Chapter 405
Punch For A Kiss
“Did you punch him in the face?” Max asked the moment Elais slipped into the car, shaking his hand as if it hurt.
Elais Jung shot him a look sharp enough to burn holes straight through him. Not bothering with a reply, he turned his gaze to the front windshield and said curtly, “Drive.”
Max lifted his eyebrows but didn’t argue. He only gave a slight shrug before starting the car, while Elais let his thoughts spiral inward, jaw tight.
Dam* it. He hadn’t expected that at all. He never would have imagined Cadence would take the initiative to kiss him. And yet it had happened, sudden and raw, leaving his pulse stumbling over itself. It had been shocking, yes. Shocking because he hadn’t seen it coming. Magical because for one brief, reckless moment, it had felt like the thing he’d wanted for far too long. And then… heart-breaking.
Heart-breaking because it hadn’t been a kiss born of love or even hesitant curiosity. It had come out of anger, out of frustration, like Cadence wanted to get his point across and chose the fastest way to do it. Elais sighed under his breath, the sound swallowed by the hum of the engine.
He could still see it-the flicker of shock on Cadence’s face when he had pushed him away. Not just shock. Something else too. Horror maybe. Like Cadence had just realized he’d crossed a line he hadn’t meant to. Like kissing a man-kissing him-was unthinkable. And underneath it all, there had been that flicker of revulsion. The kind you can’t hide even when you try.
That was what had set the anger clawing through Elais’s chest. And that was why he had punched him in the face.
If it was so disgusting, so repulsive to kiss him, then why the hell had Cadence done it at all? Why force something neither of them could take back? It wasn’t as if Elais had gone begging for it. He hadn’t asked for it. He hadn’t even been given the chance to savour it properly before it was twisted into something ugly and confusing.
He pressed his lips together, not sure if he wanted to talk or even think about it.
“You need to be patient, you know.”
Elais Jung shot him a look, “What?”
Max smiled, eyes on the road but amusement tugging at his mouth. “Elais Jung,” he said, drawing out the name as if it was explanation enough. “Cadence has been a straight man his whole life. Now suddenly he kisses you, and for the first time, he’s probably realizing he feels something he can’t put a neat little label on. Do you honestly think he’s going to find that easy? You’ve had time, years upon years to adjust your mindset. But you think he should be able to adapt to it in a few days?”
Elais stilled.
The words settled like heavy stones in his chest, each one pressing deeper until he had no idea what to do with them. Straight. His whole life. Of course. He had known that. Everyone knew that. And yet hearing it laid out so simply made the whole thing feel even more complicated than it already was.
Because Max wasn’t wrong. For someone like Cadence, this- whatever it was between them- wasn’t going to be simple. He would fight it, deny it, push it away even while he kept coming back to it. And maybe that was what made it so damn infuriating.
But Elais had no reply to give. His thoughts were too loud, his chest too tight. So instead he leaned back against the seat, gaze fixed on the blur of lights passing outside, and changed the topic altogether.
“Where are you taking me?” he asked finally in a flat voice, “Just take me home.”
Max shook his head immediately, one hand loose on the wheel while the other drummed lazily against it. “Nope. You’re not going home.”
Elais turned to him sharply. “Why not?”
“Because Cadence would have gone there,” Max said simply, eyes still on the road. “And if he’s already there, then you shouldn’t be. For now.”
The words hung in the air, unbothered and casual as if Max was discussing the weather. But inside he was smiling. Because Cadence was in for a surprise once he went home. Melanie had something else planned for him. Of course, that plan should not backfire, but they were hedging their bets.
Elais leaned back in his seat, staring hard out of the window, jaw working.
Max continued easily, “My initial plan was to take you to the amusement park. That was where our target audience- Cadence Sint was supposed to be accompanying her. But since he’s already gone home, it doesn’t make much sense now, does it? So, we might as well head somewhere quieter and discuss business instead.”
“No.”
The word came out sharp enough to surprise even Max who shot him a look.
Elais turned his head, eyes steady. “I want to go to the amusement park,” he said, tone leaving no room for argument. “If you don’t want to, I can go alone.”
Max blinked once, then a slow grin spread across his face. “Hey! I don’t mind,” he said easily, leaning back in his seat as if the idea amused him more than it bothered him. “We can discuss business in the park, Dr. Jung. Don’t worry. I can mix work with roller coasters if you can.”
Elais shot him a look for that, somewhere between irritation and disbelief. “You,” he said slowly, “are the effervescent businessman.”
Max laughed at that, a short, sharp sound. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But don’t think you’re getting out of the business talk, Dr. Jung. Roller coasters or not, we’ve got work to do. Also, if you do disagree with something, may I suggest that you do not punch me?”
Elais shot him a look,” I don’t punch people for no reason.”
“Hmm. You only punch people who kiss you. And I will not do that. So, no worries.”