Reward

Shi Qi couldn't decide for a moment.

Logically speaking, he was curious about everything about Shang Sui, especially the painting.

But Shi Qi keenly sensed that the scene hidden under the canvas was like Pandora's box—once opened, what came out would mercilessly drag him into the abyss.

His intuition had always been accurate. Even though he was curious, Shi Qi forced himself to shake his head: "I don't want to see it."

As he spoke, he gestured at the bag thrown at his feet: "There's a Bite Inhibitor inside. Put it on."

Shang Sui's eyes widened slightly, looking at him with some surprise.

Shi Qi had rejected his offer and even made a demand of him in return—this was really...

"If I put it on, I'll release Pheromone for you."

An Alpha in Sensitivity Period naturally carried a strong oppressive aura. Even if Shang Sui did nothing, it was still overwhelming.

Shi Qi tentatively patted the arm locked around his waist: "Is that okay?"

The Alpha tilted his head, his light brown eyes looking down at him from above, showing a mechanical, cold gleam.

Shi Qi's fingertips dug slightly into his palm. Just as he thought he would be refused—

Shang Sui beamed: "Alright, let's make a trade."

How interesting.

He'd play along with Shi Qi for now.

"I want a sufficient amount of Pheromone. If I say it's not enough, you can't stop."

Shi Qi had no choice, and since he had originally planned to accompany him through the Sensitivity Period with his Pheromone, he quickly agreed: "Okay."

Shang Sui let go of him as promised and took the Bite Inhibitor out of the bag himself.

He seemed to dislike this thing; he frowned as he put it on. When the cold leather strap covered his face, Shi Qi heard him click his tongue in disgust.

Jiang Yoning and Shang Sui shared a similarity: when choosing things, they always picked the most beautiful ones.

The Bite Inhibitor she gave was gun-black, a color common on firearms or knives, with a metallic sheen like silver but not as flashy.

Shang Sui's long hair fell down, and his gorgeous face looked even more alluring against the metal muzzle and leather straps, turning the protective device meant to prevent an Alpha from losing control during the Sensitivity Period into an accessory.

But Jiang Yoning said she couldn't get it off, so the quality of the Bite Inhibitor should be quite reliable.

Shang Sui fastened the built-in lock and, as he placed the key into Shi Qi's palm, even joked: "Hide it well. Don't let me find it."

This seemingly kind reminder instantly made Shi Qi think of the horror game he had played not long ago. Shang Sui was like the boss in it.

Before making a move, he would maliciously tell the player to hide well.

Shi Qi put the key into his jacket pocket. His fingertips accidentally touched the condom Jiang Yoning had stuffed into his pocket, and his expression shifted slightly.

Before Shi Qi could think more, his wrist was grabbed. Shang Sui's voice carried a hint of amusement:

"I've put it on. Where's the Pheromone you promised me?"

Shi Qi couldn't react at all before he was yanked forward.

A sudden force tightened around his waist. The other man, as if handling a beloved doll, easily lifted him with one arm.

In the corner of the Art Studio was a sofa bed, covered with a wide, cloud-soft blanket. The edges of the blanket hung down to the wooden floor—impractical but very beautiful.

The world spun before his eyes, and Shi Qi dazedly felt as if he had been thrown into a cloud.

The Alpha's scent pressed down on him overwhelmingly. Shang Sui knelt on one leg, pinning his legs, the other leg braced on the floor. His slightly long hair fell down, enveloping Shi Qi entirely in his shadow.

"Are you lying?"

"What?" Shi Qi's throat tightened. He didn't dare look at him. "I didn't... Mmm!!"

A finger pried open his lips and pushed into his mouth as he spoke.

In panic, Shi Qi used his tongue to block Shang Sui's fingertip. He had just felt the pad of the finger touch his canine when another finger forced its way in. Shi Qi's voice became muffled:

"You, what are you doing... Shang Sui, Shang... Mmm!"

"You can't release Pheromone, can you?" Shang Sui exposed him without mercy. "You're too nervous. You've been trembling all along."

Shi Qi's body stiffened.

At some point, every nerve in his body had become taut, and his gland felt numb.

Shang Sui's Sensitivity Period was too terrifying. Even though Shi Qi appeared calm, his instinct made every cell in his body scream to flee.

At the same time, he could clearly feel that the predatory Alpha was fascinated by his every move, almost fanatically craving the Pheromone he couldn't release.

It was so strange.

He was both prey and the one holding another person's lifeline. Every second was a deadly yet ambiguous experience.

He even instinctively shrank back into the sofa bed, wanting to hide himself, but all his senses were forcibly opened by the other's Pheromone. In the struggle, Shang Sui truly used his strength to restrain him.

Shi Qi had no power to resist. He could only hear the Chain on the Alpha's foot clinking.

Feeling the other man's hand caress his face with the other hand, Shi Qi trembled all over.

"Don't be scared. I'll help you."

Soon, Shi Qi tasted a faint hint of blood.

Realizing that his canine couldn't pierce the fingertip, Shang Sui broke the skin on his own finger and fed the blood into Shi Qi's mouth.

The Pheromone content in the blood was extremely high. A sweet taste spread from the tip of his tongue. Shi Qi couldn't help swallowing, feeling the sweet liquid drip down his throat drop by drop.

Besides his mouth, his breath was also filled with the rich fragrance, and his whole body felt as if it were soaking in a honey pot.

His originally tense body gradually went limp. When Shang Sui no longer forcibly restrained him, Shi Qi's head actively nuzzled over and began to suck on the Alpha's fingertips.

His long eyelashes trembled, and his deep gray eyes shone with infatuated light.

Shang Sui pressed his pink lips with his fingers and praised, "So obedient. Eat a little more."

He knew Shi Qi liked hearing his praise. Sure enough, the Omega paused briefly, then licked the blood from his hand even more earnestly.

Shi Qi's Pheromone naturally released. The sweet, ethereal scent of Lily of the Valley seemed to still carry morning dew. The floral fragrance gradually spread, like clusters of pure white flowers blooming along a stream, filling the valley.

When he judged Shi Qi had had enough, Shang Sui withdrew his hand.

Shi Qi thought he would wipe the saliva and blood off with a tissue, but Shang Sui just smiled at him.

Through the metal muzzle of the Bite Inhibitor, he put his fingers into his own mouth.

"!"

Shi Qi's eyes widened in disbelief.

His cheeks burned completely as he stared blankly at the Alpha's wanton act.

Shang Sui stared straight at Shi Qi, making it feel like what he really wanted to devour was a part of the Omega.

No, a part wouldn't be enough.

Such a beautiful, adorable treasure that haunted his dreams—of course, he had to swallow it all.

"Baby, I feel so awful."

The Alpha's voice was soft and slow, reminiscent of a snake hissing and flicking its tongue.

"Help me, okay?"

Shi Qi curled his fingers and asked in a low voice, "How do I..." help you.

"Give me your hand."

Seeing a thin layer of sweat on Shi Qi's fair, straight nose, Shang Sui coaxed, "Are you hot? Take off your clothes first."

Shi Qi inexplicably took off his jacket, then his sweater, until only a thin shirt remained.

He was utterly bewildered. When his jacket fell to the floor, the small square box slipped out from inside and rolled onto the ground with a slap.

Shi Qi's expression changed.

Especially when Shang Sui followed the sound and looked, his gaze seemed fixed on it. Shi Qi quickly said, "My sister gave it to me. She thought we—"

"That won't work. It's too small."

As if finding it amusing that Shi Qi had brought such a thing, he added, "Next time, you don't need to prepare."

What...?

Wasn't it said that male Alphas were all about the same size?

Shang Sui leaned down, the Bite Inhibitor pressing against Shi Qi's vulnerable neck. The cold metal and hot breath stimulated his senses at the same time.

Shi Qi turned his face away, blushing, but then realized something and dared not move.

Shang Sui wasn't lying.

It really seemed... unusable.

An Omega's body was much softer than an Alpha's, and the same went for their hands.

Shi Qi's palm was fair and soft, his fingers slender, his pink fingertips like trembling flower buds.

Shang Sui held his beautiful hand and pulled it downward.

The two held each other tightly, intimately.

Shang Sui seemed to have bathed and changed clothes not long ago. Besides the Honey Flavor Pheromone, his body also carried a warm white musk scent.

The Alpha's beautiful gasps fell on his ears. Shi Qi felt as if a colorful flower snake had coiled around him, its hot scales scraping against his skin.

He wanted to escape, but was entangled even tighter.

The scents of Lily of the Valley and Honey were completely intertwined. He didn't know how much time had passed. Shi Qi was almost losing consciousness.

...

...

Before Shi Qi could pull his hand back, Shang Sui grabbed his wrist first and nuzzled him like a spoiled child: "I want you to help me wipe it clean."

Shi Qi met his gaze for a moment, then silently reached for the tissue box beside him.

During the Sensitivity Period, Shang Sui couldn't control himself. His desires were magnified many times over, so it was perfectly normal for him to cling to Shi Qi like this.

But what about him?

Why was he obediently going along?

But Shang Sui was really... too beautiful.

The Alpha's lower eyelids were tinged with a blush, and his whole body exuded a lazy, satisfied air.

He had no desire to resist at all. He willingly did these things for Shang Sui, even being seduced by him.

So much.

How could there be so much.

Were all Alphas like this? He couldn't finish wiping it at all.

The floor was covered with the crumpled tissues he had thrown away. What made it even harder for Shi Qi to handle was the growing effect on himself.

So, so hungry...

He glanced at the pile of tissues again. It seemed to hide some delicious delicacy. For a moment, he actually wanted to pick one up and open it.

"You smell so good." But Shang Sui leaned in at that moment. "What is it?"

The Alpha lowered his head. Through the thin shirt, the hard Bite Inhibitor touched Shi Qi's chest, then moved downward.

"I want to eat it."

Shi Qi was going crazy. He pushed him away: "No!"

Whether it was because the force from his panic was too strong, or because Shang Sui didn't want to resist, he was actually pushed back.

Shi Qi scrambled off the sofa bed as fast as he could, afraid that if he was a second later, the other man would discover something.

"I'm going to take a shower." Shi Qi didn't look up. "I'll be back in a while. You wait—"

This should be fine, right? He was already far from Shang Sui. He wouldn't be found out.

The Alpha, collapsed on the sofa, suddenly smiled.

He slowly turned his face, maintaining a side-lying position, and stared at Shi Qi with startlingly bright eyes:

"Soaked through like this."

What...?

Shi Qi's pupils abruptly contracted.

"Do you want me to help you wipe it clean? One good turn deserves another."

"No, you... why..." Shi Qi was incoherent, not knowing when he had discovered it or why he had waited until now to call him out.

As if reading Shi Qi's thoughts.

"Because little Qi's pretense of being fine was very cute. I liked it a lot." Shang Sui slowly straightened up. "But after playing along with you for so long—"

Shang Sui raised both arms and reached back to the closure of the Bite Inhibitor.

Under Shi Qi's shocked gaze, Shang Sui's fingers tensed, veins bulging on the back of his hand. As if tearing through sandpaper, he ripped the Bite Inhibitor apart with his bare hands!

The sound of the built-in lock breaking made a grating noise. Shi Qi's spine went numb, and he almost thought he was hallucinating.

What was wrong with Shang Sui?!

This scene was too far beyond common sense. Shi Qi reflexively turned his head and ran straight for the door of the Art Studio.

If he ran out of the Art Studio, Shang Sui had the Chain on his foot and couldn't reach him for now.

He just needed to calm down first! He wouldn't really abandon Shang Sui!

But strangely, Shang Sui didn't come after him.

Shi Qi didn't have time to think. He had already rushed to the edge of the Art Studio, one step away from bursting out the door—

"Stop."

A voice came from behind.

Shi Qi was rooted to the spot, unable to move another inch, just one step away from the Art Studio door.

Those words didn't seem to be spoken, but rather carved directly into his mind through some higher means, leaving the listener no choice but to obey the command.

In the horror game he had played not long ago, the boss could mentally control the player. Qin Shuhe said the game's concept was related to the Special Sensitivity Period.

It was said that among Alphas in the Special Sensitivity Period, a very small number could use Pheromone to perform Mind Manipulation on people, with effects similar to hypnosis and psychological suggestion, but much stronger.

But these were all just rumors and fantasies. How could they really exist in reality?

Shi Qi couldn't move, but countless fragments flashed through his mind. He suddenly remembered Shen Qianyu saying that Shang Sui was in a league of his own even among Alphas in the Special Sensitivity Period.

He had always thought that referred to extraordinary strength. After all, kicking open the door of the Safe House and dismantling the Bite Inhibitor with bare hands were clearly not things any random Alpha in the Special Sensitivity Period could do.

But now it seemed, the 'special' Shen Qianyu had mentioned...

Shi Qi couldn't move at all. He could only stay where he was, hearing the sound of the Chain dragging on the floor from behind.

Such a bizarre, dangerous scene, like something out of a fantasy novel, yet he inappropriately thought of something else.

Wearing such a heavy Chain all the time, didn't Shang Sui feel uncomfortable?

The sound of the Chain grew closer, and the scent of Honey became stronger.

Shi Qi was ordered to stand still, unable to move or turn his head. He could only hear the sounds coming from behind.

"You promised. Give me enough Pheromone. Don't stop until I say it's enough."

A long finger traced circles on his waist. The voice of the person behind him was exceptionally tender, and even the complaint carried an intimate tone:

"Darling, where are you going with the reward you owe me?"

Shi Qi blinked.

So he really hadn't misheard.

Shang Sui had called him that before too. "Darling."

Unlike terms like "baby" or "sweetheart," in Shi Qi's impression, this was what Jiang Li called Shi An—a special term of endearment between partners.

He parted his lips slightly and said in a small, blushing voice: "I..."

The Alpha sniffed him carefully and said softly, "It's still not enough now."

Long, knuckled fingers slid up from below, inch by inch, along his straight spine.

Shi Qi's legs were so weak he could barely stand. He almost wanted to cry out.

When the fingers reached his neck, Shang Sui changed to gently gripping his throat from behind, saying with extreme tenderness:

"Let's play something else."