Chapter 279: Chapter 37: Unexpected calls
The rays of the morning sun invaded the peaceful slumber of a newly united couple lying on the bed. Shawn grunted upon contact with the warm ray, casting over his face. He was the first to wake up.
The mont he opened his eyes irritably to glare back at the sun peeking through his window, his bad mood flew out of it as soon as he caught sight of Athan’s sleeping face. He blushed a little after staring at the alpha’s lips, down to his shoulder blade, and to his naked, sculpted chest.
He stopped there. Not daring to roam even lower, he doubted if he could hold himself back if he stared at Athan’s morning glory.
"Ugh. What am I even thinking?" Shawn whispered after slapping his cheek lightly. "It’s weird to stare."
He shuffled to his side, thinking that he should get up before he woke up the sleeping beast. However, his head hadn’t left the pillow yet when an arm snaked around his chest.
Then, a morning voice, husky and deep, entered his flushed ear. "I don’t mind you staring, hun."
Shawn shivered a bit from that deep, husky voice that rattled his heart a bit. As usual, it raced like there was no tomorrow. He felt like dying in bliss after seeing Athan’s hazel eyes bore into him when he turned to look.
A playful smirk was on Athan’s face. His eyelids weren’t fully folded, but the twinkle in them was unmistakable. Shawn blushed, being subjected to that intense, loving gaze. This was a morning he had never imagined—lying in Athan’s arms.
"You’re not weirded out that soone is staring at your naked body?" Shawn asked, trying to hide the impact of Athan’s presence in his heart from the man himself. After everything they did, he was still embarrassed.
"If that soone is you, no. I should try to maintain a model-like pose next ti I sleep next to you," Athan replied, too seriously.
Shawn chuckled. He imagined waking up to Athan imitating Michelangelo’s David, all in his glory and nakedness, just lying on the bed. His chuckle turned into lodious laughter as he glanced down at Athan’s manhood.
Witnessing this, Athan frowned. He tipped Shawn’s chin to look at him, then he jokingly asked in an upset voice, "What’s funny about it? Are you mocking my size?"
Shawn’s eyes widened. "What?! No! It was actually much bigger than that!"
That? Athan wondered. After assuming that Shawn might be comparing him to soone, his fake disappointnt turned real. His face changed.
Shawn noticed this, so he frantically explained, with his hands flailing in the air out of panic. Athan felt relieved, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he moved, lifting his body and pinning Shawn’s back to the bed.
"Seems to
that you weren’t satisfied with our last night’s shenanigans. I shall continue then."
"Hey! I’ve only slept for three hours! Give
a break!" Shawn pushed Athan away, lightly refusing, but his face said otherwise.
Athan smirked, "Now, that’s not sothing you should ask for, hun. I won’t allow your hips to break."
"What?!"
Athan laughed before he rained Shawn with small kisses. Shawn evaded them, pretending like he didn’t want it, but his eyes were smiling.
Then, that silly yet loving mont was interrupted by a phone call. Athan’s lips paused against Shawn’s, forehead resting against his as they both breathed heavily.
"...Don’t want to answer it," Athan muttered, but his hand instinctively reached into the bedside table. His phone screen lit up.
It was Steve. Athan stared at it, jaw clenched. The phone vibrated insistently in his hand. Then, after a minute of pondering, he ended the call without a word and put the phone back on the table, upside down.
Shawn, still breathless, looked at him. "Why didn’t you answer?"
Athan’s gaze flickered to him, softening. He answered honestly, "Because for once, I didn’t want to put my family before you."
Shawn’s lips parted. A mixture of guilt and relief crossed his eyes.
"I’ve spent my whole life putting duty first," Athan said, voice quiet but clear. "Being the perfect son, a proud and responsible Horace. But that ant always pushing what I felt to the background. You...us... There was so much I regretted after you left my unit, and yet at that ti, I still didn’t have the balls to put my feelings for you as my top priority. I don’t want to keep doing that. No more suffering. I’m choosing you."
Shawn didn’t say anything for a mont, just stared at him, heart hamring. He was about to reply when another phone call interrupted them. This ti, it ca from outside the room.
Shawn rembered his phone was left on the counter, so he looked at Shawn with the sa impatience and wonder.
"Are you expecting a call?" Athan asked, moving away.
Shawn nodded. "A callback from MIT. Dad allowed
to do what I wanted. I want to graduate with a degree in computer science and engineering. So, I applied..."
His voice trailed off. If he were accepted, then that would an separation. What if Athan—
"I’m proud of you, hun. I hope it’s them," Athan cupped Shawn’s face and gazed at him reassuringly.
Shawn smiled gratefully in return. He let Athan pull him up and even dressed him in the alpha’s shirt. They both went to the kitchen. Athan brewed coffee, while Shawn checked on his ringing phone with hope.
He froze after he saw the caller on the screen. Athan watched him with anticipation. However, Shawn’s worried expression alard him. He went over to him in a blink.
"It’s uncle..."
Their eyes t. Athan did not say anything this ti. Shawn sighed and swiped to answer. "Hello, uncle?"
"I assu young master Athan is with you," ca Steve’s efficient voice, direct and serious. "Put
on speaker."
Shawn did as asked and slowly turned the phone between them. Athan leaned in, expression hardening just a little. "What is it, Steve?"
Steve’s voice lowered. "The chairman wants you to head straight to the mansion, young master. It is to discuss the next step of action."
"What do you an?"
"Mr. Azrael found tangible, legitimate evidence against his father."
Athan stiffened. Steve didn’t need to say any more. He already understood that his presence was crucial in that eting. Still, he hesitated, fingers curling at his side. He glanced at Shawn again, lips slightly parted, as if torn.
Shawn gave him a small smile and reached out to touch his hand. "Go."
"But—"
"I understand, Athan." Shawn gave his hand a squeeze. "You have responsibilities. I’m happy that you put
at the top, but that doesn’t an you’ll ignore your duty. Just like you don’t stop
from reaching my dreams, I don’t want you to be torn apart between your family and ."
Shawn caressed his alpha’s cheeks tenderly. "It’s enough that we’re finally both on the sa page...that we’re together. That’s what matters the most to ."
Athan’s expression flickered with guilt and gratitude all at once.
"I’ll be okay," Shawn added gently. "We’re not going back to being awkward, blindsighted fools, just because you’re leaving for your family."
Athan stepped forward and pulled Shawn into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to his forehead, then another to his lips—gentler this ti. A promise.
"I’ll co back," he whispered.
"You better," Shawn murmured with a smile.
And then Athan was gone, the scent of wine, roses, and honey lingering in the room long after the door had closed.
Shawn did his routine that day, except that sothing unexpected happened. An unexpected call, from soone who had not crossed his mind the entire day because of his blissful union with Athan.
Kayden was calling.
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