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Hua Cheng was beginning to suspect Xie Lian might have had ulterior motives.
The intention had always been to take Xie Lian on regular dates. Hua Cheng had wanted to make sure he never lost himself too much in his job, and equally, he believed Xie Lian deserved to be treated since he was working so hard with his studies. It had become a treat for them both. There was nothing Hua Cheng enjoyed more than spoiling Xie Lian, after all. He had relished the challenge of finding fresh places for them to try, sometimes expensive, sometimes not. Hua Cheng just enjoyed experiencing new things with Xie Lian. He liked the excitement that would light up Xie Lian’s eyes at the thought of trying something for the first time.
But this time, Xie Lian had requested French cuisine. It struck Hua Cheng as unusual for a few reasons. Xie Lian never made requests. He had always said that he was just happy to spend time together, or that he enjoyed Hua Cheng’s taste when it came to their dining options. He’d also made a comment about enjoying the atmosphere at the fancy French place they’d been to on the evening they met. An even stranger statement, because Hua Cheng knew Xie Lian had found the expense uncomfortable.
Still, Hua Cheng hadn’t questioned any of it. Instead, he’d focused all his efforts on finding the perfect place that would please Xie Lian the most. It hadn’t been easy. There were surprisingly few options for French cooking. Hua Cheng wanted to find something expensive, but not as costly as the previous restaurant. A happy medium was sure to please Xie Lian, providing a luxurious atmosphere whilst preventing the prices from making him feel too uncomfortable.
It took time, but he’d done it. He’d found a restaurant known for its French cuisine, with a fancy atmosphere, but reasonable prices. Or at least reasonable as far as Hua Cheng was concerned. He’d been so excited about it, so proud to have been able to provide everything Xie Lian had wanted for their evening out. After so much time spent together, Hua Cheng found it more important than ever to do these things, to show Xie Lian that he had no intention of settling into their relationship and forgetting how lucky he was. The gifts would never stop. The dates would continue. Xie Lian would never doubt for a moment that he was the most gorgeous man in the room.
But the date hadn’t been like their usual dates.
Xie Lian had thanked him for taking him out. He’d commented on how lovely the place looked. The excitement was obvious when he began pointing at different dishes on the menu and requesting Hua Cheng teach him how to pronounce them. Xie Lian had asked for recommendations, and shyly requested Hua Cheng decide what they should have, something he often did when trying something for the first time. Hua Cheng had found it all sweet and endearing. When the waiter came over, Hua Cheng quickly realised it wasn’t quite the same as the last restaurant they’d been to. They were not prepared to have anyone ordering in French. So, Hua Cheng made their order, only slipping into the French for the names of each dish, and he saw Xie Lian’s expression shift to something like disappointment.
As the night went on, it continued. Hua Cheng tried to ask Xie Lian about his studies, and Xie Lian would respond with as much enthusiasm as he could muster before they trailed off into an awkward silence. And Xie Lian would fill the quiet with questions. How would you say certain phrases in French? What was Hua Cheng’s favourite French thing to say? And when Hua Cheng asked what had him so interested, Xie Lian would quickly avert his gaze and feign ignorance. Hua Cheng didn’t mind it, of course. He found Xie Lian’s interest charming. It was just not how they usually spent their dates together.
The car ride home had been quiet, and Hua Cheng could feel Xie Lian holding himself back. As if he wanted to ask more questions, but was afraid of being too much. Hua Cheng didn’t want him to hold it in, of course. He loved it when Xie Lian took an interest in things, whatever they might be. And Hua Cheng was afraid that asking him why he had taken such a fascination with the language had made him feel self-conscious. So, he determined that the only way to make it better was to lean into it.
When they arrived home, Hua Cheng rounded the car and opened Xie Lian’s door just as he always did. He smiled as Xie Lian stepped out, looking up at him with a fondness that always made his heart swell with warmth. And Hua Cheng let the French easily roll off his tongue, "May I take your hand, my love?"
Xie Lian let out a shaky breath, and his smile quickly lit up his face, "What?"
Hua Cheng held out his hand and doubled down, deciding it was much more fun to keep using the second language than to explain what he was requesting, "Please let me hold your hand. I’ll keep you warm."
"Oh," was all Xie Lian managed to say, hesitantly placing his hand in Hua Cheng’s.
It was clear that Xie Lian still wasn’t sure what he’d said, but the offered hand was all he had to go on. He stepped closer, letting Hua Cheng close the door behind them, and as they walked towards the front door, Hua Cheng hummed softly and said, "Would you like to watch a movie before bed?"
Xie Lian’s gentle laugh was a little breathless, as though he couldn’t quite believe what was happening. His grip on Hua Cheng’s hand was tight, like he was trying to hold himself back, but Hua Cheng couldn’t say what from. And he didn’t seem the least bit upset when he replied, "I don’t know what you’re saying, San Lang."
Hua Cheng smirked, unlocking the front door and opening it. He leaned closer and gently whispered into the space between them, "Would you prefer if I prepared you a bath instead?"
There wasn’t a moment to react. Xie Lian was suddenly on him, lips desperately seeking Hua Cheng’s, hands moving beneath his jacket and up his back. Hua Cheng pulled him into the house, closing the door behind them and indulging in the sudden frantic nature of Xie Lian’s every touch. The more time passed, the more their kisses grew in intensity. Hua Cheng could barely keep up, trying to make sense of why Xie Lian had so swiftly switched after what he’d believed to be one of their least successful evenings together.
"A-Lian," Hua Cheng murmured between kisses, drawing him back in before he could ask what was going on, far too greedy to search for the answer.
“More,” Xie Lian pleaded, reaching to unbutton Hua Cheng’s vest, "Say more."
“Is this what you wanted this whole time?“ Hua Cheng asked, peppering kisses along Xie Lian’s neck and crooning in his ear, "Oh, baby, you only had to ask."
"So hot…" Xie Lian groaned, dragging Hua Cheng further into the house in his helpless need for more.
Everything Xie Lian was doing was driving Hua Cheng crazy. The depth of his frenzy, tearing at his clothes like a man possessed, the subtle display of strength as he roughly manhandled Hua Cheng further into the house, determined to get everything he wanted. Hua Cheng had never been more turned on. By the time Xie Lian had hauled him to the living room, Hua Cheng’s shirt and vest were already open, jacket discarded, and tempting hands fumbling over the expanse of bare skin in Xie Lian’s haste.
As he was shoved back onto the couch, Hua Cheng could only watch in awe as Xie Lian crawled over him, his eyes dark with lust, lips parted over shaky breaths as he tried to compose himself just long enough to beg, "Keep talking. Please, gege."
"Does it even matter what I say?" Hua Cheng asked curiously, trying to think of the least sexy thing he could and eventually settling on, "I spent three hours filing paperwork today."
The moment the French began to roll off his tongue, Xie Lian let out a strained whine, licking a line up Hua Cheng’s throat even as his hands continued to move over his chest. His fingers combed through the dusting of hairs with a fondness Hua Cheng had come to expect from Xie Lian, moving his lips lower. Hua Cheng could barely think, so mesmerised by the reaction something so simple was causing. He’d long suspected Xie Lian enjoyed when he spoke other languages, but had never dreamt of such a response to it.
"The reports look good, but I have another boring meeting coming up," Hua Cheng said, laughing breathlessly when Xie Lian let out one of the filthiest moans he’d ever heard, "You really like this, don’t you, baby?"
Xie Lian’s lips kept moving down Hua Cheng’s body, surprisingly slow and gentle despite his passion. Hua Cheng watched intently, wanting to memorise every second. He was always an attentive lover, but it was a rare, wonderful occasion when Xie Lian got this worked up. So, Hua Cheng allowed himself to indulge, his breath catching when Xie Lian’s teeth gently grazed over his chest. His hips shifted impulsively the moment Xie Lian’s fingers worked to unbuckle his belt, encouraging every heated action.
"A-Lian…" As Xie Lian’s tongue teased at his navel, a hushed groan left Hua Cheng’s lips, stomach muscles quivering as he did all he could to stay still. But as he continued to watch Xie Lian move, Hua Cheng was taken by the sight, admiring the way he deftly took off his belt, but bewitched the second Xie Lian took the zipper between his teeth, looking up at Hua Cheng through his lashes as he slowly slid it down, "Holy shit, that’s so sexy…"
Xie Lian laughed, the vibration pressing directly into his cock, and Hua Cheng could barely breathe, trying so hard to stay still and allow Xie Lian to go at his own pace. But his pace was anything but slow, dragging Hua Cheng’s pants off. Hua Cheng couldn’t help but notice the pointed look Xie Lian was giving the tented fabric of his underwear, as though he’d finally found what he was looking for after years of searching.
The last thing he expected was for Xie Lian to bury his face in the crook of his thigh, allowing his nose to nuzzle in against the side of his cock and taking a deep, heady breath. The satisfied sigh that left him was hot against the fabric, pulling a feeble whine from Hua Cheng’s lips. Xie Lian was playing with him, toying with his meal. But he had no idea what he’d already done to what little self-control Hua Cheng had. As Xie Lian mouthed at his underwear, Hua Cheng could feel the heat, could feel his tongue trying to taste, strong fingers encouraging Hua Cheng to spread his legs and nestle his thigh against Xie Lian’s shoulder.
When Xie Lian moaned greedily, sucking at his balls through the fabric, Hua Cheng rolled his hips and pleaded, "W-Wait, slow down or I’ll come…"
Xie Lian pulled away and sternly said, "No. Only French."
Hua Cheng laughed, mumbling, "But you won’t know what I’m saying."
Xie Lian hummed approvingly, pulling off Hua Cheng’s underwear and taking the time to admire every inch of him now fully on display. He eyed him like a buffet, and Hua Cheng could only watch, mesmerised by Xie Lian’s intensity. He knew he should keep talking. Words were fuelling Xie Lian’s lust. But it was difficult to know what to say, especially when he knew Xie Lian wouldn’t understand him, anyway.
But that thought was oddly liberating.
As long as Xie Lian didn’t know what he was saying, Hua Cheng could say whatever he wanted. He could say the things he had been wanting to say to Xie Lian for months, but was too afraid to. And all the while, Xie Lian would get exactly what he wanted from it. Maybe it would be good to let it all out. He shivered as Xie Lian trailed his fingers along his thighs, trying to stay still despite his entire body screaming to move.
When Xie Lian looked up at him with the same smile that had stolen Hua Cheng’s heart the day they met, the French spilled impulsively, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Xie Lian’s grip immediately tightened, nails digging into Hua Cheng’s thigh as he leaned in. The kisses that trailed along his shaft were surprisingly delicate, and his soft sighs were hot against the sensitive skin. His tongue kept flicking against him for just a moment between each kiss, as if he were trying to savour it. Hua Cheng could barely breathe, watching intently despite the desire to let his head fall back and succumb to the sensations.
When Xie Lian began licking at the head, Hua Cheng whimpered, and the words began to spill out unfettered, "But I’m scared. I’m scared it’s not what you really want."
Xie Lian moaned, soft and sultry against his skin. And it was as though each word was compelling him forward, causing his every move to become more insistent. As the head of his cock slipped into the tempting heat of his mouth, Hua Cheng’s fingers impulsively tangled in his hair, hushed gasps leaving his lips as he held himself still. He wanted to encourage without pushing, afraid of ever expecting too much. But he’d never known anyone as enthusiastic as Xie Lian. He’d never known anyone so ready to take what they wanted.
A gentle hand held the base of his cock steady as Xie Lian slowly took more and more, the vibrations shooting through Hua Cheng like pleasant sparks with every soft, "Mn… Mmm…"
“Hah…” Hua Cheng tried to remain composed despite every quiet moan his body couldn’t seem to contain, more confessions whispered like prayers, "You’ll realise one day that you could do so much better. And that’s alright. But I don’t think anything will hurt quite like that…"
It was like a dam had broken. He’d begun sharing his thoughts and fears, the things he kept buried deep because he’d been so afraid of facing them. And once he’d started, he couldn’t stop. The thoughts just kept tumbling out, hidden behind the safety of a language Xie Lian couldn’t understand. It couldn’t worry him, or worse, push him away. Instead, those doubts and fears fuelled Xie Lian’s desires. He could turn them into something good, something that would bring Xie Lian joy.
Xie Lian was doing everything in his power to take each inch of Hua Cheng’s cock, every sound, every swallow sending him crazy. Tentatively, Hua Cheng rolled his hips, attempting to give him exactly what he wanted. The mix of Xie Lian’s surprised whine and the feel as he hit the back of his throat was almost enough to make him come right there. Xie Lian held him there, moaning and swallowing around him, and Hua Cheng’s legs quivered, trying desperately to keep himself still.
When Xie Lian finally pulled away, he gasped for air, practically drooling as he did. His focus was so solely on Hua Cheng’s cock, on granting him every pleasure imaginable, that Hua Cheng could barely think anymore. He was so taken by how beautiful Xie Lian looked; hair mussed, tears in his eyes, a line of spittle connecting his bottom lip to Hua Cheng’s cock, quickly broken as Xie Lian pushed his hair behind his ear and leaned in to lap up every drop of precome like a man starved.
"So I’m trying to live in the moment and not fall too deep, but it’s too late," Hua Cheng said, his voice trembling as he tried to restrain himself. He caressed his fingers through Xie Lian’s hair, moans becoming impassioned as Xie Lian moved his hands to his hips and encouraged him to move. What little control that was left crumbled, beginning a pace of thrusts into Xie Lian’s mouth and gasping with each one. He barely managed to say, "I didn’t know love could feel like this. So warm, and sweet, and perfect, fuck, you’re so perfect..."
"Gege," Xie Lian pulled away to murmur, "I heard ‘love’ in there," He licked and sucked at Hua Cheng’s balls, fingers dragging along his thigh, "I love you, too…"
Hua Cheng’s breath caught, trying to stop himself writhing beneath him. Every time Xie Lian said those three words, it hit so much harder than he could’ve ever expected. Like it was the first time all over again. Like he couldn’t believe he could be lucky enough to earn Xie Lian’s love. But he said it as if it were the one thing he could be absolutely certain of. And despite his fears, Hua Cheng wanted to believe it.
As Xie Lian kept mouthing at his balls, he started stroking Hua Cheng’s cock. Between the two sensations, Hua Cheng could feel himself fighting a losing battle to maintain his composure, to make this last as long as he possibly could. He mumbled between shaky breaths, "I’d give up everything I have… All of it… If I could just keep you."
"So sexy…" Xie Lian moaned, trailing kisses up Hua Cheng’s erection and quietly begging, "Let me taste it. Please, gege, I want it."
As Xie Lian’s lips parted over his cock, Hua Cheng knew he couldn’t last much longer, babbling as he rocked into the tempting, wet heat, "Close... fuck, I’m so close... please, baby..."
Xie Lian hollowed his cheeks and increased his pace, moving over Hua Cheng’s cock again and again. It was impossible to resist. Hua Cheng could do nothing but moan and thrust and tug at Xie Lian’s hair. And finally, it all became too much. Xie Lian’s tongue curling around his cock was all it took for him to snap, urgent groans filling the quiet of the room as Xie Lian greedily swallowed every drop of come as he spilled down his throat. The haze of pleasure made Hua Cheng only vaguely aware of Xie Lian’s movements. He kissed his way back up Hua Cheng’s chest, stopping to lick his lips when their eyes met. Just the sight of it made Hua Cheng shiver, pulling him close and kissing him hungrily.
Xie Lian’s needy moans were a gentle reminder that he still needed to come, and Hua Cheng wouldn’t rest until that happened. Their kisses quickly shifted from lazy and sweet to heated and amorous. Hua Cheng’s hands began to wander, even as he focused his efforts on their lips. Eventually he reached Xie Lian’s crotch, pressing his palm into his obvious arousal and smiling when he earned a surprised gasp.
"Can I help you, A-Lian?" He asked, smirking when the French sent a shiver down Xie Lian’s spine.
"Gege…" Xie Lian whimpered, resting their heads together and pleading, "Touch me… whisper in my ear…"
Both requests sounded divine. And as Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian’s pants down his thighs, he could see how wet he already was, precome dribbling from his cock just at the thought of being touched. Hua Cheng used the slick to ease the touch as he stroked Xie Lian’s cock, admiring how eagerly he fucked into his hand. He was once again overcome with how gorgeous Xie Lian was, lips parted over delicate moans, long lashes fanning over the apples of his cheeks. He was like a work of art.
"If I asked you to marry me someday, would you even say yes?" Hua Cheng whispered the one thought he’d been having more and more. The safety of Xie Lian’s inability to understand helped him open up further than he ever thought he would, nibbling over Xie Lian’s earlobe and adding, "If I knew you would, I’d ask you right now. But I don’t want to be too much. Would that be too much?"
Xie Lian’s moans grew more and more insistent, clinging to Hua Cheng as if the world might end if they were ever to be parted. Hua Cheng rubbed his thumb in gentle circles along the underside of Xie Lian’s cock, smiling into his neck as he gasped and bucked into the touch. He was clearly doing all he could to hold himself back, and just the thought of Xie Lian being so effortlessly turned on was exciting. Hua Cheng had no idea he could’ve been using this the whole time. He would never again take for granted so many missed chances to seduce him.
"Will you stay with me even when I grow frail and weak?" Hua Cheng asked, another thought that had plagued him, the fear that the age between them would one day be too much for Xie Lian. He did everything he could to prevent it, but he knew one day, things would be harder for him than for Xie Lian, and he didn’t want to be a burden. But he also hoped it wouldn’t eventually cause Xie Lian to leave. Kissing along his jaw, Hua Cheng promised, "I want to give you my everything. Every second of the rest of my life is yours. Until the day you grow weary of me."
"Hah! S-San Lang… gege…" Xie Lian was panting, tightly gripping Hua Cheng by the shoulders as he rocked into his hand over and over, thighs trembling with every thrust, "F-Fuck! Mn, gonna come, keep talking…"
Finally, Hua Cheng whispered with much more desperation than he expected, "Please… please don’t grow weary of me… I love you so much, baby…"
Xie Lian cried out with pure pleasure as he came, resting his head against Hua Cheng’s shoulder as he did. He seemed so content, so happy to stay right there in Hua Cheng’s arms. He could’ve held him like that forever, could’ve pretended that all his desires, every confession he’d made during the course of their lovemaking was a reality. His perfect Xie Lian promised to him, their love never fading even as time passes. This was it. The one thing the man who had everything could ever truly want.
Hua Cheng never wanted to let it go.
"What did you say?" Xie Lian asked after a moment, "What were you talking about?"
Hua Cheng paused for a moment, trying to decide what would be appropriate to admit. He didn’t lie to Xie Lian, and he certainly didn’t want to start now. He supposed he really should’ve thought about this eventuality. Xie Lian was bound to ask him. But Hua Cheng wasn’t yet ready for Xie Lian to hear all the things he’d confessed, knowing that it would all be far too much and was sure to scare him away.
Instead, Hua Cheng told Xie Lian all he needed to know, smiling and saying, "I talked about work. Filing reports."
Xie Lian pulled away to look at him and raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, "You said ‘love,’ though."
"I did say that, too," Hua Cheng conceded, caressing Xie Lian’s cheek and saying, "It doesn’t matter what I said. Just as long as my A-Lian enjoyed himself."
Xie Lian blushed, far too charming to be resisted. He rested their heads together and asked, "How do you say ‘I love you’?"
"Je t’aime," Hua Cheng said, the words coming as easily as breathing.
"I heard you say that, too," Xie Lian pointed out, smiling as he whispered into Hua Cheng’s lips, "Je t’aime, gege."
As Hua Cheng was lured into more and more tender kisses, he told himself he’d one day say it all again and ensure Xie Lian understood the true depths of his devotion.