L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 89

At first, he didn’t understand what Ashley had said. Koi, dazed and foggy-headed, barely registered that something had been spoken aloud.

“...Huh?”

Slowly turning his head, Koi met Ashley’s gaze. His face looked unusually flushed.

Am I that red too?

As the thought crossed his mind, a wave of heat surged through his face and neck, making his skin prickle. Ashley let out a short breath and then spoke.

“Koi.”

“...Yeah.”

Koi answered without knowing why. His mind had gone completely blank—only one thing remained. Ashley’s dark purple eyes, so close to black, filled his vision entirely.

Ashley’s large hand gently took Koi’s wrist. In a daze, Koi let Ashley guide his hand forward. Even then, he wasn’t thinking. He was just staring, entranced, at Ashley’s face.

...Wait?

Something felt off. Koi blinked and looked up at Ashley—then slowly lowered his eyes.

And that’s when he saw it. The massive anaconda, just about to touch his hand.

“...!”

No sound came out. His eyes flew open, but not a single noise escaped his lips. For the first time, Koi learned that when someone’s truly shocked, they can’t even scream. His whole body froze. He couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe. Shoulders trembling, he just stared at that stiff, towering creature pointing straight at him.

Ashley noticed the reaction immediately.

“Koi.”

His voice carried an edge of desperation. He had never wanted anything this much before. I won’t put it in, he whispered.

“Just touch it once.”

Ashley guided Koi’s hand toward it again. But instinctively, Koi resisted. That wasn’t just a snake. How could anyone call a creature that raised its entire body and waved its head in fury a mere snake?

No, that thing is not just a body part.

Koi swallowed hard. *It’s alive. No—*it is alive. Definitely.

Seeing Koi frozen stiff, Ashley couldn’t hold back anymore and called his name again.

“Koi...”

“S-sorry!”

Forced into a corner, Koi finally burst out. His lips, previously paralyzed, now moved in a rush.

“I-I-I can’t, I can’t, I really—I just can’t...!”

Shaking his head frantically, he rejected him outright. Ashley stopped. Seeing Koi that panicked snapped him back to his senses.

“Koi.”

“I—I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Koi.”

“B-but—but it’s just—it's just too much, it’s too—!”

“Koi.”

Finally, Ashley let go of his hand and instead placed both hands firmly on Koi’s shoulders. When Koi managed to regain some semblance of composure and looked up, Ashley’s face came into view.

Ashley met his gaze and spoke gently.

“Okay, Koi. You don’t have to. I’ll stop.”

“...Oh...”

Koi stared at him blankly. He should’ve felt relieved—but he didn’t. Of course, he knew Ashley would never force himself on him. And yet, the moment Ashley said he’d stop, a new worry surfaced.

Can we really just stop here?

As the panic faded, other thoughts took its place. If Ashley was that hard, he must be in real pain. Koi had never been that aroused before, and even if he had, it wouldn't be the same—it wouldn’t get that big. But still, he was a guy too. He could imagine how much that hurt.

Gulp. He swallowed dryly.

Then maybe... shouldn’t I at least try? I am his boyfriend. If he’s in pain, couldn’t I help just a little? It’s only my hand...

If I close my eyes and just touch it—

But even as the thought formed, Koi rejected it.

No. That would hurt Ash.

It was still his body—how would it feel if someone was so afraid they couldn’t even look at it? That’d make anyone feel bad.

What if... Ash starts to hate me?

“Koi.”

As the anxiety crept in, Ashley called his name again. Koi jolted and looked up. Ashley was forcing a smile, and Koi could tell—he was trying his best to put him at ease. Which only made Koi more flustered.

Ashley spoke again.

“It’s fine. Why don’t you wait outside? I’ll be out in a bit.”

“Uh...”

Koi blinked slowly. Then, he realized what Ashley was saying—and a wave of guilt and sympathy washed over him.

“S-sorry, I... I-I can... I can try...”

His voice was barely squeezed from his throat. Even to his own ears, he sounded like someone on the verge of a breakdown. Ashley must have noticed. He wasn’t the type to miss something like that.

What do I do?

As panic surged again, Ashley cut in.

“It’s okay, Koi.”

Then, in a low, steady voice, he added,

“I can take care of it myself. Just give me a little space.”

“Ash...”

“Koi.”

Ashley interrupted gently before he could say anything more.

“Please... just go before I do something I regret.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

He wasn’t smiling anymore. And Koi could tell—he wasn’t in a state where he could smile. He’d said please. After hearing that, Koi couldn’t stay any longer. He gave up and slowly stepped back.

As he hesitantly passed Ashley’s side, he stopped in his tracks.

“Ash.”

He turned around. Ashley still had his back to him. Looking at that back, Koi asked,

“Are you sure... there’s really nothing I can do to help?”

His voice trembled—but he couldn’t control it. He summoned his courage and offered again, one last time. Ashley understood what he meant.

There was silence, then a sigh. Ashley leaned his head back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, and said without turning around,

“Give me your cheerleading uniform, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) at least.”

“...Huh? Uniform?”

Koi blinked in confusion, but there wasn’t time to hesitate. Even if he didn’t fully understand, he quickly rushed out of the shower. The uniform was lying just beside the bench where he’d folded his clothes. He grabbed it and hurried back.

Ashley had turned off the faucet and was standing with one hand braced against the wall. Koi quickly approached and held out the uniform.

“H-here.”

Ashley didn’t turn around, just reached out behind him and took it. Only when Koi felt the uniform leave his hand did he let go. Then, still hesitating, he asked,

“Do you need anything else...?”

Ashley’s answer was clear.

“Wait outside.”

His voice was lower than usual, slightly hoarse. Koi felt a pang of guilt, but there was nothing he could do. He nodded, then turned and slowly walked out. He glanced back several times, his expression full of worry. Just before the door closed, he thought he heard a faint moan—but he couldn’t be sure.

*

Ashley didn’t come out for almost an hour.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

By that point, Koi had long since changed clothes and was sitting anxiously on the bench, trying to fight the urge to go back in.

He’s not passed out or anything... right?

Eventually, deciding to wait exactly five more minutes, he glanced at the clock.

And then Ashley came out.

“Ash...”

Koi jumped to his feet in relief—then froze when he saw Ashley’s face. He’d never seen that expression before. It reminded him of his dad’s face after drinking for three days straight and ending up in the hospital.

Oh no. He must be completely exhausted...

Koi’s face went pale as his mind scrambled for answers. Should I call 911? Would it be bad if they find out his traits? Then what? Wait—the coach and manager know, right? Should I call them? But I don’t have their numbers. Maybe the security guard knows? Bill probably does. Right—if I check Ashley’s phone, there should be emergency contacts—

As dozens of panic scenarios played out in his mind, Ashley picked up a towel from the stack near the shower and headed for his locker.

Koi snapped out of it and turned quickly.

“Ash—”

He was about to ask Are you okay?—but the words never came out.

He was stunned.

He’d seen photos of statues in art books and thought they were beautiful, but nothing compared to the real thing now standing before him. Ashley’s nearly 2-meter-tall frame was the very definition of a body built by sports. For someone that large, there wasn’t a trace of excess fat. Now it made sense—how he could move so fast with a body like that.

Why didn’t I realize it before?

Koi hadn’t actually had the chance to really see him. Not even during the shower—he’d been too distracted. He couldn’t believe he’d missed this masterpiece.

If someone ever wanted to study human anatomy, they could stand Ashley up and name every muscle one by one. His body was dazzling. The way the small muscles intertwined perfectly with the larger ones made for flawless symmetry. Every time Ashley moved, his muscles rippled under his skin like flowing water.

Koi was on the verge of blacking out from just watching—when Ashley suddenly turned and looked at him.

“...What? Koi?”