Chapter 35: A couple.

There was a time difference between here and there. It was late at night for Cian, but still daytime at the university. There was a graduation ceremony and a dance coming up, so the chat buzzed for a bit before settling down. Cian was sleepy too, so he put his phone aside and closed his eyes to rest.

The night was quiet, and the old flat had poor sound insulation. He could hear noises from the bathroom.

The water ran on and off for what felt like forever. Cian closed his eyes and figured it wasn’t a normal length of time, but he didn’t pay much attention. He assumed Eoin was just extra fussy about cleanliness.

Finally, the water stopped.

The bathroom door and bedroom door opened one after the other, and the old hinges creaked. Cian lifted his old fashioned cotton duvet, showing a corner, and patted the space beside him. "Come on up."

It was quite cold in winter, and it would be warmer to stay close.

A body slid in.

Cian instinctively pulled him closer, meaning to draw him into his arms. But when his hand touched bare skin, he shivered and opened his eyes in disbelief.

Eoin was wearing pyjamas, but he hadn’t buttoned them up. The clothes were already loose and hung open on his body. With a slight movement of his hand, Cian’s hand slipped through the gap.

It was a calculated move, bold but careful. If Cian was interested, he could go with the flow. If not, he could pretend the clothes just weren’t buttoned properly and avoid any awkwardness.

In the moonlight from the window, Cian looked down. The bare skin in his arms was as cold as white Belleek china, and fine goosebumps rose where his fingers touched it. Eoin still had that dignified face, with his eyes closed and a serious expression, as cold and distant as he was at the negotiating table. Yet his body was bare, as if inviting anything to be done to it.

As long as Cian wanted.

Cian was stunned. His hand moved faster than his brain, and he instantly pulled the duvet over Eoin and wrapped him tightly, leaving only half of his face showing.

The duvet was wrapped around him, but underneath they were still holding each other. The thin pyjamas couldn’t block the heat of their skin. Cian’s hand accidentally touched a curve that fit perfectly in his palm. He paused for a moment, then quickly pulled his hand away.

Cian took a sharp breath.

He was a normal man, not a saint. A stunning beauty, delicate as a pearl, was pressed against him, half hidden, and it would be a lie to say he felt nothing.

Heaven knew, the original owner was a pro, but Cian was way out of his depth. He had no idea where to put his hands, so he just stretched out his arm, rolled the duvet into a half bundle, and hugged Eoin through it.

He said awkwardly, "Button up your clothes. Aren’t you cold?"

Eoin was trapped in the duvet, held firmly by Cian. He struggled a little, but Cian’s hold only got tighter, and he couldn’t break free.

He felt a bit awkward.

The past six months had been the same. Young Mr. Fitzgerald had set up the agreement, held him, and even gone to classes with him, yet there had been no kissing.

At night, Eoin had often wondered whether he was the only one who had fallen in love back then.

Eoin lowered his eyes and buttoned up completely. The old pyjamas wrapped around his young body, and he lay down flat, as if he had just forgotten to button up after washing.

Cian sighed.

He seemed to understand why Eoin had asked about the contract.

Cian pulled Eoin back into his arms. The person in his embrace was someone he was used to holding, as obedient as a big doll, warm and soft and very comfortable. "It’s not the right time."

Eoin looked up at him. "When will it be the right time?"

Cian answered vaguely, "At least wait until I can explain everything."

Eoin was anxious and eager to confirm something, but Cian was old fashioned at heart. Otherwise, with his looks and background, he wouldn’t have been without a partner for so many years. In some ways he was unusually stubborn. When it came to love, he wanted to connect emotionally first.

At the very least, he wanted to explain where he came from and plan where he was going.

The next morning, Cian woke up first.

Eoin had barely slept, and the dark circles under his eyes were more obvious. He looked deeply uneasy, frowning even in his sleep, with his handsome features scrunched up and his lips pressed into a straight line. Cian watched calmly for a moment, then suddenly reached out and gently touched his brow.

He smoothed out the furrowed brow.

Cian sighed softly, feeling a little uncomfortable. "In those six months, I never made you frown like this."

Although they had set up a tragic scenario, Cian had always kept things within limits. Eoin had never suffered much while he was with him.

He thought, ’I need to find a chance to clear things up.’

Cian had many things in common with the original host, but they were fundamentally different. Before, it had been fine to treat him as a mission target. Now that he had developed feelings too, he didn’t want Eoin to mistake him for the original host.

Today, when Eoin had pointed at the original host’s scribbles and asked if they were his, Cian had felt strange. Those past episodes of flirting and violent outbursts could no longer be put down to him.

No one thought of cooking in the morning. Cian took out his phone and ordered takeaway. By the time Eoin woke up, it was quite late.

Cian was still holding him. "Not going to work today?"

Eoin: "I took the day off."

He had taken the day off, originally thinking that if something happened, it would be painful the next day, so he planned to rest. Unfortunately, nothing happened.

Cian got out of bed and opened the window. The damp, cold air filled the bedroom at once. He looked out. People were heading to work or school, and the breakfast stalls were steaming with white vapour. Hot rolls were being handed out from the steamers. Everything seemed just right.

Eoin had already put on his coat. He hadn’t brought any clothes, so he was still wearing Cian’s, with the collar pulled all the way up, wrapped up like a blanket.

"You’re not going to work, so what’s the plan for today?" Cian asked.

Eoin responed, "I rarely have free time in the daytime. I’m planning to visit Granny."

Visiting the special care ward required an appointment. He took out his phone, opened the app, and was about to book when Cian closed the window and turned around.

"Make an appointment for me too? Given our current relationship, I should visit as well."

Eoin’s fingers paused slightly as he typed. Then he let out a laugh with a hint of self mockery. "What are we now?"

He had asked this question before, and Cian had answered straight away, without a second thought. Back then he had said it was an agreement based relationship, and now it was naturally the same.

Apart from that, there was nothing else.

But Cian had already opened the door and reached out to take the delivery. He lifted the porridge and casually picked up the conversation. "A couple?"

Eoin’s hand went slack, and his phone fell and rolled across the floor.

He didn’t bother to pick it up. His voice was urgent, with a touch of bitterness. "Say it again. What are we?"

Cian tilted his head to look at him and chuckled softly, deliberately drawing out his words. "A couple."

He put the porridge on the dining table and shook his head slightly. "Come and have breakfast. Aren’t we going to the hospital later?"

As he spoke, Cian raised his eyes, and a smile melted in his gaze. "Right, Mr. Brennan, the Teaching Assistant?"