World's Best Protagonist [BL]

Claude’s lips finally met Jade’s, softly at first—warm, unhurried, and devastatingly deliberate. It felt as though a feather touched his lips, careful and light. Somehow, the gentleness relaxed him.

The kiss was a brush of heat, light enough to test, but it sent sparks dancing down Jade’s spine all the same. His breath hitched as the world narrowed into nothing but the feel of Claude’s mouth on his own. He lost track of time.

The meeting of their lips was soundless, like a leaf touching the ground after it fell from a tree. The only sound was the crackling of wood and fire, and even the cave was hauntingly silent.

Jade’s eyes fluttered half-open. He was checking if it was really Claude’s lips or just something soft.

But then, suddenly, the heat changed. What began as gentle turned sharp, urgent, and hungry.

Claude leaned in, deepening the kiss with a growl low in his throat, and Jade’s thoughts evaporated. His body ignited, pulse roaring in his ears as Claude stole every breath he had left.

It wasn’t careful anymore. It wasn’t tentative. It was like something snapped in the captain, and dominance took over.

Claude kissed like a man starved, like he’d been holding back for far too long—and Jade, to his own surprise, let him. He welcomed him. His fingers curled into the cloak beneath him as Claude’s weight hovered just above, close enough to feel, but not close enough to satisfy.

The captain’s hands framed his face with startling gentleness despite the fire in his kiss, tilting his head just enough to claim him again.

Jade’s body ached, too warm, too sensitive. His legs trembled beneath the strain of staying still, his senses drowning in the taste and feel of Claude.

Until it became too much for him. He was a novice in this kind of department. Has he ever been kissed this intensely by someone?

He gasped, lungs burning, and instinctively pushed against Claude’s chest, desperate for air.

But Claude didn’t flinch. Instead, his hands caught Jade’s wrists, pinning them firmly beside his head, his body pressing just slightly closer as his mouth refused to retreat.

Another kiss—deep, consuming—left Jade breathless all over again, a whimper escaping his throat as Claude ravaged his lips like a man who never learned restraint. Not only that, the touch of Claude’s clothes on his naked chest was sending his body on edge. His sense of touch heightened, and a simple brush on his exposed skin lit fire in his stomach.

It was dangerous and tempting.

"I need to breathe, Claude—!" Jade finally cried, voice thin and wrecked.

Claude pulled back—barely—just enough to see the wreckage he left behind.

Jade’s lips were flushed and wet, his eyes glassy, his chest heaving as if he’d just run miles. He looked stunned, dazed, and undone.

Claude stared at him, gaze dark and unreadable. Then, without a word, he dipped his head again—but not to Jade’s lips. To his throat. Without hesitation and accepting no rejection.

A gasp ripped out of Jade as Claude’s mouth found the tender skin just below his jaw. He dragged kisses there—slow, bruising ones—then moved lower, trailing to his collarbone where he bit, sucked, and kissed again, tracing fire across Jade’s skin. His breath was hot, uneven, but still controlled in a way that made Jade tremble.

"Wa...wait a minute, captain! This is too much...for me—"

"You said anything to help you," Claude murmured against his neck, voice ragged and almost seducing, "I’m just doing what I can."

Jade’s mind screamed in protest, but his body betrayed him—arching, reacting, craving more. His thoughts were in shambles, his pride nowhere to be found. He should be the one leading!

All that remained was Claude’s weight, Claude’s mouth, and a wicked promise that Jade couldn’t begin to understand but couldn’t stop wanting either.

The table was turned. It wasn’t a drink supposed to be given to Jade. It’s a different kind of thirst Claude let loose.

Jade felt a momentary freedom after Claude let go of his hand, only to be shocked beyond words after he shoved it inside his pants instead. He couldn’t rebuke that hand, for it brought him pleasure and relief, and even without willing it, his hips raised on its own.

If he could count how many curses he screamed in his head, he would need two or three people’s fingers more.

"Slow down..." Jade murmured, his face flushed and sweaty. He was still convincing himself that all this was necessary.

"You need to release everything as much as possible."

"Fuck. Just give me water!"

Claude chuckled darkly. Jade fumed. How dare he laugh in this situation?! But then, the captain’s reply made him swallow the curse he was about to shout.

"Choose one thing, Jade. Water or fu—"

"Don’t even try to finish...it!" Jade squirmed under Claude. He was caught. The captain’s grip only tightened on him. His thumb even dared to move and play with the tip, sending another wave of pleasure that made him arch his back.

A few more strokes and he reached climax. He slumped back on the cloak, panting, his eyes glassy and his hair a tangled mess. However, his soaring temperature barely decreased.

He blinked and found Claude observing him. He finally met his eyes, and all he saw in those obsidian orbs was worry. He was still trembling, not from pleasure but from contaminated energy still coursing inside him.

Jade’s eyes shook upon witnessing Claude’s determined look. He shook his head once. One is enough!

It was enough before, but Claude knew this was more intense. He wasn’t as bad as Terrius when Jade cleansed him in the Sanctum. On top of that, he treated Allen and Lexie, too. So, it was understandable that this was not yet over.

"Let me do it a few more times." Claude brushed off the hair stuck on Jade’s damp forehead. "We both know you’re still unstable."

Jade breathed out. His sigh was full of shame. And despite being cool with it before, he now shrank and folded in embarrassment. He was the only one exposed! Although suggesting that Claude undressed too would be like teetering on the point of no return.

Or maybe he was disheartened because he was the only one getting excited and hard.

"Jade, tell me what to do."

Jade looked forward. Claude was waiting for permission. Will he stop if he said it’s enough? The hesitation was evident in his eyes. But also, some of his inner thoughts were. He was not someone who wore his heart on his sleeve, but at that moment, he felt exposed, bare, under Claude’s gaze, as if everything he had been hiding were discovered.

Claude’s jaw clenched. He gulped, and for the first time, Jade saw something different flicker in his eyes. "Is it fine if we do this together?"

Jade looked at him, puzzled. Weren’t they doing it together already? His question was answered when Claude pushed himself lower, enough for his lower body to touch his thigh. His eyes widened after something hard bumped him.

He gawked at Claude, muttering with disbelief, "Why are you...?"

A growl came from Claude. It wasn’t an answer, but enough to show Jade that he had been holding back. Minders are vulnerable when they deal with contaminated energy, and Seekers pledge not to take advantage of that vulnerability.

He won’t touch Jade more than necessary, not just because it was the law, but because it was wrong.