His Mark

08

The sound of keys jingling in the door echoed in the quiet apartment. Kim had been sitting on the couch, nervously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, waiting for Vegas to return from his trip. He hadn’t realized how much he missed him until the silence of the apartment grew unbearable. And now, finally, he was home.

The door opened, and there he was—Vegas, looking as striking as ever, even after a long flight from Japan. His tailored suit clung to his frame, a sleek black jacket over a crisp white shirt, and a bag slung over his shoulder. But his eyes softened the moment they met Kim’s.

Without saying a word, Kim got up from the couch, crossing the room in quick strides. Before Vegas could set down his bag, Kim wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace, burying his face into Vegas' chest. The familiar scent of his cologne filled Kim’s senses, and for the first time in days, he felt like he could breathe again.

Vegas, surprised at first, dropped his bag and immediately hugged him back, his arms secure around Kim’s waist. He pressed his nose into Kim’s hair, inhaling the comforting scent of home. "I missed you," he whispered softly, his voice full of warmth.

Kim pulled back just enough to look into Vegas’ eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. He had so much to say, but words seemed to escape him. All he could do was smile—small, shy, but so full of affection. "I missed you too."

Vegas raised a hand to cup Kim’s cheek, brushing his thumb lightly against his skin. His eyes roamed over Kim’s face, as if trying to memorize every detail. "I was worried about you while I was gone," he admitted quietly. "I kept thinking about how much pressure you were under with the family and… Reth."

Kim winced slightly at the mention of Reth’s name. The alpha had been a constant source of stress, making it nearly impossible for Kim to relax during the family meetings. His piercing gaze, the way he seemed to sense that Kim wasn’t an alpha—it was overwhelming.

"I know," Kim said softly, leaning into Vegas' touch. "He’s been... difficult to deal with."

Vegas frowned, pulling Kim closer. "You don’t have to hide from him anymore. Or from anyone. You have me now. Let me help you."

Kim’s heart fluttered at the sincerity in Vegas’ voice. He wanted to believe him, to trust that everything would be okay now that Vegas was back. But a part of him still felt that lingering fear—the fear of being discovered, of being vulnerable.

"I know you want to protect me," Kim said, his voice wavering slightly. "But I don’t want to drag you into this mess. It’s my burden to carry."

Vegas sighed, his forehead resting against Kim’s. "You’re not dragging me into anything. I want to be here, Kim. I want to help you carry it."

Kim bit his lip, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions building inside him. He had spent so long pretending to be someone he wasn’t, hiding his true nature from the world. But with Vegas… it was different. Vegas didn’t just accept him for who he was; he cherished him.

Before he could think twice, Kim leaned up and kissed Vegas. It was slow, tender, a kiss that spoke of all the unspoken words between them. Vegas responded immediately, his arms tightening around Kim as he deepened the kiss, his lips warm and reassuring.

When they finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, Kim rested his head on Vegas' shoulder, closing his eyes as he savored the moment. "I don’t know what I’d do without you," he whispered.

"You’ll never have to find out," Vegas replied softly, pressing a kiss to the top of Kim’s head. "I’ll always be here."

They stood there for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of the world seemingly lifted now that they were together again.