“Did I…” Gift prompted, blinking at him, giving him that placid smile he saved just for him.
By the time Park stopped coughing, it was clear he was irritated. And that he was choosing to ignore Gift’s impertinent question.
He tilted his head, studying Gift through narrow eyes. “How long have you spoken English, Kla?”
Be brave.
“How long ago did my parents enroll me in an international school, Park?” Gift purred, all but daring Park to tell him to call himhia.
Park shifted in his seat, flummoxed. “Oh, it’s Park now, is it?”
Gift licked his lower lip, then dragged his top teeth across it, giving him what he hoped was a sultry look. “Thatisyour name. You call me by my name.”
“I’m your elder,” Park muttered, tone somewhere between confused and grumpy. Was this what Payton thought was going to happen? Was this the desired effect? He had little choice but to stay the course.
“Mymucholder elder,” Gift said. “I should call youLuung, but you didn’t like that, either.”
Park looked a little dizzy, like Gift had just hit him in the head with a brick and he was seeing cartoon stars over his head. “Why didn’t you just say you spoke English?”
Gift hooked an eyebrow upward. “Why did you assume I didn’t? Besides, if I had, I would have missed all those conversations you and my parents had right in front of me. Where’s the fun in that?”
Park blinked at him, then seemed to collect himself. “If you were hoping to shock me, congratulations, you win. But you still need to address me properly.”
“Properly? Okay. How aboutAdjan? Professor?” Gift taunted softly, running his finger under the strand of pearls at his neck, pulse skyrocketing as Park’s gaze snagged on his throat. He gave a hard swallow before dragging his gaze back to Gift’s face like it took effort.
Was Park…turned on? Nervous? Gift felt giddy, elated. He might not be in love, but he was definitely paying attention.
“Hia,” Park said, giving Gift a steely look that melted his core, turning his insides into lava. Holy shit. He tried not to shift as his dick began to respond to the proceedings.
“Okay,hia,” Gift said, deliberately putting the emphasis on the wrong syllable, calling Park an asshole.
“Kla…” The way Park said his name like a warning was making Gift crazy.
But still, he had to ask, “Why do you call me that when everyone else calls me Gift?”
Park gave him a thorough once-over then leaned forward, mimicking Gift’s position, propping his chin on his hand. “Why did you lie about not speaking English?”
Gift let his fingers trail down the vee of his sweater like it was an accident, watching the way Park’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Are you going to answer every question with a question?”
“What else are you hiding from me?” Park asked point-blank.
Gift smiled sweetly. “See, the thing is, I’m not hiding anything from you. You’ve just never bothered to ask.”
That blow landed. Gift could see it in Park’s face. Did he feel…guilty about ignoring him? Whatever feeling Park had would remain a mystery, his face going blank, his fingers playing with the bread knife beside him.
There was a stubborn look in his eyes when he asked Gift, “What do you want me to ask? Should I askyouif you’re a virgin?”
He was trying to make Gift nervous. And he was. Even his teeth were sweating, but he refused to back down. “Yes.”
Park blinked rapidly for a moment, like his brain was rebooting. “Yes, I should ask, or yes, you’re a virgin?”
Gift pooched out his lips, then puffed up his cheeks before letting the air out. “Both.”
Gift’s stomach did a full-on somersault as Park’s pupils blew wide at that information. Yes.Yes. He mentally fist-pumped. Hah.
“Oh,” Park said, voice low and throaty.
Gift wanted to wrap himself up in that voice, wanted to hear it pressed against his ear as Park pushed inside him. Fuck, was he seducing Park or himself?
