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Xie Lian couldn’t keep his hands off of Hua Cheng. For him to finally be home after all this time was an absolute dream come true.
Xie Lian was leaning up to press his lips against his beloved’s when his stomach growled loudly. Hua Cheng tried to pull back in response, but Xie Lian tightened his hold on his waist.
They had been apart long enough.
“Gege, I need to cook you something to eat.” The Ghost King teased.
“Oh.” Xie Lian murmured, cheeks growing pink. He quickly retracted his hands, ashamed by how clingy he was behaving.
“Gege.” Hua Cheng cupped his cheeks, gently tilting his face up to meet his warm gaze. “Gege, your touch is always welcomed, no matter the inconvenience to me. But I do not wish to burn you as I cook.” He explained. Xie Lian nodded, and Hua Cheng released him.
After dinner and the dishes were done, Xie Lian realized the time had finally come for them to be transparent about their feelings.
“I love you.” He confessed, deciding to just put it out there. Hua Cheng’s visible eye widened in surprise. “I hope I made my intentions clear before you…” He paused, trying to think of the best way to put it. “…before you left but in case I didn’t, I wanted you to know what was in my heart. I love you, Hua Cheng. You are the only person I ever have, and ever will feel this way about.” He looked up, offering him a warm smile. To his amazement, Hua Cheng’s eye was visibly watery.
“Xie Lian.” He blushed at the sound of his name from Hua Cheng’s lips. It was always “gege” or “dianxia.” “I love you too. So very, very much. I owe everything I have to you. You were, and still are, quite literally the light of my life.”
“Oh.” Xie Lian whispered, tears gathering in his own eyes. He knew this already, of course. After all, a man that builds 10,000 statues of you didn’t do it because he was bored. But to hear it verbalized for the first time…
“Gege, I want you forever. Marry me?” At Hua Cheng’s question, Xie Lian gasped, tears spilling down his cheeks. He nodded, all but throwing himself over the table so he could land in Hua Cheng’s arms.
“Yes, yes, a million times yes. I want you forever too. I want to be yours, and for you to be mine.” Xie Lian said. As Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around his waist, it felt like he was finally, finally home.
“I’m already yours.” Hua Cheng promised. Xie Lian let out a watery laugh before pulling back and pressing their lips together.
That night, as they curled up on the bed together, Xie Lian laid on his back, simply smiling up at Hua Cheng. His beloved was propped up on his side, tenderly stroking his cheek.
“Gege?” Hua Cheng asked. Xie Lian turned, pressing a quick kiss to Hua Cheng’s fingertips before turning back and offering him a warm smile. “Would you be opposed to permanently living with me in Ghost City?”
“Oh.” Xie Lian murmured, thinking it over. Puqi Shrine was something they could easily get to if needed, and it wasn’t large enough to require his constant presence. “I think that would be okay. Has something happened?”
“No, nothing like that.” Hua Cheng said with a shake of his head. “I’ve been away for a long time now. I anticipate a bit of a hands-on effort to get everything running as smoothly as it was before.”
“Ah, that makes sense. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.” He said.
--
Xie Lian felt very out of place as he stepped into the bedroom he would be sharing with Hua Cheng from now on. Where his rooms had always been elegant and full of color, this room was dark and only had three colors: white, red, and black.
“I’ve cleared out half of my drawers and closets. If you need more space, feel free to remove my things. Nothing is as sacred to me as you being comfortable in our home.” Hua Cheng said. Xie Lian blushed, turning around and reaching for his husband to be. He buried his face in his chest to hide his embarrassment at that statement, even as his heart began to race.
“You deserve to be comfortable as well.” He tried to protest, the sound muffled against Hua Cheng’s clothing. The Ghost King chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of his head.
“Being with you is all the comfort I need, beloved.” He promised. Xie Lian met his gaze before leaning up and pressing their lips together in a tender kiss. When Hua Cheng parted his lips in a silent invitation, Xie Lian took the invite and lapped at his bottom lip. The sharp intake of break Hua Cheng let out encouraged him to continue, so he slid his tongue between his lips.
As Hua Cheng eagerly rubbed their tongues together, Xie Lian began to feel a little light headed from the lack of oxygen. He leaned into his beloved’s arms, moaning when Hua Cheng traced his tongue back into his own mouth.
“Gege.” Hua Cheng murmured as they pulled back. Xie Lian felt a sharp jolt of arousal as he pressed their hips together. Hua Cheng felt so much bigger than he was, and suddenly Xie Lian was overcome by the urge to see his arousal.
“L-let’s go to bed.” He managed to stammer, cheeks dark with embarrassment and arousal. Hua Cheng smirked, and it was such a sexy sight that Xie Lian’s legs suddenly felt weak. As Hua Cheng picked him up off of his feet, Xie Lian felt himself shaking with anticipation of the night to come.
--
“How are you feeling?” Hua Cheng asked a couple hours later. Xie Lian grasped one of his hands and pressed kisses to his knuckles before nuzzling against them.
“Well loved. You?” He asked in returned. To his amusement, Hua Cheng’s cheeks turned pink, and he couldn’t resist leaning up to kiss him again.
“Incredible. You were perfect, beloved.” Xie Lian happily accepted the kiss Hua Cheng leaned down to press against his lips.
As he began to get caught up in the throes of passion once again, Xie Lian was very excited to see what the rest of forever would hold for them.