The Boy Next DOOR.

Sebastian's eyes remained locked on Valerian as the water swirled around them. The tension between them thickened, the heat from their bodies rising in the already warm bath. Valerian's heart raced, trying to focus on the task of washing Sebastian, but his hands trembled slightly as they moved across Sebastian's skin. Each touch, though innocent in intent, felt charged with an undercurrent of something deeper—something he was afraid to acknowledge.

Sebastian's breath ghosted against Valerian's neck, sending shivers down his spine. His arms instinctively tightened around Valerian's waist, pulling him closer against his chest. The weight of Sebastian's gaze made Valerian feel exposed, vulnerable.

"You're tense," Sebastian whispered, his lips grazing the shell of Valerian's ear, the closeness making Valerian's pulse quicken even further.

Valerian stiffened at the sensation, his body responding in ways he hadn't anticipated. "I-I'm not... I just..." His voice faltered, betraying the storm of emotions inside him. Being this close to Sebastian—feeling his heat, his strength—was overwhelming.

Sebastian's grip on Valerian softened, but his fingers lingered on Valerian's skin, tracing slow, deliberate circles against his side. "Relax, Valerian," Sebastian murmured, his voice low and enticing. "You're safe with me."

But Valerian didn't feel safe—at least, not from his own feelings. He bit his lip, trying to steady his breathing, trying to ignore the growing ache deep inside him.

"You've stopped," Sebastian said suddenly, his voice a smooth hum of amusement. "Weren't you going to finish?"

Valerian blinked, realizing his hand had stilled on Sebastian's shoulder. "S-Sorry," he stammered, trying to focus, but the heat from Sebastian's body, the intoxicating scent of him, made it impossible to think straight.

Before he could move, Sebastian's hands slid lower, resting on Valerian's hips. "Maybe we can help each other relax," Sebastian whispered, his lips barely brushing Valerian's neck. His tone was teasing, playful, but the intent behind it was unmistakable.

Valerian's breath hitched. His entire body tensed, but he didn't pull away. He couldn't. There was something magnetic about Sebastian's presence—something that made Valerian feel drawn to him in a way he couldn't control.

"Sebastian..." Valerian began, but his voice came out as little more than a whisper, the words tangled in his throat.

"Hmm?" Sebastian hummed softly, his hands trailing down Valerian's thighs, teasing the edge of the boundary between them.

Valerian's mind spun, caught between desire and fear. He knew he should pull away, but something in Sebastian's touch made him want more, made him crave the intimacy of the moment.

Sebastian's fingers grazed the sensitive skin just beneath Valerian's stomach, and Valerian's breath caught in his chest. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt of electricity through him.

"Do you want me to stop?" Sebastian asked, his voice so close it made Valerian shiver.

Valerian couldn't speak. His body was betraying him, responding to the heat of Sebastian's touch, the soft caress of his voice. He wanted to say no, wanted to stop this before it went any further, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, his body leaned into Sebastian's touch, surrendering to the pull between them.

But he knows we'll enough that all this gentleness is because of the alcohol he drank.

____________

The morning sun cast a gentle glow over Sebastian's face as he slowly opened his eyes, wincing slightly from the dull throb in his head. He let out a quiet hiss, the hangover still lingering from the previous night. His gaze shifted downward, and his brows furrowed as he saw Valerian lying against his chest, eyes softly closed, lips slightly parted in a peaceful slumber.

His hand was still wrapped around Valerian's waist, the two of them nestled together beneath the duvet. A frown deepened on his face as he peeled back the covers, revealing their bare bodies entwined. The events of last night flashed vividly in his mind—how the alcohol had loosened his restraint, how they had slept together.

Sebastian exhaled slowly, the weight of the memory settling heavily on him. *It was the alcohol,* he thought bitterly. *It had to be.*

Valerian stirred beside him, a soft mumble escaping his lips as he frowned in his sleep. Reacting quickly, Sebastian shut his eyes, pretending to still be asleep.

Valerian's eyes fluttered open moments later, his vision blurred by the haze of sleep. He rubbed a hand over his eyes, slowly focusing as the room came into view. His gaze drifted up to Sebastian, who appeared to be fast asleep. Without thinking, Valerian's fingers lightly traced along the sharp lines of Sebastian's cheekbone, down to his jaw.

Realizing what he was doing, Valerian snapped his hand back, scolding himself inwardly. *What if he wakes up? What would I even say?*

He cautiously moved Sebastian's arm from around his waist and sat up. Valerian hesitated, aware of their shared nakedness under the duvet, but with no other choice, he tiptoed out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, trying to be as discreet as possible.

As soon as the bathroom door clicked shut, Sebastian's eyes opened again. He let out a soft sigh, and a faint, involuntary smile crept onto his lips. He touched the spot on his face where Valerian's fingers had just brushed.

But just as quickly as the smile came, Sebastian's expression hardened. *What the hell is wrong with me?* he scolded himself, sitting up and pulling on a pair of pants. He needed to clear his head.

Heading downstairs, he drank a glass of water to shake off the last remnants of his hangover before brewing himself a strong cup of coffee. As the aroma filled the kitchen, he found himself reflecting on the past few days. So much had changed between him and Valerian—things he never anticipated. His interactions with Valerian were beginning to stir emotions within him that he hadn't felt in a long time. It was... unsettling, to say the least.

With a fresh mug of coffee in hand, Sebastian returned upstairs. Entering the room, he caught sight of Valerian getting dressed.

"Wow, you could've at least knocked," Valerian snapped, quickly grabbing a towel to cover himself.

"Knock?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow, amusement in his tone. "It's my room, you know."

"So?" Valerian shot back, his glare sharp. "You know quite well that you're not the only one sleeping here."

Sebastian chuckled, walking further into the room. "Hmm, my bad. I forgot I had a *spy* living with me."

Valerian's eyes flashed with irritation. "I'm not a spy."

"Oh? Then what are you?" Sebastian asked, his lips curling into a teasing smirk.

"I—I'm... Ugh, just fuck off," Valerian muttered, grabbing his clothes and storming toward the bathroom.

Sebastian couldn't help the grin that tugged at his lips. "Feisty."

Inside the bathroom, Valerian slammed his clothes onto the cabinet, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. His blood boiled with frustration, not just at Sebastian, but at the entire situation.

"That bastard!" he muttered under his breath, slamming his fist against the countertop. "When I'm finally free from here, I won't spare him. Not for any of this."

He stared at his reflection, his chest rising and falling with the intensity of his emotions. Yet, deep inside, a part of him couldn't shake the memory of how it had felt to be held by Sebastian the night before—how, for a brief moment, it had felt like more than just a consequence of alcohol-induced recklessness. That thought unsettled him more than anything else.