentle press of lips was slow; sweetly drugging. Mei flicked his tongue out, lightly tracing KO's lips before the other man opened his mouth and deepened their kiss. Their tongues tangled, breath melded and hearts raced in synch. It was a slow burn of a kiss, gradually building in heat as Mei edged closer and closer, hands behind KO's head to pull him further into the kiss.

They pulled away, panting, when the sound of the gate opening heralded the end of a precarious privacy. Cheeks pink, Mei bit his lower lip as he realised that he was no longer sitting on the bike in anyway; he'd moved to completely straddle KO's lap and the other man was holding him close with two hands inside the back pockets of his pants.

KO's chuckle was deep, and richly coloured with self-satisfaction. "See... feverish." He sprinkled soft kisses over Mei's nose and heated cheeks.

"And whose fault is that? Pervert." Muttering under his breath, Mei climbed off KO's lap and took off towards the elevator. How am I supposed to explain this to Laosan? Unknown to Mei, his internal wail may as well have been written on his face. The doors to the elevator opened as KO reached him, and Mei breathed a sigh of relief when another tenant rushed to enter the same elevator. Normally one for small talk, Mei was too flustered to deal with social niceties and KO wasn't helping- sliding a hand up the back of his shirt and lightly dancing his finger tips over his skin at the small of his back.

He didn't think he'd ever been so glad to see his own floor and once more tried to rush away, only to be foiled when KO grabbed his hand; twining their fingers together and anchoring him by his side. The moment they turned the corner, KO picked Hao Mei up- hands on his butt holding him up, back pressed against the wall and legs wrapped around his waist. When KO tightened his grip, digging fingers in to his arse, Hao Mei groaned and leaned his head back. The long, smooth line of his throat was too delicious for KO to ignore; with lips, tongue, and teeth, he devoured the younger man.

Mei whimpered as teeth grazed down his neck. The wet heat, the sucking, the nibbling... every touch sent shivers along his skin and made his pants tighten. Why his neck had a direct line to his groin, Hao Mei would never know, but his last rational thought was that he was glad it did.

Desperate for more of the tingles that were zipping along his skin, Mei grabbed KO's shoulders, fingers digging in as he clenched the legs wrapped around the other man's waist. Doing so pressed his erection against KO's belly and the man froze, dropping his head to Mei's shoulder and panting heavily.

Mei whined. "Don't stop."

His usual calm in shatters, KO fumbled with the key at the door, cursing under his breath until it finally opened. This time, however, when he tried to put Mei inside, the younger man wasn't having a bar of it. Mei wrapped his arms around KO's neck and rolled his hips; pressing his erection into his stomach once more. Bending his head, Mei nibbled at KO's ear.

"If you leave me to have another cold shower, I'm going to make you a eunuch." White teeth bit into the fleshy lobe of KO's ear before his tongue lightly flicked over it. "Inside. And lock the door behind you."

KO's eyes had closed when Mei rolled against him but now they flew open. Shock made them wide and he studied Mei's flushed face, ascertaining whether it was just the lust talking or the man himself. Lust was obviously a factor- Mei's cheeks were flushed, he was breathing heavily and his erection was hot even through the layers of clothes between them- but it wasn't in control. Mei met his gaze directly then smiled at him as he saw KO's capitulation.

"Fuck." KO closed his eyes again. "That dimple is a deadly weapon." He closed- and locked- the door behind him.

Sliding his hands along KO's shoulders and up his neck, Mei couldn't help smiling again. "I'll have to remember that. For now though, look at me." When KO opened his eyes, Mei's nose was lightly touching his own, and their gazes connected a heartbeat before their mouths collided.

Mei was drowning in the kiss. His skin flushed, heat racing through his veins and his head grew light- dizzy. He could feel KO's warmth pressed against his body but rather than grounding him, it sent him soaring once more. His legs slowly slid down KO's as the other man moved his hands from Mei's butt to his back; slipping them under his shirt to smooth over bare skin. Mei's brain short circuited.

"So soft." KO groaned into their kiss. His hands ran up Mei's spine and the younger man whimpered as he curved into the touch; inadvertently rubbing his hip against KO's crotch. "Fuck, Meiren."

Desire made his voice low and rough, and Mei shivered as if his words had made physical contact. Somehow, between kisses and increasingly desperate touches, their shirts disappeared and at the sight of Mei's bare chest, KO sank to the floor. Kneeling, he grabbed Mei's hips and pressed his face to the smooth, pale skin of his stomach. His tongue flicked over the muscles that twitched at his touch. "No one at the office would think you look like this..." He gently bit into the smooth skin of Mei's side, sucking at it when he heard the man groan and felt hands settle on his head.

"Model, remember? Had to... argh..." KO's fingers reached up and rubbed his nipples, stealing Mei's speech. "... ah... it was..." Mei panted as KO continued rolling his nipples between his fingers. The mouth on his side paused in its torment.

"Mei."

Mei's fingers tightened in KO's hair and he panted, but with KO still flicking and playing with his nipples, words were beyond him.

"Mei." KO reluctantly pulled his hands from Mei's body. "Look at me, Meiren."

Mei's eyes slowly opened, chest heaving as he looked down at the man kneeling before him.

"I want you." His heart clenched at the hacker's words and he sank down to kneel in front of KO, reaching a hand up to stroke his face. To his surprise, KO caught it before he could touch him.

"Do you want me?"

"Huh?" Mei was confused; wasn't it obvious that he wanted him? He was half naked, covered in kiss marks, and had a raging boner... shouldn't it be clear that he wanted KO?

KO hid a smile as Mei's thoughts played over his face. He cupped his cheeks and softly kissed Mei's nose. "I know your body wants me. You... Mei... do you want this?"

Comprehension dawned... as did an icy realisation. "No. We can't..."

KO's face fell and his hands dropped away from Mei's cheeks. Horrified, the younger man wound his arms around Ko's neck, pressing their bare chests together and bringing them as close as he could.

"I don't mean No, no... I mean..." Mei took a deep breath and resisted the urge to hide his face. "Yes. I want you. S-so bad. But... we can't..."

Confused, KO studied Mei's burning face "Can't?"

"Idon'thaveanythingweneedandwe'renothavingsexwithoutprotectionorpreparationsowecan't...." Mei blurted it out, biting his lip as he waited for KO to understand.

Relief made KO's heart light and he chuckled- a very short chuckle but Mei decided that it still counted.

"Understood. Mei, you almost stopped my heart. But I agree. No sex without protection or preparation." His hands settled on Mei's hips and he pulled him tight, grinding his groin into Mei's and making the younger man's eyes flutter closed. "But Mei... I can still make you feel good..."

"... please... oomph..." Mei didn't get a chance to finish but that was okay because with KO's kiss, the heat that should have died away during their conversation, roared back to life and all he could do was hold on to KO's shoulders and blindly follow. It tasted different, this kiss; not as frantic. The urgency was still there but had instead been given a purpose- an end goal that was driving both of them even wilder.

His world tilted, and Mei blinked as he realised that KO had picked him up, bridal style, to carry him over to the couch. In the process, both lost their pants- Mei was too busy self-combusting to notice how or when it happened- but there was no time to ponder it, or appreciate the view, before KO knelt between his knees and swallowed him.

"Fuck!" Mei raised off the couch and looked down his body. His hands gripped KO's tight shoulders, nails digging in as his world narrowed to the hot... wet... hot... fuck that feels good of KO's mouth.

Turning his head into the ack of the couch, he smothered a groan. KO stopped, pulling away to stare at him.

"Don't do that. Let me hear you."

"Perver... ah!" KO's tongue flicking across his tip made him writhe and try to pull him closer. When he swallowed him down again, teeth lightly grazing his length, Mei shuddered. "Clo... clo..."

KO tilted his head to look up at him and when their eyes met, Mei fell apart.

Chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath, Mei's eyes blurred. Still between his legs, KO gazed at his replete partner, quiet satisfaction on his face.

"You... I should..."

"You should stay there." When KO stood, turning towards the bathroom, Mei panicked.

"No! I can... you didn't... " KO's soft snort stopped him.

"I didn't?" He turned around and Mei's throat went dry as he realised that KO was holding himself, hand covered in white. "You have no idea how long I have wanted to see you like this. Too long for me not to come when you did." He leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss to Mei's forehead.

"I need to wash..." When he reached the bathroom door, he turned to catch the look on Mei's face as he added, "...and brush my teeth."

Mei's cheeks burned and KO's laugh filled the apartment.