Mix and Earth lay entwined in each other's arms, after the heat of sex, as the evening drew to a close. Earth gazed at Mix with adoring eyes, a playful smile dancing on his lips.
"Can you believe we slept together on our very first meeting?" he mused, chuckling softly.
Mix joined in the laughter, his plump lips curving into an easy grin. "I know, and it's even more surprising that we're at it again for round two. We're both usually one-night-stand kinds of guys."
"Yeah, but Mix, I'm really serious about you," Earth confessed, his voice taking on a note of sincerity. "I'm tired of playing games. At my age, I want something real and meaningful. No more fooling around."
Mix's brow furrowed slightly. "You're exaggerating, Earth. You're still young," he reassured, reaching out to caress Earth's cheek. "But I'm glad you're serious about me. I really like you too. Why don't we start with a few more dates first, just to get to know each other better?"
Earth's hand slid teasingly up Mix's thigh, eliciting a soft gasp. "You mean dates like this one?" he quipped with a mischievous wink.
Mix swatted his hand away playfully. "Not now, I've got to get ready for my shift at the bar," he said, glancing at the clock.
Earth pouted prettily. "But then you'll be leaving me all alone," he whined.
Mix rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Oh please, you're being so dramatic. First is there to keep you company."
"Nah, I don't wanna interrupt him and Khao." Earth said mindlessly.
Mix frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, interrupt them how?"
Earth's face fell, realising he'd almost let the cat out of the bag about First and Khao's secret affair. "I mean, they're always working, so I don't wanna disturb them, that's all." he backpedaled quickly.
Mix's expression softened. "Oh, I'm really glad Khao finally got a job. He's been through such a tough time, feeling so miserable while he was unemployed. I'm grateful Podd was there for him, being the good boyfriend he is. Khao really needed that support."
Earth felt a pang of guilty unease at Mix's words, knowing the truth about Khao and First's relationship beyond "employer" and "employee". But he pushed down the feeling, telling himself he wasn't directly involved in their deception. He wasn't responsible for what they'd done, even if he was hiding their secret from Mix.
Mix seemed to sense the shift in Earth's mood, his brow creasing with concern. "Hey, what's on your mind? You seem a million miles away."
Earth forced a smile, squeezing Mix's hand. "Nothing that's more important than you," he fibbed, leaning in to steal a sweet kiss.
Mix's eyes crinkled at the corners as he returned the kiss, his heart swelling with affection. "Come on then, let's go shower together. We can make it a quick round three before I have to head out," he suggested with a roguish grin.
Earth's face lit up at the proposition, his earlier unease momentarily forgotten. "Mmm, I like the way you think," he purred, already starting to tug Mix towards the bathroom.
The two men slipped into the shower together, their slick bodies sliding against each other as they soaped up and rinsed off. They took their time, touching and teasing, their desire reigniting into a slow burn. By the time they emerged, the water was cold and they were both more than ready for another round.
◑◑◑
Khao stirred from his slumber, his eyes still heavy with sleep as he sat up. The bed beside him was empty, a chill running down his spine as memories of the night before flooded his mind.
He groaned softly, his lower back throbbing with a delicious ache – a reminder of the passionate activities he had engaged in, activities he couldn't bring himself to regret no matter how much his mind insisted it was wrong.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Khao limped towards the bathroom, his gait uneven due to the lingering pain. The opulence of the room was a stark contrast to his usual surroundings, and he couldn't help but marvel at the elegant decor.
"I still can't believe this is my life now," he murmured to himself, catching his reflection in the ornate mirror. "I've sacrificed so much to get here, but I won't judge myself for it. I was desperate, and I know I've cheated on Podd, but there's no going back now."
Khao's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Mr. Jensen's voice, the butler informing him that "Sir" was calling for him.
Khao quickly rinsed his mouth and responded, "Tell him I'm coming."
He couldn't help but smile at the respect in the older man's tone, even if he knew it was only because of his position in the household.
After washing and dressing in comfortable shorts and a white t-shirt, Khao made his way downstairs, the delicious aroma of breakfast wafting through the air. He found First in the kitchen, wearing an apron as he expertly flipped pancakes.
"Good morning," Khao greeted, unable to stop the smile that spread across his face at the sight.
First turned and pulled Khao into a kiss, his hands settling on Khao's waist. "What's a good morning without a kiss?" he quipped, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
They ate in comfortable silence, stealing glances at each other between bites. After breakfast, Khao mentioned the day's schedule - contracts to finalize and interviews to conduct.
But First had other plans. "Let's go out, just the two of us," he suggested, his tone hopeful. Khao hesitated, worrying about the workload, but First waved it off. "Leave it, I'll let Earth handle it."
Khao's heart fluttered at the thought of spending the day with First, just the two of them. He tried to play it cool, not wanting to seem too eager.
"You can choose the place," he said, already mentally packing his bag.
First grinned and headed upstairs to change, leaving Khao to his thoughts. Khao realized he should probably change as well, not wanting to be underdressed beside First. As he made his way to his room, he couldn't help but marvel at how far he'd come, from being unemployed to this.
It was a life he never thought he'd have, but now that he had a taste of it, he knew he'd do anything to keep it. Even if it meant cheating on Podd, even if it meant sacrificing a piece of himself.
As he changed into his new clothes, Khao caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and felt a rush of pride. He looked good, really good. And for once in his life, he felt like he belonged.
First joined him a moment later, an appreciative smile on his face as he took in Khao's appearance.
"How long have you been standing there?" Khao asked, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks.
"Long enough to see how beautiful you are," First replied, his tone turning slightly bitter at the end. "Podd has good taste, I'll give him that."
Khao felt a pang of guilt at the mention of his boyfriend, but he quickly pushed it aside. He couldn't change the past, and he certainly couldn't go back to the way things were. This was his life now, and he was determined to make the most of it.
"Shall we?" First asked, holding out his hand.
Khao took it without hesitation, a thrill running through him at the touch. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, but in that moment, he couldn't bring himself to care. He was finally living the life he'd always dreamed of, and nothing was going to take that away from him.
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