The astonishment on Liu Yao's face soon gave way to a fondness that was so sincere it made Yan Zheyun's cheeks heat up in a way that sitting boldly on the emperor's lap couldn't.
Or maybe what made him go red in the face was the reproachful pinch that Liu Yao had delivered to his bottom. It had just that slight hint of roughness that left him feeling heady and Liu Yao seemed to have a much better handle on his kinks than he did, always managing to toe the line in such a perfect way that Yan Zheyun couldn't help but want to submit.
"Don't look at me like that," he insisted, keen to detract from the sudden shyness that overtook him. "Less staring more—"
"I've made you lonely."
Warm lips pressed themselves first to his left cheek, then his right, just over where his blush bloomed brightest. "I'm sorry."
Yan Zheyun leaned forward, let himself get pulled so tightly against a firm chest that he couldn't hold back a quiet oof.