Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 160: His dear, his life

Chapter 160: His dear, his life

Azrael caught his wandering hands and brought them to his lips, planting a soft kiss on each back. He smiled lovingly at Knox and fired away his next inquiry.

"Is that how you started to like me?" His eyes sparkled with playfulness. "You sucked at expressing your feelings then. I remember whenever I looked at you, you had this infuriated expression. I guessed that’s your love language."

Knox scrunched his face, jokingly displeased, he hissed, "I didn’t like you back then! You were just so annoying, that was why."

Azrael leaned closer, breathing a few inches away from his lover. The faint smell of Knox’s natural scent permeated his nose, and he was tempted to cover those lips with his. But a simple kiss wouldn’t suffice, so he was holding back.

He also wanted to hear Knox’s answer, so he asked again, "How did you start liking me then?"

Knox’s green irises rolled up. He looked at the ceiling as he pondered, while unconsciously biting his lips, unaware of the alpha’s struggles.

"How? Hmm...I’m not sure. Perhaps because of the bond?"

Knox witnessed the glitter left Azrael’s eyes, along with his dying smile. His eyebrow furrowed and he seemed to be taking what he said seriously. Knox panicked. He quickly waved his hands before him and shouted, "I’m just kidding! Just kidding! It’s just a joke, okay!"

’I shouldn’t have said that. Stupid Knox!’ the omega thought inwardly, scolding himself for his inconsideration and recklessness.

Azrael was silent. Knox began sweating. He wondered if the man was really upset. He sighed and spoke again, "Okay, okay, I’ll answer honestly even though I feel embarrassed."

Averting his eyes, Knox cleared his throat and blurted out, his voice decreased in volume and if Azrael wasn’t gawking at him just a few inches away, he wouldn’t be able to hear him at all. "Maybe...hmm, the first time I found you lovable was when...you gave me that red car?"

Knox’s restless eyes focused on Azrael again. However, his brows furrowed in confusion after seeing that from having an unhappy look, Azrael’s face changed to that of hurt. Knox was alarmed. Why did he look hurt?

’Did I say something...oh!’ Realization hit him and he immediately sat up. "It’s certainly not like that! What I mean is that you know how to apologize when it’s due. I was really shocked and speechless. I couldn’t believe you’d apologize, so maybe...that’s when I started seeing you in a new light."

Thankfully, Azrael was quick to evade him, so their heads didn’t bump.

Knox’s hands frantically gestured everywhere as he tried to explain more, "I didn’t like you because of your money. Do you understand? I like you because you were handsome, funny, scary but actually kind, and you have a great body..." his words stopped after Azrael covered his mouth and looked away, but the curved and twinkle in his eyes did not escape Knox. "...you’re not just fishing for compliments now, are you?"

"I’m not. But is that all? Anything else?" Azrael teasingly asked.

"You scared me. I thought you were mad!"

Knox slapped the man on his chest and just shook his head at their silliness. He flung the cover away and decided to

Azrael replied truthfully, "I could never get mad at you, Knox."

Knox halted. Now that they talked about names, to him, calling each other by just their names sounded indifferent and unromantic, but just thinking of calling Azrael ’darling’ or ’baby’ was already giving him goosebumps.

Still, Knox wanted to try. He suddenly wanted to see how Azrael would react if he called him with an endearment.

Azrael gave him a quizzical look after noticing his pause, "What? Is something wrong? Do you feel dizzy again? Does your fever come back? Let me see."

He touched Knox’s forehead with the back of his hand and frowned after feeling it was still hot. It wasn’t before so he began to worry. Knox’s face turned red as well, so he suspected that his fever was rising again.

Azrael was about to stand up and get him a cold towel to wash his face, but Knox’s following words stopped him.

The omega stared at Azrael and responded, "If I can’t call you Azi, how should I call you?"

Azrael paused to ponder. How? There were plenty of choices, maybe even a hundred endearing names listed in his head, but knowing his partner, those would surely be declined even before he pronounced it completely.

So, Azrael opted for a simpler one. He excitedly declared, "Baby or babe."

Knox shook his head, rubbing his arms to iron down the hairs that stood from the cringe. ’Wait, he actually called me that way before, but hearing it now, why did it feel so awkward?’ Knox wondered.

But still, he declined, "Confusing. Knoa should be our only baby."

Azrael clicked his tongue jokingly, "Tsk. Okay, how about, honey?"

"Too sweet. What if we attract a colony of ants?"

Azrael gaped at him in disbelief. He gained his composure and suggested, "Darling? Sweetie pie? Sweetheart? Love? Apple pie? Cutie pie? Cream pie?"

A pillow hit his face. He was too engrossed in suggesting names that he forgot to dodge. Although the object was soft, the force Knox threw it was enough to slap Azrael’s face away to the other side.

Knox broke into a cold sweat as he sprung up and shouted, "Oh, shit! I’m sorry! You were spouting nonsense that I instinctively did it!" he picked up the pillow that bounced down the floor and patted it, checking if there was any damage. He sighed afterward, "Oh, thank goodness, it wasn’t damaged."

Azrael looked at him incredulously. Then, he pouted and sulked, "Are you serious?"

Knox stifled his laughter. He arranged the pillow back on the bed and shoved Azrael away from it, planning to fix the blanket. Azrael snatched the cover and did it himself, still not saying anything, but just continued to pucker his lips Knox almost burst out laughing because of his face.

He then slapped his partner’s ass and walked away, muttering quite lowly, but enough for Azrael to hear. "Stop acting cute, my dear."

The tip of his ears became red as he rushed to the door, but before he could grab the doorknob, his body was suddenly yanked around and lifted. Knox yelped in surprise. His foot was at least a knee high above the ground and Azrael was clutching his thighs.

Knox held the alpha’s head in support while he asked, "Put me down now. I need to check on Knoa. I just remembered that he might have seen me collapse yesterday. What if he got traumatized?"

Azrael pushed Knox to the wall next to the door; his back touched it gently. He looked up and smirked, "Our son is a brave child. Did you know he was the one who called me? He almost gave me a heart attack but he was clever to call for someone and not leave the house alone. He also called your brother."

"Athan came?"

"Yeah," Azrael inclined his head and reached for Knox’s lips, but the latter slightly moved away.

"You will catch my fever if you—

"I already kissed you earlier, did I not? And I’d be glad if your fever could just move to me," Azrael sweetly responded, and sealed Knox’s lips that were about to protest again.

Knox ended up wrapping his legs around Azrael’s waist, while the latter’s hands slid on his butt and supported him up, even squeezing his cheeks a little. He lightly yanked Azrael’s head to chide his mischievousness, but the alpha just chuckled after letting him go.

"If you get sick after this, don’t blame me."

"I’m tough."

"And I’m not?"

Azrael nuzzled his head on Knox’s chest and responded, his voice full of affection and pride, "You are, my dear wife. You’re the toughest omega I know." He then looked up, displaying worry, agony, and fear in his eyes, mixed with guilt and self-reproach.

Azrael spoke in a heavy tone, "I saw you and Knoa lying on the floor when I entered, and you don’t know how f*cking scared I was thinking that you collapsed because of something unnatural, or that someone might have broken into the house and harmed the two of you. I was so scared. The fear I felt was much more intense when you were kidnapped."

Honest and trembling eyes bore into the omega’s emerald ones. Knox caught his breath. His chest tightened seeing the man showed vulnerability.

"I felt like I was choked and I was buried on the spot. I even double-checked if both of you were breathing."

Knox ruffled the alpha’s head gently. And when Azrael did not continue, he affectionately asked, "Now, why would you think that? The security in this building is tight and strict. Nothing like that will happen, and I promise, I won’t get sick again. I’ll take care of myself from now on. I promise."

Azrael hugged him tighter, "I know, but dear...with the way I lived my life, I’m constantly anxious and in fear that they are coming back, not at me, but at you and our son..."

Knox cupped his alpha’s troubled face and kissed him on the forehead, "You’re changing now, that is what matters, my dear. I’m reassured because I know you’ll always protect us and that nothing will ever harm us again."

Azrael drowned in those bright orbs that promised him a happy future, away from any more violence and crimes. He suddenly remembered his dream where Knox disappeared before his eyes.

He was unable to chase him because of the riches that chained him to the ground. Now, he realized. He told himself he was nothing without those riches and wealth in his name, but he was wrong.

He will cease to exist if Knox disappears. Knox Arden is his lifeline, his oxygen, and in his warm and good hands, his beating heart remains.