Chapter 325

Chapter 325
If there was anything Kenji despised, it was disloyalty.
​He sat in his dark living room, legs crossed and swirling his red wine softly around inside the glass.
​He had been like that for over thirty minutes, eyes fixed on the door, waiting. The picture Thomas sent was unmistakably Ice.
​His husband, on a dangerous, lonely road, dressed like danger in leather and boots, hair wild, face uncaring, with groups of unknown bikers waiting on him. He knew Ice was wild, but he thought it was on the level of some spoiled rich kid who wanted a life at the club and girls.
​He knew the implications of running a gang, and he'd built too much reputation around himself to allow such carelessness to saunter into his life and take root.
​He'd compromised, held off when Ice asked him to, but one simple request—stay in—Ice failed to listen.
​Soon, he heard a car pulling up in front of his gate, and after a while, footsteps followed. Quiet, careful, purposeful. As if walking quietly would suddenly make the man sitting inside the house disappear.
​The door was gently slid open, and Ice stepped into the house, closing the door just as quietly.
​The moment he took a step forward, the whole place lit up, instantly bringing Ice face-to-face with his not-so-happy husband.
​He froze, foot hanging an inch above the floor as he stared at Kenji's intense brown eyes as they watched him with unsettling calmness.
​Ice sighed, looking away from Kenji and taking a deep breath. What was there to feel guilty of? He was no man's puppet; this was a business deal, not some soul-tying ritual.
​"Evening, Mr. Takumi," Ice threw out his greeting in a carefree tone, walking toward the stairs.
​Kenji sipped his wine, letting Ice get closer to the stairs before he spoke.
​"You had a good time?"
​Ice paused at the foot of the stairs, closing his eyes as he turned to face Kenji on the sofa. He wasn't sure if Kenji knew where he'd been, but he strongly believed that Kenji thought he was out for a smoke or a drink.
​"Went to visit Father in the hospital. Not like I have to report my every move to you," he stated.
​Kenji placed his glass down on the table, uncrossing his legs and gently lifting himself off the sofa. "Oh, did the hospital require leather uniforms, or did I miss the part where your father is a member of your gang?" he asked, slowly stepping toward Ice.
​Ice was stunned, his brain literally freezing as he tried to make sense of how Kenji ever got to know about his other life.
​"How— I don't understand what you're trying to say." He tried to look stern and deny it; maybe Kenji would drop it.
​He could not risk Kenji finding out. Kenji already threatened him with his tattoos, piercings, and sexuality; what more would Kenji ask from him if he ever discovered the gang?
​Kenji chuckled darkly, walking all the way to Ice's front. "I hate liars," he stated calmly.
​"And I hate authoritative, boring men who believe they can lock you in simply because you signed a business deal with them," Ice bit back.
​"Do not accuse me falsely. If you do believe your words, then I will be needing some evidence," Ice said and turned away, happy he'd dismissed the confrontation before it got too far.
​"Is this evidence enough?" Kenji's voice filled Ice's stomach with dread.
​Ice paused, frowning.
​'What could he possibly have?'
​However, as he turned and stared at Kenji's screen, his steps faltered on the stairs as he quickly caught the railing to support himself.
​How did Kenji get hold of a picture of himself on Ren's bike?
​"What? How did you..." He trailed off, realization dawning hard on him. "He works for you?" he snapped, glaring at Kenji.
​"You sent someone to stalk me?" Ice frowned, clenching his fists.
​Kenji smiled coldly. "Why would I stalk you when I believed you were home?" he asked gently.
​"Then explain how you have that. You know what, don't. It's actually great you found out; that way I won't have to sneak around anymore. This is the real Ice, Kenji, take it or leave it." Ice stared into Kenji's eyes, not backing down.
​"Perhaps I would have chosen to leave it twenty hours ago, before you waltzed into my office." Kenji slid his phone into his pocket, inhaling deeply.
​"But we're married now—" He paused as Ice moved away from his touch. Slowly, he lowered his hand to his side, nodding his head.
​"If you think people don't know about us, then you should think again. They know. I put it on air; everyone knows our companies are merged by marriage. You have to be more careful." Kenji stared at Ice, hoping his message got into that stubborn skull under those white curls.
​"Say that we married for love, Mr. Takumi..." Ice folded his arms, regarding Kenji with calculation. "Does one lose their freedom after marriage? Or are you just trying to rub it in my face that you might pull out halfway if I do not cooperate?" His brows raised beautifully as he waited for Kenji's reply.
​"I won't be paying ransom if you ever get kidnapped—"
​"Alright, this was a civil conversation. I would like to go to bed now." Ice faked a yawn, stretching his arms above his head.
​"I'm sending it to your mother," Kenji pulled his phone out again.
​"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Ice snatched the phone from Kenji, deleting the image immediately.
​"It's backed up," Kenji informed him.
​Ice looked exasperated, curling his fingers around the phone. "This is exactly why I said you were boring! One look at you and I knew you would be a killjoy. Can't you just live?" he bit out angrily.
​Kenji was unfazed. "It's called being responsible and accountable—"
​"Fuck your responsibility and accountability. Stay out of my life! As long as I'm not going against our contract, I'm fucking legit, alright?" Ice barked, almost stamping his feet like a frustrated kid.
​"I can't have my husband leading a dangerous gang. I'm only trying to protect you... and my image," Kenji shrugged, smiling calmly.
​Ice laughed dryly. "Okay, Mr. Responsible Billionaire. It's a bike gang, not some secret cult. It's harmless, and you're welcome to join if you decide to truly live." He shoved the phone into Kenji's hand and stormed up the stairs to his room.
​Kenji sighed, watching Ice leave.
​'This cat might be wilder than I thought.' He shook his head and loosened his tie.
​Upstairs, Ice checked the wardrobe and was impressed by the outfits Kenji put there, but he'd never say it out loud.
​He loved to sleep naked, so he did not bother with pajamas, but because this wasn't his home, he did get some very loose shorts to wear.
​After a quick shower, he got under the covers and shut his eyes, thinking about his whole day... about Kenji.
​Yes, the man literally saved him from ruin, but the man was also on the verge of ruining him.
​He sighed, reflecting on the conversation. Had he been too unreasonable? Too rash?
​He didn't think so. Kenji was trying to rip out the only aspect of his life that truly reflected who he was; he couldn't just sit obediently and accept his life getting wiped away.
​He yawned, sleep slowly catching up to him. Just as he was about to surrender to slumber, he heard the smooth creak of his door opening and immediately stiffened.
​There were only two people in the entire house, so, can someone tell him what the hell Kenji was doing in his room?!
​He kept his eyes shut, breathing as steadily as he could under the tension, his fingers digging into his palms under the sheets.
​'What if he tries to have his way with me?'
​'What do I do?! How do I push him away without landing back on the streets? How do I escape such a territorial man who believes he already owns my body and soul without losing my wealth??!'
​Ice was one second away from snapping as Kenji's footsteps got closer to him.
​Finally, Kenji was right beside Ice's bed, and Ice cursed himself for forgetting to turn off the lights. He could feel the weight of Kenji's gaze on his face, and he wasn't such a good actor; he would have parted his lips and gasped for air.
​Suddenly, the lights went off, plummeting the room into darkness. But that only made Ice more anxious.
​Just when Ice thought he would spring up and demand what Kenji was doing in his room, he felt the softest of kisses on his forehead, followed by a soft whisper.
​"Goodnight, kitten," Kenji whispered.
​And, just as quietly as he came, he left.
​The moment the door clicked shut, Ice snapped his eyes open in the dark, his pulse dancing in his ears.
​"What the hell?" he gasped softly.